ASSESSING PLANT SPECIES COMPOSITION AND THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS IN HOMEGARDEN AGROFORESTRY PRACTICE OF GOMBORA DISTRICT, HADIYA ZONE, CENTRA

Abstract

Homegarden agroforestry practice involves integration of various woody perennials, herbaceous crops and/or livestock on the same unit of land. Studying plant species diversity and structure in homegardens is important to understand their social and ecological benefits and safeguard them from overexploitation and degradation. Yet, in Gombora District, Hadiya Zone, no inventory and documentation of the existing plant species composition, diversity, and Their Socioeconomic Benefits in homegarden agroforestry practice have been conducted. The current study was designed to investigate the composition, diversity, and structure of plant species in homegardens agroforestry practice of the study area using purposive and systematic random sampling methods in three agroecologies. All woody and herbaceous plant species were identified and recorded, counted, and measured in a 10 x 10m and 2 x 2m plots, respectively. Socioeconomic data were collected from a total of 130 Households by using semi structured questionnaires. A total of 51 plant species, belonging to 30 families were recorded with Rosaceae and Rutaceae families dominating the homegardens each containing 5 and 4 species, respectively. It was found that enset, vegetables, fruit trees and cereal crops were typical features of most of the homegardens and most woody species were found relatively away from the homes. The upper layer was dominated by woody plants species and the bottom layer was dominated by vegetables and spices. A significantly (P<0.05) higher Shannon diversity and species richness was recorded in homegardens in the midland agroecology and rich households. Species richness and abundance were significantly (P<0.05) higher in homegardens of rich households than medium and poor wealth categories. This finding showed that wealth status and agroecology have an effect in determining plant species diversity, richness, and abundance in homegarden agroforestry practice. Poor farmers should be encouraged and supported through incentives and extension services to diversify their homegarden