Rural populations continue to grow and face problems of poverty and inadequate resources. Failure to address their needs for tree products and livelihood which can lead to destabilization of natural resource base, not to mention further deterioration in their living standard Dregne, [1]. An economic growth country depends on the ability of governments to encourage sustainable industrial growth to meet the increasing international market demand for tree products. Environmental sustainability, already much at risk, will be important in maintaining long-term benefits from the first two areas, as well as in responding to increasing internal and external pressure for an "environment-friendly" forest Amiralani [2]. 

Acacia species, many of which are native to Australia and Asia, have shown fast growth on a wide range of sites and have various uses. The Consultative Group for Research and Development of Acacias was formed to provide a means for researchers working on various aspects of acacias to exchange information, assess research to date and future directions, and plan ways of filling knowledge gaps. From a recommendation by the Multipurpose Tree Species Research of the Forestry! Fruitwood Research and Development, Project Bullard, [3]. The first Cogreda meeting in June 1992 prioritized research needs for: species assessment and improvement; for industrial, agro forestry for rural development; Fry rear, [4], and site reclamation purposes; utilization; and economic assessment. It also finalized tasks producing a monograph on Acacia second meeting, in UdonThani, Thailand, February 15-18, 1993, examined more closely the contribution of acacias to the three broad areas of rural, industrial, and environmental development, Specifically, it reviewed the extent which acacias are being used in the Asia-Pacific region for these purposes, identified relevant research needs, planned for further researched species [5]. The meeting included representation of countries growing acacias in semi-arid and arid environments. Forestry Research, Support Program for Asia-Pacific and Forest Tree Improvement.

Yobe has an exceptionally rich and varied natural resource base and a number of areas hosting extremely high levels of biodiversity Agricultural productivity are very low, Yobe state is one of the highest population growth rates in Nigeria. In recent decades, political instability, unregulated agricultural expansion and limited institutional capacity which have contributed to a depletion of natural resources across the state Wolde Mekuria et al. [6]. Sustainable solutions to Yobe’s economic development are urgently required if its natural resource base and biodiversity are to be conserved in the future.

Forest-derived tradable products other than commercial timber have been widely regarded as a potential meeting point between conservation and rural development priorities [7]. Common examples in Uganda include medicinal plants, handicrafts, musical instruments, honey and light construction material. Their production is usually less destructive than timber harvesting, and offers good opportunities for improving livelihoods as to the rural poor and little capital investment is needed for collection, processing and marketing. Verstraete, [8]. Several studies have demonstrated the success of acacia in providing this so-called ‘win-win ‘solution to development and conservation.

Research Design 

In this study, the research design employed involves the systematic planting of Acacia senegal (Gum Arabic tree) as a model species to investigate environmental interactions. This experimental approach has been selected to comprehensively explain the influence of desertification patterns on the vertical distribution of soil moisture within the root zones of Acacia senegal. The first step is the plant selection to determine the type of tree which is appropriate for the task. Climate and soil play a very important role. Acacia Senegalese (Gum Arabic tree) might have a tough time surviving in the desert environment we make sure that the acacia Senegalese (Gum Arabic tree) species can flourish in the local climate soil condition; the perimeter used to plant the seedling is 150 by 20 metres, while the spacing used is 2.5 by 2.5 metres between each plant. We consider proximity to the polytechnic, sidewalks, and streets. The plant spread can cause considerable damage if poorly situated. The width of the planting holes two times the diameter of the plant roots, this will allow the tree with enough worked earth for it root to establish itself. However, a reciprocal transplant will be considered to investigates the influence of desertification pattern on vertical distribution of soil moisture in acacia Senegalese in the vicinity of the arid zone tertiary institution by Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic Geidam.

In Table 1 Analyses of the relationship between desertification influence and vertical distribution of soil moisture is shown.

