Journal of Global Ecology and Environment

Effect of Agricultural Landuse Change on Food Security in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Terna Korom — 2026-05-26

Agricultural landuse change has become a major issue affecting food security in many rural communities in Nigeria, especially in areas where farming is the main source of livelihood. In Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, increasing population growth, urban expansion, and conversion of farmland for settlement and infrastructural development have reduced the availability of arable land for food production, thereby contributing to household food insecurity. The study assessed effect of agricultural land use change on food security in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The researcher employed a survey research design combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Multistage sampling technique was used where 360 farmers were sampled using simple random sampling technique from the twelve (12) council wards and sixty (60) kindred areas that make up Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. The 360 farmers were interviewed with the help of research assistants using copies of semi-structured questionnaire to elicit information on the patterns of agricultural land use, factors responsible for changes in agricultural land use in the study area, effect of agricultural land use change on household food security. Data collected was analyzed using both descriptive statistics such as tables and simple percentages, while the t-test statistic was used to test the formulated hypothesis. The result indicated that increased agricultural activities coupled with other anthropogenic activities occasioned by increased population resulted in the changing agricultural land use. The result also revealed that the conversion of agricultural land for settlement and infrastructural development deprive farmers of arable land to cultivate, thereby reducing food crop production. The result clearly showed that most households were food insecure. The study further proved that agricultural land use change has a significant impact on household food security in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. It indicates that agricultural land use change greatly influences food production and availability in the study area. The study recommended among others sustainable land management, land use policy enforcement, balancing cash and food crops, provision of improved seeds, fertilizers, and affordable credit facilities, family planning and sustainable livelihoods, agricultural extension services and establishing community-based food reserves in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

Spatiotemporal Quantification of Carbon Flux Dynamics in Malawi’s Forest Ecosystems and Other Land-use Systems

Edward Missanjo — 2026-06-08

Accurately tracking carbon dynamics by sources, sinks, and removals in Malawi’s Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector is critical for understanding the country’s contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) balances and for guiding effective climate policy. However, there is little research in Malawi on tracking these gas fluxes (emissions and removals) from their sources and sinks. A study was conducted to track carbon dynamics by sources, sinks, and removals in Malawi’s LULUCF sector for the period 2018-2022. Carbon Stock Change Approach, following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, were employed. The approach integrated forest inventory data and Earth Observations from Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imager and ALOS-PALSAR-1. Activity datasets were categorised into land classification schema sources of Forestland, Cropland, Grassland, Wetland, and Settlement. Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis at a 95% confidence level was applied to assess data reliability and estimate uncertainties in emissions and removals. The results revealed that total emissions from the LULUCF sector declined by 10.29%, primarily due to reduced deforestation rates and increased forest regrowth. Forestland contributed the largest proportion of emissions (79.08%), followed by cropland (9.70%) and wetlands (8.50%). In contrast, the Grassland and Settlement categories contributed the lowest, 2.60% and 0.12%, respectively. Forest conversion to other land uses decreased, while natural regeneration and afforestation initiatives enhanced carbon removals. The overall uncertainty level was low, 4.16%. This greatly enhances Malawi’s ability to participate in carbon markets, report transparently under climate conventions, and attract climate finance with reduced risk. Finally, the study also contributes to Malawi’s first biennial transparency report (BTR1) and fourth national communication (NC4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under the Paris Agreement. Future studies should focus on assessing the impacts of climate variability and land management practices on long-term carbon dynamics to further improve the accuracy and policy relevance of LULUCF assessments.

