Effects of rangeland based integrated soil and water conservation practices on herbaceous species regeneration, diversity, biomass and growth of planted tree species in Haro-Bake Sub-Watershed, Yaballo District, and Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Rangeland degradation is a significant threat to people in dryland areas, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa like Ethiopia. Rehabilitation of degraded land is challenging due to moisture limitations and drought. This study evaluated rangeland-based integrated watershed management. Three soil and moisture conservation structures were applied, and multi-purpose tree/shrub species like Faidherbia albida, Melia azedarach, and Moringa stenopetala were planted. Data on indigenous plant species regeneration, diversity, species richness and biomass, survival rate, and height growth of planted tree species were collected. After the intervention, the indigenous plant species' regeneration, diversity, and richness significantly increased. The mean indigenous plant species richness, biomass, and basal cover were highest in half-moon followed by soil level bund and, lowest in control. The survival rate and the height growth of all planted MPTs species were better under Negarim and half-moon and lowest under control treatments. This suggests that soil and moisture conservation structures are more suitable than the conventional method of rehabilitation of indigenous plant species and tree planting. Even though the survival and growth of tree seedlings were best under Negarim, the herbaceous diversity, biomass, and basal cover of herbaceous were low, and construction of this structure was labor incentives than the other two structures.