Assessment of Use Values and Propagation Methods of Native Fodder and Fruit Species in Merhabete District, Ethiopia
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Keywords:
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Use Value, Merhabete District, Native Species, Natural Regeneration, Species Preference
Abstract
Native fodder and fruit species provide various products and services to local communities besides their fruit (food) and fodder supply in our country including in the study area. Although, there is rich traditional knowledge on propagation methods of native fodder and fruit species and their local use, but little recognition has been given by forestry research and extension efforts to enhance them. The general objective of the study was to investigate the use value and propagation methods of native fodder and fruit species in the Merhabete district, Ethiopia. A total of 127 households were randomly selected and interviewed about local use and propagation methods of native fodder and fruit species. The study indicated that the majority of native fodder and fruit species were used for firewood (23.9%) followed by charcoal (10.9%), timber, and construction wood (10.6%), fencing (9.3%), soil fertility improvement (9.1%), farm tool (7.1%), and medicine (3.3%). Native fodder and fruit species (42.7%) were propagated through wilding (natural regeneration) and the remainder were propagated through seedlings (7.2%), seed (6.06%), and stem cutting (4.8%). Overgrazing (46.5%) followed by overexploitation (22%), climate change/drought (20.5%), and disease and pest (11%) were the major regeneration constraints to native fodder and fruit trees/shrubs species in the study area. Therefore, proper involvement either through research or development works are essential to reduce the propagation constraint of studied species. Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. followed by Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev., Cordia africana Lam., Ximenia americana L., and Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. were the most preferred species for planting by farmers in the study area. Domestication should focus on the preferred top five species to promote species conservation and sustainable use.
References
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MDARDO (2019). Merhabete District Agricultural and Rural Development Office. Annual Work Report (Unpublished), Merhabete, Ethiopia
Meaza, H. and B. Demssie (2015). Managing Fragile Homestead Trees to Improve Livelihoods of Land-Poor Farmers in the Northern Highlands of E Thiopia. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 36(1); 57–66
Molla, T., Z. Asfaw, M. G. Muluneh, and B. B. Worku (2023). Diversity of Woody Species in Traditional Agroforestry Practices in Wondo District, South-Central Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(2); e13549
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Negash, M., E. Yirdaw, and O. Luukkanen (2012). Potential of Indigenous Multistrata Agroforests for Maintaining Native Floristic Diversity in the South-Eastern Rift Valley Escarpment, Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems, 85; 9–28
Nigusse, R. and Y. Welearegay (2020). Floristic Composition and Diversity of Woody Species in Parkland Agroforestry Practice in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Life Science, 6(7); 19–27
Nigussie, A., E. Taye, and G. Bukero (2014). Survey on Potentials and Constraints of Shade Tree Species for Arabica Coffee Production in South Ethiopia. International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences, 1(1); 1–11
Nyamukuru, A., J. R. Tabuti, and P. R. Aduma (2014). Propagation and Seedling Establishment of Selected Multipurpose Woody Species of Uganda. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 10(4); 270–274
Robi, M. K. and E. M. Edris (2017). Distribution, Abundance, and Population Status of Four Indigenous Threatened Tree Species in the Arba Minch Natural Forest, Southern Ethiopia. The International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2; 1–8
Sida, T. S., F. Baudron, H. Kim, and K. E. Giller (2018). Climate-Smart Agroforestry: Faidherbia Albida Trees Buffer Wheat against Climatic Extremes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 248; 339–347
Tamiru, B., T. Soromessa, B. Warkineh, G. Legesse, and M. Belina (2021). Woody Species Composition and Community Types of Hangadi Watershed, Guji Zone, Ethiopia. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21; 1–15
Tefera, B., M. L. Ruelle, Z. Asfaw, and B. Abraha Tsegay (2014). Woody Plant Diversity in an Afromontane Agricultural Landscape (debark District, Northern Ethiopia). Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 23(4); 261–279
