Re-greening of agrosystems in the Burkina Faso Sahel: greater drought resilience but falling woody plant diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida ◽  
Babou André Bationo ◽  
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Vegetation Survey ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Sahel Region

SummaryDroughts and land degradation result in biodiversity and ecosystem service losses with serious implications for human wellbeing. The Sahel region has seen increased plant cover since the end of 1970s–1980s droughts, but understanding the nature and implications of this change remains a priority. This study aimed to assess changes in the woody floristic composition of re-greened agrosystems since the droughts in Burkina Faso. In 148 vegetation survey plots distributed across areas with increasing woody plant cover and those to some extent protected from exploitation, a total of 71 species from 51 genera and 23 families were identified. Compared to pre-drought flora, our measurements show a decline in the diversity and density of woody species. Combretaceae species and thorny species of the genera Acacia and Balanites, which are more tolerant of drought, were the most dominant, indicating a post-drought woody vegetation that is more resistant to water stress. The increased presence of food-producing species in agroforestry parks (cultivated fields with woody plants) seems to reflect the growing needs of the human population.

scholarly journals Dynamics of woody plant cover in the Sahelian agroecosystems of the northern region of Burkina Faso since the 1970s–1980s droughts

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 659-669
Author(s):  
Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida ◽  
Farid Traoré ◽  
Babou André Bationo ◽  
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Sahel Region ◽  
Effective Conservation

This study was carried out in the northern region of Burkina Faso under Sahelian climatic conditions. The area was particularly affected by the 1970s–1980s droughts that led to the degradation of land and vegetation. Since the early 1990s, a gradual return of rainfall has been observed throughout the Sahel region. In this new environmental context, understanding the development of woody plants is important for effective conservation and management. We analyzed the dynamics of woody plant cover over the 30 years following the end of the 1970s–1980s droughts by using Landsat images from 1986, 1999, and 2015 with 30 m spatial resolution and taking into account changes in rainfall and land use. The change in the enhanced vegetation index 1 (EVI1) at the beginning of the dry season was used as a proxy for the change in photosynthetic activity of woody plants. Results showed an improvement in EVI1 on 98% of the study area, with a mean increase of 0.20 from 1986 to 2015. This improvement was accompanied by an increase in agroforestry and was weakly correlated with rainfall. The improvement in EVI1 was unstable, however, with a decline from 1999 to 2015 in the areas undergoing regreening.

scholarly journals Alien and native woody plants in scattered vegetation in agricultural landscape

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
Ján Supuka ◽  
Attila Tóth ◽  
Mária Bihuňová ◽  
Martina Verešová ◽  
Karol Šinka
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Lycium Barbarum ◽  
Dominance Index ◽  
Acer Campestre

AbstractThe woody plant species composition has been evaluated in three cadastral territories of southwestern Slovakia, together in 77 habitats of non-forest woody vegetation (NFWV). A total of 43 tree species have been identified; 8 of them were alien and 5 species were cultural fruit trees. In total 20 shrub species were identified, out of which 3 were alien. Three woody species are classified as invasive according to the law in Slovakia: Acer negundo L., Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, and Lycium barbarum L. They occurred only in 2, maximum in 4 of the evaluated habitats. The most occurring alien tree species Robinia pseudoacacia L. was generally identified in 58 habitats and in 48 habitats, with an incidence over 40% and dominance index of 70.6. The second most occurring alien tree Populus × canadensis had a dominance index of 8.3. The dominant native trees in NFWV were Acer campestre L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Quercus robur L., Salix fragilis L. with the dominance index of 1–5 only.

scholarly journals Post-fire management and recovery of a pine forest in Greece

Web Ecology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Spanos ◽  
Y. Raftoyannis ◽  
P. Platis ◽  
E. Xanthopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plant ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Plant Composition ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Treatment Application

