Rangeland Research Articles

The Development of a Potential Local Dairy for an Emerging Peri-Urban Population of Cameroon

Dairy milk development guarantees income small graziers and nutritive balance of the population but its perishable and bulky characteristics requires a special production attention especially in the North West region of Cameroon where indigenous breeds of zebu cattle notably the Gudali, Red Mbororo and White Fulani grazed in nomadic to semi-nomadic systems year round. Primary and secondary data collected and treated statistically allude to the fact that Tubah-Sabga is an archetypical rangeland continuum where this activity has deepened its roots years past with a timidly growing human population that is a prime production and potential market. The population rise within this zone consequent of student influx has soared the demand potential for the dairy products that have been on a near abandonment to indigenous efforts. The current dairy production levels have a high potential to be enhanced by the emerging educational institutions emerging in the zone so as to guarantee a self-sufficiency for the local peri-urban community in the making.

English

The present study was carried out in two grass land of Kumrat Dir Kohistan, North Hindukush regions of KPK Pakistan. Locally these two grass land are known as Roshi Dab and Bothore Dab. The area of these two Dabs is about 400 hectare. The elevation of these two Dabs ranges from 7665 feet to 7954 feet while the geographic location of the study site was N 35° 33.249’ and E 72° 12.258’. Stratified random sampling method was used for data collection. 18 soil samples were taken with the depth of 0-15 cm and 16-30 cm. The average soil pH was 5.3. The mean soil bulk density was 1.107 -g/cm3. In present study it was found that the undisturbed range land stored maximum amount of soil carbon (32.69 tons hac-1) as compare to range land near to the agriculture land (29.77 tons hac-1) Similarly the rangeland near to forest land stored 35.62 t ha-1 carbon, also stored more carbon as compare to range land near to agriculture land 29.77 t ha-1. The results of the present study confirmed that conversion of range land into agriculture land reduced the soil carbon in the study area.   Key words: Carbon stocks, climate change, soil bulk density, range lands, forestry. &nbsp

Mangroves on the Edge: Anthrome-Dependent Fragmentation Influences Ecological Condition (Turbo, Colombia, Southern Caribbean)

Marine protected areas are commonly seen as the most effective strategy for protecting mangroves from external human pressures but little is known about the role of public land-tenure contexts (dense settlements, agricultural or range lands and wild anthromes) on clearing rates, patch properties, and ecological condition. We addressed the following questions using a peri-urban to wild gradient along the anthropogenic coastal-scape in Turbo Municipality (Colombia, Southern Caribbean): Do the different deforestation rates observed under peri-urban, rural, military-protected and wild land-use-and-tenure contexts, promote distinctive fragmentation patterns? Do these patterns influence loggers’ access and ultimately ecosystem ecological condition? Loss rate (1938–2009) was the greatest peri-urban mangroves and positively correlated with urban edge and patch density. Pasture edge was highest in rural mangroves while mean patch area was higher in protected and wild mangroves. An Anthropogenic Disturbance Index (ADI) was strongly correlated with reduced mean patch area and increased patch density, due to increased trampling and logging, that ultimately promoted high densities of thin (diameter: <5 cm) Laguncularia racemosa trees but had no significant effect on the presence of a dominant benthic gastropod. In conclusion, both protection and remoteness were effective in reducing anthropogenic edges and fragmentation, and thus contributed to a high ecological condition in mangroves at a major deforestation hotspot.

Carbon stocks of different land uses in the Kumrat valley, Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan

Changes in land use cover, particularly from forest to agriculture, is a major contributing factor in increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) level in the atmosphere. Using satellite images of 1999 and 2011, land use and land use changes in the Kumrat valley KPK, Pakistan, were determined: a net decrease of 11.56 and 7.46 % occurred in forest and rangeland, while 100 % increase occurred in agriculture land (AL). Biomass in different land uses, forest land (FL), AL, and range land (RL) was determined by field inventory. From the biomass data, the amount of carbon was calculated, considering 50 % of the biomass as carbon. Soil carbon was also determined to a depth of 0–15 and 16–30 cm. The average carbon stocks (C stocks) in all land uses ranged from 28.62 ± 13.8 t ha−1 in AL to 486.6 ± 32.4 t ha−1 in pure Cedrus deodara forest. The results of the study confirmed that forest soil and vegetation stored the maximum amount of carbon followed by RL. Conversion of FL and RL to AL not only leads to total loss of about 56 % (from FL conversion) and 37 % (RL conversion) of soil carbon in the last decades but also the loss of a valuable carbon sink. In order to meet the emissions reduction obligations of the Kyoto Protocol, Conservation of forest and RL in the mountainous regions of the Hindu Kush will help Pakistan to meet its emissions reduction goals under the Kyoto Protocol.

Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia rain-fed agriculture that is highly sensitive climate change and variability, accounts for much of the country’s GDP. This study covered two parts-the first part assesses the impact of climate change on biophysical parameters such as temperature and precipitation in South Omo zone and the second part portrays an over view of adaptation mechanisms to climate change the region. A Statistical downscaling model was developed and validated using large-scale predictor variables derived from the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data and observed station data that was achieved in order to establish a statistical relationship between large-scale NCEP reanalysis predictor variables and locally observed meteorological variables. The relationship obtained was then used to generate the possible future scenarios of meteorological variables such as temperature and precipitation using large-scale predictor variables obtained from the GCM, HadCM3 outputs for A2 and B2 emission scenario. The downscaling was done for intermediate (2021-2050) and far future (2070-2099) periods. The validation results of the SDSM revealed a good agreement between simulated and observed values for temperate. But the model underestimates simulated precipitation. The impact assessment over the south omo projects an increase in precipitation in both periods. Both the minimum and maximum temperature are projected to increase in a range of 0.5°C to 1.20°C for both intermediate and far future periods. For future period the potential evapotranspiration could also increase due to the rise of temperature that leads to more severe drought. Enclosed range land management was proposed by study for climate change adaptation, for this a capacity building training was given for the pastoralist community on range land management. Developmental activities by the government on that part of the area could be a treat and an opportunity for the pastoralist community for adaptation of climate change.

Opportunities and challenges in enhancing food production and security in the context of climate change effects in sub Saharan Africa

This discussion explores the opportunities and challenges in enhancing food production and security in the context of climatic variability in Sub Saharan Africa. The promotion of sustainable use of plant and animal products with emphasis on satisfying basic human needs, improving people’s standard of living, enhancing food security and reducing poverty have taken a center stage in Sub Saharan Africa. However, the efforts in this direction are being impacted negatively by climate change, through animal and crop production which have not been spared due to the natural disasters and environmental challenges which have affected all regions of Sub Saharan Africa indiscriminately. Climate is a particularly important driver of food production systems performance at the agriculture end of the food chain. It can affect the quantities and types of food produced as well as production-related income especially for the poor resource farmers. In order to be able to adequately address food production and security in the context of climate, there is need for the region to carry out thorough climatic vulnerability and adaptation assessments. Supporting research and training of experts to carry out vulnerability and adaptation assessments on crop and livestock production is crucial in order for respective countries to develop climate change adaptation measures to meet the obligation on food production and security. Sub Saharan Africa’s agro-ecological regions are variable and need to develop specific adaptive measures to reduce vulnerability to climate change. Due to the changing climatic conditions which the continent has already witnessed many severe climatic induced vulnerability such as decline in rainfall amounts and intensity, reduced length of rain season and increasing warm and occasionally very hot conditions has affected food production and security. Crop and livestock production systems will need to adapt to higher ambient temperatures, lower nutritional value of feed resources and new diseases and parasites occurrence. It can be seen that the present crop and livestock production systems based on pastoral or rangeland grazing husbandry systems, ecological destruction through climatic variability and overgrazing due to high stocking rates in areas where feed and water has been compromised due to high temperatures caused by climate change does not augur well for future livestock productivity. The understanding of climate change variables and their impacts is the first step in climate change research and prerequisite for defining appropriate adaptive responses by local crop and livestock farmers. Sustainable crop and livestock production supporting rural development should be compatible with the goals of curbing the effects of climate change. Production priorities should be directed towards promoting local crop and livestock genetic resources by providing comprehensive research support services on the impact of climate change. Both crops and livestock play important roles in farming systems, as they offer opportunities for risk coping, farm diversification and intensification, and provide significant livelihood benefits and food security. The discussion therefore, concludes that the effectiveness of biophysical responses of crop and livestock production systems to specific environmental challenges that are anticipated as a result of climate change, and then the range of adaptive measures that might be taken by local producers to ameliorate their effects will be the prerequisite for defining appropriate societal responses and meet food security targets.

