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THE EFFECT OF BUSH BURNING ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
Bush burning is a common practice in both savannah and forest zones of Nigeria and has greatly altered the original vegetation. Bush burning, therefore, has become a subject of great concern to the society, especially the study area. The study has been carried out to identify the causes of bush burning of Abumwenre in Ovia North East region of Nigeria, examine the implication of the bush burning on agricultural crops and the environment. A structured questionnaire was administered randomly to 198 respondents in twenty communities in Ovia North East of Edo State. Some of the communitiesincluded,Agheanokpe, Aihuobabekun, Egbatan, Egbetta, Ewudu, Igbekhue, Iguadolor, Iguelegbon, Iguobo, Iguomo, Iguoshodinbudin, Isioho, Isiuwa, Iyekeze, Iyowa, Obazuwa/Odighi, Odiguetue, Okada, Emeh and Ugbohkoli. Simple descriptive analysis using tables, means and percentages were used. The results of the study reveal that there is a gradual reduction and loss of plant species, destruction and decrease of crop yields, loss of soil nutrients,, disappearing of animal species and reduction in volumes of water reservoirs through bush burning.. The paper offered suggestions such as public enlightenment campaign through the media on the need to retain our environments, Wild life mortifications projects be encouraged in all the states of the federation to improve the rural communities, establishment of Forest Fire Service Units of the State and Local Government levels, involving traditional rulers in reporting cases of fire outbreak sand large scale land resource development projects be embark on.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The last few decades have witnessed great impact of uncontrolled exploitation of land resources with little attention given to the consequences on land itselg and the environment in Nigeria.However, the rapid social and economic developments have also influenced the desire to initiate and implement appropriate environmental policies and laws to safeguard man’s wellbeing and control his development plans. It is obvious that when development imperatives circumscribe the limit of resources available, problems are created thus affecting the enhancement of the environment quality and its sustainability (Keith, 1998, Glen, 2009). Consequently successful economic development therefore, depends on the rational use of land resources and the reduction in adverse environmental impact of land degradation.Adequate knowledge of the effects of land degradation will help to avoid environmentally unsound unintended adverse effects of degrading activities on land. The efforts of government in providing access to basic amenities of life such as potable water, good roads and electricity have gradually resulted in removal of vegetation and or degradation of land at local, regional, even global levels.
Bush burning is a common practice in both savannah and forest zones of Nigeria and has greatly altered the original vegetation. In recent years, our environment which was taken for granted has become a subject of great concern to the society. The biotic and abiotic component of the ecosystem has been shaped over time and continues to do so (Hamid, Usman, Elaigu and Zubaru, 2010). It is generally believed that the use of fire in Africa started about 50,000 years ago (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005). Fire is one of the few tools available to an African man for clearing land for land for crops and the practice of burning vegetation and still part of the system of shifting cultivation. In some cases the fire spreads far beyond the confines of the farmlands uncontrolled and destroys the adjourning forest or wood land areas (Okonkwo and Kareem 2009).
As more land is being cleared and prepared for cropping, hunting and grazing annually, burning has become the easiest and most convenient method quite often employed. The vast majority of area burnt and cleared annually for cropping, to drive game for hunters, to improve grazing condition for livestock and for migration and land settlement lies within the savanna ecological zone (Isah and Adegeye, 2002). This practice invariably results in heating and drying of the soil and destroying the ecosystem of agricultural lands. The soil temperature reached during such burnings ranged from 930c to 10040C as a result of burning different types of materials and the time of exposure to heating (Roberts, 2005; Isaac and Hopkins, 2007).
All fires, regardless of whether they are natural or human-caused, alter the cycling of nutrients and the biotic, physical, moisture, and temperature characteristics of soil (Isaac and Hopkins, 2007). In many cases however, these impacts are either negligible or short-lived and thus have little, if any, impact on the overall ecosystem. In some cases however, the impact of fire on soil conditions can be moderate to severe. The overall degree and longevity of this impact is determined by numerous factors including fire severity, temperature, fire frequency, soil type and moisture, vegetation type and amount, topography, season of burning, and pre- and post-fire weather conditions. Studies by Roberts, 2005 and Isaac and Hopkins, 2007 pointed out that relatively large-scale loss of nutrients and an alteration of soil physical conditions occur after a fire.
In many areas, the attitude changed to one of total burning (wildfire) and this becomes a major cause of depletion of the environment. This necessitates a research of this kind to ascertain the implication of bush burning on theagricultural land environment of Ovia North East region of Nigeria.