Table 1: Analyses of the relationship between desertification influence and vertical distribution of soil moisture 

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level 92-tailed)

As depicted in table.1 Linear relationship exist between desertification pattern and vertical distribution of soil moisture (r = 0.553, p = 0.001) The findings disclosed significant correlation between desertification pattern and vertical distribution of soil moisture which indicates that as desertification pattern increases the vertical distribution of soil moisture decrease so also desertification and desert encroachment decrease. The analysis had shown that plantation of acacia Senegalese had contributed about 57.5% to level of soil moisture to combat desertification and desert encroachment. Therefore, it can be argued that acacia Senegalese. 

The finding also found that it’s correlated (r = 0.614, p = 0.001). This revealed that as the Desertification pattern increases, so does the vertical distribution of soil moisture in acacia Senegalese. However, the result showed that the early experience of desertification pattern was an element through which the vertical distribution of soil moisture respondent to desertification pattern. 

The Desertification pattern coincided with the vertical distribution of soil moisture to improve acacia Senegalese to combat desertification. Furthermore, the influence of the desertification pattern on the vertical distribution of soil moisture in acacia Senegalese have been identified as an important factor that affects the performance of the acacia Senegalese in combatting desertification. In addition, it can facilitate the growth and the performance of the acacia Senegalese in controlling desert encroachment.

Location of the study area

Geidam is situated in Ngazargamo emirates about 180 kilometres south of Damaturu the state capital and about 30 kilometres to Maine-Soroa, Niger Republic. The size of the area is about foursquare kilometres, with a total population of 303 inhabitants NPC. The main economic activities of the community are; crop farming (Gum Arabic production, grains, ground nuts and beans), animal farming and hunting. The area is characterized by a hot and dry climate with a rainy season not exceeding three months precisely between July to September and remaining months of the year are in dry season Blaikie & Brookfield. The average annual rainfall in the area is between 160-500mm. Moreover, the hottest months are March, April, and May Thomas AND Middeton. Geographically, the area is located above latitude 12° N, a location regarded generally as an arid area that threatened by the southward movement of the Sahara and other processes of desertification [5,6]. The average temperature ranged from 39°C to 45°C in March, April, and May and drop to between 29^oC to 33^oC in the months of October to December Bach. These geographical features make Geidam to be vulnerable to desert encroachment. 

The study shows that the influence of desertification pattern was favorable towards vertical distribution in soil moisture. Vertical distribution in soil moisture had reinforced the acacia Senegalese in combatting desertification and desert encroachment. This entails That Desertification pattern and vertical distribution of soil moisture became good medium through which the acacia Senegalese utilized to strengthen toward addressing menace of desert encroachment and environmental sustainability. 

Acknowledgment

This research had been carried out with the financial support from Tertiary Education Trust fund (Tetfund). Nigeria the authors would like to thank the polytechnic community and acknowledge the assistance of Eng. Hussain Abatcha Geidam Rector Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic Geidam, Yobe State, Nigeria. 

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3. Bullard, J.E. “Vegetation and Dry Land Geomorphology.” Arid Zone Geomorphology: Process, Form and Change in Dryland, edited by D.S.G. Thomas, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1997, pp. 109–131.

4. Fryrear, D.W. “Long-Term Effect of Erosion and Cropping on Soil Productivity.” Desert Dust Origin, Characteristic Effect on Man, edited by T.L. Pewe, 1981, pp. 253–259.

5. Farshad, A., W.F. Erian, S.H. Zarei Abarghuei, and D.P. Shrestha. “Towards Sustainable Use of Desert.” 17th World Congress of Soil Science, Paper 683, Thailand, August 2002, pp. 1–9.

6. The First Cogreda Meeting. June 1992.

7. Wolde, M. “Vegetation Restoration in Area Closures: The Case of Douya Tembein, Central Tigray, Ethiopia.” Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development, 2007.

8. Verstraete, M.M. “The United Nations Organization and the Issue of Desertification.” Physics of Desertification, edited by Hassan El-Baz, Kluwer Academic, 1984.