A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY

Peter, Biliw

dc.contributor.author	Peter, Biliw
dc.date.accessioned	2018-01-05T04:22:06Z
dc.date.available	2018-01-05T04:22:06Z
dc.date.issued	2018-01-05
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8394
dc.description.abstract	An ethnobotanical survey of food and feed crops was done in Lare district, Nuer zone, western Gambella, Ethiopia from December 10, 2013 to December 30, 2013. A systematic random sampling was designed and employed for selection of the Study areas (6 villages and 28 sampling sites) and 50 informants. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interview, field observation, field walk interview, group discussion and illustrated checklist interview, and botanical collecting tools. Data were analyzed using simple linear (Pearson) correlation coefficient, ANOVA, informant consensus, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking and fidelity level index. A total of 73 food and feed crops (6 feed, 14 food, 13 both feed and food and 40 vegetables (food) were documented from the study area. The majority of plants (58.90%) were found to be cultivated. The larger number of plants have herbal growth form (63.01%) followed by trees (23.29%) and shrubs (13.70%). The most frequently used plant parts for both food and feed habits were fruits 29(39.73%), leaves 21 (28.77%), seeds 19(26.03%) roots, tubers, bulbs, corms 8 (10.96%), stems (stalks) 2 (2.74%) and gum 1 (1.37%).The 6(8.22%) documented feed plants include Acacia seyal Del., Acacia senegalensisL., Cyperus spp., Cymbopogon proximus(Hochst.ex A.Rich) stapf., Azadirachta indica A.Juss, and Acacia nilotica (L.F) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. The Pearson correlation analysis (r=0.92) indicated significant increase of food and feed crops’ knowledge with age (tcal=11.32 & tcrit=4.303) at 5% level of significance. Analysis of variance showed significant food and feed crop knowledge variation between sexes (Fcal=9.02 & Fcrit=6.314) at 5% level of significance. However, it is found to be significant with educational level(r=0.90, tcal=13.53 & tcrit=0.95) at the same significance level. Informant consensus showed Zea maysL.,as the most frequently reported (56%) food crop followed by Sorghum bicolor L.(54%)and Solanum tuberosum L.(52% each). Direct matrix analysis revealed that Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)Moench was foundto be the most important species followed by Cleome gynandra L. Key words: ethnobotany, food crops, feed crops, indigenous knowledge	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	biology	en_US
dc.title	A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US