Browsing by Author "Ligate, E. J."

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Contribution of Tanzania Southern highlands forest diversity to household income and food supplements;The case of Mufindi district in Tanzania
    (SCIENCEDOMAIN international, 2017) Msola, D. K; Ligate, E. J.; Chen, C.; Wu, C.
    Understanding the role played by forest diversity to supply non-timber forest products for income and food supplements of households is important in forest management and human life. This study was conducted to investigate the role played by non-timber forest products and their implications on income and food supplements in Mufindi District in Tanzania. Methodology: A cross section field survey research methodology was used in this study. Six representative villages in three wards; Rugemba, Igowole and Sadan located within 30 Km to forestreserves were selected. Interviews were conducted to 180 respondents from the three wards. One focus group from each village was conducted while District agricultural officers and village leaders formed a key informant’s category. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Software and Microsoft excel while memos were produced from qualitative data and used to narrate discussion. Taxonomic plants classification was carried out at Sokoine University of Agriculture botanic laboratory. Results: It was found that non-timber forest products are mostly consumed directly by the people who collect them as a useful dietary supplement, especially when food is scarce. To a lesser extent, they are also sold for cash, but the market for them is badly organized in terms of poor transport and lack of storage facilities, so they are not an important source of income except for people who live near important roads. It was discovered that deforestation and climate change are reducing the potential supply of these products. Conclusions: Given the importance of the sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products as an incentive for forest conservation, the market for non-timber forest products should be rationalized and expanded. Improvement of the use and role of wild foods should be planned and implemented within a larger scheme of sustainable forest management.
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    Evaluation of soil fertility status based on CEC and variation across disturbed and intact tropical coastal forests sites in Tanzania
    (Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 2018) Chen, C.; Wu, C.; Ligate, E. J.
    Although an understanding of different levels of soil calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, cation exchange capacity, and percentage base saturation, is important in the management of forest ecosystems; however, there is limited documentation on the status of these elements in forest subjected to crop-agriculture and livestock grazing disturbances in the tropical coastal forests. This study aimed to evaluate soil fertility based on exchangeable bases’ status and variation across closed forest (control), agriculture and livestock disturbed sites in the coastal zone of Tanzania to add knowledge on the management of tropical coastal forests. Methodology: Systematic sampling and stratification approaches were used to get representative samples of forested blocks and disturbed sites. Forty-seven (50 m x 50 m) sampling plots on each of the forest sites were established in the study area from which 141 soil samples were drawn. Ammonium acetate solution was used to extract exchangeable calcium, potassium, magnesium,and sodium from which cation exchange capacity and base saturation were calculated. Results: The mean, correlation and t-values were used to compare nutrients across land uses. The mean values were 3.75, 3.11 and 0.63 for Ca2+; 0.80, 5.87 and 6.67 for Mg2+; 0.03, 0.55, and 0.52 for K+; 0.01, 0.31 and 0.31 for Na+; 2.61, 13.74 and 16.36 (cmol(+)/kg) for cation exchange capacity and 10.29, 5.86 and 4.42 (V%) for base saturation in three areas: closed forest, agriculture and livestock disturbed sites. Conclusions: The variations show that crop-agriculture and livestock grazing disturb soil chemical properties in tropical coastal forests. Therefore, it is essential to protect closed forest sites while putting more efforts to restore the disturbed sites for sustainable forest management along the coastal areas.
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    Impacts of salt water intrusion on maize (zea mays) and rice (oryza sativa) production under climate change scenarios in Bagamoyo District-Tanzania
    (2017) Ligate, E. J.; Kitila, M. M.; Chen, C.; Wu, C.
    Salt water intrusion is a challenge on production of human staple foods Zea mays and Oryza sativa in the changing climate, along the global coastal zones. Information on how salinity affects these crops is essential in developing scientific mitigations for sustainable food production. This study was conducted to investigate salt water intrusion and its impacts on Zea mays and Oryza sativa production in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania. Soil and water samples were collected along 14 km of Wami River for determination of NaCl and pH. Direct observations, surveys and questionnaire protocols were used to collect socio-economic data. Along 14 km, soil pH average was 6.5 (acidic) while that of water was 8 (basic). Salinity was high within 5 km and then declined towards 14 km away. Zea mays and Oryza sativa declined from averages of 18 to 8bags/acre/crop season. The impacts of salinity were clear on farms within 5 km from the Ocean than at 14 km. Salt intrusion is associated with climate change along the Tanzania coastal zone. Agriculturists, environmentalists and policy makers must work jointly to mitigate SWI impacts in Changing Climate. These efforts will help to improve crop production and ensure food security and income of the people along the coastal zones.
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    Investigation of tropical coastal forest regeneration after farming and livestock grazing exclusion
    (Springer, 2018) Wu, C.; Chen, C.; Ligate, E. J.
    It is critical to understand how forests regenerate after the exclusion of human induced disturbances because the regenerating species drive the renewal of resources and ecosystems, which in turn support human beings locally and globally. This study of forest regeneration was conducted in the tropical coastal forest ecosystems of Tanzania at Uzigua Forest Reserve (24,730 ha) in the Pwani Region. We collected data from adult trees in 47 sampling plots (25 9 25 m) randomly established in closed forest sites (control) and in sites disturbed by farming and livestock grazing. Sapling and seedling data were collected and analyzed in 2 9 2 m nested subplots. Plots in the closed forest had higher mean basal area and volume for adult trees than those in sites disturbed by farming and livestock grazing. Plots in sites disturbed by farming had the highest Shannon–Wiener index for seedlings and saplings, followed by closed forest and livestock grazed sites. Closed plots and farmed plots had higher Simpson’s index for seedlings and saplings than in grazed sites. Plots in farmed and livestock-grazed sites had a higher Simpson index for adult trees than in closed sites. Equitability of seedlings and saplings was highest in closed forest sites, followed by farmed and livestock grazed sites. Plots disturbed by farming had higher equitability for adult trees than in livestock-grazed and closed sites. Moreover, plots disturbed by farming and grazing had a higher importance value index for seedlings than in closed sites. Plots in closed forests had higher sapling importance values than in farmed and grazed sites. Again, plots in closed forest had a higher importance value for adult trees than in farmed and grazed sites. The differences in tree species subcategories of regeneration across land-use indicates that farming and livestock grazing disturbances create heterogeneous microhabitats, which positively or negatively affects regeneration capacity of species after exclusion.