Influence of anthropogenic activities on the initial establishment and growth rate of introduced Senna siamea in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, Malawi
Abstract
The study was conducted along the Nkanya-Lusewa rivers catchment as hot spot in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve in Domasi area in Malawi to determine the influence of anthropogenic activities on the growth of Senna siamea planted by the community using integrated indigenous-technocrat model. The study focused on 28 gardens along the rivers whose owners encroached the forest reserve and willed to participate in the study. In total we planted 101 S. siamea seedlings within a distance of 10 m on either side of the study rivers and we determined tree total height, canopy height, canopy base diameter and canopy base area in February, May, August, and November in 2014 using a ruler. We found that the average tree total height and canopy height slightly decreased from February to November from initial 34.7 cm to 31.1 cm and 16.8 cm to 12.1 cm respectively due to impact of transplanting shock and bushfires which led to loss of tree tops and some branches but those of canopy base diameter and canopy base area increased slightly following sprouting of burnt seedling stems. We further found that tree growth rates varied among the gardens due to transplanting shock, post-planting care differences, soil moisture variation, and incidence of bushfires.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Reference
Moyo, G.G., Chikuni, M. and Chiotha, S.(2016). Effectiveness of Integrated Indigenous-Technocrat Model in Restoring Controversial Forest Reserve Hotspot: The Case of Nkanya and Lusewa Rivers in Domasi Area, Zomba District. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development. Vol.8. No1
Alpert P., Griggs, F.T., Peterson, D.R.(1999). Riparian Forest Restoration Along Large Rivers: Initial Results from the Sacramento River Project. Restoration Ecology. Vol 7: 4 pp 360–368.
Tilman, D. (1985). The Resource-ration hypothesis of succession. The American Naturalist. Vol.125:6, pp 825- 852.
Aide T.M., Zimmerman J.K., Pascarella T.B., Rivera L. and Marcano-Vega, H. (2000).Forest Regeneration in a Chronosequence of Tropical Abandoned Pastures: Implications for Restoration Ecology. RestorationEcology. Vol 8: 4 pp 328-338.
Orwa, C., Mutua, A. , Kindt, R. , Jamnadass, R., Anthony, S., (2009). Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya.
Heuzé V. and Tran G. (2013). Apple-ring acacia (Faidherbia albida). Feedipedia.org. programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Retrieved on 16th April, 2014.
Missanjo E., Maya C., Kapira D., Banda H., and Thole G. (2013). Effect of Seed Size and Pretreatment Methods on Germination of Albizia lebbeck. ISRN Botany. Vol. 2013.
Luna, R.K. (1996). Plantation trees. Delhi, India: International Book Distributors.
Bunderson, W.T., Mkufya, R. and Mbaruku,D.D. (2006).Tree Trial at Tumbi Agricultural Research station, Tabora Tanzania: Year 2 Results. Total Land care Tanzania.
Mbingwani, E. and Moyo, D. (2012). The Initial growth and performance of two year old Khaya anthotheca trees under plantation condition in Zomba forest reserve. Malawi FRIM.
Bowman D. M.J., Brienen R.J.W., Gloor E., Philips O.L., Prio, L.D.(2013). Trends in Plant Science. Detecting Trends in Treegrowth. Vol 18:1 pp 11-17
Arzai, A.H. and Aliyu,B.S.(2010).The relationship between canopy width, height and trunk size in some tree species growing in the Savana zone of Nigeria. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. Vol 3:1 pp 260-263.
Ham D.L. and Nelson L.R.(1998). Newly Planted Trees: Strategies for Survival. USA. Clemson Education Extension Publication.
Lowry J.B. (1989). Agronomy and forage quality of Albizia lebbeck in the semi-arid tropics. TropicalGrasslands 23, 84-91.
Lowry, J.B. and Lowry, J.B.C. (1991). Canopy growth of Albizia lebbeck in the semiarid tropics. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Research Reports 9, 92.
Coder, K.D.(1993).Tree Growth Rate: Annual Percentage Growth. USA: The University of Georgia.
McLaren, K.P., Levesque, M., Sharma, C., Wilson, B.,McDonald,M.A.(2011). From seedlings to trees : Using ontogenetic models of growth and survivorship to assess long-term (>100years) dynamics of neotropical dry forest. Forest Ecology and Management. Vol 262 : 6 pp 916-930.
Moyo G. G., Chikuni M.,Chiotha S. (2016) Community Knowledge in Restoring Trees in Controversial Forest Hot Spots-Case of Nkanya-Lusewa rivers catchment area in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, Malawi. Open Science Journal 1(3).
Bloomfield, K.(1965). The Geology of Zomba area. Zomba: The Government Printer.
Kamanga B.C.G, Kanyama-Phiri G.Y, and Minae, S. (1999). Intercropping Perennial Legumes for green manure additions to maize in Southern Malawi: African Crop Science Journal. Vol 7:4 pp 355-363.
Zomba District Assembly (2008). District State of the Environment Report. Zomba: Zomba District Assembly.
Moyo, G.G., Chikuni, M. and Chiotha, S.(2016). Effectiveness of Integrated Indigenous-Technocrat Model in Restoring Controversial Forest Reserve Hotspot: The Case of Nkanya and Lusewa Rivers in Domasi Area, Zomba District. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development. Vol.8. No1.
Heinsleigh T.E., Holaway B.K. (1988). Agroforestry species for the Philippines. Metro Manila Philippines: US Peace Corps, AJA Printers.
Troup, R.S., and Joshi, H.B.(1983).Troup's The Silviculture of Indian Trees. Leguminosae. Vol IV.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23954/osj.v1i4.673
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Open Science Journal (OSJ) is multidisciplinary Open Access journal. We accept scientifically rigorous research, regardless of novelty. OSJ broad scope provides a platform to publish original research in all areas of sciences, including interdisciplinary and replication studies as well as negative results.