Live Fences Research Articles

EVALUACIÓN DE LA DENSIDAD Y USO INTEGRAL DE TRES ÁRBOLES LEGUMINOSOS EN LOS SISTEMAS SILVOPASTORILES EN EL TRÓPICO DE GUERRERO, MÉXICO.

In the Tropic of Guerrero Mexico the distribution, the density and uses of trees Pithecellobium dulce Roxb Benth, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Steud, Haematoxilum brasiletto Karst were studied and its foliage was added to the diets of kids and productive response and apparent digestibility was measured. The livestock farmers have six complementary uses (firewood, poles, shade, medicinal, human consumption and artisanal). The species were identified in live fences and scattered in paddocks with densities of 4.87 trees per 100 linear meters and 1.79 trees ha -1 ; P. dulce was the largest size and identified from 250 to 1332 masl. The ashes (P<0.0001) and detergent fibre (P<0.01) of P. dulce (T1) had higher apparent digestibility. The feed conversion and daily weight gain of the kids were different due to the effect of foliage trees. The rectal temperature was only affected (P<0.0001) by the time of evaluation. The ruminal pH of kids was affected by time evaluation (P<0.0001) and the treatments (P<0.0003). It is concluded that the density of trees is low and could be of impact on soil fertility and the contribution of biomass for animal feed; the apparent digestibility of diets and productive response were more efficient in the animals fed with P. dulce (T1)

Adaptación basada en Ecosistemas en pequeñas fincas de granos básicos en Guatemala y Honduras

In Central America maize and beans are usually cultivated by farmers who have small landholdings and live in vulnerable situations. Climate change is an important threat to these smallholder basic grain farmers, putting at risk their production systems and their livelihoods. The use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) can help them to adapt to climate change, however there is limited information on the use of EbA. The objective of the present work was to characterize the EbA strategies that smallholder basic grain farmers of four landscapes in Guatemala and Honduras use to increase their resilience to climate change. Using interviews and field measurements in 160 farms, between July 2014 and June 2015, we 1) explored how common the use of different EbA practices is, 2) documented the biophysical characteristics of these practices, and 3) explored if the implementation and characteristics of EbA practices differed among landscapes. Our results indicate that even though they own small land areas (mean maize plot area of ~0.68 ha), have low education levels and low access to technical training and advice, many smallholder basic grain farmers are using EbA practices in their farms. The most common EbA practices were the use of dispersed trees, home gardens and live fences. An ANOVA anlysis indicated significant differences in the use of different EbA practices among farmers, which suggests that farmers adapt practices in response to the social and biophysical conditions where they live. Our study suggests that smallholder basic grain farmers have the experience and the knowledge to use EbA practices and recognize the benefits derived from the implementation of such practices. However, in order to increase use of EbA practices, more technical, financial and political support is needed.

Cercas vivas en sistemas de producción tropicales: una revisión mundial de los usos y percepciones

Live fences in tropical production systems: a global review of uses and perceptions. The expansion of agricultural and livestock production has been a key factor in deforestation in the world and especially in the tropical region. Currently, more than half of the Earth’s surface is used for the establishment of production systems; in this context, live fences can generate positive effects on the environment and provide environmental goods and services. In this work, we reviewed the effects of live fences on production systems from the tropical regions of America, Africa, Asia and Australia, analyzing the uses and perceptions of farmers that have made use of these fences. It was found that live fences were mainly related to the delimitation of farms and pastures. However, their uses and benefits are manifold, among which we found: provide forage, wood extraction, fruit supply, windbreaks, medicinal, to avoid soil erosion, moisture retention and nutritional support. In addition, other positive perceptions were: increasing landscape connectivity, increasing economic incomes, reducing production costs, reducing pressure on remaining vegetation, keeping maintenance costs down, contributing to pest control, and improving fertility. However, negative perceptions included the excessive work in repairing or pruning them, shade negative impact on agricultural production, lack of information discourages establishment, high establishment costs, generation of property conflicts and management difficulty. It was found that the uses by farmers are focused on improving the yields of productive systems, but also on the conservation of natural resources especially soil and biodiversity. We proposed research topics for the future, as determining the criteria in the selection of native species to establish and enrich living fences valuing ecological and socioeconomic aspects; in additionally, we must deepen the benefits they produce on the yields of productive systems. We suggest the development of live fences studies in the tropical region of Australasia, because no data was found for this region, in order to know the biodiversity and services status that they provide to the rural communities. As a conclusion, it will be important to generate initiatives that encourage the formulation of rural policies, the creation of programs that encourage the establishment of live fences, whether through payments for environmental services, tax compensation or other mechanisms. Providing adequate information to farmers and livestock farmers is a key aspect on dynamizing the establishment of live fences. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 739-753. Epub 2018 June 01.

