An environmental assessment of agroforestry practices in Jigawa state, northern Nigeria : A study in physical geography / Umar Saminu Daura ; Supervised Aziza Mohamed Ali Badr , Attia Mahmoud Mohamed Eltantawi

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Institute of African Research and Studies - Department of Geography

Agroforestry is perceived, as a land-use system with the propensity to achieve both the food security needs of the individual resource poor farmer and simultaneously protect the environment. This study aimed at assessing the practice with additional emphasis on soil and vegetation status of agroforestry farmlands in Jigawa. The study proceeded by purposively targeting the 3 geo-administrative zones, Jigawa northwest, Jigawa northeast and Jigawa southwest. A sample of 450 farmers were targeted with selection of 150 each from the zones. The vegetation (tree) attributes including diversity, relative density RD were taken. Representative soil samples were taken from each of the zones to assess the soil quality. Using Microsoft excel, measures of central tendency and ANOVA was used to calculate the results. The results reveal that 5 actual types of practices were practiced in the area which include trees on farmlands that was the most widespread out of the practices with over 67%. Soil analysis reveal that there is slight buildup of salinity within the soils of all 3 zones. Total number of trees on the farms in the zones were 617 stands. Tree species encountered showed Anogeissus leiocarpus (African Birch) tree to be under threat due to the excessive exploitation

Issued also as CD