Tag: harvesting
Field Visit report to ICRAF BMP demonstration sites for Agroforestry and rainwater harvesting in Kenya
Implementation of three activities in Somalia. Report
The IGAD BMP implemented by ICRAF has successfully supported three project activities in Ras Kamboni, Somalia. The three activities are honey value chain development, rainwater harvesting and training and capacity building on natural resource management. The report provides the achievements and next steps for each of the three activities.
Tree–crop interactions: manipulation of water use and root function
This paper describes recent research findings on tree–crop interactions in the semiarid tropics focusing on the potential of agroforestry systems to improve the efficiency with which land and water are currently used; the trade-offs between crop productivity and environmental function, and strategies to manipulate tree root function. There is strong evidence that agroforestry has potential for improving water use efficiency by reducing the unproductive components of the water balance, i.e. run-off, soil evaporation and drainage. Examples from India and Kenya show that simultaneous agroforestry systems could double rainfall utilisation compared to annual cropping systems, largely due to temporal complementarity. Where soil loss through erosion is a serious problem, contour hedgerows can provide a viable alternative to conventional soil conservation measures. However, even though soil losses can be dramatically reduced, whether beneficial effects on crops will develop is often unpredictable and usually insufficient to attract widespread adoption of contour hedges. Strategies to reduce the trade-offs between crop and tree interactions or environmental function include the use of high value trees or trees which provide direct benefits to farmers.Recent reviews on root research indicate that there appears to be limited scope for spatial differentiation in rooting between trees and crops (i.e. spatial complementarity) in water-limited environments, unless ground-water is accessible to tree roots. Instead, it is argued that it is more worthwhile to manage below-ground competition by shoot and root-pruning. Pruning of lateral roots could redirect root function and be a powerful tool for improving spatial complementarity, provided that there are adequate resources at depth. However, the downward displacement of functional tree roots following root-pruning must not be allowed to affect their safety net role in the interception of nutrients leaching from the zone of crop rooting and the long-term hydrological implica
Chemical property of soil and mycorrhizal status in Allanblackia floribunda Oliver (Clusiaceae)
The objective of this study was to describe the type of mycorrhizal fungus that is associated with A. floribunda and evaluate the effect of soil chemical properties on its rhizosphere, its mycorrhizal dependency in its natural range in four populations of the species (Mouanko, Yalpenda, Nkenlikok and Mbalmayo), two land use systems (disturbed and undisturbed), two age classes (circumference less than 50cm and up to 50cm). Results obtained so far demonstrated that A. floribunda is colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizas. Root colonization was significantly (P < 0.01) different in the targeted populations with the highest observed in Yalpenda (53.63 ± 1.33%). Land disturbance significantly (P < 0.01) affected root colonization. Unperturbed soils displayed the highest root colonization (35.29 ± 0.70%). Age classes had significant (P < 0.001) influence on root colonization and trees with circumferences up to 50 cm had the highest percentage (35.45 ± 0.72%). There was no significant correlation between root colonization and phosphorus (R2 = 0.437, p = 0.563), in contrary to root colonization and copper (R2 = -0.934, p = 0.046). These results constitute a prerequisite for the inoculation phase and molecular analysis of roots already begun.
Variation of alkaloids in the Kenyan Zanthoxylum gilletii (De Wild Waterman)
Zanthoxylum gilletii is an African indigenous deciduous tree which is important for its medicinal use in many communities to treat a wide range of ailments. This study was conducted to identify the alkaloids present in the bark, root and leaves of the Kenyan Z. gilletii. The plant materials were randomly sampled, dried at room temperature, powdered and subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses for the alkaloid confirm atory tests. The bark, root and leaf extract contained peroxysimulenoline, sanguinarine, fagarine I, norchelerythrine (dihydroavicine or demethylnitidine), trans-fagaramide, 8 – methylnorchelerythrine and dihydronitidine alkaloids. The distribution of the alkaloids appeared to be quite variable within different plant parts and different regions. The identified alkaloids have been documented to be useful for their medicinal value in humans and also protect the plants against predation. The medicinal value of Z. gilletii may be due to its contents of varied alkaloids. The information on alkaloidal variation in the species has potential value and practical applications in chemotaxonomy, toxicology and pharmacognosy. The present findings may be useful in optimizing the processing and wild-harvesting of these alkaloids.
Rainwater harvesting for enhanced biodiversity management. Tangeni Community- Based Runoff Pond System, a case study
The biodiversity of the original coastal forest belt is preserved in a number of protected areas. Witu Forest Reserve in the south is drastically decreasing in size owing to immigrants illegally settling along its buffer zones and gradually encroaching into the forests for livelihood support that include timber, traditional medicine fuel wood and charcoal burning. The forests in and around Boni and Dondori National reserves has also been shrinking in size due human settlements who engage in slash and burn agriculture.
Rainwater Harvesting Technologies in BMP Project sites
Kenya is able to feed herself. However the key cause of food insecurity is over-reliance on erratic rainfall. Over 80% of Kenya`s landmass is classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) and is prone to drought. A sustainable livelihood in the region is threatened by climate change. The challenge facing this ecosystem is how to enhance communities’ resilience whose livelihoods depend entirely on climate sensitive resources. Rain water harvesting and other conservation structures provide opportunities for enhanced sustainable agricultural production.
Development of Rainwater Harvesting for IWRM Program to Re-green the Environment in Buurgabo and Kidifaani Villages of Badhaadhe District-Somalia
Roof Catchment Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
In the household approach, water is harvested from the roof of the household and stored in tanks made of different materials, namely Ferro-cement, bricks and or polyethylene.