Tropical ash (Fraxinus udhei) invading Andean forest remnants in Northern South America

IntroductionExotic invasive species represent a major driver of the loss of biological diversity and services provided by ecosystems globally. An important cause of species becoming invasive is the development of commercial afforestation projects using fast-growing and adaptable exotic species, which may become invasive impacting natural environments. The tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei), native to México, has been widely introduced to Colombia and other countries for timber, live fences, and urban greening. It is now common in many areas of the tropical mountains and has been observed expanding into native forests in Colombia.This study examined the invasion pattern and the demographic structure of tropical ash in remnant Andean forests in Colombia, to find out factors associated with the invasion process. The analysis took into account biotic and physical factors: distance to propagule source, vegetation cover types, and understory and canopy cover.ResultsAlthough the reproductive strategy of the tropical ash is of “r” type with low survival rates, the results show evidence for an active process of invasion characterized by an aggregated distribution pattern dominated by seedlings and juvenile plants. The study shows the existence of an interaction between the distance to propagule source and the vegetation cover, which has an additive effect on the demographic structure of the population.ConclusionsThis study suggests an active invasion process by the exotic tree tropical ash into a remnant of sub-humid forests in the Andean highlands. Our results showed an expanding population process with a decreasing average age from propagule sources and mature reproductive individuals within the native forest, which bring new individuals that are colonizing new areas and advancing into the forest. This research points to the need for urgent plant intervention on two aspects: the use of the tropical ash and the management of the invasion process in native forests.

Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Wildlife Mitigation Strategies on Human-Wildlife Conflict Among Small-Scale Maize Farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya

Agriculture is critical in the achievement of food security, employment of creation opportunities, steering economic growth, and also a source of raw materials for agricultural industries in many Sub-Saharan countries. However, farmers face various challenges which negatively affect farm productivity and production. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the most pressing challenges that smallholder maize farmers experience in some parts of Kenya. It arises from either people’s encroachment on wildlife habitats or the movement of wildlife from their natural habitat into neighboring farmland. Small-scale farmers use various agricultural extension strategies to mitigate the conflict. However, the effectiveness of the agricultural extension mitigation strategies adopted by smallholder maize farmers in Laikipia County had not been investigated and information on the same was inadequate and poorly documented. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of the agricultural extension wildlife conflict mitigation strategies adopted by smallholder maize farmers in Laikipia County. Whereas a document review guide was used to collect secondary data, semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from maize farmers and extension agents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze primary data. It was established that crop damage was very severe, even up to 70% per cropping season although farmers used mitigation strategies such growing of unpalatable plants, live fences, hairy crops, and digging trenches. This study concluded that the Agricultural Extension Mitigation Strategies used were not effective. It was recommended concerted efforts between stakeholders in the conflict to realize the benefits of synergies so as to stem crop damage and give small-scale farmers a chance to be food secure.

Range extension to Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province and revised distribution of Platyrrhinus chocoensis (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera) in western Ecuador

We report the first record of the Choco broad-nosed bat (Plathyrrhinus chocoensis Alberico &amp; Velazco, 1991) in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province in northwestern Ecuador. This voucher specimen represents the southernmost record of the species and expands its distribution ca. 120 km south. The animal was caught at a farm, specifically in a live fence consisting of several tree species. Preservation of bat species occurring in agricultural landscapes requires local policies and environmental education.

