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Full Length Research
Evaluation of Range Condition in Relation to Altitude and Grazing Type in Kuraz District of South Omo Zone, South Western Ethiopia
W. Beraedo* and N. Lisanework2
Hawassa Agricultural Research Center, Southern Agricultural Research Institute* P.O. Box 2126, Hawassa, Ethiopia Haromaya University, P.O.Box 138, Diredawa, Ethiopia2
Accepted 17 January,2016
Rangeland condition assessment was conducted in the Kuraz district of south Omo lowlands, south Western Ethiopia to determine the current status and future trend of the grazing land with emphasis on comparing different functional land use units as communal, riverside and enclosure. An approach that integrated data from herbaceous, woody plants and soil was followed. Density and canopy cover of woody plants were determined in 123 plots of 500m2. Scores of grass species composition, basal and litter cover; number of grass seedlings, grass age distribution, soil erosion and compaction were recorded from 615 subplots of 0.25m2. Mean total range condition score in the communal, enclosure and benchmark grazing sites of the study district were 19.22 ± 1.46, 23.40 ± 1.35 and 39 ± 1.35 respectively. Thus, communal, riverside and enclosure grazing sites were classified poor, fair and good condition respectively. Furthermore, relationships between rangeland condition score and herbaceous biomass production, percent bare soil, and density, frequency and percent cover of woody plants were determined by applying multivariate analyses. The overall rangeland condition appeared to be in a transitional state from good to poor with a downward trend. Therefore, rangeland rehabilitation, rotational grazing, fencing /paddocking and selective clearing of woody plants are recommended as a result of this study.
Key Words: Range condition, invaders, soil compaction, grazing, drought |
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Palgo Journal of Agriculture |
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