vb _ Commission for Development Studies f 1AW RMLJ pa Austrian Academy of Sciences _. Conference and Workshop Proceedings 2008/1 Kindu Mekonnen, Gerhard Glatzel and Birgit Habermann (Eds.) INDIGENOUS TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES \ FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND I AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY Proceedings of the Workshop Indigenous Tree and Shrub Species for Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity, November 7-9, 2006 Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopia INDIGENOUS TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY Edited by: Kindu Mekonnen1, Gerhard Glatzel1 and Birgit Habermann2 1 Institute of Forest Ecology, UNI BOKU, Peter-Jordan Strasse 82, A-1190 Vienna, Austria 2 Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, A-1010 Vienna, Austria Proceedings of the Workshop 'Indigenous Tree and Shrub Species for Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity' November 7-9, 2006 Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopia IT'. 1 >y- p f< OAW Austrian Academy of Sciences Series on Conference and Workshop Proceedings 2008/1 Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna 2008 with funding from Austrian Development Cooperation OAW Austrian Academy of Sciences tkMat mcs rare I h I M I r f f c u s i r p f c t«wi • *»«, m w Universitat fur Bodenkultur Wien University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna Acknowledgements The workshop has been co-funded by the Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences/ Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research (BMWF), the Austrian Development Cooperation (OEZA), the African Forestry Research Network (AFORNET) and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). Special support has been provided by the Institute of Forest Ecology at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU, Vienna) for workshop organization, scientific expertise and editing of the workshop proceedings. Imprint Austrian Academy of Sciences Legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria (BGBI 569/1921 idF BGBI I 130/2003) Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften http://verlag.oeaw.ac.at/ Copyright © 2008 by Osterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien Proceedings of the Workshop 'Indigenous Tree and Shrub Species for Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity', November 7-9, 2006 - Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopia. Series on Conference and Workshop Proceedings of KEF (Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences): 2008/1 ISBN: 978-3-7001-6131-8 This work has not been reviewed by the Section for Mathematics and the Natural Sciences of OEAW. The opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the contributory organisations. Editors: Kindu Mekonnen, Gerhard Glatzel and Birgit Habermann Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2 * 1010 VIENNA * AUSTRIA Tel: ++43(0)1 515 81- 3202 * Fax: ++43(0)1 515 81- 3203 Internet: http://www.kef-online.at * Email: [email protected] Cover design and layout: Eduardo Criscuolo Photocredits: Gerhard Glatzel and Kindu Mekonnen Correct citation: Kindu, M., Glatzel, G. and Habermann, B. (eds.) (2008) Indigenous tree and shrub species for environmental protection and agricultural productivity. Proceedings of the Workshop 'Indigenous Tree and Shrub Species for Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity', November 7-9, 2006 - Holetta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), Ethiopia. Published in the Series on Conference and Workshop Proceedings of KEF (Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences): 2008/1, VOEAW, Vienna. 4 {5? O c3> ^ 4 Table of Contents Preface 11 Welcoming address 12 Opening address 13 THEME 1: THE STATUS OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE HIGHLANDS Diversifying cropping systems in the mountainous landscape of Galessa, Ethiopia 17 Abstract 17 1. Introduction 18 2. Methodology 18 3. Results and discussion 19 3.1 Diversity in traditional cropping systems 19 3.2. Alternative crops for diversification 20 3.3. Challenges of diversification and future courses of actions 22 4. Summary and conclusion 22 References 23 The status of animal feeds and nutrition in the West Shewa Zone of Oromiya, Ethiopia 27 Abstract 27 1. Introduction 28 2. Features of the West Shewa Zone 29 2.1. Agro-ecology 29 2.2. Human population 29 2.3. Land-use pattern 29 2.4. Livestock resources 29 2.5 Feed resources 29 2.5.1. Basal diet 29 2.5.2 Grazing pasture 30 2.5.3 Crop residues 30 2.5.4. Agro-industrial/industrial by-products and compound feeds 31 3. An overview of research findings 31 3.1. Native pasture 31 3.1.1. Botanical composition 31 3.1.2. Productivity of natural pasture 31 3.2. Crop residues 32 3.2.1. Chemical composition 32 