Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka

Chaminda Egodawatta; Rasika Warnasooriya

doi:doi:10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

| Peer-Reviewed

Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka

Chaminda Egodawatta, Rasika Warnasooriya

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 1)

Received: 22 January 2014 Published: 20 February 2014

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

It was hypothesised that the land ownership with clear titles has an influence on incorporating perennial tree flora. Hence, this study compares the types and density of tree species in homegardens of inherited and settled lands in close proximity of Anuradhapura city, with subsistence farming activities. Mean harvestable tree density was 54.5 trees/ac in inherited lands compared to 40.3 trees/ac in settled lands. In spite of the general similarity in tree flora between the two categories of homegardens, certain tree species are more abundant in one than the other. Exotic timber tree flora represented approximately 30% of total tree population in settled compared to 16% in inherited. Exotic timber tree flora mainly dominated by Tectona grandis and Berrya cordifolia in settled lands concerning more economic returns. In inherited lands, multipurpose trees i.e. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica were highly abaundanat concering diversity and food security. Cocos nucifera was the most abaundant tree specis in both categories accounting more than 40% abaundance. Tree species such as Tamarindus indica was restricted to inherited lands and Felicium decipiens and Swietenia macrophylla to the settled lands. It is advocated that the settled farmers should preserve more diversity among trees as inherited farmers, which enhance food and economic security under diminishing climatic suitability for crop production. Nonetheless, this study awaked an important entity for future carbon crediting programmes, which would be a win-win situation in forestry and farming aspects.

Published in	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17
Page(s)	34-39
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Inherited Lands, Settled Lands, Tree Flora

References

[1]	Lal, R. "Agricultural activities and the global carbon cycles". Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Vol. 70, pp. 103-116, 2004.
[2]	Burgers, P., Q.M. Ketterings and D.P. Garrity, "Fallow management strategies and issues in Southeast Asia". Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 110, pp. 1-13, 2005.
[3]	Fernandes, E. C. M. and P. K. R. Nair, "An evaluation of the structure and function of tropical homegardens". ICRAF working paper no. 38, 1986.
[4]	Brownrigg, L. Homegardening in international development: what the literature shows. The League for International Food Education, Washington, DC, 1985.
[5]	De Costa, W.A.J.M. and U.R. Sangakkara, "Agronomic regeneration of soil fertility in tropical Asian smallholder uplands for sustainable food production. Centenary Review". Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge. vol. 114, pp. 111-133, 2006.
[6]	Perera, A.H. and R.M.N. Rajapakse, "A baseline study of Kandyan forest gardens of Sri Lanka: structure, composition and utilization". Forest Ecology Management vol. 45, pp. 269–280, 1991.
[7]	Evans, J. "Plantation forestry in the tropics, 2nd edition". Oxford University Press, Oxford. UK, 2002.
[8]	Panabokke C.R. "Soils and Agro-ecological environments of Sri Lanka. Natural Resources Series – No 2". Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority, 47/5, Maitland Place, Colombo 7, 1996.
[9]	Mapa, R. B., A.R. Dassanayake and H.B. Nayakekorale, "Soils of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, Special Publication No. 4". Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka, 2005.
[10]	USDA Soil Taxonomy, Soil Survey Staff. "Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 10th edition". USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC, 2006.
[11]	Craswell, E.T. and R.D.B. Lefroy, "The role and function of organic matter in tropical soils". Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems vol. 61, pp. 7-18, 2001.
[12]	Bloch, P. C. "Land tenure issues in Sri Lanka: A brief overview". USAID/Sri Lanka, Office of Food and Agriculture Development, Colombo, 1988.
[13]	Simpson, E.H. Measurement of diversity. Nature [London] vol. 163, pp. 688, 1949.
[14]	Odum, E.P. Ecology. Holt, Rinehart & Winston. London, 1975.
[15]	Sorenson, T. "A method for establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content and its application to analyses of the vegetation on Danish commons". Biologiske Skrifter vol. 5, pp. 1-34, 1948.
[16]	Nuberg, K. I., D.G. Evans and R. Senanayake, "Future of forest gardens in the Uvan uplands of Sri Lanka". Environmental Management vol. 18, pp. 794-813, 1994.
[17]	Asare, E.O., S.K. Oppong and K. Twum-Ampofo, "Homegardens in the humid tropics of Ghana" in Tropical Homegardens, K. Landauer and M. Brazil, Eds., United Nations University: Tokyo, 1990, pp. 80-93.
[18]	Okigbo, B.N. "Homegardens in tropical Africa" Tropical Homegardens by K. Landauer and M. Brazil, Eds., United Nations University, Tokyo, 1990, pp. 94-104.
[19]	Falanruw, M.V.C, "The food production system of the Yap Islands" in Tropical Homegardens by K. Landauer and M. Brazil, Eds., United Nations University, Tokyo, 1990, pp. 94-104.
[20]	May, P. H., A. B. Anderson, M. J. Balick, and M. F. Frazao "Subsistence Benefits from the Babassu Palm [Orbignya martiana]" Economic Botany, vol. 3, pp. 113-129, 1985.
[21]	Steiner, K.G. "Overcoming soil fertility constraints to crop production in West Africa: impact of traditional and improved cropping systems on soil fertility" in Alleviating Soil Fertility Constraints to Increased Crop Production in West Africa, A.U. Mokwunye, Eds. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht,1991, pp. 69-91.
[22]	Halladay, P. and Gilmour, D. A. [1995] Conserving biodiversity outside the protected areas: The role of traditional agroecosystems. IUCN, Gland, 1995, pp. 65-78.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Chaminda Egodawatta, Rasika Warnasooriya. (2014). Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Chaminda Egodawatta; Rasika Warnasooriya. Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(1), 34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Chaminda Egodawatta, Rasika Warnasooriya. Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(1):34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17,
  author = {Chaminda Egodawatta and Rasika Warnasooriya},
  title = {Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {34-39},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140301.17},
  abstract = {It was hypothesised that the land ownership with clear titles has an influence on incorporating perennial tree flora. Hence, this study compares the types and density of tree species in homegardens of inherited and settled lands in close proximity of Anuradhapura city, with subsistence farming activities. Mean harvestable tree density was 54.5 trees/ac in inherited lands compared to 40.3 trees/ac in settled lands. In spite of the general similarity in tree flora between the two categories of homegardens, certain tree species are more abundant in one than the other. Exotic timber tree flora represented approximately 30% of total tree population in settled compared to 16% in inherited. Exotic timber tree flora mainly dominated by Tectona grandis and Berrya cordifolia in settled lands concerning more economic returns. In inherited lands, multipurpose trees i.e. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica were highly abaundanat concering diversity and food security. Cocos nucifera was the most abaundant tree specis in both categories accounting more than 40% abaundance. Tree species such as Tamarindus indica was restricted to inherited lands and Felicium decipiens and Swietenia macrophylla to the settled lands. It is advocated that the settled farmers should preserve more diversity among trees as inherited farmers, which enhance food and economic security under diminishing climatic suitability for crop production. Nonetheless, this study awaked an important entity for future carbon crediting programmes, which would be a win-win situation in forestry and farming aspects.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka
AU - Chaminda Egodawatta
AU - Rasika Warnasooriya
Y1 - 2014/02/20
PY - 2014
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17
DO - 10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17
T2 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JF - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JO - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
SP - 34
EP - 39
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2328-5648
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17
AB - It was hypothesised that the land ownership with clear titles has an influence on incorporating perennial tree flora. Hence, this study compares the types and density of tree species in homegardens of inherited and settled lands in close proximity of Anuradhapura city, with subsistence farming activities. Mean harvestable tree density was 54.5 trees/ac in inherited lands compared to 40.3 trees/ac in settled lands. In spite of the general similarity in tree flora between the two categories of homegardens, certain tree species are more abundant in one than the other. Exotic timber tree flora represented approximately 30% of total tree population in settled compared to 16% in inherited. Exotic timber tree flora mainly dominated by Tectona grandis and Berrya cordifolia in settled lands concerning more economic returns. In inherited lands, multipurpose trees i.e. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica were highly abaundanat concering diversity and food security. Cocos nucifera was the most abaundant tree specis in both categories accounting more than 40% abaundance. Tree species such as Tamarindus indica was restricted to inherited lands and Felicium decipiens and Swietenia macrophylla to the settled lands. It is advocated that the settled farmers should preserve more diversity among trees as inherited farmers, which enhance food and economic security under diminishing climatic suitability for crop production. Nonetheless, this study awaked an important entity for future carbon crediting programmes, which would be a win-win situation in forestry and farming aspects.
VL - 3
IS - 1
ER -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Chaminda Egodawatta

Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Rasika Warnasooriya

Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Chaminda Egodawatta, Rasika Warnasooriya. (2014). Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Chaminda Egodawatta; Rasika Warnasooriya. Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(1), 34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Chaminda Egodawatta, Rasika Warnasooriya. Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(1):34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17,
  author = {Chaminda Egodawatta and Rasika Warnasooriya},
  title = {Diversity of Tree Flora in Homegardens in Urban Proximity of Anuradhapura City, Sri Lanka},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {34-39},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140301.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140301.17},
  abstract = {It was hypothesised that the land ownership with clear titles has an influence on incorporating perennial tree flora. Hence, this study compares the types and density of tree species in homegardens of inherited and settled lands in close proximity of Anuradhapura city, with subsistence farming activities. Mean harvestable tree density was 54.5 trees/ac in inherited lands compared to 40.3 trees/ac in settled lands. In spite of the general similarity in tree flora between the two categories of homegardens, certain tree species are more abundant in one than the other. Exotic timber tree flora represented approximately 30% of total tree population in settled compared to 16% in inherited. Exotic timber tree flora mainly dominated by Tectona grandis and Berrya cordifolia in settled lands concerning more economic returns. In inherited lands, multipurpose trees i.e. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica were highly abaundanat concering diversity and food security. Cocos nucifera was the most abaundant tree specis in both categories accounting more than 40% abaundance. Tree species such as Tamarindus indica was restricted to inherited lands and Felicium decipiens and Swietenia macrophylla to the settled lands. It is advocated that the settled farmers should preserve more diversity among trees as inherited farmers, which enhance food and economic security under diminishing climatic suitability for crop production. Nonetheless, this study awaked an important entity for future carbon crediting programmes, which would be a win-win situation in forestry and farming aspects.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download