Rangeland condition and feed resources in Metema District, North ...

2004). Based on the results of this study, the communal grazing areas are affected by
bush encroachment.
Woody vegetation reduces grass cover through increasing the competition for available
water and nutrients and reduces the light reaching the grass layer. In addition to
competing with grasses, these noxious woody plants are commonly thorny and thicket
forming and the grazing capacity of the rangeland may be extremely reduced (Alemayehu
2004). Factors regulating the balance between graminoid and woody plant life-forms
include climate, soils, disturbance (e.g. grazing, fire), and their interactions. Changes
in one or more of these factors may enable woody plants to increase in abundance.
Characteristics common to many woody species that increase in grazed environments
include high seed production, seeds that persist in soil for many years, ability to disperse
over long distances, ability to sprout following top removal, tolerance to low levels of
water and nutrients and low palatability (Archer 2003). These authors also suggested
that as climate changes occur over time, undesirable woody species vigorously spread
out on communal grazing lands. In semi-arid ecosystems, drought, absence of fire
and overgrazing are some of the major factors that cause conversion of grasslands to
woodlands (Coppock 1994; Archer 2003). The increase in woody plant encroachment,
loss of palatable grass cover and increase of unpalatable forbs are the main threats to the
communal grazing areas in Metema. The result of this study revealed that the condition of
the communal grazing lands is in fair condition, and this implies that there is need to take
measures to improve the rangelands. Herd diversification through increasing the number
of browsers such as camels and goats will contribute towards efficient resource utilization
and decrease encroachment of woody plants.
Road side grazing areas
The mean range condition scores for herbaceous species variables considered are
presented in (Table 28). Grass species composition, basal cover and litter cover were
significantly (P