Suitability of selected legume (Vachellia spp.) tree species for forest restoration in the Central Ethiopian highlands

Abstract. Asmelash F, Getachew E. 2022. Suitability of selected legume (Vachellia spp.) tree species for forest restoration in the Central Ethiopian highlands. Nusantara Bioscience 14: 195-202. This study aimed to evaluate comparative suitability viz., Vachellia abyssinica (Hochst. ex. Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr., etbaica (Schweinf.) lahai (Steud. Hochst. ex and seyal (Delile) P.J.H.Hurter restoring forests The three accessions V. was also compared. correlation between root nodule number Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonization (RC) seedlings’ growth variables were computed, effect seedling age on RC determined. Seedlings grown nine months degraded local soil a mesh house central Ethiopia. We measured shoot height, fresh weight, rooting depth, number, third ninth months. one-way ANOVA results indicated that and/or accession (for seyal) had significant (p<0.05) all except height depth at month. Generally, increased with age. However, according independent t-test results, differences recorded abyssinica, 57.16% reduction accession-1, 418.52% increase RC. Spearman’s rank weak non-significant (p>0.05) both Based variables, (N-fixation potential), RC, least suitable remaining species/accessions are comparably suitable. lost its fitness age, maybe because it is provenance far away from accession-3, furthest provenance, has performed much better. trees Ethiopia less studied. Their role as environmental engineers could be better understood by knowing more about their traits. Therefore, this motivate future research regard. Long-term experiments required consider provenances future.