Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya

Mary Nyawira Muchane; Muchane Muchai; Geoffrey Mungai; William Wambugu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya

Mary Nyawira Muchane, Muchane Muchai, Geoffrey Mungai, William Wambugu

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 2, Issue 6)

Received: 6 October 2017 Accepted: 2 November 2017 Published: 25 December 2017

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Abstract

Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; Opuntia ficus-indica (both spined and spineless), Opuntia exaltata and Cereus peruvianus. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular O. ficus-indica plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.

Published in	International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
Page(s)	104-113
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cactus, Utilization, Management, ASALs, Invasive, Northern Kenya

References

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APA Style

Mary Nyawira Muchane, Muchane Muchai, Geoffrey Mungai, William Wambugu. (2017). Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2(6), 104-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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ACS Style

Mary Nyawira Muchane; Muchane Muchai; Geoffrey Mungai; William Wambugu. Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2017, 2(6), 104-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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AMA Style

Mary Nyawira Muchane, Muchane Muchai, Geoffrey Mungai, William Wambugu. Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2017;2(6):104-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12,
  author = {Mary Nyawira Muchane and Muchane Muchai and Geoffrey Mungai and William Wambugu},
  title = {Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {104-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  abstract = {Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; Opuntia ficus-indica (both spined and spineless), Opuntia exaltata and Cereus peruvianus. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular O. ficus-indica plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya
AU  - Mary Nyawira Muchane
AU  - Muchane Muchai
AU  - Geoffrey Mungai
AU  - William Wambugu
Y1  - 2017/12/25
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 104
EP  - 113
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
AB  - Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; Opuntia ficus-indica (both spined and spineless), Opuntia exaltata and Cereus peruvianus. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular O. ficus-indica plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Mary Nyawira Muchane

Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Muchane Muchai

Department of Clinical Studies (Wildlife Management & Conservation Section), College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Geoffrey Mungai

Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
William Wambugu

Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

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Mary Nyawira Muchane, Muchane Muchai, Geoffrey Mungai, William Wambugu. (2017). Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2(6), 104-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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ACS Style

Mary Nyawira Muchane; Muchane Muchai; Geoffrey Mungai; William Wambugu. Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2017, 2(6), 104-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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AMA Style

Mary Nyawira Muchane, Muchane Muchai, Geoffrey Mungai, William Wambugu. Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2017;2(6):104-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12,
  author = {Mary Nyawira Muchane and Muchane Muchai and Geoffrey Mungai and William Wambugu},
  title = {Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {104-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20170206.12},
  abstract = {Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; Opuntia ficus-indica (both spined and spineless), Opuntia exaltata and Cereus peruvianus. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular O. ficus-indica plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Diversity, Potential Utilization and Management of Cacti in Northern Kenya
AU  - Mary Nyawira Muchane
AU  - Muchane Muchai
AU  - Geoffrey Mungai
AU  - William Wambugu
Y1  - 2017/12/25
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 104
EP  - 113
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170206.12
AB  - Cactus family (Cactaceae) is poular horticultural plant group with worldwide introduction outside their native ranges for ornamental purposes or as drought tolerant crops for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS). Despite their importance the species are also the most damaging invasive, yet very little information exists about their status, diversity, potential utilization and problems associated with their management. Field and socio-economic surveys were carried out in ASALs of Northern Kenya to document (i) abundance and diversity of introduced Cactus species, (ii) identify reasons for their introduction, (iii) find potential uses and any invasive problems associated with introduced species. Field methods recorded species richness and abundance of cactus species while socio-economic methods recorded local knowledge on potential utilization and problems associated with management of Cactus species using semi-structured questionnaires. This study recorded only three species of cactus; Opuntia ficus-indica (both spined and spineless), Opuntia exaltata and Cereus peruvianus. The species were found mainly in settled areas and within urban centres. The species were introduced as ornamental (horticulture), dry land crop with ability to provide food (fruits and vegetable) or fodder (for humans or livestock) and as live fences due to their ability to thrive dry conditions. Cactus species in particular O. ficus-indica plays an important role in the region in providing fodder and fruits in the extremely dry seasons. Although cactus species in this region are not yet problematic weed, overgrowth if left unmanaged and thorns were cited as major problems associated with its introduction necessitating sustainable management options to avoid any invasive problem. Proper management of the spineless variety has great potential in improving rural livelihoods.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

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