African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-008, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Forest Landscape Degradation on Insect Pests in Southern Cameroon

Kekeunou Sévilor^1,2*, Messi Jean², Weise Stephan¹, Tindo Maurice¹

¹International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Humid Forest Eco-regional Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon.
²Zoology laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.

Accepted 16 February, 2024

Abstract

Group surveys were conducted in five villages in each of the three resource-use zones of the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon, to assess insect pests’ incidence and the variation due to forest landscape degradation in the agricultural production systems. 389 farmers were interviewed. The results show that: (1) In annual crop systems, insect pests in general rank together with vertebrate pests and diseases amongst the most important agronomic constraints. No differences were found between the intensification zones, except for weeds, which appeared to be a greater constraint in the slightly degraded area. Within the insect pest, the greatest damage to crops according to farmers originated from borers and scales, followed by variegated grasshopper. Only the termites showed a difference between zones - the problem being greatest in the high -degraded areas. (2) In the young perennial crop systems, all the categories of agronomic constraints were equally important. Within the insect pest, mirids were identified as the greatest constraint, followed by borers and caterpillars. There were more variations in the responses according to zones compared to annual crops. Termites and scales were relatively more important in the high-degraded area. In term of control strategy, we recommended an integrated pest management.

Key words: Farmers, pest, insect, annual crop, perennial crop, integrated pest management.
 

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Optimizing Banana Growth and Yield with NPK Fertilizer in Northern Oman

Khalid Al-Harthi¹ and Rashid Al-Yahyai²*

¹Directorate General of Agriculture and Livestock Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Sultanate of Oman.
²Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University. P. O. Box 34,

Al-Khoud 123, Oman, Sultanate of Oman.

Accepted 21 March, 2024

Abstract

Banana is the leading fruit crop in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It represents the second most important fruit crop after date palm in the Sultanate of Oman, a subtropical arid country in the Middle East. Banana is grown as an intercrop throughout Oman but it is commercially cultivated on a large scale in the Dhofar (southern) region of and in Al-Batinah (coastal) region in the North. A field experiment was carried out in the traditional banana growing district, Al-Suwaiq, in Al-Batinah Region, during 2005-2006. The objective of the study was to determine the proper rate of NPK fertilizers that would maximize the potential yield of commercially-grown banana ( Musa acuminata Colla, Cavendish cv. 'Williams'). Three levels of chemical fertilizers were applied, viz. N (300, 600 and 900 g/ mat/yr), P (50, 100 and150 g/mat/yr) and K (250, 500 and 750 g/mat/yr) in addition to non- fertilized control (no NPK applied) treatment. The results indicated that vegetative growth parameters (that is, leaf number, leaf area, stem height, and stem circumference) of non- fertilized control plants were neither significantly different nor produced better vegetative growth when compared to fertilized plants. The fertilizer treatment T3 consisting of N (600 g/mat /yr), P (100 g/mat /yr) and K (500 g/mat /yr) numerically influenced the yield and fruit characteristics like total bunch weight, middle-hand weight and number of fingers per middle-hand, of ‘Williams’ banana as compared to other treatments. Hence, this fertilizer dose of NPK was recommended for cultivation of ‘Williams’ banana in northern coastal region of Oman.

Key words: Bunch weight, fingers, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, Musa spp. arid-region, Oman.
 

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Modeling root emergence in forestry: Comparing effects of organic and inorganic soils

Hani A AL-Zalzaleh

Arid land Agriculture and Greenery Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. E mail: [email protected].

Accepted 9 September, 2023

Abstract

A glasshouse experiment was conducted to determine the effect of soil types on the emergence of Eucalyptus viminalis in spring ring containers. Five inorganic soils such as 100% clay, 100% sand, 85% sand and 5% clay, 70% sand and 30% clay, and 55% sand and 45% clay and, three organic soils like medium nutrient and medium texture compost, medium nutrient and coarse texture compost, medium nutrient and fine texture compost were used for the study. Characters observed were the total numbers of roots (TR) and the number of roots emerging through the spring rings (ER) after destructive harvest. The ratio for the weight of emerged roots to the weight of total number of root (ER : TR) was calculated. Morphological observations reveal that air pruning in spring ring containers seemed to be encouraging the formation of new roots. The results showed that that there was no significant difference between the soil types on the total number of roots as well as the number of roots emerged through the holes of the spring rings. The weight ratio of emergent roots to the total number of roots also did not vary significantly. Despite the differences in the soil type similarity was observed in root performance in the E. viminalis seedlings. Overall, the soils used did influence neither the total number of roots nor the emergence of roots through the container openings.
    
Key words: Organic soils, root growth, inorganic soils, root growth, spring rings, soil types.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analyzing the use of mathematical models in South African forestry: A case study of the ProFor model

D. J. Kachamba¹*, A. Rozanov¹, P. A. Ackerman¹ and D. Matthies²

¹Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
²Technical University Munich, Am Hochanger 13, 85354,Freising. Germany.

