Theme 1-2: Rangeland/Grassland Ecology--Poster Sessions
Description
Integrated Orderly Classification System of Grassland (IOCSG) was initiated by Professor Ji-Zhou Ren in the 1960s and it has satisfactorily served to direct theory and practice of grassland classification for the last several decades in China. In this study IOCSG is adopted to classify the grasslands in Yobe state Nigeria, using 30 years (1984-2013) data on precipitation and temperature from 12 satellite stations across the state. Humidity (moisture index) was estimated as the ratio of precipitation per annum to annual temperature. The results revealed a trend of decline in precipitation and moisture index with latitude; from 772.63 mm and 0.72 in the south (110 08' N) to 303.81 mm and 0.32 in the northern part of the state (130 27' N), respectively. The average cumulative annual precipitation and moisture index in ten (10) of the stations ranges from 772.63 mm and 0.72 to 436.50 mm and 0.41 respectively. While the remaining two (2) stations recorded 407.77 and 303.81 mm as cumulative average precipitation as well as 0.38 and 0.28 as cumulative average annual moisture index. The Average cumulative annual temperature in the state was >100000C across the stations. Two grassland class; Tropical arid and Tropical extra-arid grasslands were identified in the state at the first level of IOCSG. Therefore, tropical arid grassland management techniques should be fully employed for efficient utilization of grassland resources in the study area and further classification of the grasslands into subclasses using edaphic conditions, according to the IOCSG should be carried out.
Included in
Grasslands Classification in Yobe State Nigeria Using Integrated Orderly Classification System of Grassland (IOCSG)
Integrated Orderly Classification System of Grassland (IOCSG) was initiated by Professor Ji-Zhou Ren in the 1960s and it has satisfactorily served to direct theory and practice of grassland classification for the last several decades in China. In this study IOCSG is adopted to classify the grasslands in Yobe state Nigeria, using 30 years (1984-2013) data on precipitation and temperature from 12 satellite stations across the state. Humidity (moisture index) was estimated as the ratio of precipitation per annum to annual temperature. The results revealed a trend of decline in precipitation and moisture index with latitude; from 772.63 mm and 0.72 in the south (110 08' N) to 303.81 mm and 0.32 in the northern part of the state (130 27' N), respectively. The average cumulative annual precipitation and moisture index in ten (10) of the stations ranges from 772.63 mm and 0.72 to 436.50 mm and 0.41 respectively. While the remaining two (2) stations recorded 407.77 and 303.81 mm as cumulative average precipitation as well as 0.38 and 0.28 as cumulative average annual moisture index. The Average cumulative annual temperature in the state was >100000C across the stations. Two grassland class; Tropical arid and Tropical extra-arid grasslands were identified in the state at the first level of IOCSG. Therefore, tropical arid grassland management techniques should be fully employed for efficient utilization of grassland resources in the study area and further classification of the grasslands into subclasses using edaphic conditions, according to the IOCSG should be carried out.
