Homegarden Plant Diversity and Their Use Category in Sinan District, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region
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Date
2016-08-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The homegarden is a small-scale traditional agricultural ecosystem and has played an
important role in conservation and sustainable utilization of plant biodiversity. An
ethnobotanical study was conducted in Sinan district, East gojjam Zone of Amhara region
and investigated diversity of useful plants, their use category in the homegardens and the
associated local management practices. A multistage sampling technique was employed
to select three kebeles and 150 households. Ethnobotanic information were gathered by
conducting observation, free-listing, group discussions, and semi-structured interview.
Shannon-Weiner diversity index and Soreson`s index of similarity were used in the data
anlysis and computed by using Microsoft Excel 2007. A total of 125 plant species were
recorded and these are distributed in 51 families. Asteraceae stood first containing 15 (12
%) species, Fabaceae came in the second place with 11 (8. 8%) species, and Poaceae,
Rosaceae and Solanaceae each in the third with 8 (6.4 %) species. Rhamnus prinoides
came out as the dominant species being found in 76.67% HGs followed by Vernonia
urticifolia 60.67% and Ensete ventricosum 57.33%. Diversity indices with the value of
(H'= 3.38) highest for Gedamawit followed by Sinan mariyam (H'= 2.80) and Dangulie
(H'= 2.62). Evenness index with the value (E = 0.73) highest for Gedamawit followed by
Sinan mariyam (E =0.65) and Dangulie (E=0.63). There were about more than fifteen
major use reports of plants in the study area. 60(48%) of plants that occurred in the
homegardens with multiple uses took the top position followed by 45(36%) live fence
plants and 43(34.4%) fodder plants among others. Therefore, it can be concluded that
homegardens in the study area contain different types of plants and significantly
contribute to the livelihood of the people.
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Keywords
Ethnobotany, Local Management Practices, Biodiversity, Sinan, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region