World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY OF WOODY SPECIES IN PARKLAND AGROFORESTRY PRACTICE IN TIGRAI, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Redae Nigusse* and Yeabyo Welearegay

ABSTRACT

Multipurpose tree species grown in scattered form over a crop field (parkland agroforestry practice) supports to smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and play a critical role in biodiversity conservation. However, there is still gap of knowledge on the biological legacies of farm land trees in terms of biodiversity conservation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the floristic composition and diversity of parkland agroforestry in lower (1700-1900 m a.s.l.) and upper (1901-2333 m a.s.l.) midland of Tahtay Maichew district. A total of 20 plots with 100 m X 100 m quadrat were used to collect vegetation data along two parallel transect lines per each midland category. Independent sample t-test was employed to analysis the diversity indices. The result show that, except Simpson’s index, the Shannon, Richness and evenness indices were not significantly varied between the lower and upper midland categories. A total of 21 woody species composition under 11 families in the lower and 21 woody species belongs to 17 families in the upper midland category were documented. The overall DBH and height class distribution of each midland category ratifies irregular inverted J-shape population pattern. Promoting farmer managed natural regeneration through appropriate system such as zero grazing system is highly required.

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