An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants

An inventory and analysis of the general uses of plants by the Vhavenḓa, a cultural group who historically occupied the region known as Venḓa, currently referred to as the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, are presented. Information on plant uses was gathered through a literature review and interviews conducted amongst Tshivenḓa-speaking rural communities in the Vhembe District. The aim of the study was to document all Vhavenḓa useful plants, i.e., all plants of cultural and practical importance in fulfilling the everyday needs of the people. A total of 574 plant species from 355 genera and 121 families was recorded. In addition 897 vernacular names have been recorded, of which 224 (25%) is published here for the first time. The list includes 189 trees, 143 shrubs, 170 herbs, 44 climbers, 21 grasses, four sedges, one parasite and two epiphytes. The number of species in the main use categories are as follow: medicine (384), vegetables (128), edible fruits (123), firewood (101), craftwork (93), construction (91), magic (45), beverages (34), cordage (31), ornamental (26), shade (22), fodder (16), birdlime or rubber (14), famine foods (11), snuff ingredient (11), edible caterpillars feeding on leaves (10), dyes and leather tanning (eight), live fence (seven), vegetable condiments (six) and fish poisons (six). Minor uses include edible seeds, edible cooked tubers, edible flower nectar, ritual purposes, edible gum, edible root tubers, edible rhizomes, edible gums, musical flutes, edible nuts, edible corn, edible leaf sap, soda for cooking vegetables, coffee substitutes, toothbrushes, polish, cosmetic oil, arrow poisons, insects repellents, soap substitutes, adhesives, toys and others. The top ten plant families i.e., those contributing the highest number of useful plant species are Fabaceae/Leguminosae (64 spp.), Asteraceae (33 spp.), Malvaceae s.l. (32 spp.), Apocynaceae s.l. (24 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (22 spp.), Poaceae (21 spp.), Rubiaceae (20 spp.), Solanaceae (20 spp.), Amaranthaceae (19 spp.) and Cucurbitaceae (18 spp.). The data is not only a contribution to the cultural heritage of the Vhavenḓa, but also of considerable scientific and practical interest. It provides the basic information that researchers can use to compare historical and contemporary biocultural plant-use patterns in southern Africa, as well as in controlled future studies to test the efficacy/merits of specific uses.

Emission factors estimated from enteric methane of dairy cattle in Andean zone using the IPCC Tier-2 methodology

Enteric CH4 emissions from ruminant livestock represent a loss of dietary energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, actually, that is depending on feeding level and diet composition. We calculated emission factors of methane depending to enteric fermentation of Holstein cattle in Andean zone of Colombia, based on methodology IPCC Tier 2. This study involved animal performance, management practices for improved livestock productivity, higher digestibility of pasture and forage from silvopastoral system of the association Pennisetum clandestinum/Trifolium repens on paddocks bounded by live fences of Acacia decurrens. For that, some model parameters and Tier-2 model equations were applied: body weight, mature weight, daily gain, weight loss, milk production, milk fat content, pregnancy rates and quality of feed to calculate gross energy GE. All these variations were used to investigate the effects on predicted CH4, emission in terms of the changes in the CH4 emission factor (MEF) in kg of CH4 per head dairy cattle−1 year−1. CH4 conversion factor (MCF) as a percentage of gross energy intake with feed, resulting in emission factor of 52 kg CH4 head−1 year−1 in SPS, 28 and 45% lower than in improved pasture of Lolium multiflorum and degraded pasture of Pennisetum clandestinum in rotation with potatoes, resulting in emission factors of 72 and 93 kg CH4 head−1 year−1 respectively. These emission factors were compared with the emission factors of Tier-1 and Tier-2 methodology used value Ym default of IPCC from national inventories. Through this research these emission factors can be applied for regional and national inventories in Andean areas of Colombia with these features.

Richness and Composition of Ground-dwelling Ants in Tropical Rainforest and Surrounding Landscapes in the Colombian Inter-Andean Valley.

Tropical rainforests are characterized by having high structural complexity, stratification, and species diversity. In Colombia, tropical rainforests are critically endangered with only 24% of their area remaining. Forest fragments are often valued based on the presence of vertebrate taxa despite that small habitat remnants may still harbor diverse invertebrate communities. We surveyed the ant fauna associated with rainforest fragments and their surrounding landscape elements (including mature forests, flooded forests, gallery forests, live fences, and pastures) in the Magdalena River watershed. Pitfall traps and litter samples were used to estimate ant richness and diversity, and to compare ant composition among landscape elements. We found 135 species from 42 genera, representing 16% of the species and 43% of the genera known for Colombia. Our surveys also uncovered 11 new ant records for the Colombian inter-Andean region and 2 new records for the country of Colombia: Mycocepurus curvispinosus (Mackay) and Rhopalothrix isthmica (Weber). The highest species richness was found in forest-covered sites, and richness and diversity was lower in the disturbed landscapes surrounding the forest patches. Species composition varied significantly between all habitat types, but was most similar between forest types suggesting that a loss of structural complexity has the greatest effect on ant communities. Across our study sites, ten species showed the greatest response to habitat type and could qualify as indicator taxa for this region. We conclude by discussing the value of conserving even small forests in this landscape due to their ability to retain high diversity of ants.

