%0 Journal Article
%T The Study of Homegarden Agrobiodiversity, Practices of Homegardening and Its Role for <i>In-Situ</i> Conservation of Plant Biodiversity in Eastern Hararghe, Kombolcha Town Oromia Regional State Ethiopia
%A Arayaselassie Abebe Semu
%J Open Journal of Forestry
%P 229-246
%@ 2163-0437
%D 2018
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojf.2018.82016
%X Homegarden plays a vital
role for the livelihood of the people living in town. Homegarden agrobiodiversity
was studied to highlight homegarden frequency, types, plant species, growth form
and associated indigenous knowledge. The research was conducted during January to
April 2017. A total of 180 randomly selected households were included in the survey.
Ethnobotanical data were collected from purposively selected 60 homegardens using
observations and semi-structured interviews while markets survey was conducted through
structured questionnaire for homegarden products. Data were analyzed using descriptive
and inferential statistics and similarity and Shannon wiener diversity index. The
results indicated that 128 (71%) of the households were practicing home gardening.
The homegarden plant composition gave 78 species belonging to 35 families. The representative
families and number of species under each family were founded that the family Solonaceae,
and Rutaceae rank top of the list (6 species) each followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae
(5 species each) and Asteraceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae and Brassicaceae (4 species)
each. <i>Catha edulis</i>, <i>Lantana camara</i> and <i>Ruta chalepensis</i> had the highest frequency of species followed by the
families Asteraceae, Rutaceae and Poaceae. <i>Catha
edulis</i>, <i>Rhammus prinoides</i> and <i>Ruta chalepensis</i> were among the families
found in homegardens. It can be concluded that homegrdens of Kombolcha are rich
in biodiversity. The present study showed the existing status of homegardens and
local knowledge contribution to the farming systems in conservation of the biological
diversity. In addition, plant species providing substantial benefits and factors
combined to determining homegarden diversity are documented.
%K Homegardening
%K Local Knowledge
%K Plant Biodiversity
%K Homegarden
%K Conservation
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=83995