Tefera, J., E. Minyishaw, F. Kebenu, A. Nurhusen, and M. G. Khan (2015). Woody Species Diversity, Management and Contribution of Local Community in Protected Forest of Kuneba District, Afar Region Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 8(4); 172–179
Teketay, D. and A. Tegineh (1991). Shade Trees of Coffee in Harerge, Eastern Ethiopia. International Tree Crops Journal, 7(1-2); 17–27
Tulu, D., S. Gadissa, F. Hundessa, and E. Kebede (2023). Contribution of Climate-Smart Forage and Fodder Production for Sustainable Livestock Production and Environment: Lessons and Challenges from Ethiopia. Advances in Agriculture, 2023; 8067776
Yakob, G., Z. Asfaw, S. Zewdie, et al. (2014). Wood Production and Management of Woody Species in Homegardens Agroforestry: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Gimbo District, South West Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2(10); 165–175
Agize, M., S. Demissew, and Z. Asfaw (2013). Indigenous Knowledge on Management of Home Gardens and Plants in Loma and Gena Bosa Districts (weredas) of Dawro Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Plant Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Utilization and Environmental Protection. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (IJSBAR), 10; 63–99
Alemneh, Y. and M. Biazen Molla (2022). Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Drivers of Land Use Land Cover Change in Farta District South Gonder, Ethiopia. African Geographical Review; 1–18
Amsalu, T. and S. Addisu (2014). Assessment of Grazing Land and Livestock Feed Balance in Gummara-Rib Watershed, Ethiopia. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 2(2); 114
Asaah, E. K., Z. Tchoundjeu, and P. Van Damme (2012). Beyond Vegetative Propagation of Indigenous Fruit Trees: Case of Dacryodes edulis (g. Don) Hj Lam and Allanblackia Floribunda Oliv. Afrika Focus, 25(1); 61–72
Bahru, T., Z. Asfaw, and S. Demissew (2014). Ethnobotanical Study of Forage/fodder Plant Species in and around the Semi-Arid Awash National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Forestry Research, 25; 445–454
Bahru, T., B. Kidane, and A. Tolessa (2021). Prioritization and Selection of High Fuelwood Producing Plant Species at Boset District, Central Ethiopia: An Ethnobotanical Approach. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 17; 1–15
Bekele-Tesemma, A. and B. Tengn¨as (2007). Useful Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia: Identification, Propagation, and Management for 17 Agroclimatic Zones. RELMA in ICRAF Project, World Agroforestry Centre, Eastern Africa Region Nirobi
Belayneh, N. G., B. Tegegne, and A. Ademe (2019). Determinants of Smallholder Teff Producer Farmers Market Participation in Merhabete District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 4(4); 135
Bernard, H. R. (2017). Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Rowman & Littlefield
Denham, T., H. Barton, C. Castillo, A. Crowther, E. Dotte-Sarout, S. A. Florin, J. Pritchard, A. Barron, Y. Zhang, and D. Q. Fuller (2020). The Domestication Syndrome in Vegetatively Propagated Field Crops. Annals of Botany, 125(4); 581–597
Endale, Y., A. Derero, M. Argaw, and C. Muthuri (2017). Farmland Tree Species Diversity and Spatial Distribution Pattern in Semi-Arid East Shewa, Ethiopia. Forests, Trees and LiveLihoods, 26(3); 199–214
Ermias, D. (2011). Natural Database for Africa (NDA) On CDROM Version 2.0. Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian
Eyasu, G., M. Tolera, and M. Negash (2020). Woody Species Composition, Structure, and Diversity of Home-garden Agroforestry Systems in Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Heliyon, 6(12); E05500
Gebre, A. B., E. Birhane, G. Gebresamuel, K. M. Hadgu, and L. Norgrove (2019). Woody Species Diversity and Carbon Stock under Different Land Use Types at Gergera Watershed in Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems, 93; 1191–1203
Gebrewahid, Y., T.-B. Gebre-Egziabhier, K. Teka, and E. Birhane (2018). Carbon Stock Potential of Scattered Trees on Farmland along an Altitudinal Gradient in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ecological Processes, 7; 1–8
Gemechu, H. W., D. Lemessa, and D. B. Jiru (2021). A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous and Exotic Tree Species Management Practices in Agricultural Landscapes of Southwest Ethiopia. Trees, Forests and People, 4; 100059
Haskett, J. D., B. Simane, and C. Smith (2019). Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Benefits of Faidherbia Albida Agroforestry in Ethiopia. Frontiers in Environmental Science; 146
Kefelegn, C. (2020). Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Rural Livelihoods and Community Responses: The Case of Merhabete Woreda, North Shewa Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Ph.D. thesis, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhand, Ethiopia
