2022, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part C

Crop and horticulture has playing a significant role conservation of biological resource in agro biodiversity. This research work activities was undertaken in effect of plant diversity in home garden northern western part Ethiopia. The study were set at to vegetation types Combretum Terminalia and Acacia comiphora wood lands. Although study areas were randomly selected for 60 home garden survey. Data were subjected to analyzed using preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and descriptive statistics. A total composition of 90 plant diversity re t species belonging to 63 genera and 15 families were identified which were classified to 14 functional groups. Out of which, 49 species (43%) were herbs, 32 species (29%) were trees, 28 species (25%) were shrubs, and (3%) species were climbers. The study of of the results showed that 70 species were cultivated, 35 were wild while 7 species were Ethiopia domesticated. Of the cultivated species, 79.1% were food crops and 20.9% were non-food crops. Family Fabaceae consisted of the highest number of species (11 species), whereas Abelmoschus esculentus was the most frequently occurring species (90%) dominated in the home gardens of the area. Direct matrix analysis showed that Millettia ferruginea was the most important versatile species followed by Cordia africana and juniperus procera. More over these results of this studies indicated that the role of home garden play significant role a crucial role in meeting desire need of food security of the households, income source mainly women harvest spices, horticulture buying in market serve as an income for holding small sized farmer and home garden grown crop also an effort to maintain on ecological balance of ecosystem. the result of this study confirmed that home gardens generally constitute about 90% of food plants and 9% t of medicinal plants known to exist in the study site, which is highly significant in terms of conserving Ethiopia’s plant biodiversity Even though lack of agricultural support, climate change and land slide affect the diversity of species. Moreover, home gardens could be regarded as live models of sustainable utilization of biodiversity that are managed and maintained by knowledgeable local communities. On the other hand, the most important threats to home gardens identified by those studies include displacement of crops by cash crops, climate change and land degradation. Though not significant, various on farm conservation measures are in place to revert the loss of plant agro biodiversity, particularly focused on key species of indigenous crops like, per millet, Common bean Mainze Sorghum, okra and Roselle in studied area.