Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev
In order to understand the dynamics of regeneration, growth, population and possible upscale for the benefit of agroforestry parkland trees in the semi-arid areas of Ghana, a study was conducted to determine the population density, diversity, relative dominance, importance value indices (IVI) and us...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Trees, Forests and People |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719322001170 |
| _version_ | 1818537154312142848 |
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| author | Stephen Edem Akpalu Luke Anglaaere Lawrence Damnyag Evans Kwasi Dawoe Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa Mercy Marilyn Akpalu |
| author_facet | Stephen Edem Akpalu Luke Anglaaere Lawrence Damnyag Evans Kwasi Dawoe Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa Mercy Marilyn Akpalu |
| author_sort | Stephen Edem Akpalu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In order to understand the dynamics of regeneration, growth, population and possible upscale for the benefit of agroforestry parkland trees in the semi-arid areas of Ghana, a study was conducted to determine the population density, diversity, relative dominance, importance value indices (IVI) and use categories of parkland tree species in the Sudan and Guinea Savannah vegetation zones of Ghana, with special reference to F. albida. Tree inventories were conducted on 80 sampled farms covering a total area of 74.2 hectares across 8 communities distributed in 4 districts in the Sudan and Guinea savannah zones. Mean farm size was 0.93 hectares. Fifty-four tree species belonging to 24 families were encountered during the study. A Simpson's diversity index of 2.72 was determined as the overall diversity index of tree species on farmlands. Tree population densities in the sampled communities ranged between 4 (Katiu) and 11 (Kugri) trees per hectare. The predominant uses of parkland trees include food, medicine, shade, fuelwood and wood for construction. Others include fencing, soil improvement, direct income from sale of tree products, erosion control, fodder, tools, deity, packaging and craft. Ranking parkland tree species according to their Importance Value Indices (IVIs) in the various study ecological zones, it was evident that Faidherbia albida is highly ranked in both ecological zones due to its multipurpose functions such as fodder (pods and leaves) provision, shade provision in the dry season, and its contribution to improved growth and yield of crops grown under its canopy. Faidherbia albida populations should be increased on farmlands through programs like the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and possible domestication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:47:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9181088a2904bcfb1e3bd718a1d9467 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7193 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:47:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trees, Forests and People |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9181088a2904bcfb1e3bd718a1d94672022-12-22T00:54:25ZengElsevierTrees, Forests and People2666-71932022-09-019100310Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. ChevStephen Edem Akpalu0Luke Anglaaere1Lawrence Damnyag2Evans Kwasi Dawoe3Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa4Mercy Marilyn Akpalu5Savannah Research Centre, CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Bolgatanga, Ghana; Corresponding author.CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Kumasi, GhanaCSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaBolgatanga Technical University, P. O. Box 767, Sumbrungu, Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, GhanaIn order to understand the dynamics of regeneration, growth, population and possible upscale for the benefit of agroforestry parkland trees in the semi-arid areas of Ghana, a study was conducted to determine the population density, diversity, relative dominance, importance value indices (IVI) and use categories of parkland tree species in the Sudan and Guinea Savannah vegetation zones of Ghana, with special reference to F. albida. Tree inventories were conducted on 80 sampled farms covering a total area of 74.2 hectares across 8 communities distributed in 4 districts in the Sudan and Guinea savannah zones. Mean farm size was 0.93 hectares. Fifty-four tree species belonging to 24 families were encountered during the study. A Simpson's diversity index of 2.72 was determined as the overall diversity index of tree species on farmlands. Tree population densities in the sampled communities ranged between 4 (Katiu) and 11 (Kugri) trees per hectare. The predominant uses of parkland trees include food, medicine, shade, fuelwood and wood for construction. Others include fencing, soil improvement, direct income from sale of tree products, erosion control, fodder, tools, deity, packaging and craft. Ranking parkland tree species according to their Importance Value Indices (IVIs) in the various study ecological zones, it was evident that Faidherbia albida is highly ranked in both ecological zones due to its multipurpose functions such as fodder (pods and leaves) provision, shade provision in the dry season, and its contribution to improved growth and yield of crops grown under its canopy. Faidherbia albida populations should be increased on farmlands through programs like the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and possible domestication.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719322001170Agroforestry parklandEcological zonesImportance value indexRelative dominanceTree diversityTree population density |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Edem Akpalu Luke Anglaaere Lawrence Damnyag Evans Kwasi Dawoe Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa Mercy Marilyn Akpalu Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev Trees, Forests and People Agroforestry parkland Ecological zones Importance value index Relative dominance Tree diversity Tree population density |
| title | Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev |
| title_full | Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev |
| title_fullStr | Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev |
| title_short | Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev |
| title_sort | floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi arid zone of ghana a special focus on faidherbia albida delile a chev |
| topic | Agroforestry parkland Ecological zones Importance value index Relative dominance Tree diversity Tree population density |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666719322001170 |
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