Population Density and Diversity of Trees on Farmlands in Three Districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana: Implications for Food Security and Ecosystem Sustainability | Chapter 13 | New Perspectives in Agriculture and Crop Science Vol. 1
Ghanaian farmers have been practicing
farming since time immemorial and trees are a natural component of farmlands.
However, the choice of particular tree species and their population on the
farms is greatly influenced by the farmers’ preferences and therefore, the
utility value placed on particular tree species. This study was conducted to
determine the number of trees per unit area of farmland, the diversity of the
tree species, and the factors that influence farmers’ decision to leave trees
on their farms in three districts of the Upper East region of Ghana. It also
seeks to determine any relationship between tree density and the yields of
commonly cultivated crops in the study area. The area falls within the Guinea
and Sudan savanna zones, characterized by a short unimodal rainfall regime
(about 5 months) and a rather long dry season. Twelve communities (4 per
district) were randomly selected and farmers were interviewed on their reasons
for allowing trees on their farmlands as well as the yields of major crops
cultivated. Ten farms in each community were also randomly selected and
inventories of trees were conducted, where trees were identified, and
enumerated. Farm sizes were also measured. Mean tree population densities on
farms were 18.5, 18.4 and 25.9 trees per hectare in the Garu-Tempane, Bawku
West and Kassena Nankana West districts respectively. A Shannon Weiner
diversity index of 1.563, 1.195 and 1.551 were calculated for Garu-Tempane,
Bawku West and Kassena Nankana West districts respectively. Forty-two (42)
different tree species belonging to 23 families were encountered in
Garu-Tempane district, 28 species from 18 families were encountered in the
Bawku West district and 37 species belonging to 21 families in the Kassena
Nankana West district. Azadirachta indica, Combretum molle, Diospyros
mespiliformis were the commonest on all farms. Factors that influenced farmers’
decision to allow trees on their farms were shade (22%), fuelwood (18%), food
(15%), medicine (13%), housing (13%), soil improvement (10%), erosion control
(7%), fodder (1%) and others (1%). Crop yields were generally high in the Bawku
West district and there was no significant relationship between tree population
density and the yields of crops.
Author(s) Details
Stephen
Edem Akpalu
Forestry
Research Institute of Ghana, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
Gloria
Kukurije Adeyiga
Forestry
Research Institute of Ghana, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
Maurice
Kwame Amooh
Department
of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
Ghana.
Dennis
Kyereh
Department
of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
Ghana.
Mercy
Marilyn Akpalu
Bolgatanga
Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
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