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Effects of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia

Received: 6 August 2020    Accepted: 3 September 2020    Published: 14 September 2020
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Abstract

Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is one of the most serious problems in the worldwide. Physical and biological soil and water conservation measures implemented by various land rehabilitation program is the best option to address this problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of integrated soil and water conservation (SWC) practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. A total of 60 plots (3 land use*4 transect*5 quadrants), measuring 20 m*20 m each, were established along transect line laid for woody vegetation data collection. Woody species diversity in the study sites were determined using the Shannon (H’) and Simpson diversity index through the analysis of species richness and evenness of species. A total of 28 woody species, belonging to 15 families were identified. The diversity, richness, density and basal area of woody species were significantly higher in closure area with SWC (p<0.05) compared to the value in closure area without SWC and open grazing land. The inverted ’J’ shaped distribution of height and DBH exhibited in closure area with SWC, which has more potential to enhance vegetation regeneration. The findings generally confirmed that area closure with SWC practices was highly improved woody species diversity, structure and regeneration status. Accordingly, to improve the biophysical conditions of degraded hillside areas implementing of area closure with integrated SWC practices is a best option.

Published in Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12
Page(s) 77-86
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Area Closure, Rehabilitation, Soil and Water Conservation, Soil Erosion, Species Diversity, Woody Vegetation

References
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[8] Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). 2009. Rift Valley Lakes Basin Integrated Resources Development Master Plan Study Project. Phase 3: Draft Report J. Lake Hawassa Sub-Basin Integrated Watershed Management Feasibility Study. Hal crow Group Limited and Generation Integrated Rural Development consultants 1 (3): 4.
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[17] Zegeye, H., Teketay, D., & Kelbessa, E., 2011. Diversity and Regeneration Status of Woody Species in Tara Gedam and Abebaye Forests, Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Forestry Research 22: 315-328.
[18] Kasim, K., Assfaw Z., Derero, A., Melkato, M., & Mamo, Y. 2015. The role of area closure on the recovery of woody species composition on Degraded lands and its socio-economic importance in central rift Valley area, Ethiopia. International Journal of Dev 5 (2): 3348-3358.
[19] Lemenih, M. & Kassa, H., 2014. Re-Greening Ethiopia: History, Challenges and Lessons. Forests 5, 1896-1909.
[20] Lamprecht, H. 1989. Silviculture in Tropics: Tropical forest ecosystem and their species.
[21] Simon, S. & Girma, B. 2004. Composition, structure and regeneration status of woody species in Dindin Natural forest, Southeastern Ethiopia: An application for conservation. Ethiopian Journal of Biological Sciences 3: 15-35.
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  • APA Style

    Dessale Wasie, Fantaw Yimer. (2020). Effects of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 9(4), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12

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    ACS Style

    Dessale Wasie; Fantaw Yimer. Effects of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2020, 9(4), 77-86. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12

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    AMA Style

    Dessale Wasie, Fantaw Yimer. Effects of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2020;9(4):77-86. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12,
      author = {Dessale Wasie and Fantaw Yimer},
      title = {Effects of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia},
      journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {77-86},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20200904.12},
      abstract = {Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is  one of the most serious problems in the worldwide. Physical and biological soil and water conservation measures implemented by various land rehabilitation program is the best option to address this problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of integrated soil and water conservation (SWC) practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. A total of 60 plots (3 land use*4 transect*5 quadrants), measuring 20 m*20 m each, were established along transect line laid for woody vegetation data collection. Woody species diversity in the study sites were determined using the Shannon (H’) and Simpson diversity index through the analysis of species richness and evenness of species. A total of 28 woody species, belonging to 15 families were identified. The diversity, richness, density and basal area of woody species were significantly higher in closure area with SWC (p<0.05) compared to the value in closure area without SWC and open grazing land. The inverted ’J’ shaped distribution of height and DBH exhibited in closure area with SWC, which has more potential to enhance vegetation regeneration. The findings generally confirmed that area closure with SWC practices was highly improved woody species diversity, structure and regeneration status. Accordingly, to improve the biophysical conditions of degraded hillside areas implementing of area closure with integrated SWC practices is a best option.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AU  - Dessale Wasie
    AU  - Fantaw Yimer
    Y1  - 2020/09/14
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    T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
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    JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.12
    AB  - Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is  one of the most serious problems in the worldwide. Physical and biological soil and water conservation measures implemented by various land rehabilitation program is the best option to address this problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of integrated soil and water conservation (SWC) practices on Woody Species Diversity, Structure and Regeneration in Southern Ethiopia. A total of 60 plots (3 land use*4 transect*5 quadrants), measuring 20 m*20 m each, were established along transect line laid for woody vegetation data collection. Woody species diversity in the study sites were determined using the Shannon (H’) and Simpson diversity index through the analysis of species richness and evenness of species. A total of 28 woody species, belonging to 15 families were identified. The diversity, richness, density and basal area of woody species were significantly higher in closure area with SWC (p<0.05) compared to the value in closure area without SWC and open grazing land. The inverted ’J’ shaped distribution of height and DBH exhibited in closure area with SWC, which has more potential to enhance vegetation regeneration. The findings generally confirmed that area closure with SWC practices was highly improved woody species diversity, structure and regeneration status. Accordingly, to improve the biophysical conditions of degraded hillside areas implementing of area closure with integrated SWC practices is a best option.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
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Author Information
  • Department of Soil and Water Resource Management, College of Agriculture, Woldia University, Mersa, Ethiopia

  • School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemanne, Ethiopia

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