The Characteristics of Camel Grazed Rangeland in the Butana Plain, Gadarif State, Sudan

Camel production is very important in the Sudan and Butana plain (BP) due to high population, reputed breeds and socioeconomic impacts. However, camel contribution to milk and meat production and the national economy is less than expected due to many obstacles. Nutrition is a main constraint for camel production as it depends mainly on rangeland, which is deteriorating for many reasons. In addition, modern nutritional concepts such as the new protein systems are not applied. Butana plain, Gadarif State is a very important camel grazing area, but there is no available information on rangeland characteristics in the area to allow better exploitation and conservation. Consequently, rangeland characteristics including plants inventory, density, frequency distribution and biomass were studied in the northern and southern areas of Butana plain, Gadarif State, Sudan using a 1x1m iron quadrate. Data was statically analysed according to the completely randomised design. Plant diversity was very high in the area and in the southern area (34 and 33 plants, respectively). The plants were in 20 families, mainly Poaceae, and all families were found in the southern area. Plants inventory, families, density and grasses and forbs frequency distribution and fresh and dry biomass varied highly between areas and month. Plants and family numbers were highest in September and least in August. Plants numbers were highest in the southern area in September and October and in the northern area in August. Plants density was higher in the southern area in all month and was highest in August and least in October in the two areas. The study demonstrated higher plants numbers, diversity, density and biomass.