Accepted 28 August, 2023

Abstract

Timber harvesting operations in plantation forestry in South Africa are rapidly being mechanised. However, machine movement in forest plantations may negatively affect soil quality. The forestry industry is introducing mathematical models to enable it address, limit or at least predict soil damage. One of these mathematical models is the “ProFor” model. The study was conducted in four harvesting sites namely KwaZulu Natal; Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. The impact of mechanised harvesting equipment on soil quality was assessed by observing changes in soil bulk density and critical soil water content. The changes in soil physical properties were then compared with ProFor’s predictions. The results indicated that ProFor gave valid predictions for critical soil moisture content in most of the study sites. However, for observed increases in bulk density, ProFor predictions of soil damage were invalid (r2 = - 0.1). The model can be adopted by the South African forestry industry for tactical planning of forest harvesting operations. Additionally, ProFor can be of even more use if a separate algorithm is developed to be used for the prediction of soil compaction which is a common hazard in South African forestry.

Key words: Bulk density, forest harvesting, ProFor, soil compaction.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-012, February, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A comparative study of vegetation in primary and secondary tropical forests on Mount Oku, Cameroon

MOMO Solefack Marie Caroline¹*, TEMGOUA Lucie Félicité², NGUEGUIM Jules Romain³ and NKONGMENECK Bernard-Aloys⁴

¹Laboratory of Applied Botany, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P. O. Box: 67
Dschang, Cameroon.
²Department of Forestry, FASA, University of Dschang, P. O. Box: 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
³Institut de la Recherche Agricole Pour le Développement (IRAD), Cameroon.
⁴Department of Plant Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 812, Cameroon.

Received 7 July, 2023; Accepted 1 September, 2023

Abstract

Globally, human populations are rapidly converting large blocks of tropical old-growth forests into small forest patches, embedded within human-modified landscapes, consisting mostly of agricultural fields and pasture lands. Mount Oku commonly known as Kilum-Ijim, situated at the North-western Cameroon is recognized as a globally important center of endemism and a hotspot for biodiversity conservation but now undergoes unprecedented degradation. The aim of this study was to compare the diversity between primary and secondary forests in mount Oku (Cameroon) and determine whether species richness and composition are distinguishable in the two forest types. The vegetation was sampled in 102 plots according to a stratified sampling design so as to cover the altitudinal gradient from 1833 to 2772 m. Forty plots were located in primary forest and 62 in secondary forest. A set of 6 plant traits/characteristics associated with dispersal, establishment, and persistence functions were gathered. A total of 385 vascular plant species were present in the 102 plots. 243 species were common to primary and secondary forest plots, 69 were present exclusively in primary forest plots and 73 in secondary forest plots. The Indicator Species Analysis showed that 38 and 28 species were indicator of primary and secondary forests, respectively. The mean species richness per plot was 45.5 and 44.1 in primary and secondary forests, respectively. Only tree species richness was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the primary forest. The maximum height of vegetation and density of trees were respectively 19.42 m, 101 stems/ha in primary forest and 11.93 m, 36 stems/ha in secondary forest and show significant difference (p<0.001). Primary forest plots were characterized by phanerophytes, while secondary forest plots were characterized by geophytes and chamaephytes, able to propagate vegetatively and resist disturbances. Finally, there is need to urgently protect the last remnants of ancient forest for their biological value.

Key words: Afromontane forest, biodiversity, endemism, human activities, mount Oku, species composition, species richness.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2024. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Profitability factors in sustainable forest management: A case study of the Brazilian Amazon 

Humberto Angelo*, Alexandre Nascimento de Almeida, Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli Matricardi, Carlos Francisco Rosetti, Ricardo de Oliveira Gaspar, Eder Pereira Miguel* and Pedro Guilherme de Andrade Vasconcelos

University of Brasilia (UnB), Brazil.

Accepted 25 October, 2023

Abstract

The sustainable management of tropical forests has been a great concern and challenge for the forest sector in the Brazilian Amazon. This study aimed to better understand sustainable forest management in the Brazilian Amazon focusing on two research questions: (a) Is sustainable tropical timber production financially viable? (b) What are the profit determinants under sustainable forest management? In this research, we assessed information of all approved forest management plans in 2011 in the Sinop region, located in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. Sequentially, we selected and tested using econometric tools these variables: Profit, managed area, volume of timber, number of managed species and timber price. Our results show that the average profit is of US$ 1,003.00 per hectare in sustainably managed forests and we observed that the variables volume of timber per hectare and timber price explain the profit of this forest activity presenting the best fit econometric results.

Key words: Economic analysis, forest management, timber production, tropical forest.