International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 684

Article in Press

PLANT DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN THE HOME GARDEN AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN DEMBA GOFA DISTRICT OF SOUTH ETHIOPIA

GEBREMEDHIN CHAMENO CHALITE

  •  Received: 24 August 2020
  •  Accepted: 16 March 2021
This study was premeditated to provide data on plant diversity management, organizational and functional structure, use diversity and management practices in home garden agroforestry practices. Interview with owners, discussions with local people and botanical inventories were applied to collect primary data. Secondary data were collected form online and documented sources. Species diversity data were calculated using Shannon-Wiener Index and species data were analyzed using R-software of version R3.0.1 program. The result indicated that 106 plant species were collected from all sites. Out of the collected plant species, edible and medicinal plants accounted 76.7% and 58.0% respectively. Cordia africana, Mangifera indica, Persea americana and Moringa oliefera had high species number and relative frequency. Some of these species were used as construction material while others used as source of income. Farmers have indigenous knowledge on management of plant diversity where farm size, water availability and socioeconomic differences hinder the plant diversity in home garden agroforestry practices. It can be concluded that farm size, extension program, local knowledge in use and source of planting materials were must be considered to optimize profitability and productivity of home gardens agroforestry systems.

Keywords: Determinants, Diversity, Home garden, Indigenous knowledge, Management