Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of site characteristics on the productivity and economic returns from cassava legume intercropping in Ghana

J. O. Fening¹*, T. Adjei Gyapong², F. Ababio¹ and E. Gaisie¹

¹Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso-Kumasi, Ghana.

²Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture. CANR, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 17 September, 2017

Abstract

In a 2-year field study, cassava was intercropped with four legumes (cowpea, pigeon pea, soyabean and Stylosanthes at three locations with different soil and environmental conditions, to determine the effect of site characteristics on the agronomic and economic advantage of the intercrop. The trial was a factorial experiment in a split plot design with three replications. A cost benefit analysis was conducted for the trial on the different crop arrangements. Root yield of cassava in the mixed cassava legume treatment across location during the first year was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the stripped treatment. Root yield of cassava cowpea mixed intercrop for example ranged from 38 to 88 t/ha. In the second year however, considerable variations were observed among the treatments with NPK treatment giving the highest yield of 84 t/ha. This influenced the overall economic net benefits and showed that the intercrop advantage depended on the interaction of component crops, the growth environment and to some extent agronomic manipulations, suggesting that the best combination of crops under a particular system of management in one environment with a particular set of climate and soil conditions may not necessarily be suitable in another environment.

Key words: Cassava, economic returns, intercropping, productivity.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-016, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The linkages between land use change, land degradation and biodiversity across East Africa

Joseph M. Maitima¹*, Simon M. Mugatha¹,  Robin S. Reid ², Louis N. Gachimbi³,  Amos Majule⁴, Herbert Lyaruu⁴, Derek Pomery⁶, Stephen Mathai⁵ and Sam Mugisha⁶

¹International Livestock Research Institute; P. O. Box 30709. Nairobi, Kenya.

²Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523, USA.

³Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 14733. Nairobi Kenya.

⁴University of Dar Es Salaam, P. O. Box 35097 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

⁵National Museums of Kenya, P. O. Box 40658, Nairobi Kenya.

⁶Makerere University, P. O. Box 7298 Kampala, Uganda.

Accepted 21 August, 2017

Abstract

Land use changes in East Africa have transformed land cover to farmlands, grazing lands, human settlements and urban centers at the expense of natural vegetation. These changes are associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss and land degradation. A synthesis of results of long term research by an interdisciplinary team reveals the linkages between land use change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. The results indicate that as native vegetation is lost, indigenous plant and animal biodiversity and plant cover are lost. Pastoralism maintains native plant and animal species more effectively than crop cultivation. As croplands expand, soil fertility and moisture drops and soils erode more easily. Farmers who grow many crops conserve native plant species better than those who grow only one crop. Increased crop diversity encourages regeneration of indigenous plant species. Moderate farming as in the less intensive low input rainfed mixed crop farming, in less forested areas increases tree cover thus increasing the biodiversity. Farmers’ who combine livestock rearing with cropping, use livestock manure to replenish soil nutrients in their farms and are thus able to maintain higher productivity. Farming in grasslands, woodlands and bushland areas where there are fewer trees, increases the diversity of habitats due to introduction of agrosystems that attract new species of birds. However, if the farming is intensified and the diversity of habitats is reduced biodiversity is also reduced. This paper presents findings of the investigations on these linkages in a diverse farming and herding systems ranging from lowlands to high mountains land uses.

Key words: East Africa, land use change, land cover change, biodiversity, land degradation.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-014, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of urbanisation on the Mingosso watershed in the Yaounde periurban zone

M. G. Ewodo¹*, C. Ekwelgen², F. Ntep¹ and G. E. Ekodeck¹

¹Faculty of Science, Earth Sciences Department, Laboratory of Geotechnic and Hydrotechnic, B. P. 812 Yaoundé –Cameroon.

²National Advanced School of the public work of Yaoundé, B. P. 12093 Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 20 August, 2017

Abstract

In the peripheral quarters of Yaounde city, population settlement is not regulated according to particular standards of land-use. The Mingosso watershed, which covers a surface area of 3.856 km² and which is administratively located in the Yaounde 6^th district, was studied to identify the impacts of this type of settlement upon the flow and the quality of groundwater. The physico-chemical variation of groundwater, a bacteriological analysis of water and a survey named “water-population-habitat” were carried out. The population growth rate between 2000 and 2005 was 24.55%. Without town planning, 91.2% of the population settled within the watershed, are not connected to piped supply network of drinkable water, leading to an increasing demand for groundwater wells and the degradation of overall aquifer quality. Groundwater has a diffuse mineralization, which is higher in densely populated zones than in zones under construction with a low population density.

Keys words: Urbanisation, groundwater, Yaounde, periurban zone, pollution, bio-indicator.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Field evidence of occurrence of groundwater in Gombe formation around Barambu and Gedawo, Northeastern Nigeria

Abdullahi Emmanuel Bala

Department of Geology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel.: 0803 665 7130.

Accepted 14 October, 2017

Abstract

The study area lies within the Upper Benue Trough South of Gombe town. Field study was carried out by methods of compass traversing and traversing along stream courses. Gombe formation, exposing 3 sandstone lithofacies comprising the upper, middle and lower members, in this part of the Trough, has a thickness of about 63 m. 2 aquiferous zones occur in the formation. The upper aquifer is found towards the bottom of the upper member of the formation and sometimes at the top of the middle member where sandstone beds interbed with impervious layers of ironstone. The middle member of the formation is essentially an aquitard and overlies the lower member which is an aquifer. Both aquifers are low water yielding. Analysis of grain size of the lower aquifer shows that the sandstones are very fine-grained to fine- to medium-grained, poorly sorted to moderately sorted, and they are river or beach sediments. The intrinsic permeability of the sediments (aquifers) determined from the grain size varies from 1.215 x 10^-4 to 3.840 x 10^-4 cm/s. The aquifers can be developed for rural water supplies.

Key words: Groundwater, aquifer, Upper Benue Trough, Gombe formation, Nigeria.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative analysis of the efficiencies of two low cost adsorbents in the removal of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution

O. Olayinka Kehinde*, T. Adetunde Oluwatoyin, and O. Oyeyiola Aderonke

Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 January, 2018

Abstract

Heavy metals present in waste waters which are released into the environment by various industries have become a serious problem. This research is focused on the comparison of two agricultural wastes in the removal of Ni(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution and the effect of HCl modification. The effects of adsorbent dose, initial concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on adsorption were investigated. Generally, the result showed an increase in adsorption by Cr(VI) with increase in mass of adsorbent with the exception of coconut husk which consistently had an adsorption of 96 ± 3% irrespective of the adsorbent loading. The coconut husk adsorbents(unmodified coconut husk 83 ± 3 and 81.4 ± 4.7%, HCl modified coconut husk 96 ± 4 and 24.1 ± 4% were found to be more efficient for Cr(VI) and Ni(II) respectively than teak tree bark adsorbents(unmodified teak tree 61.5 ± 3 and 80.9 ± 2.2%, HCl modified teak tree 81.9 ± 2.5 and 29.9 ± 2.6%). HCl modified adsorbents were found to better adsorbents for Cr(VI) ion while the unmodified adsorbents were better adsorbent for Ni(II) ion for all the parameters studied. The data for the adsorption of Cr (VI) and Ni(II) was tested with Freundlich adsorption isotherm model and it was found to be suitable for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) for both coconut husk and teak tree bark. The kinetic study of the adsorption process showed that adsorption of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) or both coconut husk and teak tree bark was found to follow the second-order.

Key words: Agricultural wastes, adsorption, heavy metals, adsorbents, aqueous solution.