scholarly journals Farmers' Knowledge Is the Basis for Local Level Agro-Forestry Management: The Case of Lemo Woreda in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohannes Horamo ◽  
Munyaradzi Chitakira ◽  
Kowiyou Yessoufou

This research was designed to investigate the hypothesis that farmers practising traditional agro-forestry which dates back for centuries have accumulated immense knowledge of agro-forestry, which can be captured and incorporated into formal development programmes to improve it. Farmers' knowledge must be documented, valued and integrated in order to maximise its importance for planning and decision-making. This research aimed to investigate and document farmers' knowledge of managing agro-forestry and the contribution to sustainable management of natural resources. Accordingly, questionnaire surveys were conducted in six villages from three peasant associations. In total, 73 households were selected for interview and the data collected were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 26. The findings revealed tree species that contribute to crop yield improvement and the important role agro-forestry trees play with regard to soil fertility. Farmers' strategies to associate trees and shrubs in their farmlands were revealed. Tree species with a negative effect on crop yields were identified and recorded. Farmers reported and ranked in the order of importance, opportunities and constraints in the management of agro-forestry. Farmers' accumulated knowledge of tree–crop and tree–animal interactions, the role of trees in soil fertility, crop and livestock improvement, revealed in the study can significantly enhance the stainability of agriculture. If local knowledge is not documented, it remains largely inaccessible to development workers seeking solutions to locally defined problems.

Author(s):  
Muthuraman Yuvaraj ◽  
Kasiviswanathan Subash Chandra Bose ◽  
Prabakaran Elavarasi ◽  
Eman Tawfik

Soil salinity is a growing threat all over the world due to its toxic effect to reduce soil fertility and water uptake in the crops. An average of 418 million ha soil is saline in nature. Various climatic, geomorphic and rainfall pattern causes which involved in saline soil formation. To reduce the toxic effect proper management of saline soil is required. Irrigation water also a major concern regarding soil salinity management. Saline irrigation water enhances and maintains the severity soil salinity. Crop production aspects root zone salinity provides a strong negative impact on soil fertility. Salinity causes the reduction in nutrient ion, and water uptake has a significant negative effect on crop yields. Soil and water salinity interactions and their influence on crop growth and management of salinity are deliberated in this chapter.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Azembouh Roshinus Tsufac ◽  
Bernard Palmer Kfuban Yerima ◽  
Nyong Princely Awazi

Soils are the universal reservoirs through which living organisms get the resources for their livelihoods either directly like plants and indirectly like other organisms and animals. The ability of soils to serve as a universal reservoir depends on its fertility. Agroforestry practices have been seen to improve and conserve soil fertility. This research work carried out from the 10th of May 2015 to the 10th of November 2015 was aimed at assessing the role of agroforestry practices in the improvement of soil fertility in the study area. Information was collected using questionnaires, field surveys and the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. The results obtained were subjected to regression and correlation analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). These results showed that the main agroforestry practices in this area include live fences and scattered trees on farmlands. It was also observed that farmers use indicators such as yields, softening of soil, wilting of the crops, rotten tubers, erosion and rains to determine soil fertility. There was no significant difference between various soil parameters (pH, acidity, CEC, ECEC, C/N, and exchangeable Al) in the two major agroforestry practices identified. There was equally no significant difference between the various soil elements and yields in the two major systems identified. The only element that showed a significant difference (P<5%) in the two systems and also for yields was phosphorous. Since only phosphorous significantly influenced yields in this area, a model was established to show that crop yields are dependent on phosphorous as indicated by the equation Yields = 1.77+ 0.03 P. Scattered trees on farm lands were recommended to farmers, the practice of improved fallow using a local fertilizing species identified as well as the use of Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum) and Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) should be introduced on slopes to control erosion.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Max Segnitz ◽  
Sabrina E. Russo ◽  
Stuart J. Davies ◽  
Kabir G. Peay

AbstractWhile work in temperate forests suggests that there may be consistent differences in plant-soil feedback (PSF) between plants with arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal associations, it is unclear whether this is compatible with the high diversity of tropical rainforests. To examine this, we tested the effect of mycorrhizal type, phylogenetic distance, and soil fertility on variation in PSF strength in a mixed-tropical rainforest with a uniquely high diversity of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal trees. We found positive phylogenetic PSFs for ectomycorrhizal tree species that were insensitive to soil fertility. By contrast, PSFs for arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species were negative, and increasingly so with greater soil fertility. Our results demonstrate consistent effects of mycorrhizal types on plant population dynamics across biomes, and help explain biogeographic variation across tropical forests, such as familial dominance of the Dipterocarpaceae in SE Asia. However, they also raise questions about the role of PSFs in maintaining tropical diversity.Statement of authorshipRMS, SER, SJD and KGP designed the experiment. RMS conducted the experiment and collected data. RMS analyzed data with input from KGP and SER. RMS wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors contributed to subsequent revision and preparation of the manuscript.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (105) ◽  
pp. 18804-18823
Author(s):  
YG Keneni ◽  
◽  
AF Senbeta ◽  
G Sime

