International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Household tree planting and its related constraints in meeting woodfuel production in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa Districts of Central Kenya

Githiomi J. K.¹*, Mugendi D. N.² and Kung’u J. B.²

¹Forest Products Research Centre, Kenya Forestry Research Institute P.O. Box 64636-00620 Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 08 October, 2019

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess household tree planting for fuelwood production and investigate current constraints to tree establishment in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa Districts of Central Kenya. The study was undertaken through household survey in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa Districts of Central Kenya. The districts were purposively sampled on the basis of various factors which include diverse ecological conditions and population densities among others. Sampling of the households was done using multistage stratified random sampling technique where stratification was based on the weights in socio-economic and climatic activities as indicators. The results of the study showed that over 90% of the households in the three districts have planted trees in their farms and tree planting was found to be positively correlated to household farm size. Boundary tree planting was the most preferred as compared to woodlots which had the least preference. Grevillea robusta and Eucalyptus species were the most preferred tree species. Inadequate land was the leading major obstacles to tree planting in the three districts with 74, 60 and 57% of the household respondents followed by scarcity of seedlings with 16, 33 and 28% in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts, respectively. The third most important constraint was tree establishment cost. The household land size ownership varied among the districts with a range of 1.9 to 3.6 acres. The small household land holdings indicate the need to integrate woodfuel production with farming systems as agricultural sector has a key role in supplementing wood production. The study was concluded by recommending development of decentralised woodfuel planning with site specific implementation strategies in the study area as there were varying tree planting parameters among the districts. Establishment of tree nurseries was also recommended for a sustainable seedling production.

Key words: Household land size, species preference, woodfuel planning, sustainability.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pythium species and cold storage affect the root growth potential and survival of loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) seedlings

D. Paul Jackson*, Scott A. Enebak and David B. South

School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA.

Accepted 07 October, 2019

Abstract

When bareroot Southern pine (Pinus) seedlings are lifted in the fall and placed in cold storage for more than one week, survival is generally lower than when seedlings are lifted and stored during the winter. The combination of root wounding at the time of lifting with the presence of Pythium in the soil, the cool, moist conditions in cold storage encourage Pythium growth that results in seedling mortality after outplanting. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) seedlings were inoculated with either Pythium dimorphum or Pythium irregulare, cold stored for 3 weeks, and placed in a hydroponic system (aerated aquariums). Seedling Root growth potential (RGP was measured as the number, length, volume, surface area, and diameter of new roots and survival was recorded 4 months after outplanting. Both Pythium species reduced the number of new roots and root length, root surface area, and root volume in slash pine. P. irregulare reduced the number of new roots, root length, and root surface area and P. dimorphum reduced the number of new roots on loblolly pine. Although, P. irregulare lowered RGP, it did not reduce loblolly pine survival. In contrast, P. irregulare inoculation did reduce the survival of slash pine seedlings after outplanting.

Key words: Pythium dimorphum, Pythium irregular, root collar diameter; bareroot.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-003, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Ploidy estimation in West Indian gherkin, horned melon and wild Cucumis spp. by flow cytometry

Yuichi Matsumoto¹* and Makoto Miyagi²

¹United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.

²Plant Biotechnology Institute, Ibaraki Agricultural Center, Kasama, Ibaraki 319-0292, Japan.

Accepted 15 November, 2019

Abstract

The ploidy level of wild Cucumis spp. differs among species and accessions. Therefore, estimations of ploidy levels are important in the breeding of species and accessions of this plant. Flow cytometry is a powerful technique for estimating ploidy level. This study examined the applicability of flow cytometry analysis for estimating ploidy levels in wild Cucumis spp. West Indian gherkin and horned melon. The relative DNA content of these accessions was highly correlated with their ploidy levels. The results suggest that flow cytometry analysis can be used for estimating ploidy levels in these species.

Key words: West Indian gherkin, horned melon, Cucumis spp., ploidy level, flow cytometry.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of woodfuel supply and demand balance in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts in central Kenya

Githiomi J. K.¹*, Kung’u J. B.² and Mugendi D. N.²

¹Kenya Research Institute-Forest Products Research Centre, P.O. Box 64636-00620 Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 12 March, 2019

Abstract

This study was undertaken in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts of Central Kenya and it aimed at developing micro-level wood energy plan that would act as a case study for future decentralized wood energy plans in Kenya. Primary data was collected from households, service/production institutions comprising of factories/industries, schools, restaurants, hospitals and prisons using structured questionnaires. The study established a deficit between supply and demand balance of -41.7, -45.6 and -50.1% of woodfuel in 2006 for Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts respectively. The strategies suggested in micro-level wood energy plans to curb these deficits include allocation of gazetted plantation forest to fuel wood production, increase of improved stove technology, increase of on-farm tree land area and use of alternative energy sources. The combination of all these strategies gave a surplus of 22,903, 46,947 and 32,409 tons of woodfuel in Kiambu, Thika and Maragwa districts, respectively by 2018. The study recommended implementation of the identified strategies aimed at reducing the huge deficit between supply and demand, enhancing inter-institutional collaboration in all sectors related to wood energy development, developing clear policies to guide charcoal and firewood production and marketing and having regular wood energy surveys.

Key words: Central Kenya, wood energy, planning, woodfuel deficit.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of regeneration potential of HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA  L. under established ecosystems in Cameroon

Anjah G. M.¹*, Ogunsanwo O. Y.², Jimoh S. O.², Forjoh J. N.¹ and Tsombou F. M.¹

¹Department of Plant Biology, University of Dschang, Bp 67, Dschang, Cameroon.

²Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 September, 2019

Abstract

HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA is a non-timber-forest-plant (NTFP) that has the potential of producing fibers good in paper-making. Germination and growth potentials of H. SABDARIFFA under farmland, fallowland, plantation and forest ecosystems were studied. Seeds of H. SABDARIFFA were sown to assess germination percentage, germination rate, germination time and velocity coefficient on established plots of each ecosystem. Seedlings were randomly selected to measure growth and yield parameters of height, diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weights. Data were subjected to ANOVA and means separated by LSD at P = 0.05. Values of germination percentage for fallowland (17.5) were significantly different from those of farmland (19.4) and plantation (19.1) ecosystems, while natural forest (18.9) had an interactive significance with farmland, plantation and fallowland. There was no significant difference between germination times among the ecosystems, but the coefficient velocity and rate of germination among the ecosystems were significantly different. There was a significant variation in growth and yield values among the ecosystems. However, only seedlings on farmland and fallowland survived with a survival rate of 96 to 86%, respectively. H. SABDARIFFA can thus, be sustainably regenerated on farmland and fallowland ecosystems for the extraction of stem fibres for paper-making.

Key words: Non-timber-forest-plants, fibres, Hibiscus sabdariffa, ecosystems, growth, germination, yeild, regeneration, sustainability.