Browsing by Author "Aweto, A.O."

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    Changes in plant species composition in a semi-arid rangeland of Nigeria.
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2000-04-01) Ayuba, H.K.; Aweto, A.O.
    A major concern in the management of arid and semi-arid rangelands in Africa is the progressive loss of plant species diversity. Losses in plant specie:, diversity have been attributed to (be overuse of rangelands by domestic livestock. ' An understanding of the dynamic interactions between the livestock and plants is required in older to achieve an optimal sustainable use of these rangelands. Unfortunately, studies on (he Sudan Sahclinn ecosystems or Nigeria have severely been limited b\ the paucity of quantitative data. The limited knowledge of the savanna ecosystem dynamics in Nigeria lias negatively affected the efficient management of the rangelands and deterioration of the rangelands has continued unabated This paper provides some quantitative data on the changes in plant species composition in one of (lie largest grazing reserves in the semi-arid region of Nigeria (the Jakusko-Nnsnri Grazing Reserve), which has been subjected to continuous grazing for over 30 years.
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    Effect of Continuous Cultivation with Animal Manuring on a Sub-Sahelian Soil near Maiduguri, North Eastern Nigeria
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 1993-04-12) Ayuba, H.K.; Aweto, A.O.
    This study evaluates the impact of continuous peasant farming based on the use of animal manure, on a semi-arid soil in the Maiduguri area of north-eastern Nigeria, by comparing the properties of the soil under continuous farming with a similar soil under a natural savanna forest reserve. Bulk density and total porosity values were similar in both soils. This suggests that traditional cultivation involving the application of animal manure did not adversely affect soil physical status. The levels of exchangeable magnesium, potassium, cation exchange capacity and available phosphorus were similar in the 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm layers of both soils. However, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable calcium and pH were less in the soil under continuous cultivation, indicating a decline in soil fertility. The adoption of soil management techniques to conserve and enhance soil organic matter and nutrients appears crucial to the long-term productivity of the soil under continuous cropping
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    SOIL NUTRIENT DYNAMIC UNDER SMALL-HOLDER AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN KONDUGA, NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2000-04-01) Ayuba, H.K.; Aweto, A.O.; Abubakar, Sani M.
    The fertility of soil in the tropics is influenced strongly by the secondary soil factors of organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH. Thus, information on the-changes in the levels of these soil properties is very vital to agricultural land use planning. This study examines the changes which occur in these soil properties following the establishment of small-holder agricultural practices, by comparing soil properties under the small-holder agricultural practices (SHAP) with a similar soil under a natural Savanna woodland (forest reserve). The result revealed that in the 0- 10cm layer of soil under small-holder agriculture, mere (P<0,01) in organic matter CEC and pH (P<0.05) compared with similar properties in adjoining Savanna woodland. In the IO-30cm layer or soil, organic matter, CEC and pH also decline significantly (P<0.05). The results suggest a decline in soil fertility in the cultivated sites. The adoption of soil management techniques to conserve and enhance soil organic matter and nutrients appears crucial to the long-term productivity of the soil and sustainability of agriculture in the area. were significant decline
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    Soil nutrient dynamics under smallholder agricultural practices in Konduga, north-eastern Nigeria
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2000-04-12) Ayuba, H.K.; Aweto, A.O.; Abubakar, Sani M.
    The fertility of soil in the tropics is strongly influenced by the secondary soil factors of organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH. Thus, information on the changes in the levels of these soil properties is very vital to agricultural land use planning. This study examined the changes which occur in these soil properties following the establishment of small-holder agricultural practices (SHAP), by comparing soil properties under the SHAP with a similar soil under a natural Savannah woodland (forest reserve). The results revealed that in the 0-10 cm layer of soil under small-holder agriculture, there was a significant decline (P < 0.01) in OM, CEC, and pH (P < 0.05) compared with similar properties in the adjoining Savannah woodland. In the 10-30 cm layer of soil, OM, CEC, and pH also declined significantly (P < 0.05). The results suggested a decline in soil fertility in the cultivated sites. The adoption of soil management techniques to conserve and enhance soil OM and nutrients appears crucial to the long term productivity of the soil and sustainability of agriculture in the area.