ABSTRACT
The burning of natural vegetation no doubt removes the
protective cover of the soil surface and depreciates the quality of the soil.
Burning is done without regards to soil degradation and this called for this
work have the project focuses attention on the merits and demerits of bush
burning and appraise its useful suggestions are given with viable
recommendations which will improve and develop agricultural pictures in
Ekiadolor and its suburbs in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo
State.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
Background of the study
Statement of the problem
Research questions
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
Scope of the study
Limitation of the study
Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
Historical Literature review
CHAPTER THREE
Research methodology
Research design
Population of the study
Research instrument
Data collection
Statistical techniques
CHAPTER FOUR
Data presentation and interpretation of result
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, conclusion and recommendation
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
Burning with reference to land cultivation is a method of
land preparation in Edo State. In general and in Ekiadolor in Ovia North East
Local Government Area of Edo State in particular bush burning generally is the
method of removing the natural vegetable
from the surface of the soil by setting fire on debris. Bush burning causes
serious damage to trees and crops, its effect of public concern which should
not be for farmer alone and should be handled with seriousness, practice of
burning of fire could also lead to accidental burning of his land and other
properties at his disposal, this ideals of burning his farm came to him with
the food that fire has left behind after roasting his food, fire spread and
destroyed all that was left behind in the environment.
Burning the farmland for the cultivation of crops has a
remarkable effect on the soil fertility. During burning process some nutrients
that are highly needed by the plants are lost out in form of gasses such
nutrient include phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur. The ash which is the
principle products of burnt material although rich in phosphorous, nitrogen and
potassium can be easily washed away by rain. The heat produced during burning
creates an unfavourable condition for activities of the soil organism such as
earthworms, bacteria etc.
He also found out the seed of fruits he has eaten and thrown
off has grown in his burnt land and as a result of this included burning in his
farm system. The practice of burning can be traced back of about 2000 years
ago, it was discovered that most of the vegetation debris after clearing,
especially on a large scale farming and small scale farms. Apart from burning
the land for cultivation purpose animals are also trapped.
1.2 PURPOSE OF
STUDY
Bush burning has become part and parcel of the activities of
farmers in this area. The negative effects are not considered at all. Hence it
is important to highlight these for the farmers to experience and observe the
dangerous effects of bush burning as it affect the soil as a whole.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Since bush burning is the major lands preparation practice,
it is important to study the effect of bush burning on agricultural lands and
also to carryout investigation on how far bush burning has affected
agricultural land in Ekiadolor in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo
State and possibly find alternative measure to avoid bush burning.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this project is limited to Ovia North East
Local Government Area of Edo State, some important towns and villages in Ovia
North East Local Government Area such as Ekiadolor Town, Evboneka, Ughoton etc
where farming operation is carried extensively and that burning issues form the
scope of my study. This is due to some constraints
1.5 AIMS AND
OBJECTIVES
This aims and objective of this project are:
1. To
analyze the effect of burning on economic tree crops
2. To
analyze some of the effect of bush burning on different soil structures
3. To
analyze the effect of bush burning in relationship to land in Ovia North East
Local Government Area of Edo State.
4. To
analyze some of the effect of burning on crop plants.
5. To
identify the effect of bush burning on agricultural land in Ovia North East
Local Government of Edo State.
6. To
analyze the use of bush burning as a weed control measure or method.
1.6 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEMS
Burning is a major problem with agricultural land in our
contemporary society especially Ekiadolor in Ovia North East Local Government
Area of Edo State. The study answers the following questions;
1. Does bush
burning have effect on farm crop or plant?
2. Does bush burning reduce the effect of
weed or a measure to control weed?
3. Is
burning to fight against pest?
4. Do you
consider bush burning as the cheapest method of land preparation?
5. ow
many times have you been engaged in indiscriminate bush burning?