Influence of range land of the settled camp of gers on livestock health and food security

Purpose: In this research we have determined impact of activities of the settled herders on soil, water and plantation of degraded pasture land caused by distortion of technology of cattle breeding, content of some chemicals in blood serum of livestock as well as plantation number and cover. Conclusions: 1. Grazing crop of the settled camp of gers is less by 3-6 species and cover size is less by 8-10 percent compared to the control area. 2. It has been determined that content of Cu, Co, Se, Pb in soil and plant of pasture land of the settled camp of gers in close pasture land Zn, Fe is the least in close and middle pasture lands and the most in remote pasture land. 3. Copper contained in water is higher by 0.132 ppm than the internationally accepted highest level, zinc is less by 0.233 ppm and iron, cobalt, selenium and lead is 2-7 times more than the permissible highest level. 4. Copper, zinc, cobalt and iron contained in the blood serum of the livestock of the settled camp of gers is less than normal psychological amount and selenium and lead are higher than the permissible amount. 5. Much heavy metal contained in soil, water and plant of the close pasture land of the settled camp of gers is determined by much content of selenium and lead in the serum that may affect food security and social health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.241 Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.11(2) 2013 pp.166-171

Pastoral Rangelands Policy and Institutional Concerns in Ethiopia

The total grazing and browsing area in Ethiopia is about 62 million hectares at the peripheral which accounts about 60% of total land mass (PFE 2009). Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists are the main range land users. Range lands support livelihoods of about 12 million populations in dry lands of Ethiopia (CSA, 2007). Literatures are indicating that the range lands today are in danger of degradation due to natural and human induced factors (Coppock, 1994). Inappropriate management, inter alia, relates to. issues of land policy and administration. The objective of this review is therefore, to examine the institutional and policy gaps related to land policy and administration in pastoral range lands. In this respect, an assessment of land policies and institutions; The results of the desk review indicated that increasingly, the policies and legislation provide a more facilitating environment for sustainable use and management of range lands and their natural resources. Despite these positive policy moves, the full implementation is yet to be realized on the facilitating policies and legislation that protect range land resources for and by local populations. Until such time, pastoralists, and other rangeland users will continue to be facing many challenges. This paper highlights that though policy and legislation are improving, the land reform also needs to take into account and address; development of appropriate institutions with effective power; active participation of customary institutions and civil society engagement as a vital actions in securing land and resource rights.

Fire temperature effects on perennial grasses from northwestern Patagonian grasslands

Fil: Gonzalez, Sofia Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigacion En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentina

The effects of shrubs Salsola arbusculiformis Drob. on soil chemical and physical characteristics in North east rangelands of Iran

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of Salsola arbusculiformis on soil physico-chemical characteristics in rangelands of in Garmeh Located in northeast of Iran. After surveying the regions, the three sites (karnakh, Aspakho, Robat) with Salsola arbusculiformis were selected. Vegetation cover and soil parameters were sampled by a random systematic method, in each region. Five transects each 100 meter length were selected and then 50 plots by the average of 1m ×2m were randomly chosen and vegetation cover parameters such as percentage canopy cover, production, density and percentage litter were measured in the key area of each site. Soil samples were taken from two depths (0-30, 30-60 cm) under plant and in control areas. The measured characteristics of soil included texture, electrical conductivity (EC), acidity (pH), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Organic matter(OM), CaCO 3 and CaSO 4 .Data were analyzed using SPSS software under windows. One-way ANOVA and T-test were used to compare the data related to planted and control treatments. Results showed that Salsola arbusculiformis significantly increased the amount of K, pH, EC, N, Na (P<0.01), and O.M (P<0.05). In these sites measured characteristics of soil in planted areas were more than the control ones.

