Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana
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Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana. / Asare, Richard; Ræbild, Anders.
In: New Forests, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2016, p. 287-302.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana
AU - Asare, Richard
AU - Ræbild, Anders
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) growing systems in Ghana and West Africa consist of diverse tree species and densities.This study was conducted to determine factors that influence tree species configurations and how tree characteristics affect canopy cover in cocoa farms. Eighty-six farmers and corresponding farms were selected in a systematic approach in four districts across two agro-ecological zones in Ghana. Results show that men tend to have larger farm sizes, higher tree density and diversity than women. Tree density and canopy cover of shade trees were low on large farms, but diversity increased with increasing farm sizes. Even though there was a significant correlation between diameter at breast height and crown area for all species investigated, tree species differed considerably in their crown area and thus the amount of ground cover provided. Current recommendations for shade are usually expressed in number of trees per ha, and our results suggest that these should be refined to reflect the effects of species, the size of their diameter at breast height and the crown area.
AB - Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) growing systems in Ghana and West Africa consist of diverse tree species and densities.This study was conducted to determine factors that influence tree species configurations and how tree characteristics affect canopy cover in cocoa farms. Eighty-six farmers and corresponding farms were selected in a systematic approach in four districts across two agro-ecological zones in Ghana. Results show that men tend to have larger farm sizes, higher tree density and diversity than women. Tree density and canopy cover of shade trees were low on large farms, but diversity increased with increasing farm sizes. Even though there was a significant correlation between diameter at breast height and crown area for all species investigated, tree species differed considerably in their crown area and thus the amount of ground cover provided. Current recommendations for shade are usually expressed in number of trees per ha, and our results suggest that these should be refined to reflect the effects of species, the size of their diameter at breast height and the crown area.
KW - Canopy cover
KW - Cocoa agroforest
KW - Structural diversity
KW - Tree diversity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84944699122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11056-015-9515-3
DO - 10.1007/s11056-015-9515-3
M3 - Journal article
VL - 47
SP - 287
EP - 302
JO - New Forests
JF - New Forests
SN - 0169-4286
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 154797559