Pasturing and Grazing Efficacy on the Riparian Greenery along River Benue in North East Nigeria

Author(s)

Jacinta A. Opara , Madube Tumba Kwabe , Nuwe John Bosco ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 01-13 | Views: 1051 | Downloads: 404 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2575940

Volume 2 - April 2018 (04)

Abstract

The study investigated into the effect of grazing on the riparian vegetation along river Benue in Adamawa state Nigeria. Survey and observation design method were used to compare vegetation cover, distribution and composition. Study area was categorized into upper and lower section of riparian and was stratified into grazed and nongrazed. The study sites were delineated into fifty-nine (59) quadrats, observation technique was used to collect data on grazing effects on vegetation composition. Descriptive statistics, components analysis and paired T-test were used to analyze data. Study revealed, decrease in plant species productivity, plant vigor/resilience, diversity in native palatable species and increase in plant species extinction, diversity of on non-palatable native species as effects of grazing on vegetation. There is a variation in the distribution, composition diversity of plan species amidst grazed and nongrazed sites at p = 0.05 of the paired T-test result. Decline in plant growth 0.759 and decrease in plant species diversity 0.748 are some of the loaded variable for the enormous change in vegetation structure due to grazing. Themeda triandra and Cynodon dactylon are the most affected plants sensitive to grazing effects, while Aristida mutabilis and imperata cylindra are the friendliest to grazing due to their unpalatable nature. Grazing effects amidst the upper and lower riparian sections is almost some with the effect severe on plant growth in all the sections with 22 percent. Study recommends that; as a matter of policy, governments at and federal level, traditional and community leaders should adopt modern grazing strategies or measure. Should empower and encourage the community base organizations, traditional authorities to participate at the grass root development and implementation of environmental law or policies. Community leaders and government should support a culture of understanding, that will promote ranching science curriculum to educate the adult learners skills of constructing a grazing management disposition

Keywords

Grazing, Riparian, Flora, Effects River.

References

i.        Abouguendia, Z. M. (2009). Range land management post of and present a presentation at the Romancing range praise conference, cypress Hills, SK praise conversation action plan Regina. SK.

ii.      Abt, S. R., Clary, W.P., &Thornton, C.I. (2014). Sediment deposition and entrapment in vegetated streambeds. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 120:1098–1111.

iii.    Adefioye S.A. (2013). Analysis of land Use/ Land cover pattern along the River Benue     channel in Adamawa State, Nigeria: Academic Journal of interdisciplinary studies, 2(5) MSCER –CEMAS.

iv.     Allan, O. J. (2012). Landscapes and River scapes: The influences of land use on stream eco system. Annual review of ecology, Evolution and systematic; 35; 257-284.

v.       Aremu, O.T., Onadeko, S.A., & Inah, E.I. (2010). Impact of Grazing on Forage Quantity and Quality for Ungulates of Kainji Lake National Park Nigeria, Journal of Applied Sciences, (1)-1800-1804.

vi.     Bastin, G, Scrarth, P, Chewings, A, Denham. & Abbott, B (2012). Separating Grazing and rainfall effects at Regional Scale Using Remote sensing imagery: A Dynamic Reference-Cover-Method, Journal of Remote sense environment, 21 (2); 11-21.

vii.   Bilotta, G. S., Brazier, R.E., &Hogarth, P. M. (2013). The impacts of grazing animals on the quality of soils, vegetation, and surface waters in intensively managed grasslands. Advances in Agronomy. 94:237-280.

viii. Bohn, C.C., & Buckhouse, J.C. (2012). Some responses of riparian soils to grazing management in northeastern Oregon. J. Range Manage. 38:378-381.

ix.     Bothwell, M, Sikhalaz, D, Motta, J, & Patrick, M (2013) Seasonal Habitat use and movement patterns of Cattle Grazing Different Rangeland type ‘s pattern in the communal areas of East Cape South Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(8): 12-23.

x.       Bryant, F.T., Blazer, R.E., & Peterson, J.R. (2012). Effect of trampling by cattle on bluegrass yield and soil compaction of a Meadowvale Loam. Argon. J. 64 (2), 33l-334.

xi.     Buckhouse, J.C., & Gifford, G.F. (2010). Water quality implications of cattle grazing on a semiarid watershed in southeastern Utah. J. Range Manage. 29:109-113.

xii.   Campbell, K. (1999). Best management practices for grazing. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Conservation Districts Bureau. Helena, Montana. 28 pp.

xiii. Charles, K. (2010). A Negotiated Frame works for Rehabilitation of Riparian Zones in

xiv. Nairobi City: Available from http:/iso carp net/data/case-studies/1780.Pdf.

xv.   Clark, E.A., I., Duncan, P., Keven, D. S. &Whitely. H. (2012). Grazing cattle and riparian ecosystems. Final report to the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association. 16 pp.

xvi. Clary, W.P., & Booth, G.D. (2013). Early season utilization of mountain meadow riparian pastures. Journal of Range Management, 46, 493-497.

xvii. Davis, J.W. (2012). Livestock vs. riparian habitat management-there are solutions. p. 175-184. In: Wildlife-Livestock Relationships Symposium: Proc. 10. Univ. of Idaho Forest, Wildlife and Range Exp. Sta. Moscow.

xviii. Ehrhart, R.C., & Hansen, P.L. (2014). Successful strategies for grazing cattle in riparian zones. United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Missoula, MT. Technical Bulletin No. 4. 48 pp.

xix. Evenden, A., & Kauffman, J.B. (2010). A preliminary investigation of two riparian ecosystems excluded from grazing in the Ochoco Mountains of central Oregon. Unpubl.