Purpose of Study
Bush burning has become part and parcel of the activities of farmers in this area. The negative effects are not considered at all. Hence it is important to highlight these for the farmers to experience and observe the dangerous effects of bush burning as it affect the soil as a whole.
This study seeks:
To find out how bush burning impinges on the grassland and montane ecosystems of Ovia North East region of Nigeria.
To investigate the relationship between farming systems and bush burning on grassland and montane ecosystems.
To examine the extent to which the level of environmental perception influence peoples attitude towards bush burning on grassland and montane ecosystems.
1.3 statement of Problem
In Ovia North East, uncontrolled and indiscriminate bush burning has become a common yearly occurrence during the dry seasons. This is caused by human activities such as farming, hunting, trap and seeking for fresh fodder for cattle consumption (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005). In the area, indiscriminate bush burning is a disaster. It causes large scale destruction of the forest and wildlife resources. It destroys beneficial crops, animals, micro-organisms, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005). Some of these animals such as pollinators and decomposers are very important. Losing them therefore, upsets the whole ecological balance of the environment. The serious detrimental effects of bush burning in the study area have great socioeconomic implications on the local government growth and development.
Indiscriminate bush burning has affected various components of the vegetation ecosystem of the study area. If proper steps are not taken to prevent and control bush burning in the area, the livelihood and survival of the present and future generations would be in danger. Therefore, in the light of these trends, calls the study that will unravel the implications of the bush burning on agriculture and the environment of Ovia North East of Nigeria.
Literatures shows that related work on the effects of bush burning on the soils have been done in the Southern Guinea Savannah and no attempt has however been made on the analyses of bush burning in Ovia North East of EdoState and its implication for agriculture and environmental management.
Therefore, the analyses of bush burning in Ovia North East of EdoState and the implication for agriculture and the environment is necessary.Bush burning and its impact on the grassland and montane ecosystems of Ovia Northeast has been a matter of great concern. Throughout the dry season, when the fodder and the foliage have become dry, the commonest sight to behold at night is a glow mountain and smoke rising towards the sky; while during the day time, the whole environment is littered with falling ash.
More so, it has been observed that the rate of crops yield has dwindled considerably, climatic conditions have changed drastically, indigenous species of wildlife have disappeared, feeder streams and springs are drying up. As Lopez (1999) in Awake (April, 22 1999) put it, “it will take well over ten years to recover the flora and fauna lost in one minute of bush burning.
On the whole, for a logical and detailed investigation into this study, it is essential that the followingpertinent questions be asked.
Does bush burning significantly degrade grassland and montane ecosystems in Ovia North East, Edo State?
Is there any significant relationship between farming systems and bush burning on grassland and montane ecosystems?
To what extent does the level of environmental perception influence people’s attitude towards bush burning on grassland and montane ecosystem?
1.4 Research Hypothesis
The following research assumptions were formulated to guide the study.
Ho1. Bush burning does not significantly degrade grassland and montane ecosystems.
Ho2. There is no significant relationship between farming systems and bush burring on grassland and montane ecosystems.
Ho3. No significant relationship exists between people’s level of environmental perception and the attitude towards burning of the grassland and montane ecosystems.
1.5 Significance Of The Study
Since bush burning is the major lands preparation practice, it is important to study the effect of bush burning on agricultural lands and also to carryout investigation on how far bush burning has affected agricultural land in Okada in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State and possibly find alternative measure to avoid bush burning. Burning with reference to land cultivation is a method of land preparation in Edo State. In general and in Okada in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State in particular bush burning generally is the method of removing the natural vegetable from the surface of the soil by setting fire on debris. Bush burning causes serious damage to trees and crops, its effect of public concern which should not be for farmer alone and should be handled with seriousness, practice of burning of fire could also lead to accidental burning of his land and other properties at his disposal, this ideals of burning his farm came to him with the food that fire has left behind after roasting his food, fire spread and destroyed all that was left behind in the environment.
Burning the farmland for the cultivation of crops has a remarkable effect on the soil fertility. During burning process some nutrients that are highly needed by the plants are lost out in form of gasses such nutrient include phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur. The ash which is the principle products of burnt material although rich in phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium can be easily washed away by rain. The heat produced during burning creates an unfavourable condition for activities of the soil organism such as earthworms, bacteria etc.
He also found out the seed of fruits he has eaten and thrown off has grown in his burnt land and as a result of this included burning in his farm system.
Scope Of The Study
The scope of this project is limited to Ovia North East Local Government Area ofEdo State, some important towns and villages in Ovia North East Local Government Area such as Okada, Egbetta, Ewudu,etc, where farming operation is carried extensively and that burning issues form the scope of my study. This is due to some constraints.
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