Seasonal Dynamics in Botanical Composition of the Rangelands of Gambella, Southwestern Ethiopia

Ketema Tilahun Gelaye, Ashenafi Mengistu, Solomon Mengistu

Abstract


Systematic assessment on seasonal dynamics in botanical composition of the herbaceous and woody layers of Gambella rangelands of southern Ethiopia was undertaken. The study was conducted during the consecutive wet and dry seasons of 2013/14 in the two districts (Itang and Jikawo).  The representative sites per district were three wet season and one dry season grazing areas. A total of 38 herbaceous species belong to 12 families were identified, of which 36.84%, 15.79%, 36.84% and 10.53% grasses, legumes, forb and sedges botanical group respectively.There were a significant variation between seasons, species and their interaction at p<0.01 of the herbaceous layer. This suggests that there is great seasonal dynamism of semi-arid vegetation communities, especially of the grass cover. The dominant grass species were Brachiariasemiundulata, Cynodon dactylon, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Eriochloa fatmensis, Panicum maximum, Rottboellia cochinchinensis and Setaria incrassate which are known as the key forage species by the Neur pastoralists. The botanical group of the herbaceous layer differed significantly at p<0.05 and their proportion across season showed a highly significant difference at p<0.01. However, their interaction with season did not show a marked variation (p>0.05).The woody layer was consisted of 12 species, which included species of 6 trees and 6 shrubs, contributing each 50% of the botanical group. Botanical composition and related parameters of the woody layer did not show a marked variations (p>0.05) between seasons. This is due to the dominance of evergreen browse speciesAcacia hockii,Acacia seyal andBalanites aegyptiaca. Accordingly, suggesting that evergreen trees and shrubs play a vital role as a source of fodder in the tropics when the herbaceous layer dried up and deteriorate

Keywords


botanical group, dry season, grazing areas, herbaceous layer, wet season, woody layer

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