Viabilidad económica y financiera de sistemas silvopastoriles con Jatropha curcas L. en Manabí, Ecuador

Objetivo. Evaluar la viabilidad económica y financiera de los sistemas silvopastoriles tradicionales para la producción de Biocombustibles como aporte a la sostenibilidad del proyecto “Piñón para Galápagos”. Materiales y Métodos. Se llevaron a cabo encuestas a 450 pequeños productores ganaderos de 10 cantones de la provincia de Manabí con la finalidad de colectar información agronómica, manejo, costos implicados en establecimiento y producción de los sistemas silvopastoriles vigentes de Piñón (Jatropha curcas L.)/Saboya (Megathyrsus maximus). Para recopilar datos de producción del Piñón establecido en cercas vivas de Piñón INIAP CP041 e igualmente se registró la producción de sistemas en 10 sitios, desde el año 2009. Con estos datos se calcularon los siguientes indicadores financieros radio beneficio/costo (B/C), valor actual neto (VAN), tasa interna de retorno (TIR) y valor de expectativa de la tierra (VET). Resultados. El estudio mostró una disminución de la producción del Piñón con el transcurso del tiempo. El sistema silvopastoril mejorado con Piñón INIAP CP041 mostró B/C 1.07, VAN de USD$ 404.11, VET USD$ 970.23 y TIR de 18%. Seguido del sistema silvopastoril con Piñón local con un B/C 1.06, VAN de USD$ 363.66, VET USD$ 873.10 y TIR de 17% y finalmente sistema silvopastoril sin cosecha del Piñón con un B/C 1.05, VAN de USD$ 285.72, VET USD$ 685.99 y TIR de 15%. Conclusiones. La alternativa de producción de biocombustibles con sistemas silvopastoriles Piñón (INIAP CP041)/Saboya en Manabí es el sistema de mayor rentabilidad y no competiría por superficies de cultivo para la producción de alimentos, sin afectar a la seguridad alimentaria.

Diversity of use and local knowledge of wild and cultivated plants in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

BackgroundTraditional ecological knowledge among indigenous communities plays an important role in retaining cultural identity and achieving sustainable natural resource management. Hundreds of millions of people mostly in developing countries derive a substantial part of their subsistence and income from plant resources. The aim of this study was to assess useful plant species diversity, plant use categories and local knowledge of both wild and cultivated useful species in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.MethodsThe study was conducted in six villages in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa between June 2014 and March 2017. Data on socio-economic characteristics of the participants, useful plants harvested from the wild, managed in home gardens were documented by means of questionnaires, observation and guided field walks with 138 participants.ResultsA total of 125 plant species belonging to 54 genera were recorded from the study area. More than half of the species (59.2%) are from 13 families, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Araliaceae, Asparagaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae and Solanaceae. More than a third of the useful plants (37.6%) documented in this study are exotic to South Africa. About three quarters of the documented species (74.4%) were collected from the wild, while 20.8% were cultivated and 4.8% were spontaneous. Majority of the species (62.4%) were used as herbal medicines, followed by food plants (30.4%), ethnoveterinary medicine (18.4%), construction timber and thatching (11.2%). Other minor plant use categories (1–5%) included firewood, browse, live fence, ornamentals, brooms and crafts.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that local people in the Eastern Cape province harbour important information on local vegetation that provides people with food, fuel and medicines, as well as materials for construction and the manufacturing of crafts and many other products. This study also demonstrated the dynamism of traditional ecological knowledge, practices and beliefs of local people demonstrated by the incorporation of exotic plants in their diets and indigenous pharmacopoeia.

