There is more in fodder trees than their nutritional values: local valuation of indigenous fodder trees and shrubs by pastoral and agrarian communities in northern Ethiopia

Fodder shortage (quality as well as quantity) has been found through outmid hills of Nepal. The tree fodder is particularly important as a green, nitrogen supplement to poor quality crop residues during the dry season when feeds are scarce. The nutritional values of fodders differ according to species and season therefore farmers prefer different species for different seasons to feed their livestock. The choice or preference of fodder species by farmers reflects their traditional knowledge on nutritional values, palatability, cultivation easiness and seasonal variability of tree fodder in local environment. The paper highlights an indigenous knowledge system that relates to the quality of tree fodder used by farmers in mid hills of Nepal. In total 69 plant species have been recorded as tree fodder and out of them ten best tree fodders have been listed on the basis of preferences and priority by farmers. Information was gathered through a semi structured open questionnaire by interviewing 85 respondents of different age groups of Arghakhanchi district. Though Focus species was the most abundant among tree fodder, Grewia optiva (locally known as 'phorso') was found the most preferable tree fodder species in the study area.

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Central Survey of Fodder Trees and Shrubs of Biratnagar and Surrounding Locality

Tribhuvan University Journal ◽

10.3126/tuj.v19i2.3882 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 77-82

Author(s):

Min Raj Dhakal ◽

Abdul Aziz

Keyword(s):

Fodder Trees ◽

Trees And Shrubs

Not available.Key words: Fodder trees; Shrubs; Biratnagar Tribhuvan University Journal Vol. XIX, No. 2, 1996 Page: 77-82 Uploaded Date: 29 October, 2010

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Aboveground biomass models for trees and shrubs of exclosures in the drylands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Journal of Arid Environments ◽

10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.05.007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 156 ◽

pp. 9-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mengesteab Hailu Ubuy ◽

Tron Eid ◽

Ole Martin Bollandsås ◽

Emiru Birhane

Keyword(s):

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Biomass Models ◽

Trees And Shrubs

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Yield and yield-reduction in recent drought years in southern Tigray, northern Ethiopia: Implications on food security

10.21203/rs.3.rs-31805/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuel Eze ◽

Atkilt Girma ◽

Amanuel Zenebe ◽

Chukwuebuka Christopher Okolo ◽

Emnet Negash

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Stepwise Regression ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Field Survey ◽

Seasonal Rainfall ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Food Shortages ◽

Agrarian Communities ◽

Lowland Area

Abstract The consequences of prolonged precipitation-deficient periods are primarily substantial water deficit, with the spatial characteristics of drylands and various socioeconomic factors worsening its impacts and deepening poverty among agrarian communities, with attendant food security implications. This study utilizes a combination of climate, remote sensing and field survey data. These data were used to obtain a first-hand information on the impacts of recent (2015 and 2017) droughts on crop yield in southern Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Annual and seasonal rainfall, annual and seasonal NDVI and Dev-NDVI, and monthly SPI-1, SPI-3 and SPI-12 (for June to October) were considered as likely factors that could relate with yield and yield loss in the area. Correlation and multiple linear stepwise regression statistical techniques were used to determine drought-yield relationships, and identify more accurate predictors of yield and yield losses in each of the drought years. The area witnessed a more widespread precipitation deficit in 2015 than in 2017, where the lowland area recorded entire crop losses. Also, droughts manifested spatiotemporal variations and impacts across the 3 different agroecologies – primarily reduction in vegetation amounts, coinciding with the planting and maturing stages of crops. Crop failures therefore translated to food shortages and reduced income of smallholders, which denotes food insecurity in the time of droughts. Seasonal rainfall and June Dev-NDVI predicted 66.9% of 2015 yield loss, while NDVI predicted 2017 sorghum yield by 96%. Spate irrigation should be further popularized in the low-lying areas of Raya Azebo to augment for future deficiencies in the kiremt rainfall.

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Nutritive values of fodders at different seasons and altitudes in Gandaki River Basin of Nepal

Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources ◽

10.3126/janr.v2i1.26051 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 109-126

Author(s):

Manoj Kumar Shah ◽

Bir Bahadur Tamang ◽

Bishnu Dhakal ◽

Pashupati Chaudhary ◽

Snehi Shrestha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Species Selection ◽

Crude Fibre ◽

Fodder Trees ◽

Nutritional Values ◽

Young Leaves ◽

Bauhinia Purpurea ◽

Fodder Tree ◽

Animal Metabolism

This study aimed to assess the seasonal and ecological variation of chemical and nutritional values of locally preferred fodders in Gandaki River Basin (GRB) areas. The study was conducted in four altitudinal gradients viz. <400m, 400-800m, 800-1200m and 1200–1600m altitude above sea level in different looping seasons: rainy, spring and winter seasons. The most important five species of fodder trees Artocarpus lakoocha, Ficus roxburghii, Thysanolaena maxima, Ficus semicordata and Bauhinia purpurea were selected based on farmers’ preferences in nutritional values. Fodder samples comprised young leaves, old leaves and young twigs that were taken in July, September and December. It was revealed that nutritive value is not very much influenced by altitude but it is strongly influenced by lopping seasons. Among Thysanolaena maxima, Artocarpus lakoocha, Ficus roxburghii and Bauhinia purpurea the cellulose contents were significantly different (p<0.001) with seasons but there was no significant variation with altitudes. Similarly, Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) contents in Thysanolaena maxima, Ficus roxburghii and Bauhinia purpurea were found significantly different with seasons. Ficus roxburghii fodder tree was found significantly different in Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), ADF, Cellulose and Potassium content with seasons. Similarly, fodder tree Bauhinia purpurea was found significant on Dry matter (DM), Crude fibre (CF), NDF, ADF, cellulose, tannin and potassium with seasons. The study hinted how careful planning of species selection and prudent decision in scheduling looping and feeding fodder trees can help improve animal metabolism, health, growth and productivity.

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