3.2.2. Digestibility and energy value 32 3.2.3. Voluntary intake 33 3.2.4. Rumen degradability characteristics 33 3.2.5. Animal performance based on crop residue 33 3.2.6. Strategies to enhance the utilisation of crop residues as livestock feed 34 3.3. Agro-industrial by-products 34 3.3.1. Availability 34 3.3.2. Nutritional characteristics 35 3.2.3. Improved forage and pasture crops 35 4. An overview of on-farm testing and technology transfer efforts 35 4.1. Forage development efforts on farmer's field 35 5 4.2, On-farm testing of nutritional interventions in various farming system 35 4.2.1. Multi-nutrient block and supplementary protein source 35 4.2.2. Use of urea treated crop residue in ruminant diet 35 5. Conclusions and recommendations 36 References 36 Limitation and potential of major soils in the highlands of West Shewa, Ethiopia 50 Abstract 50 1. Introduction 51 2. Major soils of West Shewa 51 3. Soil physical and chemical characteristics affecting agricultural productivity 51 3.1. Water-logging / poor drainage 51 3.2. Soil acidity 51 3.3. Low organic matter and total N contents 52 3.4. Available P 52 4. Major causes of fertility decline 52 4.1. Low inherent soil fertility and depletion of plant nutrients 52 4.2. Limited agricultural inputs 52 4.3. Inappropriate soil management practices 52 4.4. Soil erosion 52 5. Results of investigations carried out to improve soil productivity in the highlands of west Shewa 53 5.1. Mineral fertilisers (NP) 53 5.2. Organic fertilisers and improved cultural practices 53 5.2.1. Green manure 53 5.2.2. Farmyard manure (FYM) 53 5.2.3. Biological N-fixation 53 5.2.4. Crop rotation 54 5.2.5. Lime, rock phosphate and agricultural by-products 54 5.2.6. Improved drainage 54 6. Conclusions and recommendations 55 References 55 Soil nutrient stocks and fluxes under smallholders' mixed farming system in the central highlands of Ethiopia: research experiences from the Galessa and Gare areas 62 Abstract 62 1. Introduction 63 2. Materials and methods 63 2.1. Case study sites 63 2.1.1. Physical settings 63 2.1.2. Farming systems and land-uses 63 2.2. Approaches to data collection 64 2.2.1. Household survey and farm monitoring 64 2.2.2. Land-use mapping and soil sampling 64 2.3. Nutrient balance 65 3. Results and discussions 65 3.1. Soil fertility gradients and associated management diversity 65 3.1.1. Soil fertility gradients 65 3.1.2. Diversity of soil fertility management 66 3.2. Differently resource endowed farm households: perception of soil fertility management 67 3.3. Is agro-ecosystem sustainability threatened? A nutrient balances perspective 68 3.3.1 Nutrient balances 68 3.3.2. Stocks and flux rates 68 4. Conclusions 68 References 69 An overview on the distributions, status, uses and research needs of selected indigenous tree and shrub species in the Highlands of Ethiopia 76 Abstract 76 1. Introduction 77 2. Vegetation distribution 77 2.1. Closed broadleaved forests 77 2.2. Closed coniferous 79 2.3. Bamboo and palms 80 3. Forest status 80 4. Uses 81 5. Research needs and factors affecting forestry research 83 5.1. Internal factors 83 5.1.1. Ineffective structure 83 5.1.2. Inefficient utilisation of available capacity 83 5.1.3. Lack of synergy or coordination 83 5.1.4. Weakly linked to development 84 5.1.5. Lack of interaction with end users 84 5.1.6. Leadership and coaching difficulties 84 5.2. External factors 84 5.2.1. Policy and legislation 84 5.2.2. Unattractive career path 84 5.2.3. Costly international partnership 84 6. Recommendations 84 6.1. Establish a self-reliant independent institution 84 6.2. Paradigm shift to address relevant issues 85 6.3. Improved access to resources 85 6.4. Networking and partnership 85 References 85 Woody biomass in the 21st century: A global perspective 87 Abstract 87 1. Introduction 88 2. The current biomass boom 88 3. The future role of woody biomass 89 4. Conclusions 91 References 91 THEME 2: WOODY AND HERBACEOUS BIOMASS AS FODDER AND OR­ GANIC FERTILISER SOURCES Indigenous tree and shrub species for soil fertility improvement in Galessa and Jeldu areas, Western Shewa, Ethiopia 95 Abstract 95 1. Introduction 96 2. Materials and methods 96 3. Results and discussion 97 3.1. Tree and shrub species identified and ranked for soil fertility improvement 97 3.2. Green biomass nutrient concentration and other Quality characteristics 97 3.3. Soil properties under the indigenous tree and shrub species 98 4. Conclusions 98 References 99 Targeting various organic resources and legume best bets to various system niches to reverse decline in land productivity in East African Highlands 107 Abstract 107 Utilisation of the biomass of trees and shrubs as organic fertiliser source: Experiences from Holetta Agricultural Research Center 108 Abstract 108 Indigenous tree and shrub species for fodder production in Galessa and Jeldu areas, West Shewa, Ethiopia 109 Abstract 109 1.