The condition of the Borana Rangelands
2000
Ayana Angasa | Baars, R.M.T. (Alemaya University, Dire Dawa (Ethiopia))
The condition of the borana rangelands was assessed in six communal grazing areas and one Government ranch. In each area, three altitude zones were distinguished and in each altitude zone one transect, covering both encroached and non-encroached rangeland, was selected. Areas less than two km from water sources were avoided. The assessment was based on botanical composition of the herbaceous layer, basal cover, litter cover, relative number of seedlings, age distribution of grasses and soil condition. A total of 41 grasses, four legumes, three sedges and 28 tree and/or shrub species were identified. The grasses Aristida adscensionis, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon aucheri, and Panicum colorantum were common or dominat in all sapled areas. Pennisetum mezianum and Pennisetum stramineum were typically fond in the encroached vegetation. In general, the range condition was good. the encroached vegetation had a significantly lower score for range condition than the non-encroached vegetation for most of the parameters as well as for the total score, although the differences were small. Altitude and distance of sample sites from water sources within transects did not show significant differences, except for the relative number of seedlings. Signs of overgrazing were not detected.
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