International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096  Vol. 6 (2), pp. 343-353, February, 2018. © International ScholarsJournals

Full Length Research Paper

Crops diversity and typology of homegardens of Galim-Tignere (Adamawa, Cameroon)

¹Hamawa Y*and ²Mapongmetsem P. M.

¹Department of Agriculture, Breeding and Derived Products, Higher Institute of the Sahel, The University of Maroua, P. O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon. 

²Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Ngaoundere, P. O.Box454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

^*Corresponding author's Email: [email protected]

Accepted 04 April, 2017

Abstract

Homegardens are considered as a sustainable production system in the tropics, which contributes to biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study was the description of crop diversity, structure and management of homegardens in Galim-Tignere and their typology. For this, structured interviews had been realized beside 150 householders. These interviews were completed by dendrometric measurement on ligneous and the meteorological data were recorded. In all, 212 species were identified mainly distributed in staple food, fruit, vegetable, spice or medicinal plants. The number of strata of vegetation differed according to age and size of homegarden. The climatic conditions were moderate inside the homegardens rather than outside of them. The cluster analysis showed three groups that differed according to their composition of species. When the homegardens were kept well, they constitute an excellent area of biodiversity conservation and attenuate the more rough climatic conditions. However important efforts could be done in order to sensitize the peasants on the organization, improvement and the sustainable management of the agroforestry systems.

Keywords: Homegarden, biodiversity, climatic conditions, typology, agroforestry, crop, Galim-Tignere.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096  Vol. 6 (1), pp. 337-342, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the development and utilization of major functional compounds from different cultivars of bamboo leaves

*Wu Jinping, Li Wen and Zhou Qinglin

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu,  People's Republic of China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 22 February, 2016

Abstract

A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was described for simultaneous determination of seven effective constituents (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid) in Bamboo leaf from nine cultivars of Phyllostachys pubescens. The seven compounds were simultaneously determined by HPLC with Sunfire C₁₈ ODS column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm) by gradient elution using acetonitrile (A) and 0.8% acetic acid (B) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min^-1; the detection wavelength was 335 nm with column temperature at 25°C. Finally, these effective components were separated clearly and respectively in 28 min, the linear ranges of orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin,chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid were 0.093 to 0.623 µg (r ＝ 0.9994), 0.058 to 0.385 µg (r ＝ 0.9994), 0.045 to 0.301 µg (r ＝ 0.9987), 0.041 to 0.272 µg (r ＝ 0.9992), 0.059 to 0.396 µg (r ＝ 0.9997), 0.046 to 0.312 µg (r ＝ 0.9992), 0.103 to 0.684 µg (r ＝ 0.9983), respectively; The average recoveries (n = 3) were 98.75, 98.34, 98.32, 99.70, 98.61, 98.20 and 99.31%, respectively. The validated method is simple, accurate and can be widely applied to quantification of the four flavonoids and three phenolic acid compounds in 9 different cultivars of P. pubescens.

Key words: Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096  Vol. 6 (1), pp. 326-336, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of five rare tree species in forests on limestone hills of northern Vietnam

*Arun Akram¹, Nalini Bijoya¹ and Soham Anirvan²

¹Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.

²Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Giessen, Gießen, Hesse, Germany.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 08 April, 2015

Abstract

Rare tree species may become endangered as a result of forest conversion and disturbance. The availability of reliable ecological information on such tree species may help in conservation efforts, but such data is often limited. We studied the abundance of five red-listed tree species in an old-growth forest growing on limestone hills in northern Vietnam and identified potentially relevant ecological factors. Three of the studied species are largely restricted to limestone hills and regarded as specialists (Excentrodendron tonkinense, Chukrasia tabularis and Garcinia fagraeoides), while the two other species (Parashorea chinensis and Melientha suavis) are more widely distributed. The study species were recorded across 40 initial random plots at a range of frequencies (13 - 60%) and at relatively low stem densities (0.4 - 4% of the total stems). Using the adaptive cluster sampling method (ACS), we found all species to be relatively abundant across the site. The density of the three specialist species tended to increase from lower to upper slope positions, which was consistent with an increase in rock-outcrop cover, steepness of the slope, and a reduced soil depth. However, even on rocky, steep sites we found a high variation in tree densities of these species among plots, which could not be explained by the recorded ecological factors. The non-specialist species did not occur on mostly rocky sites. We regard these results as a potential baseline from which impacts of logging can be addressed and to inform potential management.

Key words: Adaptive cluster sampling, biodiversity conservation, endangered species, karst, red list, regeneration, tree ecology.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 315-325, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Agroforestry trees in Kapsaret, Kenya: Socio-economic perspectives influencing availability, preference and utilization

²Julius Rotich, ¹Peter Sirmah*, ³Edward Mengich, ²Paul Okelo Odwori

¹School of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, University of Kabianga, P.O. Box 2030, Kericho, Kenya,

²School of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya,

³Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Rift Valley Eco-Region Research Programme P.O. Box 382, Londiani, Kenya.

