Assessment of rangelands condition in low rainfall savannah of Sudan

Vegetation measurement was conducted on the rangelands of Western Darfur State at Zalingei locality at late rainy season of 2015 and 2016. The purpose of the study was to assess range condition through determining forage production and herbaceous cover at western part of Zalingei town. The sampling procedure was based on locating random ten (10) transects and two quadrats in each transect were chosen, the herbaceous assessments included composition, species frequency, cover, density and biomass. The results showed that overgrazing was considered as the major factor responsible for the low vegetation cover and yield in the study area due to the concentration of high numbers of animals during the rainy season. The result indicated that continuous intense grazing causing vegetation changes such as the replacement of palatable grasses by less palatable plant species.

Further research works is needed to monitoring vegetation change and to assess the rangelands for their improvement and management