Indigenous legume fodder trees and shrubs with emphasis on land use and agroecological zones: Identification, diversity, and distribution in semi‐humid condition of southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Fodder trees and shrubs are among the strategic feed resources that complement the dry season feed supply in the tropics. They are an integral element of the farming system incorporated into different land uses and deliver multiple functions, even though their diversity relies on various anthropogenic, physiographic, and agroecological factors. Objective The study aimed to identify indigenous legume fodder trees and shrubs (ILFTS) and estimate their diversity in terms of land use and agroecological zones in southern Ethiopia's Gamo landscape. Method Respondent households were selected using a stratified multistage sampling procedure. Information about the ILFTS was gathered through key informant interviews conducted in each agro‐ecological zone. A total of 273 households from three agro‐ecological zones were selected and interviewed using a semi‐structured questionnaire to assess ILFTS. The information acquired by the questionnaire survey was complemented with a focus group discussion held with 10 respondents in each agro‐ecological zone. Herbarium samples were collected for each of the species for identification and confirmation of the botanical names. Sixty randomly selected sampling plots of each with a dimension of 20 m × 20 m were created, and inventories of ILFTS species were performed and recorded on species inventory sheets. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H) was used to determine the species diversity. Result The study identified 21 ILFTS that have been an integral constituent of the land uses recognised for their multiple functions in all agroecological zones. The mean species richness and diversity indices of the ILFTS differed significantly with land use and agroecological zones, where the lowland area closure exhibited the highest, and the highland homesteads and highland grazing land revealed the least. Conclusion Farmers’ indigenous knowledge and previous experience determined the species richness and diversity of ILFTS in farmlands and homesteads; however, the level of exploitation or protection was the reason for variation in area closure and grazing lands.

Nutritional Quality of Indigenous Legume Browse in the Southern Ethiopia: Farmers’ Preference and Correlation of Local Valuation of Feed Value with Scientific Indicators

“…In the current study, A. nilotica (lowland) and M. ferruginea (midland and highland) excelled for multi-functionality, likely due to their multiple functions such as pole or post for construction, firewood, charcoal, farm implements, bee forage, and shade, in contrast to Acacia and Millettia species in northern dry midlands and Sidama (Mekoya et al, 2008), which scored slightly lower. Several studies substantiated that fodder trees and shrubs are an integral component of the farming system in the tropics and subtropics and provide multiple functions (Abraham et al, 2022;Balehegn, 2017).…”

“…Fodder trees and shrubs have been an essential source of forage for ruminants to complement the critical dry period feed deficit in the tropics (FAO, 2018). In addition to flourishing with deep roots system capable of absorbing water far from the surface, they produce considerable biomass of leaves, twigs, fruits, and pods which can bridge the feed supply gap commonly observed during dry periods (Abraham et al, 2022;Lelamo, 2021). Fodder trees and shrubs have high nutrient content and digestibility, though this varies by species and season (Ayenew et al, 2021;Yayneshet et al, 2009).…”

Nutritional Quality of Indigenous Legume Browse in the Southern Ethiopia: Farmers’ Preference and Correlation of Local Valuation of Feed Value with Scientific Indicators

“…In the current study, A. nilotica (lowland) and M. ferruginea (midland and highland) excelled for multifunctionality, likely due to their multiple functions such as poles or posts for construction, firewood, charcoal, farm implements, bee forage, and shade, in contrast to Acacia and Millettia species in northern dry midlands and Sidama (Mekoya et al, 2008), which scored slightly lower. Several studies substantiated that fodder trees and shrubs are an integral component of the farming system in the tropics and subtropics and provide multiple functions (Abraham et al, 2022;Balehegn, 2017).…”

Potential of indigenous legume fodder tree and shrubs to animal feed and mitigation of methane emission in the semi‐humid condition of southern Ethiopia

“…Gamo zone is characterized by bimodal rainfall with the mean annual rainfall ranging from 801 to 2,000 mm and the annual mean temperature range from 10.1-27.5 C. The terrain has an undulating feature that favors the existence of different agroecosystems in close proximity, ranging from dry lowland to wet highland (Dires et al, 2021). Agroforestry is the common practice where trees are an integral component of the farming system that complement the function of land uses and enhance productivity (Abraham et al, 2022).…”