An investigation to assess the spatial structure and severity of Pseudocercospora leaf and fruit spot disease (PLFSD) on citrus trees in cocoa-based agroforests was carried out in three contrasting ecological zones in...An investigation to assess the spatial structure and severity of Pseudocercospora leaf and fruit spot disease (PLFSD) on citrus trees in cocoa-based agroforests was carried out in three contrasting ecological zones in southern Cameroon, viz: 1) the humid forest zone, 2) the degraded forest zone, and 3) the forest-savannah transition zone. Two main parameters were investigated viz: 1) the spatial structure of cocoa based agroforests, and 2) the disease severity. In total, the spatial structure of 19 cocoa-based agroforests was analysed using the Ripley K(r) function, meanwhile the collection of epidemiological data that consisted of noting the presence of PLFSD spots on leaves and fruits on 438 citrus trees was used to characterise the severity of the disease. Results showed that, the spatial structure of citrus trees in these agroforests investigated were regular in seven plots, random in nine, and aggregated in three. Aggregated plots presented a significantly higher mean of disease severity on leaves and fruits (28.55 and 30.37 respectively), as compared to randomised (20.91 and 16.32 respectively) and regular plots (16.28 and 14.97 respectively), at P-value < 0.05. These results suggest that the spatial structure of citrus trees in the cocoa-based agroforests studied influences the severity of PFLSD. Proper integrated control measures can therefore be initiated, leading to a considerable reduction of the use of manufactured inputs, and thereby, the cost of production of citrus fruits.展开更多
In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encount...In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encountered 160 plants, which included 83 tree species, 22 shrub species, 41 herb species and 14 climber species. The study reveals that arecanut agroforests provide cash income, medicine, timber, fuelwood and edibles for household consumption as well as for sale. We conclude that these agroforestry systems serve as home for many economically important plant species, harbour rich biodiversity and mimic the natural forests both in structural composition as well as ecological and economic functions.展开更多
Agroforestry systems strongly characterize the Cameroonian agrarian landscape. Agroforests are among those structuring the ecotones of Mbam and Inoubou in the Central Cameroon region. Numerous works on agroecosystems ...Agroforestry systems strongly characterize the Cameroonian agrarian landscape. Agroforests are among those structuring the ecotones of Mbam and Inoubou in the Central Cameroon region. Numerous works on agroecosystems of Central and South Cameroon, few have come out contribution of the structure of these traditional systems in the dynamics of the vegetation of these forest-savannah ecotones. The present contribution has the overall objective of demonstrating the structural efficiency of agroforests the dynamics of ecotone vegetation, but also in the conservation of biodiversity. To do this, a participatory analysis was carried out with 56 farmers distributed in the five villages of Makénéné. Botanical inventories supplemented socio-economic household surveys. The data collected was subjected to various analyzes (univariate test, analysis of variance, multivariate test, PCA, CAH). The results reveal that 55.2% of agroforests are less than 15 years old and those with an area greater than 1500 m<sup>2</sup> predominate (33%). They are mainly young with generally small surface areas. The horizontal structure reveals that the largest diameter classes are those of [20 - 30 cm[ and [10 - 20 cm[ with a very low rate of basal area. Agroforests with trees over 10 m high are dominant in five villages of Makénéné. Two types of structural profiles characterize the agroforestry flora of the area, namely intensive pluristratified home gardens on savannah and intensive pluristratified agroforests under forest-savannah transition vegetation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Ascending Hierarchical Clustering (HAC) show three Agroforest Clusters each. The PCA distribution reveals that woody biomass (Y) is strongly correlated with tree diameter (DBH) and significantly with height (Cluster 2). The age (AAG) (Cluster 1) of these agroforests, on the other hand, remains independent of the density (DST) of these trees (Cluster 3). The agroforests in the Nyokon, Carrière and Mocksud villages are the most effective in terms of conserving woody diversity while the agroforests of the Kinding ndé and Nyokon villages are more efficient in the reforestation processes. These results could be considered as effective and quantifiable tools for the certification of numerous cash crops such as cocoa and coffee, which will make it possible to valorize this local knowledge in terms of scientific and in the development of various programs and writing of technical notes.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to quantify the changes in tree diversity and above-ground biomass associated with six land-use types in Kodagu district of India's Western Ghats. We collected data on species richnes...The purpose of this study was to quantify the changes in tree diversity and above-ground biomass associated with six land-use types in Kodagu district of India's Western Ghats. We collected data on species richness,composition and above-ground biomass(AGB) of trees,shrubs and herbs from 96 sample plots of 0.1 ha. Totals of83 species from 26 families were recorded across the landuses. Tree species richness, diversity and composition were significantly higher in evergreen forest(EGF) than in other land-uses. Similarly, stem density and basal area were greater in EGF compared to other land-uses. Detrended correspondence analysis(DCA) yielded three distinct groups along the land-use intensities and rainfall gradient on the first and second axes, respectively. The first DCA axis accounted for 45% and second axis for 35% of the total variation in species composition. Together the first two axes accounted for over 2/3 of the variation in species composition across land-use types. Across the land-uses,AGB ranged from 58.6 Mg ha-1 in rubber plantation to327.3 Mg ha-1 in evergreen forest. Our results showed that species diversity and AGB were negatively impacted bythe land-use changes. We found that coffee agroforests resembled natural forest and mixed species plantation in terms of tree diversity and biomass production, suggesting that traditional coffee farms can help to protect tree species, sustain smallholder production and offer opportunities for conservation of biodiversity and climate change mitigation.展开更多
