―An Ethnobotanical Study of Homegarden Plant Species Diversity and Management Practices in Mida Kegni District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia.‖

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.