Abstract

Homegarden agroforestry is believed to be more diverse due to the combination of crops, trees and livestock. The aim of this study was to assess plant species composition and diversity of homegarden agroforestry in Jabithenan district, North-western Ethiopia. Two sites purposively and two villages randomly from each site were selected. Plant species diversity inventories were carried out for 48 homegardens. All woody species and herbaceous species were counted and recorded in 10 x 10 m and 2 x 2 m plots, respectively. A total of 69 plant species (44 woody and 25 herbaceous) belonging to 40 families were recorded in the study homegarden. About 6-8 different species of plants per plot were recorded. Plant species such as Musa paradisiaca and Brassica integrifolia among herbs and Coffea arabica and Cordia africana among woody were the most frequently recorded species in the study Kebele. Of all woody species, C. arabica and C. africana showed the highest importance value index. Generally, according to the calculated diversity indices, the studied homegarden was found to be diverse

Key word: Composition, diversity, importance value index.