• Mulugeta Gudisa Goro
• Ayana Angassa
• Aster Abebe
• Kenea Feyisa

This study was conducted in Adami-TulluJido-Kombolcha and Arsi Negelle districts in south central Ethiopia. In the present study, we aim to analyze the effects of grazing pressure and altitude on rangeland condition, herbaceous biomass and species composition in the areas. Assessing rangeland condition: like grass species composition, basal cover, litter cover, number of seedlings, age distribution of dominant grasses, soil erosion and compaction were considered. The data were analyzed using GLM procedure in SPSS 16.0 version, which was used for mean comparisons differences for enclosure areas and open-grazed areas. To test the effect of grazing pressure and altitude on rangeland condition, biomass production, species composition of herbaceous plants and mixed model analysis was used where site was used as a random variable while grazing pressure and altitude were fixed variables. Grass species composition, basal cover, litter cover, age distribution of dominant grasses, number of seedlings, soil erosion and compaction are main factors for rangeland condition assessment. The total scores of herbaceous species, biomass production of grasses, forbs and legumes in the enclosures areas were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the open-grazed areas across three sites of altitude gradient variations 1578-1928mals,as top altitude,1560-1910masl,as medium altitude and 1550-1900 masl, as lower altitude. A total of 28 herbaceous species were identified. Of the identified herbaceous species, 20 were grasses, 2 were legumes while 6 species were forbs. Among the recorded grass species, some were highly desirable while others were in the category of intermediate and less desirable. Effects of grazing pressure are a cause the disturbance of plant life with an important determinant of plant community structure and influences plant species performance and plant ecology. Altitude is determines the distribution of climatic factors and land suitability due to influence the plant grown and rate of the growth, natural vegetation types. Our findings indicate that the rangeland condition in the open-grazed areas was more degraded than the enclosures areas. We suggest that proper grazing management, restoration and continuous monitoring programs are required for sustainability of rangelands in the study areas. Livestock have gone optimum nutrients from early stage of maturity forages could be provide for future direction.

"Effects of grazing pressure, enclosure and altitude on range condition, herbaceous biomass and species composition in south central Ethiopia.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.626-647, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812A86.pdf

"Effects of grazing pressure, enclosure and altitude on range condition, herbaceous biomass and species composition in south central Ethiopia.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp626-647, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812A86.pdf