Fodder quality of Ziziphus spina-christi tree leaves and its effect on soil physicochemical properties and household income in the dry lands of Tigray, Ethiopia

Ziziphus spina-christi is a multipurpose drought tolerant tree or shrub and is commonly used in the parkland agroforestry system in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study determined the effect of Ziziphus spina-christi on soil physicochemical properties, its foliar nutrient content as animal fodder and its contribution to household income. Soil physical and chemical properties declined with depth and increasing distance from the tree trunk. The soil silt and clay content was significantly decreased with increasing depth (P<0.05). The silt and clay content was significantly higher in the cultivated land while the sand content was significantly higher in the grazing land. The soil organic carbon, available phosphorous and available potassium significantly decreased with increasing depth and distance from the tree crown (P<0.05). Leaves were good source of proteins (18–20%), fats and carbohydrates and were within the recommended range for ruminant livestock growth and development. The mean income of Ziziphus spina-christi growers was significantly higher than that of non-growers. Thus Ziziphus spina-christi is a multipurpose tree that improves soil nutrient, feed resource and income generation to households.