a b s t r a c t
The study was conducted to assess the status and trends of soil erosion and relate the perceptions of
farmers on cattle productivity and botanical indicators to measured ecological conditions of rangelands
in three altitude regions of southwest Ethiopia. A total of 342 farmers were interviewed. In addition, the
ecological condition of rangelands was assessed. Severe soil erosion, ranked as the primary restriction to
free-ranging livestock, occurred predominantly in the lower altitude region (LAR) (P < 0.05). More
farmers in LAR witnessed an inadequacy of palatable plant biomass, grazable pasture as well as increased
gully formation and expansion, which are strong indicators of soil erosion (P < 0.001). In addition to a
decrease in grass cover and productivity of cattle, botanical composition, species richness and grazing
capacity of herbaceous plants, less fodder trees and shrubs were observed (P < 0.05). There was a corresponding
increase in the percentage of bare ground and soil erosion status along the degradation
gradients (P < 0.05). The reported shift in botanical composition, and especially encroachment of
invading plant species, can be attributed to soil erosion (P < 0.001). The results suggest that erosion is
associated with reduced availability of feed resources and is related to altitude variation.