SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION, CONTROL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AQUATIC PLANTS IN AJIWA DAM, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-01-02
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Publisher
Bayero University Kano
Abstract
The central aim of this work was to assess the spatial distribution, classification, control and
economic impact of aquatic plants dominant in the Ajiwa Dam. The key methodology used to
achieve this aim was field survey which adopted the purposive sampling technique whereby
samples were collected through wading, using boats or walking along the bank. All
macrophytes present were recorded together with the estimated percentage cover of overall
macrophytes growth. The principal findings of the work indicated that about 80% of the
emergent macrophytes are new and developing and that the distribution of the aquatic plants
was highly influenced by the water depth and the rate of fishing and grazing at the area. The
most abundant plant is Typha australis at 50% closely followed by Salvinia molesta at 30%
and Nymphae lotus was the scarcest at 5%. The aquatic plants could cause serious threat to
the activities of irrigation, domestic water supply etcetera by acting as weeds infesting water
ways and this work researched how to control them by adopting the economic impacts to be
derived from them. It was concluded that aquatic plants pose serious threat to the ecosystem
but they could be used in many ways especially for food and medicine to make them
environmental friendly and it was recommended that regional workshops be held to better
access the wealth of additional information that could not be accessed through this research.