PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY, USE, AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF HOMGARDENS OF HAMBELA WAMENA DISTRICT, WEST GUJI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: Homegardens are one of the most diverse agroforestry systems and make a vital contribution to meet various household needs, especially for smallholder farmers in developing countries. The study focused on plant species diversity use and management practices of homegarden of Hambela Wamena district west Guji zone Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to investigate plant species diversity, use and management practices and determinant factors of homegardens in study are and to recommend solution for management and determinant factors. A total of 309 households were selected randomly for detailed inventory from eight kebeles. Ethno botanical information was gathered by conducting observation, free-listing, group discussions, and semi structured interview. To collect vegetation data 15m×15m plots were laid in 309 home gardens and each species and the number of its total individuals were recorded. Frequencies, relative frequencies, density and relative densities, Shannon-Weiner diversity index and Sorenson’s index of similarity were used in the data analysis. A total of 91 plant species belonging to 81 genera and 41plant families were recorded from homegardens at eight kebeles of the study area. Out of the plant species recorded from the home gardens, (37.36 % were herbs), (35.16 % were trees), (20.87 % were shrubs) and (6.59 % were climbers). Fabaceae stood first containing 9 (9.9%) species, Poaceae came in the second place with 7 (7.7%) species, Myrtaceae, with 6 (6.5%) Solanaceae (5.5%) and Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rosaceae each in the fifth place with (4.3%). Ensete ventricusem came out as the dominant species being found in 93.33 % homegardens followed by Brassica carinata 87.5% and Solanium tuberosem 80.8%. Diversity index was (H'= 2.8) highest for Dari Wamena followed by Habas Tulicha (H'= 2.76) and Dame Dabaye (H'= 2.73). Evenness index highest for Habas Tulicha with the value of (0.79) followed by Dari Wamena and Dame Dabaye with the value of (E = 0.78). And Sorensen’s coefficient of similarity revealed highest similarity of 0.42 (42%) beteween Corso Sodu and Corso Golja and lowest similarity coefficient index of 0.2 (20%) between Corso Sodu and Habas Tullicha were observed. There were about more than ten major use reports of plants in the study area. 35 (38.4%) of plants that occurred in the home gardens with multipurpose plant species took the top position followed by 29 (31.87%) food and nutritional values and 26 (28.5%) shade plants among others.