^*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]. Tel.: +254725873652

Accepted 04 April, 2017

Abstract

Majority of rural communities worldwide depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. This study examined how socio-economic perspectives influence the availability, preference and utilization of agroforestry trees in Kapsaret sub-county, Kenya. A sample of 120 farmers were interviewed on demographic trends, tree cover, tree availability, species preferences, benefits and utilization on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Sixty-two percent (62%) of the respondents were females, 50% being over the age of 50 years suggesting a shift in societal norms with women taking over farm management roles. Over 85% of the respondents had various levels of education, indicating a high literacy level therefore ease of adoption of agroforestry practices and technologies in Kapsaret. Seventeen major multipurpose tree species were identified on the farms. Eucalyptus grandis was the ddominant and most preferred species (84.2% in 96 households) due to its diverse products and services. Trees on farms are utilized for fodder (10%), soil fertility improvement (47%), timber and fuel wood (77%).  Over 50% of respondents strongly agreed that trees on farms improve tree cover and co-exist with food crops hence substitute for income. Labour, level of education, household security, gender, land and tree tenure and availability of information strongly influenced, utilization, species preference and availability of trees in Kapsaret. Market access and farm size was not considered as important factors.  Put together these results indicate a strong association between socioeconomic perspectives and availability of trees on farms than with their utilization, hence the need to promote agroforestry technologies and practices in Kapsaret.

Keywords: Agroforestry trees, socioeconomic, perspectives, species preference, utilization. 

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 294-304, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diversity of shade tree species in smallholder coffee farms of western Oromia, Ethiopia

¹Ebisa Likassa* and ²Abdela Gure

¹Department of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia,

²School of Forestry, College of Forestry and Natural Resource, Hawassa University, Shashemene Ethiopia.

*Corresponding authorE-mail: [email protected]. Tel.: +251913142412; +251917663009

Accepted 02 August, 2016 

Abstract

Shade grown coffee has been promoted as means of preserving biodiversity in the tropics even though expansion of coffee cultivation has been seen as a contributing factor to deforestation and erosion of biodiversity. The study was conducted on diversity of tree species in smallholder coffee farms of Manasibu district, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess diversity and structure of tree species in smallholder coffee farms as well as farmers management practices in the district. To conduct the study, stratified random sampling method was used. Vegetation data were collected from 74 rectangular plots. The vegetation data was analyzed for tree diversity, Importance value index, similarity coefficient, density, Basal Area, shade cover and other structural parameters. A total of 53 tree species were recorded in which 32 indigenous tree species were common to both forest and coffee farms. Species richness was significantly higher in the adjacent natural forest than in coffee farms. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between Peasant associations (PAs) interims of evenness, coffee shrub density, and tree density. Coffee shrub density was significantly correlated with wealth status. Tree management practices in the study area of coffee farms were more or less the same among the PAs. It was observed that tree species diversity and House Hold (HH) dependency on coffee production increased with the closeness of the PAs to the adjacent natural forest. It was concluded that traditional coffee production system is an important land use system in slowing down loss of biodiversity and should therefore be encouraged.

Keywords: Diversity, adjacent forest, shade trees, smallholder coffee farms, Western (Oromia) Ethiopia.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 305-310, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economic evaluation of benefits derivable from agroforestry based green growth practices in Ogun State, Nigeria

Okojie LO*, Abiola MO and Sanusi RA

Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]. Tel.: +2347038236215

Accepted 12 March, 2014

Abstract

Payments for environmental services (PES) especially for agro-forestry based green growth practices are considered a potential drive towards achieving a green economy in developing countries. This paper investigates the economic valuation of benefits derivable from agro-forestry based green growth practices in Ogun state, Nigeria. The environmental functions of the agro-forestry taungya sites valued were carbon sequestration, clean air, reduction of downstream flooding, and maintenance of soil fertility. The multi-stage sampling procedure was applied. The methodology involved descriptive statistics, contingency valuation method and the binary choice logit model. The proportion of respondents willing to pay for environmental service benefits resulting from green growth provided by taungya Agro Forestry (AF) system was much higher than those that were not. The log of bid offered had a negative and significant effect (P< 0.05) on the likelihood of the bid acceptance in the Willingness To Pay (WTP) valuation. This agrees with economic theory of demand with respect to the higher the price, the lower the demand. Income had the expected positive and significant effect (P<0.10) on the WTP for the environmental benefits of AF. The contact with extension agents had a positive and significant (P<0.01) relationship with the WTP for the environmental benefits of AF in the study area. The need to involve the international community in cost sharing for promotion of green growth through AF for increased benefits to all was highly embraced as the variable was positive and significant (P<0.05). Policy formulations involving moderate pricing in the payment for environmental services, enhanced income to the populace and improvement in extension contact in the study area need to be put in place. Dialogues on cost sharing with the international community on the burden of promoting agro-forestry practices, essential to green growth is imperative. These will go a long way in enhancing the derivable environmental benefits of agro forestry.

Keywords: Environmental benefits, valuation, green growth, cost sharing, willingness to pay.