GROWTH-PERFORMANCE OF SOME MULTIPURPOSE TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE SEMIARID AREAS OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Growth performances of some multipurpose trees and shrubs have been st udied for five years at two locations in the semi-arid areas of Southe rn Ethiopia. The best performance in terms of rates of survival and gr owth rates (height and diameter growth) has been attained by Acacia ni lotica, A. Cyanophylla, A. seyal, Cassia siamea and Prosopis juliflora . Given the ecological limitations of semi-arid areas, growth rates of these species is promising and this indicates that sustainable produc tion system can be realized using proper agroforestry technologies in the semi-arid areas of Southern Ethiopia and similar area types elsewh ere.