This study aimed to determine vegetation structure, species diversity and aboveground herbaceous biomass and browse yields in Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia. Sampling through random allocat...

A study on effects of bush encroachment control techniques on rangeland productivity and tick population dynamics was conducted in Arero district of Borana zone, southern Ethiopia, for three consecutive years. The study targeted two main and dominant encroaching bush species in Borana rangeland, Acacia drepanolobium and Acacia mellifera, and their effects on some vegetation attributes and tick population dynamics. A hectare of rangeland encroached by these two acacia species was replicated/divided into three plots, and each plot was subdivided into five sub-plots to receive five treatments: cutting at 0.5 m above ground and pouring kerosene on stumps (T1), cutting at 0.5 m above ground and debarking the stumps down into the soil surface (T2), cutting at 0.5 m above ground alone (T3), cutting at 0.5 m above ground and dissecting the stumps (T4) and control (T5). Data on basal and litter covers, soil erosion and compaction, dead and re-sprouted encroaching tree/shrub species and nymph- and adult-stage tick populations were collected before and after treatment applications. The applied treatments significantly influenced (p < 0.05) basal cover, nymph- and adult-stage tick population and the two encroaching tree species. The results of this study showed that T3 and T2 were good in controlling A. drepanolobium in that order. T4 and T2 had a significant effect in controlling A. mellifera in their order. Controlling bush encroachment had also a positive effect in eradicating the tick population. The most dominant grass and non-grass species observed after the control actions were Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon aucheri, Abutilon hirtum, Pennisetum mezianum, Dyschoriste hildebrandtii, Zaleya pentandra and Eragrostis papposa. Therefore, controlling encroaching tree/shrub species had created a conducive grazing area with palatable herbaceous species for the livestock and unequivocally reduced tick population which play a role in reducing cattle milk production through closing off teats. The management of bush encroachment, if sustained, will contribute in stabilizing rangelands and help minimize the negative effects of feed and food crises in the future.

The study was conducted in east Hararghe zone of Oromia regional state, eastern Ethiopia to assess the major available livestock feed resources. A total of 150 households with experience in livestock keeping practice for at least two years were selected. All respondents indicated that shortage of feed resources, dominance of unpalatable forages and low nutritive values of usable forages were the major feed problems. Overall, 73% of the respondents used cut and carry system as a grazing system and 93% indicated that feeding hay, crop residues and concentrates were the methods used to combat feed shortages. The major feed resources were crop residues, natural pastures and fodder trees/shrubs. Sorghum and maize were the main sources of crop residues, whereas leaves of Cordia Africana, Veranonia amygdalina, Erythrina burana, Combretum molle, Casimiroa edulis and Olea Africana were the major indigenous fodder trees used to supplement livestock species in the dry season. Adequate conservation, improvement and utilization of hay and crop residues as well as the introduction of potential forage production (e.g. planting multipurpose fodders and producing improved forages), and use of animal source as supplement need to be practiced to overcome feed shortage and optimize production. Regulation policies of land use need to be employed in the area to ensure land units for livestock feed production, which will allow the livestock sector contribute to poverty eradication and encourage smallholder farmer to be a food secured household. Key words: Feed resource, crop residues, fodder tree, forage production.

Herbaceous vegetation species’ responses to different frequencies of cutting regimes have not been evaluated in the Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia. The present study was aimed to determine the grass and non-grass species’ yield responses to four cutting frequencies over two years (2019 and 2020). The four cutting frequencies were cutting once after the end of the main growing season (T1), cutting every week (T2), cutting every two weeks (T3), and cutting every three weeks (T4). Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. In total, 37 different herbaceous species comprising 15 grass and 22 non-grass species were sampled. Cutting frequencies had a significant effect (P<0.01) on herbaceous biomass with yield decreasing as cutting frequencies increased. Herbaceous species richness and both non-grass species richness and diversity were significantly (P<0.05) high for T4 while T3 significantly (P<0.05) promoted non-grass density. Grass dried biomass was significantly (P<0.001) high for T1. Subsequent cutting over years significantly (P<0.05) affected grass species composition and biomass. Continuous application of T3 over years significantly (P<0.05) favored non-grass species composition and density. Only herbaceous biomass was significantly (P<0.05) affected by subsequent application of cutting frequencies over years being high for T1. T1 enhanced the percentages dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin of both grass and non-grass species. T2 favored the percentages of crude protein and true in-vitro organic matter digestibility for grass and non-grass species. For short-term rangeland management in terms of plant yield and better quality, T4 (intermediate cutting frequency) will be suggested when applied subsequently over years.