xx.   Fischer. J. Zerger. A. Gibbons, P, Stott, J., & Law, B.S (2010). Tree decline and the future of Australian farmlands biodiversity, PNAS, 107 (45);19597-19602.

xxi. Fleischer, T.L. (2014). Ecological costs of livestock grazing in western North America. Cons. Biol. 8:629-644.

xxii. Greenwood, K. L., & McKenzie, B.M. (2011). Grazing effects on soil physical properties and the consequences for pastures: a review. Animal Production Science. 41:1231-1250

xxiii. Hairsine, P., Bormann, K., & Brophy, J. (2012). Stock tracks and the delivery of pollutants to streams by overland flow’, in Third Australian Stream Management Conference Proceedings, pp. 253–58.

xxiv. Hogan C. (2013 Benue River, Retrieved on 29th, December, 2016; from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/228342.

xxv.  Julien, F. (2014). Agricultural Riparian Health: Theory, Concepts and Potential indicators, journal of Environmental Management, 8 (56).

xxvi.  Kauffman, J.B., Krueger, W.C., & Vavra. M. (2012). Impacts of late season grazing scheme on nongame wildlife-livestock relationships symposium: Proceedings. University of Idaho. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station. Moscow, Idaho. PP208-218.

xxvii.  Kidane, Y., Stahmann, R., & Beirkunlen, C. (2015). Vegetation dynamic and land use and land use and Land use and land cover change in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. Environmental, Monitoring Assessment, (5).

xxviii.  Linus B. G., Amos, S. O., Michael, E. T., & Ensenga, G.M. (2014). Fishing Communities and Fishing as livelihoods in Adamawa state. Direct Research. Journal of agriculture and food sciences, 2 (11); 154 -204.

xxix.  Marcuson, P.E. (2013). The effect of cattle grazing on brown trout in Rock Creek, Montana. Fish and Game Fed. Aid Pro. F-20-R-21-11a.

xxx.   Marlow, C.B. (2015). Controlling riparian zone damage with little forage loss. Montana AgResearch 2:1-7. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

xxxi.  Mel, R. G., Randy, D.J., Chad, S. B., & Tate, K.W. (2013). A Scientific Assessment of the Effectiveness of Riparian Management Practices.

xxxii.  Moen, J. (2008). Managing your native prairie parcels: your guide to caring for native prairie in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Wetlands Conservation Corporation. Regina, Saskatchewan. pp.48

xxxiii.  Morris, K., & Reich, P. (2013). Understanding the relationship between Livestock Grazing and Wetland condition Arthur Rylah Institute for environmental Research No 1252 Heidelberg Victoria USA.

xxxiv.  Nener, J., J., Heinonen, G. D., & John. B. (2006). Watershed stewardship, a guide for agriculture. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Ontario and the Province of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia. 60 pp.

xxxv.   Oholmart R.D. (2011). Historical and present impact of livestock grazing on fish and wildlife resources in Western Riparian Habitats P245-279 L.U.P.R krausman (Ed) range land wildlife The society for Range management, Denver. Co

xxxvi.  Onouha F. C. (2008). Saving Africa Shrinking lakes through inter- basin water transfer reflections on the proposal Lake Chad replenishment project. Nigeria journal of international Affairs, 34 (2); 34-45.

xxxvii.  Patience, Z. U., Chery, T.M., Olga, L. K., Edsen, G., & Chrispen, M. (2013). Vegetation structure composition across different land uses in a semi- arid savanna of southern Zimbabwe.    International Journal of Bio diversity, 692 254-SP, doi.org/10.1155/2013/692 456.

xxxviii.  Pettit, N. (2009). Natural regeneration of riparian vegetation in Western Australia’, in RipRap, edition 14, pp. 8–10.

xxxix. Roba H. G., & Oba, G. (2013). Understanding the role of local Management in Vegetation Recovery around Pastoral settlement in Northern Kenya, Journal of Environmental Management, 51, 20-13.

xl.     Scholefield, D., & Hall, D.M. (2011). A method to measure the susceptibility of pasture soils to poaching by cattle. Soil Use and Management. 1:134-138.

xli.   Theobold D, M, Merritt D.M, & Norman H, J. B (2010). Assessment of threats to Riparian ecosystem in Western USA threats assessment centre, Prineville Colorado state university.

xlii. Trimble, S.W., & Mendel, A.C. (2011). The cow as a geomorphic agent — A critical review’, Geomorphology, 13, 233–53.

xliii. Todd, G. (2014). Beyond Resilience: managing Towards a higher level of Ranch Performance: across Ranch: Wyoming Quivira Coalition No. 40 www.quicviracoalitain.org

xliv. Twaha, A. B., Doreen, T., Anna, T., & and Kassim S. (2016) Impacts of Pastoral Activities on nature Conservation in Western Uganda. International Journal of Ecological Science and Environment Engineering, 3 (2); 42-51.

xlv. Von Behren, C., Dietrich, A.E., & Yeakley, J.A. (2013). Riparian Vegetation Assemblages and Associated Landscape Factors Across an Urbanizing Metropolitan Area. Ecoscience, 20(4), 373-382. doi 10.2980/20-4-3635.

xlvi. Walker, K.F. (2014). Issues in the riparian ecology of large rivers’, in S.E. Bunn, B.J. Pusey & P. Price (eds), Ecology and Management of Riparian Zones in Australia, pp. 31–40.

xlvii. Zoheir, A. (2011). Livestock grazing and riparian areas: A Literature Review. Grazing and Pasture Technology Program.

Cite this Article: