Assessment of farmers' management activities on scattered trees on crop fields at Gemechis district, West Hararge Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Desalegn Mamo () and Zebene Asfaw ()

International Journal of Agriculture, 2017, vol. 2, issue 1, 41 - 57

Abstract: Purpose: This study was designed to assess farmers' management activities on scattered trees/shrubs on crop fields at Welargi and Hidha Dima kebeles in Gemechis district, West Hararghe Zone. Key informants and household interviews were used.Methodology: Data collected from key informants and household interviews was analyzed using software SPSS version 20 (statistical package for social science). The analyzed data was summarized in narrative form and presented in descriptive mannerResult finding: The result showed that, farmers deliberately retained/planted and managed different tree/shrub species. Trees/shrubs scattered on crop fields were identified along their uses. The identified trees/shrubs were seventeen in number and their uses were for soil fertility improvement, animal feed, food, fuelwood, timber, construction and cash income. Management activities they used for managements of different trees/shrubs species were pruning, pollarding and coppicing. Tree-crop based farming system is the most widely distributed agroforestry practice in the study area. Under this practice, the most abundant retained tree species on crop fields by farmers is Croton macrostachyus, under which sorgum and maize were the most dominantly intercropped crops. This study demonstrated that pruning activities is the most dominant management activities for scattered on-farm trees/shrubs in the study area.Recommendations: Farmers' management activities knowledge to be integrated with scientific knowledge to enrich their knowledge and techniques for practice, such as pruning and pollarding time, intensity etc., deserves attention. Study on litter quality (litter decomposition) and nutrient dynamics in the canopy tissues of this tree species should be conducted in order to determine when branches have to be pruned and pollarded for off-site uses or in situ soil conservation activities.

Keywords: Pruning; Pollarding; Coppicing; Gemechis; Scattered trees/shrubs; Hararghe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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