Exploring the diversity and abundance of herbaceous species in local farming systems of the Sudano-sahelian region of Cameroon

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/08/2014
Views (308) Download (16)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Exploring the diversity and abundance of herbaceous species in local farming systems of the Sudano-sahelian region of Cameroon

Asongwed-Awa Anastasia, Ko Desiré Awono, Megueni Clautilde, You,bi Emmanuel
J. Bio. Env. Sci.5( 2), 428-438, August 2014.
Certificate: JBES 2014 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

The effect of land-use on herbaceous cover is a major constraint to productivity. An inventory was carried out to assess the diversity and abundance of indigenous herbaceous species under different land-use forms across the Sudano-sahelian belt of Cameroon. A total of 71 herbaceous species pertaining to 59 genera and 23 families were identified across three sites (Lainde Massa, Kilwo, Sirlawe). The most prominent families were Poaceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. Family and species diversity was highest on farmlands and least on hills. Relative abundance was highest for Poaceae in Kilwo and for Fabaceae in Lainde Massa. Total biomass yields, herbaceous composition and plant types were significantly different across land use forms and sites (p<0.0001). Grass species were generally higher on hills, lowlands and around habitations while legumes were highest on fallows. Livestock activity was significant at all three sites and highest in Kilwo with an active population of free-roaming domestic livestock (sheep, goats). On the other hand, a reduced livestock activity in Sirlawe, confirmed a reduced grazing pressure especially from domestic livestock which at this site were always tethered. It can be concluded that the absence of legumes in most of the land use forms explains the high level of degradation and low productivity of the soil which should naturally be rejuvenated by the presence of legumes through its biological action in nutrient recycling. The need for the introduction and management of legumes in the farming systems of this sudano-sahelian region is therefore important to provide a sustainable ecological balance.

VIEWS 18

Akobundu IO, Agyakwa CW. 1987. A Handbook of West African Weeds. IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 521pp.

Akpo LE, Masse D, Grouzis M. 2002. Durée de jachère et valeur pastorale de la végétation herbacée en zone soudanienne au Sénégal. Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux, 55, 275-283.

Alhamad MN. 2006. Ecological and species diversity of arid Mediterranean grazing land vegetation Journal of Arid Environments 66, 698-715.

Anikwe MAN, Atuma J. 2003. Characterising the suitability of selected indigenous soil improving legumes in a humid tropical environment using shoot and root attributes. Tropicultura 21, 179 – 185.

Asongwed-Awa A, Njoya A. 2002. Integrated approach to forage seed production and supplementation of dairy cows in the semi-arid region of Cameroon. Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux 55, 269-274.

Colinvaux PA. 1973. Introduction to Ecology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, 61-70.

Donfack P. 1993. Etude de la dynamique de la végétation après abandon de la culture au Nord Cameroun. . Thèse de doctorat, univerisité de Yaoundé, Cameroun, 96-102.

Donfack P, Boukar LS. 1997. Les grandes caractéristiques du milieu physique. . In Seiny Boukar & al. (eds) Agricultures des savanes du Nord Cameroun: vers un développement solidaire des savanes d’Afrique centrale. Actes de l’atelier d’échange, 25-29 novembre 1996, Garoua, Cameroun. Montpellier, France, CIRAD-CA, , 29-42.

Dugue P, Koulandi J, Moussa C. 1997. Diversité des situations agricoles et problématiques de développement de la zone cotonière. In Seiny Boukar & al. (eds) Agricultures des savanes du Nord Cameroun: vers un développement solidaire des savanes d’Afrique centrale. Actes de l’atelier d’échange, 25-29 novembre 1996, Garoua, Cameroun. Montpellier, France, CIRAD-CA,, 43-57.

Fisseha G, Gebrekidan H, Kibret K, Yitafern B, Bedadi B. 2011. Analysis of land use/land cover changes in the Debri-Mewi watershed at the upper catchment of the Blue Nile Basin, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Science (JBES) 1, 184-198.

Harmand JM, Njiti CF, Bernhard-Reversat F, Puig H. 2004. Above and belowground biomass, productivity and nutrient accumulation in tree improved fallows in the dry tropics of Cameroon. Forest Ecology and Management 188, 249-265.

Klein HD, César J. 1999. Plantes fourragères et maintien de la fertilité du sol. In : Roberge, G. & Toutain. B. (eds) Cultures fourragères tropicales, CIRAD Montpellier, France, 369pp.

Le Bourgeois T, Merlier H. 1995. Les Adventices d’Afrique Soudano – sahélienne. Adventrop, 637pp.

Mapfumo P, Mtambanengwea F, Gillerb KE, Mpeperekia S. 2005. Tapping indigenous herbaceous legumes for soil fertility management by resource-poor farmers in Zimbabwe. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environments. 109, 221-233.

Njiti FC, Galiana A. 1996. Symbiotic properties and Rhizobium requirements for effective nodulation of five tropical dry zone acacias. Agroforestry Systems 34, 265-275.

Onana J. 1995. Les savanes soudano-saheliennes du Nord Cameroun: Analyse phytoécologique et utilisation pastorale. These Doctorat, Univ. de Rennes 1, 133-142.

Onana J, Asongwed – Awa A. 1996. Amelioration des parcours naturels et technologie de conservation des fourrages dans le domaine soudanien du Cameroun. Actes des journees nationales de la recherche 96, 115-127.

Onana J, Mvondo Z, Sadou I, Asongwed-Awa A, Mainam F, Guibert H, Mvondo AJP, Tarla NF. 2007. Impact des légumineuses fourragères et/ou de couverture sur la biodiversité floristique au Nord-Cameroun. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences. 1, 165-175.

Sounon BB, Sinsin B, Soulé BG. 2007. Effets de la dynamique d’occupation du sol sur la structure et la diversité floristique des forêts claires et savanes au Bénin. Tropicultura 25, 221-227.

Vahid H, Mahmoudi J, Akbarlou M, Khadijeh M. 2013. Investigation of grazing on plant diversity using rank-abundance model (Case study: Arid and Semi-Arid Kalimany rangelands in North Korasan province). Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) 3, 24-31.