Relationship between grazing intensity and distance from water points

Abstract EN

This study was conducted in Baja area west of Eldieum in White Nile state around Elharit water yard.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between grazing intensity and distance from water points, as information in this respect is expected to contribute towards better range management standards.

A three concentric circular zones I, II and III with half radius of 4, 8 and 12 km respectively were used as samples.

Range measurements including vegetation composition, frequency and biomass, which are considered as indicators for grazing intensity, were taken along four transects each of 100 m long, randomly located in each zone.

Variations were found across sampling zones with semi regular pattern of change.

Annual plants such as Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Abu asabie) showed more response to grazing intensity around the water point with a reasonable dominance in the outer zones.

Other leguminous plants are hardly detected around the water point.

The relative dominance showed by some spp, e.g.

Cenchrus spp.

(Haskaneet), in the inner zone, may explain that other factors such as spatial heterogeneity and characteristics of seed dispersion could be among the other reasons that affect range around water points.