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Re-seeding on highly degraded rangeland as strategy for forage production, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration in Ethiopia
Author
Eba, B
Lelisa, A
Gedda, A
Asfwu, I
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

Rangeland degradation is becoming a serious problem in semiarid areas affecting rangeland productivity and hence the livelihood of the pastoralists. Degraded rangelands have low levels of soil carbon stock and diminished potential for biomass production. To overcome this problem, a re-seeding strategy is one option that needs to be considered. Accordingly, a study was conducted to examine the impact on biomass production, carbon stock, soil water content and biodiversity of re-seeding highly degraded rangeland with native grasses. Random sampling techniques using quadrats (0.5m x 0.5m) for biomass and species composition assessment were employed on re-seeded and non-seeded plots. Simpson's index of diversity was used to calculate the biodiversity of the vegetation. The soil organic carbon was calculated from soil samples taken at three depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm) from re-seeded and non-reseeded plots. The results showed that vegetation composition recovered from the soil seed bank, forage biomass was higher, and carbon stock better on the re-seeded plot. There were sixteen species recovered in addition to Chloris Gayana and Cenchrus ciliaris on the seeded plots. The Simpson diversity of vegetation on the seeded plots was 0.78 compared with zero on the non-seeded ones. The dry matter yield for re-seeded plot and non-reseeded plots were 3.6, and 0.2 t/ha, respectively. Carbon stock was 15% higher under the restored rangeland compared to non-restored. The overall soil water content was 16.3 and 10.75% for re-seeded plot and non-re-seeded plots, respectively. Options to improve the productivity of highly degraded rangeland for multiple benefits could involve re-seeding with native grasses with integration of appropriate planning and continuous sourcing of grass seeds.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 1007-1011. Theme: Theme 4 / New shoots – Reseeding and planting for rangeland restoration
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
Ecosystem services
Climate change
Soil water content
Biodiversity