ASSESSMENT OF VEGETATION DYNAMICS AS FEED RESOURCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF GRAZING LANDS IN SHEEP DOMINATED AREAS OF WEST SHOA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in Meta Robi district, west Shoa zone of Oromia Regional State with the objectives to assess the sheep grazing lands vegetation dynamics as feed resources in sheep dominated areas and to improve grasslands through improvement methods. The sheep vegetation preferences was studied using check list and group discussion. The land use land cover of the study area was studied using 1986, 2000 and 2013 year’s satellite images. Vegetation assessment was conducted in 270 quadrat 90 from each three altitudes having 10mx10m (for trees layer), 5mx5m (for shrubs layer) and1mx1m (for herbs layer) quadrant size. A reconnaissance survey was conducted to identify and select the degraded grassland. The treatments were chemical fertilizer, cattle manure, wood ash (k2co3), lime (Caco3) and control. The plot sizes was 4m x 4m with three replication arranged in RCBD design. The space between plots and replications were 1m and 2m respectively. Composite soil samples were collected and analyzed. Pre- experiment. Then after harvest DM yield was determined by (ILCA, 1990).Chemical composition of the feed samples were determined by (AOAC, 1990). Additionally fifteen soil samples from each plot and three composite soil samples from three altitudinal gradient were collected and analyzed. The soil lab analysis results before the experiment indicated that the soil was salt free, slightly acidic pH (5.9), greater in CEC (20.37), low in available P (1.6) the organic carbon and total nitrogen were rich (0.98 and 0.081), higher in exchangeable Ca (0.98) and Mg, Na and K were (3.6 0.46 and 12) respectively. Highest botanical composition of grass was recorded with chemical fertilizer (59%), and highest legume components was recorded with wood ash application (57.9%). The highest total dry matter recorded with chemical fertilizer application (4.5 ton ha-1). The DM and total ash of the feed composition were affected (P<0.05) while, CP, ADF, ADL and IVDMD were affected (P<0.001). Wood ash was recommended as grasslands liming material for farmers. Key words: Assessment, Botanical composition, Cattle manure, Chemical fertilizer, Total dry matter, Lime, Meta Robi and Wood ash.