Plant species composition and diversity of Mango-Based Agroforestry systems (MBAs) in the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Abstract
A. Gochera*, H. Worku and T. Dingamo
Agroforestry is an ecologically based natural resource management system in woody grown with an annual crop or livestock on the same unit of land. The fruit tree-based agroforestry system is one of the Agroforest classification were woody components are mainly fruit trees or shrubs. Mangifera indica is the largest tropical fruit produced that account large area coverage and farmers have been increasingly integrating with other plant species in the Gamo zone. Therefore, the current study was aimed to investigate the composition of the species of plants species composition and the diversity of mango based agroforestry in Gamo zones in southern Ethiopia. Three kebeles were purposively selected on the basis of the extensive presence of Mango-based production in the Gamo zone: Lante, Chano mile, and Kola Shelle. Totally, sixty 50 m × 20 m sample plots were laid. All plant species were counted and recorded as standard procedures. Forty plant species, belonging to 34 genera and 26 families, were recorded. From the identified species, trees constituted 52.5%, shrubs 27.5%, herbs 17.5%, and lianas account 2.5%. Fabacea and Rutaceae were the most diverse families. Lante (H’=1.9) is more diverse followed by kola Shelle (H’=1.71) and Chano mile (H’=1.66). A study on the carbon sequestration potential, factors determining the mango-based Agroforestry system, and the role to ecology and farmer’s livelihoods are recommended.