African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6915

Article in Press

Morphological Response of Forage Plants to Greasing or Browsing By Ruminant in Ethiopia: Review

Mariye Melkam

  •  Received: 03 September 2024
  •  Accepted: 11 December 2024
Rangeland plants may be negatively, positively, or neutrally impacted by browsing and grazing. Range land and greasing terrain provide more than 37% of the feed required for cattle in Ethiopia. Therefore, understanding how different animal types respond to the grazing of fodder plants is helpful for grassland research and management. Mammalian herbivores classified according to which plant type they prefer. Because diet preference differs among animal types and this may influence botanical composition and productivity of the sward. The purpose of the study was to examine various literatures regarding the morphological reaction of forage plants to grazing or browsing. In addition to growth responses that lessen the impact, morphological, chemical, and mechanical defenses are among the ways in which plants respond to herbivore attacks. There is proof that the efficiency with which different animal species grazes on grass. It is advised to include animal defoliation and foraging during the initial stages of forage formation in order to assess how plants react to grazing. Range land owners and managers are better to decide which measures are appropriate for a given site and understanding plant morphological response and different research regard with this is very essential to insure feed security especially.

Keywords: Browsing, Forage plants, Greasing and Morphological Response