Publication Date
1997
Description
Primary production of savanna woodland and cropland vegetation in semi-humid tropical Nigeria was 990t/km2 and contained 8.0 t of nitrogen (N) and 1.4 t of phosphorus (P). Of this biomass livestock, termites and humans consumed 4, 29 and 6% respectively; 18% was burnt. Of the N and P stocks, livestock, termites and humans consumed 9 and 5%, 17 and 22%, and 10 and 9% respectively. The liveweights per km2 of livestock, termites and humans were 3.5, 10.0 and 2.3t respectively. Annual grass burning consumed 25% of N and 16% of P. The role of wild animals was negligible. About 2/3 of the crops were exported to the cities, entailing loss of 5.6 kg N and 0.8 kg P/ha/year. It was concluded that the roles of termites and humans in nutrient recycling deserve more research attention.
Citation
Liya, S M. and Agboola, A A., "The Relative Roles of Livestock, Termites, Wild Animals and Human Beings in Nutrient Recycling in Nigeria" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session20/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Relative Roles of Livestock, Termites, Wild Animals and Human Beings in Nutrient Recycling in Nigeria
Primary production of savanna woodland and cropland vegetation in semi-humid tropical Nigeria was 990t/km2 and contained 8.0 t of nitrogen (N) and 1.4 t of phosphorus (P). Of this biomass livestock, termites and humans consumed 4, 29 and 6% respectively; 18% was burnt. Of the N and P stocks, livestock, termites and humans consumed 9 and 5%, 17 and 22%, and 10 and 9% respectively. The liveweights per km2 of livestock, termites and humans were 3.5, 10.0 and 2.3t respectively. Annual grass burning consumed 25% of N and 16% of P. The role of wild animals was negligible. About 2/3 of the crops were exported to the cities, entailing loss of 5.6 kg N and 0.8 kg P/ha/year. It was concluded that the roles of termites and humans in nutrient recycling deserve more research attention.
