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Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 28 June 2021    Accepted: 14 July 2021    Published: 2 August 2021
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Abstract

The study was conducted at Keramile protected open forest of Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia, with the objective to examine the effects of tree species on the above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of the herbaceous plants. Three tree species, Podocarpus falcatus and Juniperus procera from indigenous and Cupressus lusitanica from exotic tree species were used. Twenty large trees from each tree species, a total of 60 trees were selected purposively and 480 samples (four quadrats under and outside canopy in four directions for each tree) of herbaceous plants were collected. The results of the current study showed that tree species, canopy cover and their interactions had significant (P<0.05) influence on herbaceous plant above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover. The herbaceous plants differed in terms of above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover between the three tree species and canopy types. The herbaceous plant above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover were significantly (P<0.05) higher under P. falcatus than to J. procera and C. lusitanica trees, while no significant differences were (P>0.05) found between J. procera and C. lusitanica trees. The above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover obtained outside canopy was significantly higher than under canopy cover of the three tree species examined. The overall result showed that tree canopy cover strongly decreased aboveground biomass yield (P<0.0001) and ground cover (P<0.0001) of the herbaceous plants. The increased above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of herbaceous plants in the outside canopies in the current study indicates that the presence of these tree species in the study area could increase the vulnerability of the herbaceous plant community to future disturbances, such as climate events. Generally, tree species, canopy cover and their interaction had negative impact on ground cover and aboveground biomass yield of herbaceous plant, in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, integrated forest and herbaceous plant management and conservation is crucial in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia and areas receiving similar practice.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20
Page(s) 233-240
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tree Species, Outside Canopy, Inside Canopy, Aboveground Aboveground Biomass Yield, Ground Cover

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    Tolera Fikadu, Tessema Zewdu. (2021). Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 9(4), 233-240. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20

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    ACS Style

    Tolera Fikadu; Tessema Zewdu. Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am. J. Agric. For. 2021, 9(4), 233-240. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20

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    AMA Style

    Tolera Fikadu, Tessema Zewdu. Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am J Agric For. 2021;9(4):233-240. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20,
      author = {Tolera Fikadu and Tessema Zewdu},
      title = {Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {233-240},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20210904.20},
      abstract = {The study was conducted at Keramile protected open forest of Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia, with the objective to examine the effects of tree species on the above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of the herbaceous plants. Three tree species, Podocarpus falcatus and Juniperus procera from indigenous and Cupressus lusitanica from exotic tree species were used. Twenty large trees from each tree species, a total of 60 trees were selected purposively and 480 samples (four quadrats under and outside canopy in four directions for each tree) of herbaceous plants were collected. The results of the current study showed that tree species, canopy cover and their interactions had significant (P0.05) found between J. procera and C. lusitanica trees. The above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover obtained outside canopy was significantly higher than under canopy cover of the three tree species examined. The overall result showed that tree canopy cover strongly decreased aboveground biomass yield (P<0.0001) and ground cover (P<0.0001) of the herbaceous plants. The increased above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of herbaceous plants in the outside canopies in the current study indicates that the presence of these tree species in the study area could increase the vulnerability of the herbaceous plant community to future disturbances, such as climate events. Generally, tree species, canopy cover and their interaction had negative impact on ground cover and aboveground biomass yield of herbaceous plant, in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, integrated forest and herbaceous plant management and conservation is crucial in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia and areas receiving similar practice.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Influences of Tree Species and Canopy Cover on Aboveground Biomass Yield and Ground Cover of Herbaceous Plants in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Tolera Fikadu
    AU  - Tessema Zewdu
    Y1  - 2021/08/02
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 233
    EP  - 240
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.20
    AB  - The study was conducted at Keramile protected open forest of Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia, with the objective to examine the effects of tree species on the above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of the herbaceous plants. Three tree species, Podocarpus falcatus and Juniperus procera from indigenous and Cupressus lusitanica from exotic tree species were used. Twenty large trees from each tree species, a total of 60 trees were selected purposively and 480 samples (four quadrats under and outside canopy in four directions for each tree) of herbaceous plants were collected. The results of the current study showed that tree species, canopy cover and their interactions had significant (P0.05) found between J. procera and C. lusitanica trees. The above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover obtained outside canopy was significantly higher than under canopy cover of the three tree species examined. The overall result showed that tree canopy cover strongly decreased aboveground biomass yield (P<0.0001) and ground cover (P<0.0001) of the herbaceous plants. The increased above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of herbaceous plants in the outside canopies in the current study indicates that the presence of these tree species in the study area could increase the vulnerability of the herbaceous plant community to future disturbances, such as climate events. Generally, tree species, canopy cover and their interaction had negative impact on ground cover and aboveground biomass yield of herbaceous plant, in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, integrated forest and herbaceous plant management and conservation is crucial in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia and areas receiving similar practice.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Range Ecology and Biodiversity, Fedis Agricultural Research Centre, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Harar, Ethiopia

  • Range Ecology and Biodiversity Program, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

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