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Effect of cropping systems and land management practices on rodent population characteristics

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dc.creator Massawe, Apia Wilbald
dc.date 2022-09-01T05:47:21Z
dc.date 2022-09-01T05:47:21Z
dc.date 2003
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T08:53:29Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T08:53:29Z
dc.identifier http://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4503
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/93791
dc.description Thesis
dc.description A Capture Mark Release (CMR) study was carried out at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Solomon Mahlangu Campus in Morogoro, Tanzania from April 1999 to August 2001 to investigate the effect of slash and bum versus tractor ploughing on the population of rodents in agricultural fields subjected to either monocropping (maize alone) or intercropping (maize and beans). Mastomys natalensis was the most abundant species in the different treatments (97.8%). The spatial distribution of individuals was significantly affected by land preparation methods. The coefficient of dispersion values (based on variance-to-mean ratio calculations) indicated that before land preparation, animals were randomly distributed everywhere, but after land preparation and the consequent stages of maize growth, more animals clustered around the edges in tractor ploughed fields whereas in the slash and bum fields, animals were randomly distributed. Rodent population abundance increased in slash and bum fields during the crop growth stage in the short rainy season (yuli) as a result of higher recruitment of new individuals than in the tractor ploughed fields (for both mono and intercrop) (P = 0.004) suggesting that slash and bum fields are more attractive for colonization from the surrounding fallow fields. Tractor ploughing, slash and bum, mono and intercropping systems significantly (p< 0.05) affected the home range and movements of rodents. Home range was smaller in the tractor ploughed fields (Wald stat = 57.03; df=l; p<0.001). Females occupied smaller home ranges than males (Wald stat=18; df =1 p< 0.001), but the reasons were not clear. Significant variations in rodent population density due to soil types also occurred, with lowest populations in sandy clay soils (F=(2.5)= 8.42; p=0.025). These variations could be attributed to differences in the suitability of soils for burrowing. The level and distribution of crop damage in the fields indicated higher and uniform rodent damage in the slash and bum but lower and random damage occurred in tractor ploughed fields (Variance to mean ratio calculations). This suggests that seed retrieval was easier in the slash and bum fields. The current study suggests that slash and bum practice does not affect rodent population distribution in crop fields while tractor ploughing does affect rodents, probably by reducing cover and food availability or even by killing some individuals. Yet, it seems useful as a management tool when it is practiced over a large area and the surrounding fallow lands, which act as donor habitats, are cleared. Furthermore, land preparation methods should not be assumed to be adequate and effective on their own in controlling rodents but instead, they should be integrated with other strategies to reduce crop damage.
dc.description SUA- VLIR
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.publisher Sokoine University of Agriculture
dc.subject Cropping systems effect
dc.subject Land management practices
dc.subject Rodent population characteristics
dc.subject Capture Mark Release (CMR)
dc.subject Monocropping
dc.subject Intercropping
dc.title Effect of cropping systems and land management practices on rodent population characteristics
dc.type Thesis


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