Abstract:
Homegarden is the traditional land use system around a homestead, that is used to cultivate a
diverse mixture of different plant species. However, plant diversity and its management were not
well known. Therefore, this study aims to document the ethnobotanical diversity and
management practices of homegarden plants in the Mida Kegni District, West Shewa Zone,
Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured
interviews, homegarden visits, and market surveys. The collected data were analyzed using
descriptive statistical approaches, including frequencies, relative frequencies, densities, relative
densities, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and various ranking methods. A total of 160
informants were purposively selected from each of the four kebeles. Among these, 12 key
informants were purposefully selected based on factors such as age, gender, indigenous
knowledge, and length of residence. The study revealed that 138 plant species grouped into 120
genera and 61 families were identified and documented. These included 54 species (39.13%) of
herbs, 37 species (26.7%) of trees, 38 species (27.54%) of shrubs, and 9 species (6.52%) of
climbers. Family Fabaceae had the highest representation with 15 species (11%), followed by
the Poaceae family with 11 species (8%). The 138 species were categorized based on usage.
According to the Shannon-Weaver diversity index, Baro Bidaru had the lowest diversity of
homegarden plant species (H = 3.40), while Halelu Gosu exhibited the highest diversity (H =
3.88). Sorenson's Index of Similarity indicated a higher species overlap between Halelu Gosu
and Dire Weni (0.882) and a lower species overlap between Baro Bidaru and Lantawo Jarso
(0.508). The management practices revealed that majority indicated that both genders were
equally involved. Several factors challenged the homegardens in the study area, including
limited water availability, lack of agricultural support systems, scarcity of planting materials
and seeds, insufficient access to the home gardens size, pests and plant diseases, damage caused
by animals and birds, insufficient awareness, knowledge gaps in plant breeding, and water
lodging during the winter months. It is possible to conclude that homegardens in the study area
host a diverse array of plant species and significantly enhance the quality of life for the local
population. The study recommends scaling up the management of useful plant species in
homegardens and promoting homegardening for plant biodiversity conservation.
