Effects Of Grazing Exclusion On Field Layer Species Composition Biomass And Selected Soil Properties In Gibe Valley National Park South-western Ethiopia

Effects of Grazing Exclusion on Field Layer Species Composition, Biomass and Selected Properties in Gibe Valley National Park, South-western Ethiopia rnFirew Bekele Abebe, MSc Thesis rnAddis Ababa University, 2017 rnGrazing of domestic livestock is one of the most common land-uses in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, the effects of grazing exclusion on field layer biomass, litter moisture content, field layer species composition, soil bulk density and soil volumetric water content, soil organic matter and soil pH were investigated using six permanent grazing exclosures situated along an altitudinal gradient in Gibe river gorge, South-western Ethiopia. Species composition was tested by Adonis test and an indicator species analysis was done. Nested anovas were used to examine the effect of grazing on all other parameters. The results showed that after 1.5 years of livestock exclusion, there was a difference in field layer species composition (p=0.022). The significant indicator species for grazed plots was the common grazing weed Leucas deflexa, whilst the most valuable pasture grass Bothriochloa insculpta was the significant indicator species for plots inside exclosures. Field layer cover, grass cover, number of grass species, field layer maximum and average heights were significantly higher inside exclosures than in grazed plots (p=0.020, p=0.004, p=0.008, p

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