Ecosystem services for crop protection in bean fields in Moshi rural, along the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro Northern Tanzania
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Date
2016-02
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Abstract
The natural ecosystem, in and around bean fields potentially offer beneficial services that assist
bean productivity. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of beneficial
invertebrates and plants and their conducive environmental conditions in bean fields in Moshi
rural, along the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro Northern Tanzania. Four farms were chosen on the
basis of four factors which were elevation, crop diversity (mixed crop farming), forestation
level (farming in grasslands, woodlands and bush land areas), and cropping intensity (most land
converted to farming with little bush land, farm-fallow mosaic, small areas of farming with
mostly bush/fallow land). Beneficial insects were collected monthly using pan traps. Five traps
were placed in the crop plants and the other five traps were placed in the field margin. The
insects collected were identified to the functional group level. Plants found associated with
beneficial insects were also collected for identification. Monitoring of the insects’ visits to
plants was done and photos were taken. It was observed that elevation, time of the year (month),
field margin plant species, rainfall and temperature affected the type, richness and diversity of
invertebrate communities. There are great spatio-temporal differences in invertebrates’ groups
associated with ecosystems services delivery, particularly pollination and pest management
functions. The results indicated that there was significant difference (P ≤ .05) among sites in
terms of the abundance and richness of invertebrates present. Rainfall and temperature had a
potential influence on invertebrates’ groups. In most cases, the highest populations of insects
were found in the field margins and edges (P ≤ .05). From this study it can be recommend that
it is essential to preserve field margins and edges, cultivate plant species that attract beneficial
insects and devise agro-environment strategies to support them.
Sustainable Development Goals
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering of the Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING