The Impacts of Oil Exploration and Production on Rangeland Plants Attributes of Balila Area of West Kordofan State, Sudan

This study was conducted at Balila area, West Kordofan State, Sudan in September 2018. The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of oil exploration and production operations on rangeland plants attributes at Balila area. Three sites being, Balila, Elshag and Elfrdus were selected for the study. The methodology used in the study included botanical measurements for the assessment of rangeland plants attributes which includes range vegetation composition, relative frequency, plant cover, plant productivity and range carrying capacity. This information was used to identify the impacts of oil exploration and production on rangeland plants attributes of the area. The study showed that the current condition of the rangeland plants attributes of the area is largely affected by the current activities of oil exploration and production. The rangeland plants attributes at Balila area indicated that, plant species percentages were 53.3% in season 2017 and reduced to 25.8% in season 2018. Litter recorded 3.2% in season 2017 and increased to record 18% in season 2018.While bare soil showed 5% in season 2017 and decreed to 0% in season 2018. Fourteen species appeared in the rainy seasons of the two seasons 2017 and 2018 respectively (10 annuals and 4 perennials). In 2017 the average vegetation cover was 30%, while it was 25% in 2018. The biomass productivity showed 2.045 Ton/ha in 2017.Then it reduced to show 0.7034 Ton/ha in 2018. In 2017 the carrying capacity was 3.03 Ha/Au/Yr. while it was 1.5 Ha/Au/Yr in 2018. The study concluded that, the oil exploration and production is bound to bring about the suppression of certain plant species in favor of others. This practice was resulted in the decrease of rangeland plants attributes of the area