Assessment of Herbaceous Pastoral Resources in the Domba Pastoral Site, Bougouni Region, Mali

Abstract

Today, pastoral resources are much more influenced by inappropriate human activities, including excessive tree felling, the expansion of fields into river beds, overgrazing and gold mining in the rural commune of Domba, Bougouni region of Mali. This study aims to assess the situation of pastoral resources in order to make the management of this ecosystem more effective. To do this, phytoecological surveys and herbaceous biomass samples were carried out on the pastoral site. A total of three (03) quadrat points were established at 500-meter intervals, resulting in 300 individual data points. The results of this research focused on the herbaceous floral composition, the production of herbaceous biomass and the pastoral value observed in the study site. The pastoral site of Domba is composed of 36 herbaceous species belonging to 31 genera and 14 families. Poaceae (38%), and Fabaceae (11.11%), are the most dominant in the study area. The herbaceous biomass obtained is 1.37tMS/ha in the pastoral site of Domba. This production is relatively low compared to the value observed in most pastoral sites of the Sudanian bioclimate Mali. This could be explained by overgrazing observed on the site. The analysis shows that herbaceous species with high pastoral value are abundant in the pastoral site. These include: Hackelochloa granularis (L.) Kuntze, Penissetum pedicellatum Trin (6%), Brachiaria xantholeuca (Hack.) Stapf, Diheteropogon hagerupii Hitchc (4%), Zornia glochidiata Rchb.ex DC , Commelina subilata Roth (3%). It should be noted that the pastoral value of the study site is lower than the reference average which varies from 50 to 65%. This research deserves to be extended to all bioclimatic zones and taking into account the woody vegetation whose contribution to livestock feed should not be neglected especially during the dry season. For good management of pastoral resources, it is necessary to undertake activities including the development of pastoral areas and their enrichment in fodder species, the restoration of old gold mining sites.