African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry  ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 122-127, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

An evaluation of lead and Total Hydrocarbon in bitter leaf and pumpkin collected along roadsides in Port Harcourt Nigeria 

Obinna, Peter¹ , Henry AKide² and Izu Sokari² 

¹Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers

State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author email: [email protected]

Accepted 22 November, 2014

Abstract

The concentrations of lead (Pb) and Total Hydrocarbon (THC) in bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and pumpkin (Telfairia ocidentalis) collected along roadsides in Port Harcourt and environs were determined using GBC Avanta flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer version 2.02 for Pb and Spectrophotometer 21D for THC. The highest concentrations of Pb in bitter leaf were 12.56mg/kg in the dry season and 10.05mg/kg in the rainy season while the highest concentrations of THC in bitter leaf were 25,114mg/kg in the dry season and 20,950mg/kg in the rainy season. The highest concentrations of Pb in pumpkin were 8.28mg/kg in the dry season and 7.08mg/kg in the rainy season while the highest concentrations of THC in pumpkin were 15,784mg/kg in the dry season and 13,768mg/kg in the rainy season. The concentrations of Pb and THC in bitter leaf were higher than the concentrations in pumpkin. Similarly the concentrations measured in the dry season were higher than the concentrations measured during the rainy season. The differences between the dry and rainy seasons concentrations were significant (P<0.05). The differences in THC concentrations between bitter leaf and pumpkin were significant (P<0.05) while the case of Pb concentrations were not significantly different (P>0.05). The concentrations of THC in bitter leaf and pumpkin were considered high while the concentrations of Pb exceeded tolerable and natural limits. The concentrations of Pb and THC in the plants were influenced by traffic densities, season and ages of the plants. Thus the raw consumption of exposed vegetables from markets and roadside farms is discouraged.

Keywords: Total Hydrocarbon, Sample, Bitter leaf, Lead, Pumpkin, Seasonal variation, Roadside.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry  ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 117-121, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A study of natural enemies and pathogenic agents of gypsy moth

*Seyid Hamid¹, Saadi Tarzi² and Leila Bobak Ferdowsi²

¹Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj-Iran

²Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences University of Guilan, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.

*Corresponding author email: [email protected].

Accepted 17 November, 2014

Abstract

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae), is a forest pest native to Europe and parts of Asia. It was accidentally introduced from Europe into Massachusetts in 1869. The gypsy moth is a highly polyphagous folivore species that feeds on over 300 species of woody plants. Among its most preferred hosts are oaks and aspens. The research was conducted with the purpose of gathering natural enemies and pathogenic agents of gypsy moth. Natural enemies refer to the predators, parasitoids and pathogens that affect pest insects such as the gypsy moth. These natural enemies are important in helping to control gypsy moth outbreaks and in keeping populations low in the years between outbreaks. A diverse group of birds, mammals, amphibians, and insect predators feed on gypsy moth eggs, caterpillars and pupae. Mice are important predators of gypsy moth caterpillars and pupae.

Keywords: Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, natural enemies.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry  ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 111-116, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of anthropogenic factors against species richness and diversity of woody vegetation in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, North-West India

Mukesh J.O, Khan S. Sachin and Rani Chand

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted January  23, 2015

Abstract

Effect of anthropogenic factors against species richness and diversity of the woody vegetation was analyzed in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, North-West India from February to May 2009. Sixteen transects, ranging from 1.8 to 2 km in length were laid throughout the 80 km² study area covering all the available habitat types. 10 m radius circular plots were laid to enumerate tree layer and degree of various anthropogenic factors making a total of 318 plots throughout the study period. These factors were quantified in each plot at a scale of 0 to 4 (0-none and 4-very high). Along with ocular observations, software EstimateSWin750 was used to calculate richness and diversity of trees along each transect. The ocular results showed highest number of trees in Malajodka (369) and the least number of trees in Kiraska (93). Observed tree diversity was found to be maximum for the transect of Pandupol – Kiraska (18±3.05). Whereas, least diversity was found to be in the transect of Sadar I (6±2.23), having lesser degree of disturbance than former. Richness estimates showed highest value of richness (32.95±16.44) in transect of Malajodka which is in hilly tracts and least value for richness (6±0.43) in the transect of Sadar I.

Key words: Anthropogenic factor, diversity, richness, vegetation plots, Sariska.  

