Flora Composition

Forage trading in the city of Abidjan is an activity not known by the population. The objective of the study was to determine the importance of the collection of forage plants in the socioeconomic life of the actors of the sector. Prospects and semi-structured interviews were conducted, and we determined the floristic composition of forages sold in the market. The results of the survey show that the forage sold by the farmers is taken free of charge in the city of Abidjan. The unit price (UP) of a bundle of forage is on an average of 50 FCFA when there are few animals on the market, and 100 FCFA or 200 FCFA in case of high affluence such as during holidays. Thus, the estimated average financial income per day of an operator during periods of low affluence of animals in the markets is 875 F CFA. On an average, it is 26250 FCFA per month and 3350 FCFA per day. Also, there is an estimated average of 100 400 FCFA in periods of abundance of animals for sale in the market. The results of investigations showed that forages species sold are composed of species such as Chloris pilosa Schumach. (Poaceae), Panicum maximum Jacq (Poaceae), Brachiaria lata (Schumach.) Hub (Poaceae), Arachis hypogea L. (Fabaceae), and Phaseolus vulgaris L (Fabaceae). In addition to being food reserves, these activities provide work for those who exploit them. It allows them to meet their daily needs and also compensate for the lack of jobs.

Field survey on parthenium was conducted at East shewa Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia during 2008 cropping season.  The objectives of the study was to assess the weed flora composition and plant species that are growing in copetation with parthenium to use those plants as potential biological management options under field condition. Assessment of weed flora composition was carried out in five Kebeles (Farmers Association) of Boset District East Shewa Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. Data on the species composition were recorded and samples of weed flora compositions were collected. The result showed a total of eighty five different herbaceous plant species that were collected and recorded in 63 genera and 24 families. Poaceae (21), Asteraceae (11), Fabaceae (7) and Convolvulaceae (7) were by far the richest taxa and accounted together (55 %) of the entire flora of the study area. The major plant species having higher dominance value were Parthenium hysterophorus (25.6), Cassia tora (6.07), Argemone mexicana (5.83), Xanthium strumarium (4.53), Digitaria abyssinica (3.02) and Cyperus rotundus (2.86). Similarity index values of the species composition among different kebeles ranged from 65% to 78% which indicating that weed species compositions in these locations were similar. The diversity and evenness of species declined with increasing spread of parthenium which suggests negative influence that parthenium had on the status of species diversity in the studied area. In conclusion the selected plant species that were found competitive with parthenium based on their abundance and dominance values were Argemone mexicana, Cassia tora, and Xanthium strumarium which were suggested for detailed competition experiment in order to determine their competitiveness with P. hysterophorus and will be used for biological management of it.

Forage trading in the city of Abidjan is an activity not known by the population. The objective of the study was to determine the importance of the collection of forage plants in the socioeconomic life of the actors of the sector. Prospects and semi-structured interviews were conducted, and we determined the floristic composition of forages sold in the market. The results of the survey show that the forage sold by the farmers is taken free of charge in the city of Abidjan. The unit price (UP) of a bundle of forage is on an average of 50 FCFA when there are few animals on the market, and 100 FCFA or 200 FCFA in case of high affluence such as during holidays. Thus, the estimated average financial income per day of an operator during periods of low affluence of animals in the markets is 875 F CFA. On an average, it is 26250 FCFA per month and 3350 FCFA per day. Also, there is an estimated average of 100 400 FCFA in periods of abundance of animals for sale in the market. The results of investigations showed that forages species sold are composed of species such as Chloris pilosa Schumach. (Poaceae), Panicum maximum Jacq (Poaceae), Brachiaria lata (Schumach.) Hub (Poaceae), Arachis hypogea L. (Fabaceae), and Phaseolus vulgaris L (Fabaceae). In addition to being food reserves, these activities provide work for those who exploit them. It allows them to meet their daily needs and also compensate for the lack of jobs.