Species richness of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in rangelands of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran

In order to study the species richness of oribatid mites in rangelands of West Azerbaijan Province (Northwestern Iran), soil samples were taken in eight different sites of rangelands including Ghooshchi (1600–1750 and 1750–2000 m a.s.l), Ghasemloo (1300–1450, 1450–1600 and 1600–1750 m a.s.l) Roze-Chai (1450–1600 m a.s.l), Marmisho (1750–2000 m a.s.l) and Ordooshahi (1300–1450 m a.s.l) areas at three different times (mid-May, mid-August and mid-October) of the year 2012. In total, 71 species belonging to 49 genera, 32 families and 20 superfamilies were collected and identified. The oribatid species richness was calculated for all the samples with the Ecological Methodology 6.0 software. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences ( P < 0.01) in oribatid species richness among sites ( P < 0.01). Ghasemloo­ 2 (44 species) had the highest species and Ordooshahi­ (14 species), Ghooshchi 1 (19 species) and Roze-Chai (24 species) had the lowest species richness, respectively. Also, there were significant differences ( P < 0.01) in species richness at different altitudes. In this regard, Ghooshchi­ 2 and Marmisho (1750−2000 m a.s.l) had the highest species richness among the studied areas.

Sustaining working rangelands: social, economic, and ecological insights from rancher decision-making and drought adaptation

Sustaining working rangelands: social, economic, and ecological insights from rancher decision-making and drought adaptation

Phytoremediation of sewage sludge and use of its leachate for crop production

The land application of sewage sludge has the potential risk of transferring heavy metals to soil or groundwater. The agricultural reuse of sludge leachate could be a cost-effective way to decrease metal contamination. Sludge leachate collected during the phytoremediation of sludge by co-cropping with Sedum alfredii and Zea mays was used for irrigating vegetables in a field experiment. Results indicate that the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in sludge leachates complied with the National Standards for agricultural irrigation water in China. For the vegetable crop Ipomoea aquatica, nutrients obtained only from the sludge leachate were not sufficient to support growth. For the second crop, Brassica parachinensis, no differences in biomass were observed between the treatment with leachate plus a half dose of inorganic fertilizer and the treatment with a full dose of inorganic fertilizers. The concentrations of heavy metals in I. aquatica and B. parachinensis were not significantly affected by the application of sludge leachates. Compared with initial values, there were no significant differences in Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations in soil following treatment with sludge leachate. This study indicates that on range lands, sludge phytoremediation can be conducted at the upper level, and the generated sludge leachate can be safely and easily used in crop production at the lower level.

Determine Phosphorus and Calcium in Soil of the Grazing Area, El-Khuwei locality, west Kordofan State, Sudan

A two stages flowering and seed setting field experiment was conducted to determine of some macro minerals in soil phosphorus P and calcium Ca in the natural range land, during 2011 in El-khuwei locality, west Kordofan State, Sudan. The data was analyzed used a completely randomized design (CRD) with the effect of stages as the whole plots and effects of sampling as the sub-plots. Sampling was done on two stages at the flowering and seed setting in selected locations (2km2 each), within each stage randomly selected and collected thirty samples of soil. (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for the statistical analysis. The results indicated that growth stages were effect of macro minerals in the soil phosphorus concentrations and calcium concentrations in the natural range land was significantly difference (P<0.001) higher phosphorus P (0.15-0.10ppm) level at the flowering stage and least phosphorus P level at the seed setting stage respectively, also growth stages were effect of calcium Ca (110.22-99.75ppm) level was higher calcium Ca level at the flowering stage and least calcium Ca level at the seed setting stage respectively.

Review of Towards Sustainable Use of Rangelands in North-West China

Squires, V, Hua, L, Zhang, D and Li, G (eds.) Towards Sustainable Use of Rangelands in North-West China. New York: Springer, 2010. xxxi, 353 pages, ISBN 978-90-481-9621-0 e-ISBN 978-90-481-9622-7, DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-9622-7

English

A study was conducted on 400 goats in Luna Export Abattoir originated from district area of Borena Range land (that is Yabello and Negella) from November, 2008 to April, 2009 to estimate the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in goats. Detail post mortem examination and bacteriology were applied to undertake this study. On the bases of post mortem and bacteriological results, the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis was 15% (60/400), out of which 42 (70%), 13 (21.7%) and 5 (8.3%) were cutaneous form, visceral form and generalized form, respectively. There is statistical significance difference (P &lt; 0.05) among the three age groups. The study revealed that as age increases the prevalence also increases. Statistical significant difference was also recorded between goats having poor and good body condition score (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, goats with poor body condition score seem to be more infected (24.7%) than those goats with good body condition (12.5%). In conclusion, this study has indicated the occurrence of CLA in high frequency in goats of Borena range land. Therefore, further extensive research should be conducted over all the country to determine prevalence and economic significance of the disease. Key words: Goats, Borena range land, Luna Export Abattoir, caseous lymphadenitis, post mortem examination, bacteriology, prevalence. &nbsp