Abstract. The effects of management after fire in Pinus halepensis forests were assessed in northern Greece. Seeding, logging and building of log barriers were applied in burned sites and compared to a control site. Two years after treatment application, 70–80% of the ground in all sites was covered with vegetation. Seeding with herbaceous plants did not increase plant cover. Logging and building of log barriers negatively affected herbaceous species but increased woody species. During the first spring after fire, the highest numbers of P. halepensis seedlings were observed in the control site and the lowest number in the logged site. Logging and log barrier building had a negative effect on pine regeneration compared to control and seeding treatments. Woody plant composition was similar in control and seeding sites, with dominance of P. halepensis and Cistus species. A different pattern was observed in the logging and log-barrier sites with a low number of seeders and a high number of resprouter species.

scholarly journals Effects of Land-Use Practices on Woody Plant Cover Dynamics in Sahelian Agrosystems in Burkina Faso since the 1970s–1980s Droughts

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 5908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida ◽  
Babou André Bationo ◽  
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Strong Dependence ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Land Use Practices ◽  
Agroforestry Practices

The 1970s–1980s droughts in the Sahel caused a significant degradation of land and plant cover. To cope with this situation, populations have developed several biophysical and social adaptation practices. Many of these are agroforestry practices and contribute to the maintenance of agrosystems. Unfortunately, they remain insufficiently documented and their contributions to the resilience of agrosystems insufficiently evaluated. Many authors widely link the regreening in the Sahel after droughts to the resumption of rainfall. This study examines the contribution of agroforestry practices to the improvement of woody plant cover in the North of Burkina Faso after the 1970s–1980s droughts. The examination of practices is carried out by integrating the rainfall, soil, and geomorphology variables. Landsat images are used to detect changes in woody plant cover: increasing, decreasing, and no-change in the Enhanced Vegetation Index. In addition, 230 field observations, coupled with interviews conducted on the different categories of change, have allowed to characterize the biophysical environment and identify land-use practices. The results show a variability of vegetation index explained to 9% (R2 = 0.09) by rainfall. However, Chi-Squared independence tests show a strong dependence between changes in woody plant cover and geomorphology (p = 0.0018 *), land use, land cover (p = 0.0001 *), and land-use practices (p = 0.0001 *). Our results show that rainfall alone is not enough to explain the dynamics of agrosystems’ woody plant cover. Agricultural and social practices related to the dynamics of farmer perceptions play a key role.

Absorption and translocation of [14C]glyphosate in four woody plant species

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 785-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Green ◽  
Patrick J. Minogue ◽  
Charles H. Brewer ◽  
Glenn R. Glover ◽  
Dean H. Gjerstad
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Herbicide Tolerance ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Foliar Absorption

Absorption and translocation patterns of radio-labelled glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) were examined in four species of woody plants to determine mechanisms of herbicide tolerance in species common to the southeastern United States. Loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) and yaupon (Ilexvomitoria (L.) Ait.), both tolerant to the herbicide, absorbed significantly less glyphosate than did red maple (Acerrubrum L.) or white oak (Quercusalba L.), indicating the importance of foliar absorption as a barrier to glyphosate entry. Although herbicide absorption was similar between the sensitive white oak and the tolerant red maple, white oak accumulated more glyphosate in the roots than did red maple, indicating that translocation patterns also contribute significantly to glyphosate tolerance in some woody species.

Termitaria as browsing hotspots for African megaherbivores in miombo woodland

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Loveridge ◽  
Stein R. Moe
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Acacia Nilotica ◽  
Termite Mound ◽  
Miombo Woodland ◽  
Termite Mounds ◽  
Dichrostachys Cinerea ◽  
Colophospermum Mopane ◽  
Mound Construction

Thirteen termite mounds and 13 similar-sized control plots were surveyed in central Zimbabwe in order to study large mammalian browsing and vegetation characteristics. The mounds supported almost twice as many tree species as the control plots and the woody vegetation was denser on mounds compared with the woodland plots. Species of woody plants were recorded along with the percentage of branches browsed (cumulative browsing score) by black rhino, Diceros bicornis, elephant, Loxodonta africana and other browsers combined. In addition we measured how the cumulative browsing score on three woody plant species, Acacia nilotica, Colophospermum mopane and Dichrostachys cinerea, which were common both on and off mounds, was related to the distance from mound centre. Both black rhino and elephant cumulative browsing scores were significantly higher on the mound plants compared with the woodland plots. Cumulative browsing score was negatively related to distance from the mound centre for Dichrostachys cinerea, Colophospermum mopane and Acacia nilotica. We propose that termite mound construction in miombo woodland contributes to sustaining populations of megaherbivores and perhaps some woody species in these areas.