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Age International Lameso, L. and W. Bekele (2020). Farmers Local Knowledge on Niche Selection, Management Strategies and Uses of Cordia Africana Tree in Agroforestry Practices of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 8(6); 258–264
Lelamo, L. L. (2021). A Review on the Indigenous Multipurpose Agroforestry Tree Species in Ethiopia: Management, Their Productive and Service Roles and Constraints. Heliyon, 7(9); e07874
Liyama, M., A. Derero, K. Kelemu, C. Muthuri, R. Kinuthia, E. Ayenkulu, E. Kiptot, K. Hadgu, J. Mowo, and F. L. Sinclair (2017). Understanding Patterns of Tree Adoption on Farms in Semi Arid and Sub-Humid Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems, 91; 271–293
Mamo, D. and Z. Asfaw (2017). Assessment of Farmers’ Management Activities on Scattered Trees on Crop Fields at Gemechis District, West Hararge Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Agriculture, 2(1); 41–57
MDARDO (2019). Merhabete District Agricultural and Rural Development Office. Annual Work Report (Unpublished), Merhabete, Ethiopia
Meaza, H. and B. Demssie (2015). Managing Fragile Homestead Trees to Improve Livelihoods of Land-Poor Farmers in the Northern Highlands of E Thiopia. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 36(1); 57–66
Molla, T., Z. Asfaw, M. G. Muluneh, and B. B. Worku (2023). Diversity of Woody Species in Traditional Agroforestry Practices in Wondo District, South-Central Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(2); e13549
National Meteorological Services Agency (NMSA) (2017). Climate Data Records for the Study Area Were Obtained from the National Meteorological Services Agency, Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Negash, M. (2007). Trees Management and Livelihoods in Gedeo’s Agroforests, Ethiopia. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 17(2); 157–168
Negash, M., E. Yirdaw, and O. Luukkanen (2012). Potential of Indigenous Multistrata Agroforests for Maintaining Native Floristic Diversity in the South-Eastern Rift Valley Escarpment, Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems, 85; 9–28
Nigusse, R. and Y. Welearegay (2020). Floristic Composition and Diversity of Woody Species in Parkland Agroforestry Practice in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Life Science, 6(7); 19–27
Nigussie, A., E. Taye, and G. Bukero (2014). Survey on Potentials and Constraints of Shade Tree Species for Arabica Coffee Production in South Ethiopia. International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences, 1(1); 1–11
Nyamukuru, A., J. R. Tabuti, and P. R. Aduma (2014). Propagation and Seedling Establishment of Selected Multipurpose Woody Species of Uganda. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 10(4); 270–274
Robi, M. K. and E. M. Edris (2017). Distribution, Abundance, and Population Status of Four Indigenous Threatened Tree Species in the Arba Minch Natural Forest, Southern Ethiopia. The International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2; 1–8
Sida, T. S., F. Baudron, H. Kim, and K. E. Giller (2018). Climate-Smart Agroforestry: Faidherbia Albida Trees Buffer Wheat against Climatic Extremes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 248; 339–347
Tamiru, B., T. Soromessa, B. Warkineh, G. Legesse, and M. Belina (2021). Woody Species Composition and Community Types of Hangadi Watershed, Guji Zone, Ethiopia. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21; 1–15
Tefera, B., M. L. Ruelle, Z. Asfaw, and B. Abraha Tsegay (2014). Woody Plant Diversity in an Afromontane Agricultural Landscape (debark District, Northern Ethiopia). Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 23(4); 261–279
Tefera, J., E. Minyishaw, F. Kebenu, A. Nurhusen, and M. G. Khan (2015). Woody Species Diversity, Management and Contribution of Local Community in Protected Forest of Kuneba District, Afar Region Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 8(4); 172–179
Teketay, D. and A. Tegineh (1991). Shade Trees of Coffee in Harerge, Eastern Ethiopia. International Tree Crops Journal, 7(1-2); 17–27
Tulu, D., S. Gadissa, F. Hundessa, and E. Kebede (2023). Contribution of Climate-Smart Forage and Fodder Production for Sustainable Livestock Production and Environment: Lessons and Challenges from Ethiopia. Advances in Agriculture, 2023; 8067776
Yakob, G., Z. Asfaw, S. Zewdie, et al. (2014). Wood Production and Management of Woody Species in Homegardens Agroforestry: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Gimbo District, South West Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2(10); 165–175
Authors
Getachew, G. (2023). Assessment of Use Values and Propagation Methods of Native Fodder and Fruit Species in Merhabete District, Ethiopia. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 7(4), 137-146. https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2023.7.4.137-146
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