AYANA ANGASSA

Department of Animal Production and Rangeland Management, Awassa College of Agriculture, Awassa, Ethiopia

Abstract

The effect of bush encroachment and the responses of range condition to clearing were assessed at 2 locations in Borana rangeland at the end of the growing season on cleared and uncleared sites. The study was carried out in a communal grazing area (Medhecho) and a Government ranch (Dida-Tuyura) in bush and/or shrub-encroached and cleared areas to assess the effect of bush clearing on range condition. In each area, 3 elevation ranges were distinguished and in each range a single transect, covering both uncleared and cleared rangeland, away from water sources, was selected. 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 31 grasses, 4 legumes and 3 sedges were identified. The grasses Bothriochloa radicans, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon aucheri and Panicum coloratum were common or dominant in both cleared and uncleared sites. Pennisetum mezianum was typically found in encroached vegetation. In general, the range condition was fair to good. The uncleared vegetation had a significantly lower score for range condition than the cleared vegetation for most parameters as well as for total score, although the differences were small. Differences based on elevation range were also significant for grass composition, soil condition and total score. Cleared areas contained more desirable species and more seedlings than the uncleared areas.