Do Woody Plants Prevent the Establishment of Common Reed along Highways? Insights from Southern Quebec

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Albert ◽  
Jacques Brisson ◽  
Jean Dubé ◽  
Claude Lavoie
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Common Reed ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Drainage Ditch ◽  
Invasive Grasses ◽  
Competition For Light ◽  
The Common

AbstractThe common reed (Phragmites australis) is one of the most invasive vascular plants in northeastern North America. A competitive genotype from Eurasia has recently invaded road and agricultural ditches, which facilitate the dispersal of the plant over long distances. However, large tracts of roadsides—apparently propitious for the establishment of the plant—are not invaded by the grass. We hypothesized that the absence of the invader is associated with physical and biological characteristics of roadsides. To test this hypothesis, we collected field data and developed two statistical models to explain the presence or absence of the common reed along a highway of southern Quebec highly invaded by the plant but with contrasting patterns of common reed distribution. The models explained 23 to 30% of the total variance and correctly predicted the presence or absence of common reed 71% of the time. The models suggest that a dense woody plant cover over a drainage ditch limits the establishment and/or expansion of the common reed, probably by competition for light and space. Also, shaded ditches are not subjected to a frequent maintenance, and are therefore less disturbed, probably further reducing common reed invasion because the germination of their seeds is less likely without soil disturbance. This study yields insights on the potential of woody plants for controlling the expansion of invasive grasses, and could help to justify the preservation of dense shrubs and tree hedges along right-of-ways.

scholarly journals The daytime woody plants water output by transpiration

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-176
Author(s):  
Medet Kenjebaevich Akhmatov ◽  
Petr Salaš
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Water Exchange ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Plant Transpiration ◽  
Water Output ◽  
To Receive ◽  
The City ◽  
Physiological Research

For the ecological-physiological research, and in particular water exchange, it is necessary to study a plant entire. The data about the daytime change of whole woody plant transpiration help to determine a degree of this or that woody species influence on air humidizing and that way on a microclimate as well, and also to receive necessary information about rational formation of woody plantings as the city boundaries and forest shelterbelts and on sites with various water-security.

scholarly journals Restoration of bare incrusted soils in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Marco Schmidt ◽  
Konstantin König ◽  
Karen Hahn ◽  
Georg Zizka ◽  
Rüdiger Wittig
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Digital Photography ◽  
Experimental Site ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés ◽  
Restoration Method ◽  
Sahel Region

Bare incrusted soils are a degradation stage often encountered in the Sahel zone. Our study documents the success of restoration (= regreening) experiments using deep ploughing in an experimental site south of Gorom-Gorom in the Oudalan province of Burkina Faso. We used phytosociological relevés and maximum likelihood classifications of digital photography to analyze changes in vegetation. Plant cover in treated plots was found to be about 20 times higher than in control plots, mean species richness more than twice as high. Therefore, this promising restoration method should be tested also in other Sahelian regions. Our approach to combine phytosociological relevés and maximum likelihood classifications of digital photography proved to be very useful.

scholarly journals Herbicide Application Techniques for Woody Plant Control

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2006 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Ferrell ◽  
Ken Langeland ◽  
Brent Sellers
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Original Publication ◽  
Common Occurrence ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Application Techniques ◽  
Plant Control ◽  
Cherry Trees

The progression of trees and other woody plants into pastures, fencerows, ditch banks, rights-of-way and other areas is a common occurrence. These woody species can be particularly troublesome and require control since they will compromise fence intregrity, impede canal drainage, interfere with transmission of electricity, and some species (such as cherry trees) are highly poisonous to livestock. The aim of this publication is to detail the techniques for the removal of woody plants. This document is SS-AGR-260, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2006. Reviewed November 2006. SS-AGR-260/AG245: Herbicide Application Techniques for Woody Plant Control (ufl.edu)

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