Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology (SJEAT)
Volume-2 | Issue-10 | 380-389
Original Research Article
Floristic Characterization of the Natural Rangelands of the Classified Forest of Upper Alibori in Northern Benin
Alassan S. Assani, Ibrahim T. Alkoiret, Hilaire Sanni Worogo, Abdel-Aziz Agbayigbo, Marcel Houinato
Published : Oct. 30, 2017
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the state of plant biodiversity in the
natural rangelands of transhumant cattle herds in the Classified Forest of Upper
Alibori (CFUA), Northern Benin. Forty-five (45) phytosociological plots were
carried out using the Braun-Blanquet method. The phytosociological data were
submitted to Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) under the software R.3.3.2
with a package vegan. The results revealed that the natural rangelands of the CFUA
have 178 species belonging to 45 families of which the most abundant and dominant
are the Poaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Combretaceae and Rubiaceae. Three (3) types of
pasture were highlighted: Detarium microcarpum and Pennisetum polystachion ;
Isoberlinia doka and Brachiaria stigmatisata; Prosopis africana and Pennisetum
pedicellatum. The most abundant and dominant biological types on these natural
rangelands are phanerophytes followed by therophytes. However, Sudanese species
are the most abundant and dominant. This shows that pastures in this protected area
are relatively undisturbed. The unsweetened and invasive species such as Senna
obtusifolia, Hyptis suaveolens, Loudetia togoensis, etc. were also observed in this
natural rangeland. It follows from this study that the natural rangelands of CFUA are
degraded due to the strong agropastoral pressure.