JournalTOCs

Environment and Natural Resources Research
Number of Followers: 6

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 1927-0488 - ISSN (Online) 1927-0496
Published by CCSE

[43 journals]

Perception and Resilience Strategies of Livestock Farmers and
Agro-Pastoralists Affected by Climate Change: Case of the urban commune of
Tera, Niger
- Abstract: This study aimed to identify and strengthen the resilience of livestock and agro-pastoralists in the face of changing climatic conditions. The study was conducted in the urban commune of Tera. The methodological approach consisted of desk research and data collection. In order to find the number of households to be surveyed in the selected camps, the method of taking a sample (8%) of the target households is adopted. In total, forty-eight (48) herders and agro-pastoralists are selected. The analysis of the perception of the herders and agro-pastoralists on the climate trend showed a decrease in the amount of rainfall (94% of respondents), increasingly high temperatures (92%) and an increase in strong and sandy winds in all seasons (96%). The disappearance of plant cover was the main cause of climate change according to 79.2% of respondents. The impacts of climate change are numerous. Pastoral resources (water and fodder) have been greatly reduced. The health of the animals has been affected, as has their production. Strategies have been developed by farmers and agro-pastoralists to reduce or anticipate the negative effects of climate change. According to some respondents, the strategies have not fully met expectations.
  PubDate: Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:50:21 +000
Influence of Different Land Management Systems on the Dynamics of Carbon
Biodegradability and Nitrogen Mineralization in a Sudanian Savanah
Grasslands Soil, Western Burkina Faso
- Abstract: This study aimed to assess soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) dynamics under fallow lands influenced by the perennial grass Andropogon gayanus and to show how the biological activity is improved during the Sudanian tillage system in the area of Bondoukuy (Western Burkina Faso). Soil samplings were done through cultivated plots (CP), ten (F10) and twenty (F20) years old fallow lands. Measurements were done in thickets and intergrowth areas of the perennial grass in two horizons: the topsoil (0-10 cm) and the subsoil (10-20 cm). Results showed that SOC concentrations are generally higher in the old (0.35%) than in the young fallow lands (0.29%) and in the cultivated plots (0.23%). TN concentrations followed the same pattern (0.022%, 0.017% for the old and young fallows lands and 0.013% for the cultivated plots). The C:N ratio observed (15~20) suggests an important soil organic matter (SOC and TN) maturation state in the fallow lands (F10 and F20) than in the cultivated plots (CP). Soil mineralization is also more important in the two fallow lands than in fields. For the total nitrogen mineralization, we have an important production of mineral nitrogen always in old fallow lands and a positive effect of the thicket on the net mineral nitrogen accumulation (p
  PubDate: Sat, 26 Nov 2022 14:11:12 +000
Simulated Soil Moisture and Planting Material Health on the Behaviour of
Cosmopolites sordidus, Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
- Abstract: The pest status of Cosmopolites sordidus has been related to farm sanitation, environmental conditions and local weevil biotypes. This study was to confirm the inherent fecundity of endemic weevils, soil moisture effect and planting material health status that may contribute to weevil behaviour. Adult banana weevils were confined to plantain rhizomes, which were then subjected to four soil moisture regimens for 65 days. In another experiment to measure potential fecundity, weevils collected from the farmer’s field were dissected to determine the internal egg follicles. Planting material with different initial weevil egg infestations on the pseudostem were confined below insect screening net in growing pots. Larva damage and stage populations were determined after 22 weeks. The results showed that weevils confined to plants under moisture stress had higher corm damage than irrigated and vigorously growing plants. A lower number of weevils were associated with plants under moisture stress than vigorously growing plants. The maximum number of mature egg follicles present in the ovaries of female weevils was 17. In general, the mean number of mature egg follicles was 4 per female adult weevil. Infested planting material with initial estimated number of 0.3 eggs per sucker resulted in 2.3 adult emergence and ≈ 34% corm cross section damage after 154 days. The potential egg follicles albeit slow weevil population build-up reiterates the k-selected nature of the banana weevil. The egg follicles in adult female ovaries were high and comparable with weevils in other banana growing regions. The default health status of planting material was confirmed to be a contributing factor to weevil build-up in confinement. Soil moisture increased weevil survival but the improved plant vigour compensated for weevil damage.
  PubDate: Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:46:07 +000
Physicochemical Analysis of Parameters Influencing Soil Loss for a
Selected Location in North Central Nigeria Using Rainfall Simulator
- Abstract: Developing a simple and proper model that can accurately predict runoff generation for various locations is in strong demand. This study developed a simple model based on the interactive effects of rainfall intensity and soil physicochemical properties on runoff using a locally produced rainfall simulator. The drop velocity (DV) was calculated to be 8.101m/s and 2.443 m/s when operated at maximum and minimum intensity, respectively, and the performance test revealed the experimental coefficient of uniformity (CU) and rainfall intensity from the simulator to be 79.86 % at 31.79 mmhr-1 and 78.03 % at 16.08 mmhr-1 at maximum and minimum intensity respectively. Results showed that the soils were loamy sand, with clay having the lowest percentage between 3.55% - 4% and sand having the highest percentage between 78.4% - 80.1% on both plots. Runoff significantly correlated with pH(H20), nitrogen and rainfall intensity for vegetative plot (p < 0.001, R2 = 86.29%) while for bare plot, runoff significantly correlated with pH (KCl), Electrical Conductivity, Exchangeable Calcium, and rainfall intensity (p < 0.001, R2 = 92.39%). This result revealed that rainfall intensity and alkalinity are key factors influencing runoff in the study location.
  PubDate: Tue, 02 Aug 2022 10:57:45 +000
Challenges of Community-Based Management of Protected Areas: Contested
Trade-offs Between Livelihood and Conservation Interests in Chyulu Hills
National Park, Kenya
- Abstract: This was a formative study whose main aim was to obtain useful information for designing co-management interventions of Chyulu Hills National Park (CHNP) and other protected ecosystems in Kenya. Among the specific objectives that we have covered in this article were to; (1) examine the competing livelihood interests of communities living within the catchment of CHNP. (2) to assess the challenges that undermined community support towards co-management of the ecosystem. The findings showed that communities were highly dependent on park resources for both direct and indirect livelihood services. This over-dependence on the resources by local communities made it difficult for management agencies to control access to the protected area leading to illegal encroachment. There were gaps that required urgent attention to to ensure suatainable management of CHNP. First, communities were not engaged effectively when mangement decisions were being made but only received information on decisions that have already been made elsewhere and were required to abide by them. Secondly, incidences of human-wildlife conflicts jeopardized cooperation between communities and wildlife management agency. Thirdly, in spite of the protected area being in their neighbourhoods, community members felt entitled to the ecosystem resources and therefore they perceived it unfair that the authories kept them off from the National park. In conclusion, there was no balanced tradeoff between the livelihood interests of local communities and conservation interests of the National Park. To promote collaboration between the communities and wildlife management agencies in management of the park there was an urgent need to address the livelihood interests of the local communities.
  PubDate: Sun, 31 Jul 2022 03:42:51 +000