Valorization of shea caterpillar droppings (Cirina butyrospermi Vuillet) in the ecological management of soil fertility in Burkina Faso - IJAAR

By: K. Coulibaly, A.P.K Gomgnimbou, B. Bacye, H.B. Nacro, M.P. Sedogo

1. Laboratoire d’étude et de recherche sur la fertilité du sol (LERF), Université Polytechnique de
   Bobo-Dioulasso (UPB) Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
2. Laboratoire Sol Eau Plante, Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherche Agricole (INERA), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
3. Laboratoire Sol-Eau-Plante, Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherche Agricole (INERA),
   Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
4. Unité de Recherche en Production Animale (URPAN)/Centre International de Recherche-
   Développement sur l’Elevage en zone Sub-humide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Works on park lands show that shea tree is a widespread species in the fields in Burkina Faso. There are caterpillars which are rich in proteins and throw out important quantity of dejection on the soil surface.

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of droppings produced by caterpillars and their chemical quality in Koumbia area. The amount of dejection was determined on small plots and expressed as amount of dry matter (DM). Chemical analyzes have focused on the major elements (C, N, P and K). Our results show an average production of 19.34 kg for an average area of 68.47 m2 under a shea tree. We also observe that the production of caterpillar droppings is a function of the shea trees density and fluctuate between 440 and 3 775 kg ha-1. The data of chemical analyzes show that caterpillar droppings have high content of carbon (477.7 g kg-1) and nitrogen (10.8 g kg-1) and low content of phosphorus (0.3 g kg-1) and potassium (0.9 g kg-1).

The amounts of C and N that caterpillar droppings are likely to bring, show that they can cover between 56 and 484 % of annual loss of soil C and fully compensate exports N of major crops (cotton, maize, sorghum) of the study area. The valorization of caterpillar droppings is therefore a way of ecological management of soil fertility of shea parks. However, the C/N (44) of caterpillar droppings suggests further agronomic investigations. Source of the original articles: Valorization of shea caterpillar droppings (Cirina butyrospermi Vuillet) in the ecological management of soil fertility in Burkina Faso

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Journal Name: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)
Publisher Name: International Network For Natural Sciences (INNSPUB)

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Source: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research @2016  Journal of agronomy

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A Rapid marine biodiversity assessment of the coral reefs in morales Beach, Benoni, Glan, Sarangani Province, Philippine - JBES

By: Justin Rhea M. Bandiola, Chenny Rose M. Rodriguez, Ralph Jan G. Saluna, Bencel John B. Robles, Hazel Kareen C. Villacanas, Mark Anthony J. Torres, Maria Luisa N. Cabrera, Elani A. Requieron

1. Department of Biology, Mindanao State University, Philippines
2. Department of Science, Mindanao State University, Philippines

Morales beach is one of the beaches located in the coastal town of Glan, Sarangani Province and noted for its quite enormous coral reef which is continuously degrading. This study was conducted to assess the health status of coral reef ecosystem and to evaluate the physico-chemical parameters of the area. Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method was used to monitor live coral condition and the supporting fauna at a coral reef ecosystem.

Physico-chemical parameters were obtained in situ using a thermometer, refractometer, and a pH meter. The result of the study showed a very low percentage cover of hard corals, no cover percentage of soft corals and high cover percentage of other biota or substrate. The reef areas exhibited poor coral cover with an average of 15 percent live hard corals having family Acropora as the most dominant species (Shannon diversity index of 1.653). Water samples obtained were within the DENR (1990) standards suitable for the optimum growth of coral reefs. The health status of the coral reefs in Morales beach showed a partially disturbed reef due to human intervention. It is greatly recommended to constantly monitor the coral conditions in order to effectively manage and protect the increasing number of Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Source of the original articles: A Rapid marine biodiversity assessment of the coral reefs in morales Beach, Benoni, Glan, Sarangani Province, Philippine

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Journal Name: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES)

Publication Name: International Network For Natural Sciences (INNSPUB)

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