Predicting the Trend of Land Use Changes Using Artificial Neural Network and Markov Chain Model (Case Study: Kermanshah City)

Nowadays, cities are expanding and developing with a rapid growth, so that the urban development process is currently one of the most important issues facing researchers in urban issues. In addition to the growth of the cities, how land use changes in macro level is also considered. Studying the changes and degradation of the resources in the past few years, as well as feasibility study and predicting these changes in the future years may play a significant role in planning and optimal use of resources and harnessing the non-normative changes in the future. There are diverse approaches for modeling the land use and cover changes among which may point to the Markov chain model. In this study, the changes in land use and land cover in Kermanshah City, Iran during 19 years has been studied using multi-temporal Landsat satellite images in 1987, 2000 and 2006, side information and Markov Chain Model. Results shows the decreasing trend in range land, forest, garden and green space area and in the other hand, an increased in residential land, agriculture and water suggesting the general trend of degradation in the study area through the growth in the residential land and agriculture rather than other land uses. Finally, the state of land use classes of next 19 years (2025) was anticipated using Markov Model. Results obtained from changes prediction matrix based on the maps of years 1987 and 2006 it is likely that 82% of residential land, 58.51% of agriculture, 34.47% of water, 8.94% of green space, 30.78% of gardens, 23.93% of waste land and 16.76% of range lands will remain unchanged from 2006 to 2025, among which residential lands and green space have the most and the least sustainability, respectively.

LAND USE LAND COVER DYNAMICS OF NILGIRIS DISTRICT, INDIA INFERRED FROM SATELLITE IMAGERIES

Land use Land cover changes are critical components in managing natural resources especially in hilly region as they trigger the erosion of soil and thus making the zone highly vulnerable to landslides. T he Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu state in India is th e first biosphere in Western Ghats region with rare species of flora and fauna and often suffered by fr equent landslides. Therefore in this present study land use land cover dynamics of Nilgiri district has bee n studied from 1990 to 2010 using Satellite Remote Sensing Technique. The temporal changes of land use and land cover changes of Nilgiris district over t he period of 1990 to 2010 were monitored using LISS I and LISS III of IRS 1A and IRS-P6 satellites. Land use dynamics were identified using Maximum likelihood classification under supervised classification technique. From the remote sensing study, it is fou nd that during the study period of 1990 to 2010, ar ea of dense forest increased by 27.17%, forest plantat ion area decreased by 54.64%. Conversion of forest plantation, Range land and open forest by agricultu re and settlement leading to soil erosion and landslides. Tea plantation increased by 33.95% and agricultural area for plantation of vegetables increased rapidly to 217.56% in the mountain steep area. The accuracy of classification has been asses sed by forming confusion matrix and evaluating kappa coefficient. The overall accuracy has been obtained a s 83.7 and 89.48% for the years 1990 and 2010 respect ively. The kappa coefficients were reported as 0.80 and 0.88 respectively for the years 1990 and 2010.

Seasonal and Altitudinal Variation of Herbaceous Biomass of Nikyal Range Land, District Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Aim: The aim of this study was to report the seasonal and altitudinal variation in herbaceous biomass along with the productivity of area. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Nikyal valley located at altitudinal range of 1500-1900 m within the longitude 74o 04 to 10 east and latitude 33o 26 to 29 north during July 2012 to June 2013. Methodology: The forage biomass was calculated by Harvest method using 1m quadrat. Five quadrats were selected from each community permanently. Above ground grasses and forbs were clipped up to 2cm and were placed in separate polythene bags. Both grasses and forbs were separately weighed and average was taken. The results were expressed in Kilo grams per hectares. Monthly sampling over one year was carried to Original Research Article Annual Research & Review in Biology, 4(6): 936-944, 2014 937 determine its productivity. Results: The average dry biomass production was 854 Kg/ha. The July and August were the most productive months (1387 Kg/ha and 1335 Kg/ha, respectively). The total dry biomass, biomass contributed by grasses and herbs generally increased from July to October and thereafter it progressively decreased till February and then again started increasing from March. Conclusion: The variation in Biomass controlled by the amount and timing of precipitation and temperature inputs during the growing season.

Influence of woody species on aerial growth of perennial grasses in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina

Fil: Blazquez, Francisco Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Bahia Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida(i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomia; Argentina