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN: 2375-0979 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 104-110, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Litterfall and carbon, nutrient returns in stands of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. Subhumid tropics of Eastern India

Anil Gawali^*

Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur (C.G.). 492006 India. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 January, 2014

Abstract

The study was conducted in a Nine-year old Ceiba pentandra stands planted in a three tree spacing 4 x 4 m, 4 x 6 m and 4 x 8 m and pruning regimes.  A Litterfall sample was collected from the field of C pentandra for the experimental research for 12 months. Data collected was analyzed in laboratory and the result was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using the MSTATC 1.41 Version. The Results shows that the litterfall occurred throughout the year showing significant differences between tree spacing, pruning regimes and months. Total litterfall includes tree components (leaf litter + wood litter + flower litter + pod litter) ranged from 0.451 to 1.153 Mg ha^-1 in through out of the year. Total litterfall followed unimodal pattern with highest peak in April and lowest in August. In different tree spacings, for total monthly litterfall, leaf litter contributed from 59 to 60 %, wood litter from 30 to 31.6 %, flower litter from 2.4 to 3.0 % and pod litter from 6.2 to 6.8 %. Litterfall was significantly higher in 4 x 4 m and lower in 4 x 8 m tree spacing. Pruning of trees had reduced by 7.8 % in total litter production. Annual litterfall production in 4 x 4 m tree spacing 9.09 Mg ha^-1yr and in 4 x 6 m and 4 x 8 m tree spacings was statistically at par. The order of annual litter production of tree components leaf litter> wood litter> flower litter> pod litter. The study showed that climatic variable and litterfall was strongly and positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with relative humidity. The Ceiba pentandra stands with high density, where the canopy closure produce highest amount litterfall  in 4 x 4 m tree spacing, which return highest amount of C and nutrients to soil quantity of carbon and nutrients returned to soil via annual litterfall ranged from 345.49 to 385.16 kg C ha^-1 yr^-1, 228.55 to 239.10 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1, 21.79 to 23.74 kg P ha^-1 yr^-1 and 119.45 to 142.81 kg K ha^-1 yr^-1. Choice cultivation of C pentandra is a one of multipurpose tree species for agro forestry planted with 4 x 4 m which produce highly litter to implications in returning  carbon  and N, P ,K nutrients elements to the soil through litter which increase the fertility and  productivity of soil as compare to the other tree species in India .

Key words: Litterfall , pruning, carbon, nutrient returns, Ceiba pentantra.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN: 2326-7285 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 098-103, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Physical and mechanical properties of Raj Koroi (Albizia richardiana) plywood

Md. Mizanur Rahman^a, Atanu Kumar Das^b, Md. Asaduzzaman^c, Subir Kumar Biswas^d, Md. Obaidullah Hannan^e

^aCo-principal of Investigator, Carbon Project, Department of Agroforestry and Environmental Science, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. 

^bMaster’s Program, Pulp and Paper Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, 58 Moo 9, Km. 42, Paholyothin Highway Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.

^c,eAssistant Profssor and Professor, Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh.

^dLaboratory Supervisor, Pulp and Paper Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, 58 Moo 9, Km. 42, Paholyothin Highway Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.

*Corresponding author’s. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 17 January, 2014

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of a research aimed at assessing the uses of raj koroi (Albizia richardiana) an alternative raw material for plywood production. Five plies raj koroi plywood of 2400 mm×1200 mm×12 mm size was manufactured using urea formaldehyde adhesive. The physical and mechanical properties of the manufactured plywood were evaluated. The results of physical and mechanical properties of raj koroi plywood were compared; data was examined with the existing market available plywood manufactured by simul (Bombax ceiba). It was found that the density of rajkori plywood and simul plywood was 0.75 and 0.50 g/cm³ respectively. The MOR was 62.79 N/mm² for raj koroi plywood and it was 32.52 N/mm² for simul plywood. The MOE of raj koroi plywood was found 6997.20 N/mm² and on the other hand it was 3224.15 N/mm² for simul plywood. All physical and mechanical properties except thickness, swelling (%) after 24 hours of water soaking of raj koroi plywood were higher than that of simul plywood and which satisfies the standard.

Key words: Albizia richardiana, physical properties, mechanical properties, MOR (Modulus of Rupture), MOE (Modulus of Elasticity).

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (3), pp. 063-069, October, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Soil seed banks of a rangeland area White Nile State, Sudan

A. K. Elsafori¹*, A. N. Guma^,a² and M. A. El Nour³

¹College of Forestry and Range Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 6146, Post Code 11113, Khartoum, Sudan.

²Faculty of Education, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

³Faculty of Forestry, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 10 March, 2013

Abstract

Three soil depths (0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 cm) were chosen at the study area and the soil seed bank was analyzed for the number of live and dead seeds for each of them. The analysis revealed the following: The seed bank density was higher in the upper soil depths (0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm) as compared to the lower ones (10 to 15 cm). It was found that the seed density had decreased with increasing depth. The live seed density ranged from 1015 to 5371 seeds/m², whereas that of the dead seeds ranged from 3215 to 6957 seeds/m². The dominant plant species to which the live seeds belonged were grasses including Schoenefeldia gracilis, Brachiaria spp., Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Aristida spp. The dominant species to which the dead seeds belonged were mixed life- forms including Panicum turgidum, Euphorbia aegyptiaca and Cyperus rotundus.

Key words: Seed bank, density, species composition, semi-arid environments, rainfall variability, dispersal, viable seeds and dead seeds.