Comparative Assessment of Pathological Condition of Selected Mahogany Trees

Sustainability of mahogany trees have been threatened by the pandemic of fungal diseases, but variation exists in the level of occurrence of the diseases among the trees. Thus, diagnosing the level of susceptibility of mahogany to the diseases will be the first step to ameliorating the impact of the diseases on the trees’ abundance. This study comparatively investigated the pathological status of selected mahogany trees (Khaya senegalensis and Entandrophragma cylindricum. Diseased samples of the tree species were collected from a mahogany forest located in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were collected through laboratory analysis of the samples and statistically analyzed with the use of ANOVA and t-test at α0.05. Result shows that E. cylindricum is more susceptible to fungal attack by collectotrichum (66.67%), aspergillus (22.22%) and fusarium (18.51%). While in K. senegalensis, the frequency of occurrence (FOC) of the diseases were 62.96%, 14.81% and 14.81% respectively. There was however, no significant different in the FOC of the two species. But on utility, it is better to adhere to K. senegalensis:it has less pathological weakness. Keywords: Tree collectotrichum, frequency of occurrence (FOC), mahogany fusariu

Environmental Impact Assessment of Selected Sawmills in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the environmental impact of selected sawmilling industries in Ile-ife, Osun state, Nigeria. Data were obtained through oral interview, questionnaire administration, visual observation and direct measurement of logs and sawn timber produced. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Results showed that majority (57.1%) of the sawmill employees do not have any other alternative source of income and thereby depend mainly on earnings from the sawmilling operation for their livelihoods. The estimated Lumber Recovery Factor (LRF) differ based on the sawmill and timber species. The observed plant indicator of the waste dumpsite was Bidens pilosa. Perceived health ailments associated with sawmilling operations by the respondents are Catarrh (66.7%), Headache and Fatigue (14.3%) and cornea inflammation (4.8%). These ailments significantly depend on level of income as well as job categories (