Assessing Interactions between Agriculture, Livestock Grazing and Wildlife Conservation Land Uses: A Historical Example from East Africa

Despite mobile livestock grazing being widely recognized as one of the most viable and sustainable land uses for semi-arid savanna, which can deliver clear wildlife conservation benefits, the levels of pastoral sedentarization and transitions to agricultural livelihoods continue to rise in many pastoral communities across the world. Using questionnaire interviews with community elders, our study assessed changing trends in livestock grazing, wildlife conservation, and sedentarization levels from the 1960s to the present day across three savannas in southern Kenya. Our study identified the drivers of land uses and land subdivision and the implications of land use change on savanna ecology. Over the last half century, there has been a 30% decline in livestock grazing land in southern Kenya due to the expansion of land for agriculture and wildlife conservation. Despite the decline, livestock grazing remains the preferred land use in subdivided and privatized lands. Pastoralist land used for wildlife conservation was perceived to be higher (30%) in southwestern Kenya compared to southeastern Kenya (16%), despite their geographical proximity. These historical insights provide useful lessons for maintaining space for wildlife, diversifying livelihoods, and increasing the resilience of pastoralists in the process of transitioning from traditional subsistence to market economies and the threats of social and ecological dislocation.

Heterosis for hatch weight and body weight gain in outcrossed native chickens of Nigeria under savanna conditions

The normal feathered (NF), frizzle feathered (FF) and naked neck (Na) native chickens of Nigeria were outcrossed under the savanna ecology. Eggs were collected and artificially incubated in electric type incubator. Chicks were weighed at hatch, identified and raised on a standard compounded ration. Body weight increase was evaluated at 4-20 weeks of age. Heterosis was evaluated for hatch weight and body weight at 20 weeks of age. Results revealed that percent heterosis ranged from -12.11to 1.66 and 1.93 to 12.80 for hatch weight and body weight at 20 weeks of age, respectively. The outcrosses using the NF as males had a higher body weight at 20 weeks of age. Consequently, the environmental limitation on growth impinged more on the NF than on the FF and Na genotypes. It was also noted that there is a greater divergence between the NF and the FF, the NF and Na than between the FF and Na birds. Outcrossing the NF birds with the FF and Na birds in the savanna may therefore improve body weight at 20 weeks of age in the outcrosses than in the respective straight bred genotypes.

Total and Available Micronutrient Status in Soils of Derived Savanna Ecology of Oyo State, Nigeria

The potentially available and total micronutrient status in soils of derived savanna ecology of Oyo State, Nigeria were assessed and compared with standard critical values in soils. Soil samples were collected from a land measuring 285m2 on a line transect with the aid of a stainless soil auger. The sampling depths were 0 -15 cm, 15 – 30 cm, 30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm respectively. The Physico-chemical properties and micronutrient content of the soil were determined using standard methods. The mobility factor of the micronutrients revealed the following trends Zn > Fe > Mn > Cu. In all, the concentration of Mn was relatively constant irrespective of the soil depth. This study revealed that the micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were adequate and well supplied in the soils of the area, and therefore, deficiencies of the elements are quite unlikely. Generally, the soils contained Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu above the critical level for crop production. The application of organic matter would help to improve the overall fertility of the soil. Activities that hastens up mineralization of organic materials should be minimized in managing soil health for optimum nutrient availability. Soil testing is recommended before fertilizer use to prevent nutrient imbalance or toxicity.