DETERMINATION OF THE BOTANIC COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF KIYIBASI VILLAGE RANGELAND IN MUS PROVINCE

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the botanical composition of a natural rangeland area in Kiyibasi Village, Central District of Mus. In this study; dominant species in rangeland areas, plant-covered area, botanical composition, frequency and grazing capacity were investigated. In the study area, 55 genera belonging to 21 plant families and 66 taxa belonging to these genera were found and 11 of these species were grasses, 10 were legumes and 45 were other family plants. The majority of other family plants were found to be Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae and Aranunculaceae. While the ratio of rangeland-covered area is 85.8%, the ratio of grasses in the botanical composition is 39.37%, the ratio of legumes is 15.15% and the ratio of other family plants is 33.55%. Grasses were found mostly in the East (46.6%) and in the same group statistically in the North, while other family plants were found in the West (41.2%) and in the same group in the South and East. The most common species in the rangeland were found to be Aegilops umbellulata (50.56%), Minuartia hamata Mattf. (23.75%), Medicago minima L. (13.00%), Stipa lagascae L. (10.75%) and Festuca rubra (10.50%). The grazing capacity of the rangeland was found as 51 Animal Units. As a result of this study, it was concluded that excessive, early and irregular grazing was done in this rangeland as in other rangelands in our country, therefore the yield of rangeland examined was very low, other family plants were dominant in vegetation and therefore the rangeland was weak.