E3 Journal of Environmental Research and Management
E3 Journal of Environmental Research and Management Vol. 6 (4) pp. 0262-0274, October 2015; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2141-7466
Impact of grazing around a watering point on botanical composition of a semi-arid rangeland in the southern Afar region of Ethiopia
Kidane Gebremeskel 1 * , PJ Pieterse 11 Werer Research Center, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2 Agronomy Department, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
*Corresponding Author E-mail: kidgeb@yahoo.com
Accepted 23 August 2015
Abstract
The botanical composition along a stratified grazing gradient around a watering point in a semi-arid rangeland in northeastern Ethiopia was investigated by means of the wheel point method for two growing seasons. Annual grasses and unpalatable forbs, which are indicators of degradation, characterized the severely degraded area in both seasons. In moderately and lightly degraded areas an increases in abundance of perennial species was observed and were more preferred by the pastoral community as animal feed. In both seasons, the most frequently occurring perennial species were Chrysopogon plumulosus, Paspalidium desertorum and Panicum coloratum. Thus the study confirmed that there were differences in botanical composition at increasing distances from the watering point.
Keywords: Botanical composition; Degradation; Grazing gradient; Species ordination; Watering point
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