International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture Vol. 1 (9), pp. 110-113, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full length Research Paper

Gmelina arborea Roxb. Graded Stands with the Weibull Distribution Function in Oluwa Forest Reserve, Nigeria

¹Ekpa, N. E., ¹Akindele, S. O. and ²Udofia, S. I.

¹Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

²Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 June, 2014

Abstract 

The diameter distribution of growing stock is an essential starting point in many forest management planning problems. The three-parameter Weibull distribution model was used to grade the diameter classes of Gmelina arborea plantation in Oluwa Forest Reserve located in the tropical rainforest area of Nigeria. Data used for the study were diameter at breast height (dbh) taken at five years interval. The interval ranging from 11,16, 21, 26, and 31 years of plantation establishment. Quadratic mean dbh exhibited a strong linear relationship with Weibull parameters ‘a’ and ‘b’ and mean height exhibited a strong linear relationship with parameter ‘c’. Validation test as carried out on the quadratic dbh and Weibull parameter relationship further proved that the models were consistent and efficient and were therefore recommended for predicting the diameter distribution of the stand.

Key words:Gmelina arborea,diameter distribution, Weibull distribution function, plantation, Nigeria.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture Vol. 1 (9), pp. 101-109, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Flora make-up and Agroforestry practices in backyard in Hiwane, Hintalo Wejerat of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Teshager Biruk Tewabech and Akrem Ephrem. Email:[email protected]

Accepted 14 August, 2014

Abstract 

Backyard (home garden) agroforestry practice is most popular in the northern part of the country. This backyard agroforestry is practiced as a mixture of crops (vegetables, herbs) and trees (fruits and fodder trees) to provide diversified products to the cultivators. This study found over 40 species of plants maintained in home garden of the study area. Furthermore, agroforestry practice in backyard has a crucial role in the improvement of livelihoods to small scale farmers in the study area through direct subsistence production, indirect subsistence production (such as foods, fuel wood, fodder and shade to the cultivators) and income generation. Furthermore, it has helped to conserve many species of plants in a small areas with providing diversify needs to the farmers. However, we found that availability of water has significantly affected the home garden plant species diversity (t-test, n = 13, p < 0.05). Additionally, there is a high correlation between the diversity of vegetables (leafy, fruit and root and tuber crops, spice and herbs in combination) kept in backyards and availability of water (Number of plant species = 6.11767 (± 0.14790) -0.27023 (± 0.01349) distance from the river r² = 0.9733, F_{1, 11} = 401.1 (P < 0.001) planting trees provide rural households with wood products for own consumption as well for sale and play role in decreasing soil degradation. Furthermore, our findings also suggest that households consider a number of attributes in making decision to backyard agroforestry practice. These results can be used by policy makers to promote home garden agroforestry practice in the study area by creating conducive water supply and considering households’ backyard size and roofing system.

Key words: Agroforestry, home garden, backyard, Ethiopia, Tigray.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture Vol. 1 (8), pp. 093-100, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rights on Land and tree tenure agroforestry system at communal land in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Iwan Boim Nur, Akbar Mardani and Tongyiee Yusukey

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor Barat 16680, Indonesia.Email: [email protected]

Accepted 24 July, 2014

Abstract 

Land and forest degradation in Indonesia tends to increase yearly due to lack of society participation in planting and maintaining of trees, especially in communal lands. In West Sumatra, where the land is generally communal, the success of tree planting for this purpose should be considered from land and tree tenure. The incentive system which is uncertain, leads to reluctance in planting trees on communal lands and the state. Therefore, this study aims at creating incentive system based on tree tenure rights in communal and state lands in West Sumatra. The finding indicates that on communal land, the tree rights basically vary according to local rules and the objectives of tree planting. The individual rights are basically high, but limited by the communal rights. Thus, for income purposes, farmers prefer planting a non-timber producing trees. Therefore, as an incentive, the clarity between individual rights and communal needs to be known as it generally happens that the communal interest dominates the individual interest. While on the state land, the clear purpose and usage for individual gets less emphasis, but there is more indirect achievement when usage is communal.

Key words: Agroforestry, communal land, incentives, land tenure, tree tenure, West Sumatera.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture Vol. 1 (8), pp. 086-092, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors upsetting agroforestry system in Swat, Pakistan

Adnan Jamilu, Haider Ammar and Danish Munir Gardish

Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi, Risalpur, Pakistan. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 01 July, 2014

Abstract 

This study has identified factors that affect the adoption of agroforestry practices; these include farmers' perceptions towards agroforestry, socio-economic characters of farmers and constraints for the development of agroforestry. The analysis of data demonstrates that the factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices have been varied depending on the type of factor. Growing of trees was observed as a function of social and economical characteristics of the farming community. On-farm trees were grown for fuel-wood, timber, fodder, income generation, environmental purpose and for controlling erosion. Poor crop-stand, lack of markets, lack of nurseries, damage by animals and humans and lack of incentives were the obvious constraints expressed by the farmers. Bigger size of the family positively influenced tree cultivation. Farmer’s income has supported agroforestry. Education level encouraged trees. Farm trees species were distributed in the order of poplar > persimmon > peach > pear > walnut > apple > acacia > willow > plum. Further studies are suggested for the contribution of agroforestry to the household income, food security and sustainability of agriculture.

Key words: Agroforestry, farmers’ perceptions, constraints, socioeconomic factors, dry area.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture Vol. 1 (6), pp. 068-072, June, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The control of gravity on wood species variety for agroforestry in some Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria

Ola kayodele

Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, College of Forestry and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Makurdi,

P. M. B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 May, 2014

Abstract 

Specific gravity (SG) of wood has not been adequately reported to be a factor directly or indirectly influencing its selection for incorporation into or retention in some of the agroforestry systems. In this study, the SG of twelve wood species that top the priority ranking of respondents in Akinyele and Ido Local Government Areas (LGAs), Oyo State, Nigeria, where the predominant type of agroforestry system practiced is that of scattered trees in croplands, were evaluated and found to range between 0.42 and 0.85 with eleven of the species having values > 0.60. Ranking pattern by the respondents in the two LGAs was found not to be significantly different using Friedman chi-square analysis ( ² = 2.17, p <0.05). Data obtained for SG were subjected to two-way analysis of variance which indicated a significant variation (p < 0.05) in the values among the species but not within each species. Follow up test was carried out using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference. The correlation analysis gave positive coefficient values (r > 0.80, p < 0.05) between SG and cumulative ranking values in the two LGAs. Conclusion and recommendations were made in line with the outcome of the study.

Key words: Agroforestry technologies, wood specific gravity, species selection, natural resources, indigenous knowledge.