Woody species diversity of homegarden agroforestry and their contribution to livelihoods improvement in Dendi District, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Compared to other agroforestry systems, the homegarden agroforestry system primarily consists of the complexity and diversity of plant species. This study assessed the contributions of homegarden agroforestry to woody species' composition, diversity and rural livelihood improvements in Dendi District, Central Ethiopia. To undertake the study four rural kebeles were selected using a purposive sampling technique from the study district. Homegardens were chosen from each kebeles using a systematic random sampling technique. Woody Plant species inventory was carried out for 48 homegarden agroforestry, from 143 total households. All woody plant species were counted and recorded in 10 × 10 m plots. A total of 37 woody plant species belonging to 33 genera and 26 botanical families were recorded in the study homegardens. The most diversified woody plant family was Fabaceae with five species followed, by Rosaceae and Euphorbiaceae each represented by three species. The average value of Shannon–Wiener diversity indices for the study area is 2.44. The range of species evenness, which was from 0.67 to 0.72, indicates the distribution of species in the homegardens of Dendi District is more or less similar. The respondents classified homegarden agroforestry in the Dendi district into 10 functional uses. The result revealed that about 34.4% of the woody plant species in homegardens served the household's cash income generation. Others are accounted for medicine, building or fuel wood, live fence, home materials, spices, stimulants, shade, and ornamentals. In addition, it contributes to environmental sustainability. Homegarden agroforestry systems conserve several woody species diversity in their system and woody species were more or less evenly distributed, among the study sites. The result of the study also revealed that homegarden plants play a vital role in food security and income generation. Generally, the present study showed that the homegarden agroforestry system plays a remarkable role in conserving woody species diversity and contributing to solving the livelihood problems of local peoples. Therefore, the focus should be given to extension services, management and sustainable use practice of woody species in homegarden agroforestry.