The relationship between the super–low–level jet (LLJ) and inversion layer over an agroforest ecosystem on the Huang–Huai–Hai plain in the eastern China is studied by means of a time–independent K–closure model....The relationship between the super–low–level jet (LLJ) and inversion layer over an agroforest ecosystem on the Huang–Huai–Hai plain in the eastern China is studied by means of a time–independent K–closure model. It is found that the intensified inversion near the surface of a luxuriantly growing agroforest ecosystem leads to the formation and development of the LLJ, the more intense the inversion, the stronger is the LLJ. The critical value of inversion intensity index for the LLJ formation is 0.75°C/ 100 m, which relates to the necessary geostraphic wind velocity of 6.0 to 10 m / s at the top level of the model. The numerical calculations show that the roughness length of the underlying surface has considerable effects on the LLJ structure. Key words Low?level jet - Temperature inversion - Agroforest ecosystem The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (49975016).展开更多
Background:The World Health Organization has expressed concern about arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury as potentially harmful to human health.As such,the world body has called for appropriate preventive and interventio...Background:The World Health Organization has expressed concern about arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury as potentially harmful to human health.As such,the world body has called for appropriate preventive and interventionary measures.In response,food regulatory bodies including European Food Safety Authority are monitoring the levels of these heavy metals in cocoa and cocoa products.Objective:Therefore,the objective of this paper is to synthesize the latest relevant available peer-reviewed publications on arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury with a view to highlighting the gaps to encourage further research and informing industry.Materials and Methods:A systematic review was conducted using the European Food Safety Authority guide in PubMed database and the result was reported according to the PRISMA checklist.Results:The results show that processing may dilute or concentrate the levels of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury,depending on processing factors including the product type,processing method,and raw materials.In addition,some products exceed the European Union and Chinese Maximum Contaminant Level and may pose risk.Furthermore,the findings show that the risk of heavy metal toxicities was higher among children relative to adults at the same exposure in cocoa-based products and that correcting risk estimates for bioavailability reduces the level of estimated risk.Conclusion:Therefore,the review concludes that further research is required to clarify the effect of processing on the level of these contaminants in specific cocoa-based foods.Moreover,conducting risk studies based on age groups and correcting for bioavailability of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury enhance accuracy of risk estimates.Recommendations:The review,therefore,recommends that a value chain approach be adopted to assessing the levels,exposures,and risks of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury in cocoa-based foods and the effect of processing on these levels.展开更多
文摘An investigation to assess the spatial structure and severity of Pseudocercospora leaf and fruit spot disease (PLFSD) on citrus trees in cocoa-based agroforests was carried out in three contrasting ecological zones in southern Cameroon, viz: 1) the humid forest zone, 2) the degraded forest zone, and 3) the forest-savannah transition zone. Two main parameters were investigated viz: 1) the spatial structure of cocoa based agroforests, and 2) the disease severity. In total, the spatial structure of 19 cocoa-based agroforests was analysed using the Ripley K(r) function, meanwhile the collection of epidemiological data that consisted of noting the presence of PLFSD spots on leaves and fruits on 438 citrus trees was used to characterise the severity of the disease. Results showed that, the spatial structure of citrus trees in these agroforests investigated were regular in seven plots, random in nine, and aggregated in three. Aggregated plots presented a significantly higher mean of disease severity on leaves and fruits (28.55 and 30.37 respectively), as compared to randomised (20.91 and 16.32 respectively) and regular plots (16.28 and 14.97 respectively), at P-value < 0.05. These results suggest that the spatial structure of citrus trees in the cocoa-based agroforests studied influences the severity of PFLSD. Proper integrated control measures can therefore be initiated, leading to a considerable reduction of the use of manufactured inputs, and thereby, the cost of production of citrus fruits.
文摘In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encountered 160 plants, which included 83 tree species, 22 shrub species, 41 herb species and 14 climber species. The study reveals that arecanut agroforests provide cash income, medicine, timber, fuelwood and edibles for household consumption as well as for sale. We conclude that these agroforestry systems serve as home for many economically important plant species, harbour rich biodiversity and mimic the natural forests both in structural composition as well as ecological and economic functions.
