Background: In tropical agroecosystems, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is an essential component of soil fertility. Limited number of studies have emphasized the effects of vegetation type and soil physico-chemical characteristics on AMF communities, although several studies have stressed the importance of AMF in agroecosystems. Objective: To evaluate how specific vegetation types and site affect the physico-chemical properties of the soil and the abundance and diversity of AMF spores. Methodology: Three specific locations from the ongoing Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods (KCEP-CRAL) initiative were chosen to carry out the study. Kubo South in Kwale County, Muminji in Embu County, and Thange in Makueni County were chosen as the study’s site areas. The sites were selected based on the implementation of a land degradation surveillance framework (LDSF), comprising both cultivated and uncultivated plots. In each study site, four vegetation types namely bushland, grassland, cropland, and shrubland were selected. Results: The results showed significant variations in soil physicochemical properties among different sites. Thange exhibited the highest carbon (C) content, pH, and exchangeable bases compared to Muminji and Kubo South. Sand content was higher (57%) in soils from Kubo South compared to that obtained in Muminji (41%) and Thange (27.8%). In contrast, the clay content was higher in Thange (58%) and Muminji (41%) than in Kubo South (27%). Vegetation type had a significant effect on soil pH and C only in Muminji. A higher abundance of AMF spores was recorded in soil from the Muminji site (385.0 spores kg-1 soil) followed by Kubo south (226.0 spores kg-1 soil) and lowest in Thange (67.0 spores kg-1 soil). Muminji had the highest mean taxonomic richness (3.21 species) compared to Kubo South and Thange (2.96 and 1.98 species respectively). Taxonomic diversity as shown by the Shannon diversity index (Hʹ) had a similar trend as richness. However, vegetation type only had a significant effect on AMF richness and diversity. Implication: The findings of this study may especially be important in agroecosystems since AMF play a key role in soil fertility and productivity through soil aggregation process, nutrient cycling, water relations, and in plant nutrition and health which contribute to the overall ecosystem functioning. Conclusion: These findings show that vegetation type and site influence AMF sporulation and diversity and hence may influence the AMF functions in contributing to the reclamation of degraded soil ecosystems.
Tag: agroecosystem
Theories of place, change and induced change for tree-crop-based agroforestry
Agroforestry with a strong market-oriented component of tree crops but also supporting local agroecosystem functions can be analysed and understood in multiple ways, building on many disciplinary traditions and using their terminology and concepts. Characterization of context and choices, plus understanding relationships and feedbacks is essential for appreciating ‘options in context’ and the way these change over time. Beyond observer roles, active engagement as agent of induced change to help make the world a better place has since long been the ambition of advocates of agroforestry. As a background to such endeavours , this publication introduces more than one hundred aspects, visually and with a short text, providing references to more specialized literature. Aspects include: A) Characterization of structure in existing land use can lead to a Theory of Place (ToP: patterns answering what?, where?, who? questions), B) Diagnosis of functions influenced by changing practices and systems can lead to a Theory of Change (ToC: patterns in answering how?, why?, since when?, so what? and who cares?), C) Assessments of leverage points for adaptive, transformative and re-imaginative change can lead to a project-design Theory of Induced Change (ToIC), D) Research methods for ecological, agronomic, social, economic and policy-oriented research require clarity on units of analysis and scale relations of observable properties in relation to questions and hypotheses, E) Guidance on how research methods need to match the stage of public issue cycle debate to contribute to policy reform.