Caracterización del componente arbóreo de cercas vivas en sistemas agroforestales en el departamento de Nariño

Este estudio se realizó en los municipios de Guachucal y Cumbal, departamento de Nariño, donde se caracterizó el componente arbóreo presente en cercas vivas. Se seleccionaron 20 fincas por municipio, las cuales fueron estratificadas de acuerdo a su área, obteniendo 3 estratos: I (0,5 - 3 ha), II (3,1 - 6 ha) y III (&gt; 6 ha). Posteriormente, se hizo un inventario florístico donde se evaluó densidad de cercas vivas por km, alturas, área de copa y la diversidad y abundancia de las especies; además del uso que los agricultores le dan a las mismas. Por medio de una ANDEVA, se analizó la funcionalidad de cercas vivas con base en el porcentaje de materia orgánica del suelo y porcentaje de humedad en pastos. Se obtuvo que la densidad promedio por km de cercas vivas fue de 415 individuos en Guachucal, y 416 individuos en Cumbal. Se reportaron un total de 19 especies y 8 familias en Guachucal y 28 especies y 12 familias en Cumbal. En ambos municipios el uso que le dan a las cercas vivas es leña, madera y postes. El porcentaje promedio de materia orgánica del suelo fue de 14,9% y de humedad en pastos del 60%, donde no se encontró diferencias significativas (p&gt; 0,05) en los municipios. Los productores prefieren especies como eucaliptus globulus y cupressus lucitanica; así como las fincas de menor área poseen mayor porcentaje de cobertura arbórea en cercas vivas y Cumbal presentó mayor diversidad florística en cercas vivas a comparación de Guachucal.

The use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation practices by smallholder farmers in Central America

Abstract There is growing interest in promoting the use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change, however there is limited information on how commonly these practices are used by smallholder farmers and what factors influence their use. Using participatory mapping and field surveys, we examined the prevalence and characteristics of EbA practices on 300 smallholder coffee and maize farmers in six landscapes in Central America and explored the socioeconomic and biophysical factors associated with their use. The prevalence of individual EbA practices varied across smallholder farms. Common EbA practices included live fences, home gardens, shade trees in coffee plantations, and dispersed trees in maize fields. We found a mean of 3.8 EbA practices per farm. Factors that were correlated with the total number of EbA practices on farms included the mean area of coffee plantations, farmer age, farmer experience, the farm type and the landscape in which farms were located. Factors associated with the presence or characteristics of individual EbA practices included the size of coffee plantations, farmer experience, farmer education, land tenure, landscape and farm type. Our analysis suggests that many smallholder farmers in Central America are already using certain EbA practices, but there is still scope for greater implementation. Policy makers, donors and technicians can encourage the broader use of EbA by smallholder farmers by facilitating farmer-to-farmer exchanges to share knowledge on EbA implementation, assessing the effectiveness of EbA practices in delivering adaptation benefits, and tailoring EbA policies and programs for smallholder farmers in different socioeconomic and biophysical contexts.

Independent household and farm factors in adoption of different agroforestry types: Experience from Haridwar district, North India

This study accesses the individual, house hold and farm factors that are not associated with adoption of four major kinds of agroforestry practices in Haridwar district, India. Random sampling technique was used for the purpose. All three tehsils were selected and 12 villages were randomly selected from each of the tehsils. 12 farmers' households were randomly selected from each of the village. Primary data were collected through semi structured questionnaire with 426 farmers out of which 365 farmers were agroforestry adaptors. Data from agroforestry adopters only is analyzed in this study. The results of the study shows that there were a number of determinants which although being a part of household conditions, did not influence an agroforestry adopter's decision on what types of agroforestry he should practice his field. Chi 2 test (p=0.05) shoes that there is no significant association between different household conditions determinants and a farmers choice on types of agroforestry practices in all three tehsils of the studied district. The adopted agroforestry practices in the study area include agri-silvi and pastoral based practices, horticulture tree species based like orchard plantation or home gardens; multipurpose tree species woodlots and live fences in form of planting trees on farm boundaries.

Assessment of Useful Plants in the Catchment Area of the Proposed Ntabelanga Dam in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Background The developmental projects, particularly construction of dams, result in permanent changes of terrestrial ecosystems through inundation. Objective The present study was undertaken aiming at documenting useful plant species in Ntabelanga dam catchment area that will be impacted by the construction of the proposed dam. Methods A total of 55 randomly selected quadrats were used to assess plant species diversity and composition. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods were used to identify useful plant species growing in the catchment area through interviews with 108 randomly selected participants. Results A total of 197 plant species were recorded with 95 species (48.2%) utilized for various purposes. Use categories included ethnoveterinary and herbal medicines (46 species), food plants (37 species), construction timber and thatching (14 species), firewood (five species), browse, live fence, and ornamental (four species each), and brooms and crafts (two species). Conclusion This study showed that plant species play an important role in the daily life and culture of local people. The construction of Ntabelanga dam is, therefore, associated with several positive and negative impacts on plant resources which are not fully integrated into current decision-making, largely because of lack of multistakeholder dialogue on the socioeconomic issues of such an important project.

Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya

Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> (both spined and spineless), <i>Opuntia exaltata</i> and <i>Cereus peruvianus</i>. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular <i>O. ficus-indica</i> plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.

Comparison of various drying techniques towards the total phenolic content in Jatropha curcas L. root sample

Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose plant that has been suggested as a possible cure to inflammation. It can be used as a source of animal feed, live fence, biodiesel and in traditional medicine. Practitioners have used various extraction techniques to extract the active components of the plant. This article compares the efficiency of three methods of drying technique for the extraction of the total phenolic content from the plant. The freeze-drying method was the best method compared to oven dry and air dry. The freeze-drying method dries J. curcas root sample faster and preserve the total phenolic content better than the other methods. Â Â Â

Effect of live fences of Gliricidia sepium on CO2 fluxes in tropical livestock systems

AbstractLive fences have the potential to improve microclimatic conditions, moderate soil CO2 fluxes and function as carbon sinks. We quantified variation in soil CO2 fluxes from livestock silvopastoral systems under the canopies of live fences (LF), formed by Gliricidia sepium trees, or artificial fences (AF). We determined the responses of soil CO2 fluxes to environmental factors, including diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature and relative humidity in each fencing system. Measurements were made from April to June (dry season) and from July to September (rainy season), 2012. Fluxes were similar between the two livestock systems; LF emitted 1.00 μmol CO2/m2/s and AF 1.02 μmol CO2/m2/s. Soil temperatures at 5 cm depth were 3% warmer in AF than in LF, and relative humidity was 16% greater in LF than in AF. Seasonal variation in temperature greatly affected soil CO2 fluxes, which changed seasonally in parallel with temperature of the topsoil and relative humidity at 1 m height, peaking in late summer. Fluxes in LF and AF were greater in the rainy season (1.1 μmol CO2/m2/s, for both systems), when soil temperature was cooler and relative humidity was greatest, than during the dry season (0.9 μmol CO2/m2/s, for both systems). Soil fluxes were larger at night (00:00–06:00 h), when soil temperature was cooler and relative humidity greater, than during the morning (6:00–12:00 h), when soil temperature was warmer and relative humidity was less. The presence of G. sepium trees in LF did not influence soil CO2 fluxes.

Farmer-Friendly Technique for Multiplication of Bamboo (&lt;i&gt;Bambusa vulgaris&lt;/i&gt;)

Bambusa vulgaris was multiplied by burying whole culms during 2014 and 2015 at the Research Farm of ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. Two-year-old bamboo culms produced higher number (165) of shoots than 1-year (114) and 3-year-old culms (57). The culm planting method resulted in prolific rooting pattern during monsoon season, and on an average 5.7 rooted plants were obtained from every alternate node. Rooted sprouts were separated from each productive node along with fibrous roots attached to it and were planted in polythene bags as new plantlets. This method of planting was found impressive for developing live bamboo fence and producing a large number of plants from scarce planting material. This technique promises a large number of planting material and readily acceptable technology to the farmers.

Plantas utilizadas como cercas vivas en el estado de Veracruz

Actualmente la disponibilidad de información sobre plantas empleadas como cercas vivas en el estado de Veracruz es insuficiente. Por tal motivo, el objetivo de este estudio fue el de realizar un inventario para dar a conocer las especies que generalmente son utilizadas para estos fines. El trabajo se desarrolló con base en observaciones de campo, recolecta de material botánico, entrevistas, revisión de ejemplares de herbario y consulta a la base computarizada de datos florísticos de Veracruz. Como resultado se obtuvo un listado de 218 especies de plantas vasculares, el cual es presentado en orden alfabético de familias; se incluyen nombres vulgares, tipos de vegetación y usos. Es importante destacar que el 88 % de las especies registradas presenta diversas categorías de uso adicional; así se obtuvieron 62 especies comestibles, 55 medicinales, 45 ornamentales, 36 de uso como combustible, 27 en construcciones rurales, 22 maderables, 13 como forraje, 6 melíferas y 42 asignadas a otras categorías de uso. Se hace énfasis en la importancia de usar especies nativas dentro de esta práctica agroforestal por contribuir al aprovechamiento adecuado de la flora y a la conservación del germoplasma local.