文摘Agroforestry systems strongly characterize the Cameroonian agrarian landscape. Agroforests are among those structuring the ecotones of Mbam and Inoubou in the Central Cameroon region. Numerous works on agroecosystems of Central and South Cameroon, few have come out contribution of the structure of these traditional systems in the dynamics of the vegetation of these forest-savannah ecotones. The present contribution has the overall objective of demonstrating the structural efficiency of agroforests the dynamics of ecotone vegetation, but also in the conservation of biodiversity. To do this, a participatory analysis was carried out with 56 farmers distributed in the five villages of Makénéné. Botanical inventories supplemented socio-economic household surveys. The data collected was subjected to various analyzes (univariate test, analysis of variance, multivariate test, PCA, CAH). The results reveal that 55.2% of agroforests are less than 15 years old and those with an area greater than 1500 m<sup>2</sup> predominate (33%). They are mainly young with generally small surface areas. The horizontal structure reveals that the largest diameter classes are those of [20 - 30 cm[ and [10 - 20 cm[ with a very low rate of basal area. Agroforests with trees over 10 m high are dominant in five villages of Makénéné. Two types of structural profiles characterize the agroforestry flora of the area, namely intensive pluristratified home gardens on savannah and intensive pluristratified agroforests under forest-savannah transition vegetation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Ascending Hierarchical Clustering (HAC) show three Agroforest Clusters each. The PCA distribution reveals that woody biomass (Y) is strongly correlated with tree diameter (DBH) and significantly with height (Cluster 2). The age (AAG) (Cluster 1) of these agroforests, on the other hand, remains independent of the density (DST) of these trees (Cluster 3). The agroforests in the Nyokon, Carrière and Mocksud villages are the most effective in terms of conserving woody diversity while the agroforests of the Kinding ndé and Nyokon villages are more efficient in the reforestation processes. These results could be considered as effective and quantifiable tools for the certification of numerous cash crops such as cocoa and coffee, which will make it possible to valorize this local knowledge in terms of scientific and in the development of various programs and writing of technical notes.
基金funded by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing,Dehradun,India under IIRS-VCP project entitled“National Carbon Pool Assessment”(Project Number:(UAS(B)/DR/GOI/246/2011-12)。
文摘The purpose of this study was to quantify the changes in tree diversity and above-ground biomass associated with six land-use types in Kodagu district of India's Western Ghats. We collected data on species richness,composition and above-ground biomass(AGB) of trees,shrubs and herbs from 96 sample plots of 0.1 ha. Totals of83 species from 26 families were recorded across the landuses. Tree species richness, diversity and composition were significantly higher in evergreen forest(EGF) than in other land-uses. Similarly, stem density and basal area were greater in EGF compared to other land-uses. Detrended correspondence analysis(DCA) yielded three distinct groups along the land-use intensities and rainfall gradient on the first and second axes, respectively. The first DCA axis accounted for 45% and second axis for 35% of the total variation in species composition. Together the first two axes accounted for over 2/3 of the variation in species composition across land-use types. Across the land-uses,AGB ranged from 58.6 Mg ha-1 in rubber plantation to327.3 Mg ha-1 in evergreen forest. Our results showed that species diversity and AGB were negatively impacted bythe land-use changes. We found that coffee agroforests resembled natural forest and mixed species plantation in terms of tree diversity and biomass production, suggesting that traditional coffee farms can help to protect tree species, sustain smallholder production and offer opportunities for conservation of biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (49975016).
文摘The relationship between the super–low–level jet (LLJ) and inversion layer over an agroforest ecosystem on the Huang–Huai–Hai plain in the eastern China is studied by means of a time–independent K–closure model. It is found that the intensified inversion near the surface of a luxuriantly growing agroforest ecosystem leads to the formation and development of the LLJ, the more intense the inversion, the stronger is the LLJ. The critical value of inversion intensity index for the LLJ formation is 0.75°C/ 100 m, which relates to the necessary geostraphic wind velocity of 6.0 to 10 m / s at the top level of the model. The numerical calculations show that the roughness length of the underlying surface has considerable effects on the LLJ structure. Key words Low?level jet - Temperature inversion - Agroforest ecosystem The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (49975016).
文摘Background:The World Health Organization has expressed concern about arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury as potentially harmful to human health.As such,the world body has called for appropriate preventive and interventionary measures.In response,food regulatory bodies including European Food Safety Authority are monitoring the levels of these heavy metals in cocoa and cocoa products.Objective:Therefore,the objective of this paper is to synthesize the latest relevant available peer-reviewed publications on arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury with a view to highlighting the gaps to encourage further research and informing industry.Materials and Methods:A systematic review was conducted using the European Food Safety Authority guide in PubMed database and the result was reported according to the PRISMA checklist.Results:The results show that processing may dilute or concentrate the levels of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury,depending on processing factors including the product type,processing method,and raw materials.In addition,some products exceed the European Union and Chinese Maximum Contaminant Level and may pose risk.Furthermore,the findings show that the risk of heavy metal toxicities was higher among children relative to adults at the same exposure in cocoa-based products and that correcting risk estimates for bioavailability reduces the level of estimated risk.Conclusion:Therefore,the review concludes that further research is required to clarify the effect of processing on the level of these contaminants in specific cocoa-based foods.Moreover,conducting risk studies based on age groups and correcting for bioavailability of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury enhance accuracy of risk estimates.Recommendations:The review,therefore,recommends that a value chain approach be adopted to assessing the levels,exposures,and risks of arsenic,cadmium,lead,and mercury in cocoa-based foods and the effect of processing on these levels.