Multi-Nutrient Assessment Using Two Universal Extractants in Effluent-Amended Weathered Tropical Soils Derived from Different Parent Materials

Akanimo M. Ikpe — 2026-06-12

The accurate evaluation of available nutrients remains challenging due to problems associated with nutrient fixation, variable parent materials, and anthropogenic inputs resulting from agricultural and industrial activities. This work evaluated the effectiveness of two universal extractants, 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and Agro-Services International (ASI) multi-nutrient extracting solution, employed for the extraction of available phosphorus, potassium, iron, and manganese within effluent-impacted soils in a highly weathered tropical region. These extractants were employed on soils underlying palm oil mill effluent and cassava mill effluents within coastal plain sands, beach ridge sands, and sandstone-shale parent materials in the study area in Southern Nigeria. Soil samples acquired at depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Results indicated that ASI extractants consistently extracted higher nutrient concentrations than CaCl₂ across all parent materials, treatments, and depths. Phosphorus was the dominant nutrient extracted, followed by manganese, iron, and then potassium, with greater nutrient accumulation observed within the 0–20 cm depths. Effluent-impacted soils recorded higher nutrient concentrations in comparison to control soils, indicating nutrient contributions from the palm oil and cassava mill effluents. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between extractable nutrients and soil properties, illustrating the strong influence of soil physicochemical characteristics on nutrient dynamics and extractant performance. This study demonstrates that extractant choice impacts nutrient evaluation in effluent-amended tropical soils. It also establishes ASI extractants as a more efficient universal extractant for evaluating potentially available nutrient levels in highly weathered acidic soils.

Long-Term Assessment of Forest Fire Dynamics and Terrain Influences Using Remote Sensing Data in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abhay Pratap Singh — 2026-06-15

Forest fires are major ecological disturbances influencing vegetation dynamics and ecosystem functioning in tropical dry deciduous forests. The present study assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of forest fires in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS), Central India, using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Multi-temporal Landsat series data, MODIS active fire products and DEM-derived topographic variables were integrated for a 22-year period (2002–2023) to analyse forest fire frequency, hotspot distribution and the influence of topographic factors on recurrent fire occurrence. Forest fire frequency mapping revealed that the very high fire frequency class occupied the largest proportion (47.9%) of the sanctuary area, indicating repeated fire incidences across major parts of the landscape. MODIS fire analysis showed strong annual and seasonal variation, with maximum fire activity recorded during 2021–2022 and peak fire occurrence during February–April. Hotspot analysis identified the central and southeastern regions of the sanctuary as highly fire-prone zones. Topographic analysis indicated that moderate elevations (500–550 m), gentle slopes (0–10°), south-facing aspects and rugged terrain conditions were more vulnerable to recurrent forest fires. These results suggest that topographic influence and vegetation structure jointly regulate fire regimes in RWS. The findings enhance our understanding of long-term fire dynamics and terrain influences in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, providing valuable scientific support for fire risk assessment, monitoring and conservation planning.

Physiological Health and Blood Profile of Labeo rohita in Biofloc Aquaculture: Implications for Sustainable Urban Fish Production in Tribal Chhattisgarh, India

Jyoti Singh — 2026-06-20

Background: Biofloc technology (BFT) is a resource-efficient aquaculture approach that supports water-quality management, nutrient utilisation and reduced environmental impact.

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the physiological health status of Labeo rohita reared under biofloc conditions through haematological and biochemical assessments and to examine the suitability of BFT for sustainable fish production in the tribal region of Sarguja, Chhattisgarh, India.

Methods: Labeo rohita fingerlings were cultured for 90 days in a biofloc-based aquaculture system under controlled management conditions. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected and analysed using standard laboratory procedures. Haematological parameters, including haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, leucocyte profile and platelet count, were determined. Serum biochemical parameters, including cholesterol, glucose, SGOT, SGPT, albumin and total protein, were also evaluated to assess metabolic and physiological status.

Results: The fish exhibited a haemoglobin concentration of 13.9 g/dL, an RBC count of 3.91 million/cumm, a total leucocyte count of 5,960 cells/cu.mm and a platelet count of 3.19 lakh/cu.mm, all of which were within the stated physiological reference ranges. Biochemical analyses showed serum cholesterol (11.2 nmol), glucose (41.2 mg/dL), SGOT (59.2 IU/L), SGPT (14.1 IU/L), serum albumin (19.3 g/dL) and total protein (52.3 g/dL), indicating normal metabolic function, satisfactory nutritional status and no evidence of marked physiological stress or hepatic dysfunction under the study conditions.

