EFFECT OF PARTHENIUM (Parthenium hysterophorus) WEED ON RANGE LAND PRODUCTIVITY AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN LIBEN DISTRICT OF GUJI ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

The study was done in selected three (3) Pastoral associations based on the level of infestation of Parthinum weeds such as (high, medium and low) in Liben district. Both the qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through structured questioner, focus group discussion, direct observation and measure effects of parthenium weed on aboveground herbaceous vegetation. Three long transects 1 km apart from each other and each containing 9 quadrats totally 27 quadrants (20m x 20m) and small sub-sample quadrants (1m x 1m) were laid and the samples were collected at 500m interval in the transect. Majority 77.5% of the respondents were male and majorly engaged on mixed livestock and crop production. High number of livestock were found in low infestation area and the Parthenium hysterophorus is distributed everywhere in the district at this time, however, the weed highly distributed in farm land. Water and Wind are the major agents for distribution and also Livestock movement and human factors are also important agents for the distribution. P hysterophorus is an annual weed its infestation greatly differs from season to season, mostly dominate on summer and some are in winter. Overgrazing was the major factor which was aggravates weed infestation, the weed is highly compete with other vegetation for resources and reduce the composition of other species. The weed changes Milk taste and reduces Milk fat. Diarrhoea was the major diseases caused by Parthenium weed in the district and cattle’s are majorly affected. Hand weeding and using Herbicides are the major way of controlling weed. Most of the valuable species essential for grazing animals have already disappeared due to the continued increase of the Parthenium weed and livestock selection pressure. High densities of P. hysterophorus were recorded in most land use types namely arable land, pasture land, road side and residential areas.