Agroecological restoration of savanna ecosystems.
1998
Badejo, M. A. | Mitsch, W. J. (Ed.) | Brown, M. T.
As a result of deforestation, annual bush burning, overgrazing and intensive cultivation, most tropical forests have changed to derived savanna in many West African countries. This change in vegetation has led to a decrease in precipitation and a change in many climatic conditions. Erosion problems have increased, soil fertility has declined in arable land and the soils have become compacted. Successive droughts and uncontrolled population growth have compounded the problem to the extent that traditional farming practices no longer ensure sustainability. Places where such deterioration of the environment has occurred in Nigeria and Ghana are highlighted. Results of experiments which demonstrate that nutrient deficiency in the Sahel savanna is a more serious problem than low precipitation and that N and P are the limiting nutrients in many savanna ecosystems are reviewed. The roles played by trees in the savanna such as provision of shade, preservation of water, reduction of susceptibility to erosion and nutrient pumping are highlighted and 30 species whose cultivation should be increased so as to promote sustainability in savanna ecosystems are listed. Those principles of agroecological restoration of savanna ecosystems which have been successfully practiced in Ghana are highlighted.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]الكلمات المفتاحية الخاصة بالمكنز الزراعي (أجروفوك)
المعلومات البيبليوغرافية
تم تزويد هذا السجل من قبل Forestry Research Institute of Ghana