Conclusion: The observed haematological and biochemical profiles indicate that Labeo rohita maintained under biofloc conditions remained in good physiological health during the culture period. These findings suggest that BFT may be a suitable and resource-efficient aquaculture option for supporting fish production in tribal and semi-urban regions of Chhattisgarh.

A Comprehensive Review of Three-way Catalytic Converters for Automotive Exhaust Emission Control: Materials, Performance, and Challenges

Akinola Afolabi — 2026-06-10

Catalytic converters are critical emission control devices employed in internal combustion engine vehicles to mitigate the release of harmful exhaust pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). By facilitating catalytic reactions that convert these toxic compounds into less harmful substances, catalytic converters play a vital role in reducing the environmental and public health impacts associated with vehicular emissions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of catalytic converter technologies, with particular emphasis on three-way catalytic converters (TWCs), which remain the predominant emission control technology in modern gasoline-powered vehicles. The study examines the fundamental aspects of catalyst materials, structural configurations, reaction mechanisms, and key operational parameters that influence catalytic converter performance. A systematic review of relevant literature published between 2003 and 2025 is conducted to evaluate recent developments in exhaust emission control technologies, highlighting advances in catalyst design, thermal management strategies, modelling approaches, and efforts to reduce dependence on costly noble metals. Furthermore, the review identifies major challenges affecting catalytic efficiency under real-world driving conditions, including catalyst ageing, thermal degradation, and cold-start emissions. Finally, potential future research directions are discussed, focusing on the development of cost-effective, thermally stable, and environmentally sustainable catalytic systems that can support increasingly stringent emission regulations, particularly within developing economies.

Dendrophthoe annamalayana S. Akash, K. Manikandan and A. Rajesh sp. nov. (Loranthaceae), a New Species from Tamil Nadu, India

Sugaseelan Akash — 2026-06-04

Dendrophthoe annamalayana S. Akash, K. Manikandan, and A. Rajesh sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu. The species is closely allied to Dendrophthoe falcata. However, it can be easily distinguished by its opposite decussate, opposite-subopposite and alternate leaves, which are lanceolate and elliptic-lanceolate, cuneate, measuring 8–10 × 1.5–2 cm, with entire and undulate margins and a yellow border. The bract is reniform; the calyx is 1.5–2 mm long; and the buds are greenish-golden yellow. The corolla tube is split equally on all sides, with linear-oblanceolate lobes having acuminate apices and a dark green colouration on both surfaces. The filaments are greenish-golden yellow; the anthers are oblanceolate with obtuse apices and brown in colour; the ovary is cylindrical; and the fruit is elongated ovoid. A comparison table, detailed morphological description, and colour photograph are provided. According to IUCN guidelines 2024, version 16, the conservation status of the recorded species is Data Deficient (DD).

Utilizing Nuclear Energy to Drive Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Review

Orumo B. Kenoll — 2026-06-23

A considerable proportion of Nigeria's population lacks access to reliable electricity, and this continues to constrain economic productivity, industrial activity and social development. This review examines nuclear energy as a potential option for strengthening Nigeria's energy supply and supporting long-term economic development. It discusses Nigeria's current energy situation, including the limitations of conventional energy sources, the persistence of electricity shortages and the need to diversify the national energy mix. The review also considers the potential contributions of nuclear energy, particularly stable baseload electricity, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, lower operational greenhouse gas emissions, technological advancement, employment creation and support for industrial growth. Alongside these prospects, the study identifies major challenges that could affect nuclear energy deployment in Nigeria, including capital requirements, infrastructure limitations, regulatory readiness, public acceptance, waste management, security concerns and the need for specialised human capacity. Lessons from countries with established nuclear energy programmes are used to highlight the importance of long-term planning, strong institutions, public engagement, international cooperation and effective safety regulation. The review further outlines strategic approaches for Nigeria, including phased development, consideration of small modular reactors, grid modernisation, bankable financing models, capacity building and sustained policy commitment. The study concludes that nuclear energy could contribute to Nigeria's energy security and development goals if implemented through a cautious, transparent and well-regulated framework.