The tree land cover in Ethiopia is declining due to deforestation, agricultural land expansion, overgrazing, firewood use and construction. Farm tree plantation has a potential to improve tree cover and the country's vision towards reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emission by 2030. This study was conducted in Sidama of Ethiopia to assess the role of small-scale tree plantations, and the attitudes and skills of farmers in propagating and conserving indigenous trees as compared to exotic ones, and to identify major impediments for exotic and indigenous tree plantation. By using stratified random sampling, 149 household heads were selected and interviewed, and the tree plantation practices of 46 randomly selected farmers were observed. Advice and support given to farmers concerning tree plantation and nursery care were collected from 16 Woreda Rural Development Experts. During the study a total of 46 tree species were identified, and 92% of the trees on the farmland were exotic. The percentage composition of the five most dominant tree species were Eucalyptus spp. (79.6%), Cupressus spp (8.5%), Cordia africana (4.8%), Grevillea robusta (3.3%), and Millettia ferruginea (1.8%). The trees provide several direct and indirect socio-economic and ecological importance (construction, fuel, income, medicinal value, fencing, asset for present and next generation, fodder for livestock, garden shade, aesthetic, recreation, spiritual value, improve soil fertility and environmental impact remediation). The majority of farmers prefer exotic trees due to their fast growth, ease of nursery preparation and fast establishment, and higher income generation in shorter period. Though farmers like to plant indigenous trees for their ecological services such as improving soil fertility, producing durable household utensils, shading and other ecological values; land shortage and lack of knowledge on plant biology, nursery preparation and propagation method constrained its plantation. Therefore, introduction of appropriate technologies to the existing farming system is required for sustainable indigenous tree plantation in the study area.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Nikitin ◽  
Alexandra M. Freund

Abstract. Establishing new social relationships is important for mastering developmental transitions in young adulthood. In a 2-year longitudinal study with four measurement occasions (T1: n = 245, T2: n = 96, T3: n = 103, T4: n = 85), we investigated the role of social motives in college students’ mastery of the transition of moving out of the parental home, using loneliness as an indicator of poor adjustment to the transition. Students with strong social approach motivation reported stable and low levels of loneliness. In contrast, students with strong social avoidance motivation reported high levels of loneliness. However, this effect dissipated relatively quickly as most of the young adults adapted to the transition over a period of several weeks. The present study also provides evidence for an interaction between social approach and social avoidance motives: Social approach motives buffered the negative effect on social well-being of social avoidance motives. These results illustrate the importance of social approach and social avoidance motives and their interplay during developmental transitions.


2016 ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
B.M. Ventskivskiy ◽  
◽  
I.V. Poladych ◽  
S.O. Avramenko ◽  
◽  
...  

In recent years there has been an increase in the frequency of multiple pregnancies and the associated perinatal losses. It is a result of multiple pregnancy in ART refers to a high-risk gestation, at which premature births occur in 2 times more often than in singleton pregnancies. The objective: to determine the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of premature labor in multiple pregnancy, as a result of assisted reproductive technology. Patients and methods. to determine the pro-inflammatory cytokines that all pregnant with bagtopliddyam held immunosorbent assay, defined concentrations of interleukin (IL) in serum and cervical mucus. Results. The analysis of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-8) in the test environment, found high concentrations in the surveyed women with multiple pregnancy, due to the use of ART, compared with spontaneous multiple and singleton pregnancy. Increased concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with multiple pregnancy by ART is associated with their synthesis at the system level, it stimulated foci of inflammation in the female genitals and extragenital localization. This correlates with the clinical data and statistical analysis, patients with multiple pregnancy as a result of ART had weighed infectious-inflammatory history. Conclusion. The study showed that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the systemic and local level in patients with multiple pregnancy due to ART, typical for women with miscarriage, because of the physiological course of pregnancy characterized by the predominance of anti-inflammatory cytokines that prevent rejection of the fetus as a foreign factor. Based on the data obtained proved the role of systemic inflammatory factors in the genesis of preterm labor in women with a multiple pregnancy, as a result of assisted reproductive technology. Key words: multiple pregnancy, assisted reproductive technology, premature birth, interleukine-1, interleukine-8.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 4172-4177
Author(s):  
Abdul Malek

The denial of the existence of contradiction is at the root of all idealism in epistemology and the cause for alienations.  This alienation has become a hindrance for the understanding of the nature and the historical evolution mathematics itself and its role as an instrument in the enquiry of the physical universe (1). A dialectical materialist approach incorporating  the role of the contradiction of the unity of the opposites, chance and necessity etc., can provide a proper understanding of the historical evolution of mathematics and  may ameliorate  the negative effect of the alienation in modern theoretical physics and cosmology. The dialectical view also offers a more plausible materialist interpretation of the bewildering wave-particle duality in quantum dynamics (2).


2011 ◽  
Vol 162 (7) ◽  
pp. 209-215
Author(s):  
Jean-François Métraux

In the years since 2000, the authorities in charge of forests in canton Vaud have made some substantial changes as a reaction to the political decisions arising from the Swiss Forest Programme and the projected revision of the Federal forestry Law, as well as to the deterioration of the economic situation in forestry enterprises. This article gives a survey of the directions taken. Thus the canton recognises the primordial role of wood production as a driving force behind the creation of a multifunctional forest. The Service for Forests, Wildlife and Nature has invested a great deal in planning, and has redefined the management plan to be an instrument intended for forest owners and forest managers. The canton has innovated by introducing forestry groups and a scheme of equalisation of forestry costs between communes. Hence the conception of forestry management in canton Vaud is resolutely that of a multifunctional natural heritage.


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