Effects Of Bush Burning On Agricultural Land

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Bush burning is a common practice in both savannah and forest zones of Nigeria and has greatly altered the original vegetation. In recent years our environment which was taken for granted has become a subject of great concern to the society. The biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem has been shaped over time and continues to do so. (Hamid, Usman, Elaigu and Zubaru, 2010). It is generally believed that the use of bush burning in African started about 50, 000 years ago (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005).
Man’s environment is under constant threat from his own activities resulting from expanding population and this remains one of the biggest challenges to the quality of environment. Bush burning, whether as a result of a wild fire or a controlled burning, affects not only the appearance of the landscape, but the quality of the soil. The landscape may quickly recover after a fire with fresh new growth and emerging seedlings. However, bush burning has negative effects on soil conditions and soil may take much longer to recover.
Bush burning is one of the few tools available to an African man for clearing land for crops and still part of the system of shifting cultivation.
In some cases the fire spreads far beyond the confines of the farmlands uncontrolled and destroys the adjourning forest or wood land areas (Okonkwo and Kareem, 2009).
The causes of bush burning are both natural and anthropogenic. Climatic factors especially dry spells: nature of vegetation and wind speed all play an important role. When there is a prolonged dry season, and where the potential evaporation exceeds the rainfall during the years, the natural vegetation becomes dry and there-fore vulnerable to fire incidence.
As more land is being cleared and prepared for cropping, hunting and grazing annually, burning has become the easiest and most convenient method quite often employed.
Human activities such as land clearing and burning of bush by herdsmen in order to stimulate germination of new grasses are also causes of uncontrolled and indiscriminate bush burning.
The soil temperature reached during such burning ranged from 930OC to 10040OC as a result of burning different types of materials and the time of exposure (Roberts, 2005; Isaac and Hopkins, 2007). All fire, regardless of whether they are natural or human-caused; alter the cycling of nutrients and the biotic, physical, moisture, and temperature characteristics of soil (Isaac and Hopkins, 2007).
In many cases however, these impacts are either negligible or short – lived and thus have little, if any, impact on the overall ecosystem. In some cases however, the impact of fire on soil condition can be moderate to severe. The overall degree and longevity of this impact is determined by numerous factors including fire severity, temperature, fire frequency, soil type and moisture vegetation type and amount, topography, season of burning, and pre and post fire weather conditions. Studies by Roberts (2005) and Isaac and Hopkins, (2007) pointed out that relatively large-scale loss of nutrients and an alteration of soil physical conditions occur after a fire.
In many areas, the attitude change to one of total burning (wildfire) and this becomes a major cause of depletion of the environment.
This necessitates a research of this kind to ascertain the implication of bush burning on the agricultural land of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State of Nigeria.

1.2 Statements of the problem
In Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, uncontrolled and indiscriminate bush burning has become a common year occurrence during the dry season. This is caused by human activities such as farming, hunting, trap and seeking for fresh fodder for cattle consumption (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005).
In the area, indiscriminate bush burning is a disaster. It causes large scale destruction of the forest and wild – life resources.
It destroys beneficial, crops, animals, micro-organisms, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals. (Adetunji and Onumadu, 2005).
Some of these animals such as pollinators and decomposers are very important, losing them therefore, upsets the whole ecological balance of the environment. The serious detrimental effects of bush burning in the study area have great socio-economic implication on the Local Government growth and development.
Indiscriminate bush burning has affected various components of the vegetation ecosystem of the study area. If proper steps are not taken to prevent and control bush burning in the area, the livelihood and survival of the present and future generations would be in danger.
Therefore, in the light of these trends, calls for the study that will unravel the implications of bush burning on agriculture and the environment of Kabba/Bunu L.G.A Kogi State of Nigeria.

1.3 Purpose of the study
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of bush burning on agricultural land in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State Nigeria.
The specific objectives are to: –
1. examine the socio-economic characteristics of respondents.
2. identify the causes of bush burning in Kabba/Bunu L.G.A.
3. examine the implication of bush burning on agricultural crops in Kabba/Bunu.
4. determine the implication of bush burning on the environment of Kabba/Bunu.

1.4 Significance of the study
There is a great need to research into the effects of bush burning on Agricultural land. This study will give insight into the nature and frequency occurrence of bush burning done by the farmers associated with it and there by attempt to find the various methods or ways of preventing such.
This research also intends to suggest and recommend the remedies by which bush burning of Agricultural land will be avoided in Kabba/Bunu local government of Kogi State.
This study after completion will be useful to students of Agriculture, the community, lecturers and other researchers.

1.4 Scope of the study
The scope of this project is limited to Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State Nigeria.

1.5 Research question
1. What are the causes of bush burning?
2. What are the implications of bush burning on agricultural crops and land?
3. What are the implications of bush burning on the environment?