Differential responses of two cowpea (Virgina unguiculata L.Walp.) genotypes to pre-emergence herbicides in the savannah woodland and rainforest agroclimatic regions of Sierra Leone

Field trials were conducted in savannah woodland (Njala) and rainforest (Serabu) agroclimatic regions of Sierra Leone during 2016 second cropping season to assess different preemergence herbicides techniques that is efficient, cost effective and environmentally safe in cowpea production. The experiment consisted of 20 treatments which included 2 cowpea genotypes (slipea 4 and slipea 5) and 10 different weed control techniques viz: butachlor 50% emulsifiable concentrate (EC), double force®, power force® applied as preemergence herbicides at 2, 4 and 6 L ha-1, respectively and weedy check. The treatments were laid out in a strip-plot design arranged in a factorial system with three replications. The results of this study revealed that the application of power force® at 6 L ha-1 recorded the highest phytotoxic effect, lowest weed dry weight, number of pods per plant and grain yield, highest total variable cost, lowest gross and net returns. Furthermore, butachlor 50% EC at 2 L ha-1 closely followed by double force® at 6 L ha-1 resulted in maximum grain yield, gross and net returns compared to the rest of the other weed control techniques. Thus, it is concluded that butachlor 50% EC at 2 L ha-1 was more economical, profitable and beneficial than other control treatments in the production of cowpea genotypes in the savannah woodland and rainforest agroclimatic regions of Sierra Leone. Conclusively, the relationship between phytotoxicity and grain yield indicates that the higher the grain yield the lower the phytotoxic effects of the chemicals.

Assessment of Commercial Charcoal Production Effect on Savannah Woodland of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Charcoal is used as fuel in cooking for household, large food consumption and also in some industries especially those involved in casting bronze and other metals. It can be produced year round which involves woodland exploitation that contributes to deforestation with various negative consequences like loss of valuable resources and environment, drives climate change through the release of greenhouse gases, it also reduces the bio-productivity of ecosystems by disrupting the habitats of thousands of species, transforms forest lands into barren deserts and exposes bare surfaces which are susceptible to soil erosion, thus making the entire ecosystem unstable. These are among the major threats to forest reserves and contributes highly to deforestation with 0.038 hectare of savanna woodland depleted for production of a single 15 kg capacity bag of charcoal in the study area and this had led to forest degradation which 96.2% of the respondents attested. The study was to determine the impacts of charcoal production to the forest reserves and also the public perceptions of the environmental effect of unplanned cutting of tree for Charcoal Production and it recommended awareness, prudent forest management and getting involve the private sectors, combined with proactive actions and policies.

Population density and structure of diurnal primates in Pandam wildlife park, Plateau State, Nigeria.

A survey of diurnal primate species in Pandam wildlife park, Nigeria was conducted to determine its population density and structure. Eight transect lines (2.0km length, 0.02km width) at interval of 1.0km were located as representative samples in the park within the three range stratum (riparian forest, savannah woodland and, swampy area) based on proportional to size in providing information on the primate’s species present in the park. These include (Cercopithecus mona, Erythrocebus pata, Papio anubis and, Chlorocebus tantalus). Direct method of animal sighting was employed. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and diversity indices. The result showed that savannah woodland strata had more number of individual species encountered (132) and the lowest was the swampy area. Also the savannah woodland had the highest species diversity and richness while the riparian forest strata had the highest number of species evenness. More so, Cercopithecus tantalus was widespread throughout the park among other primates and Cercopithecus mona is most likely to decline even more rapidly than others since they inhabit the very tall trees. However, the variation in mean value of species sampled were not statistically significance (P>0.05). Generally, atleast one primate can be sighted in every km2 of range strata covered within the park. This census provides update information on the status of primate diversity and numbers within the park which can help to direct conservation efforts of the primates and other animals by the state government. This will further enhance the sustainability and elevation of the park to a National park.Keywords: Population status, Diurnal Primates, ecology, Pandam Wildlife Park,

Wintering area and migration routes for Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana from Sweden determined with light-loggers

The decrease of Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana in Western Europe over the last five decades has caused serious concern for the survival of this species in Sweden. In order to find out the migration routes and wintering location, we equipped several males with geologgers. Our data show annual cycles of migrations routes, wintering grounds and time schedules for seven re-trapped birds. The wintering area in West Africa is savannah woodland in a mountainous landscape in Mali and Guinea. The migration routes follow more or less the great circle between the breeding and wintering areas. Most birds were likely to have passed the well-known Ortolan catching area in les Landes south of Bordeaux in France during autumn migration.