Farmers’ preference for improved grasses and legume forage species in six mixed farming system districts of southern region of Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Mergia Abera ◽  
Tekleyohannes Berhanu

Participatory on-farm evaluation of improved forage crops was conducted in six mixed farming system districts of Southern Ethiopia with the objective to identify farmers preferred forage crops (legumes and grasses). Two annual forage legumes (Vigna unguiculata L. (cow pea) and Lablab purpureus (L.), two perennial legumes (Medicago sativa (L.) (alfalfa) and Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb. (green-leaf)), and three perennial grasses (Chloris gayana Knuth (Rhodes grass) and two Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (elephant grass) accessions (No.16800 and 16798)) were evaluated in the study. The major farmers’ criteria considered in the evaluation of forage species were vegetative growth, herbage yield, tillering, protection of soil erosion, palatability, perfor- mance under dry weather conditions, performance in marginal area under low input management, multipurpose use (conservation and soil fertility) and fast growing condition. The study showed that elephant grass accession No. 16798, 16800 and Chloris gayana adapted well and farmers preferred them for their higher herbage yield, vegetative growth, tillering ability and drought resistance. Even though the annual forage legumes Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata were superior in their forage yield, the farmers preferred the perennial forage legumes (Desmodium intortum and Medicago sativa) mainly for their performance under dry weather condi- tion due to their longer growth period. Therefore, the consideration of farmers’ preference for forage crops is crucial for increased adoption of improved forage crops in the region.

1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-497
Author(s):  
Abate Tedla ◽  
Helena Airaksinen ◽  
M. A. Mohamed-Saleem

The influence of the improved drainage broadbed and furrow (BBF), as opposed to the traditional flat seedbed over the growing season on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of Avena sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Vida dasycarpa, Trifolium steudneri and Sesbania sesban were studied on Vertisol. Up to 7 t/ha dry matter yield was recorded for Avena sativa and Lablab purpureus when planted on Vertisols with improved drainage. Dry matter yield of forage crops also increased with advance in stage of maturity or subsequent harvests. On both improved and traditional flat seedbed methods, the chemical analysis of forage crops showed similar declines in crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) levels as the maturity of forage crops progressed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71
Author(s):  
A. C. Vieira ◽  
C. J. Olivo ◽  
C. B. Adams ◽  
J. C. Sauthier ◽  
L. R. Proença ◽  
...  

AbstractThe effects of growing pinto peanut mixed with elephant grass-based pastures are still little known. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the performance of herbage yield, nutritive value of forage and animal responses to levels of pinto peanut forage mass mixed with elephant grass in low-input systems. Three grazing systems were evaluated: (i) elephant grass-based (control); (ii) pinto peanut, low-density forage yield (63 g/kg of dry matter – DM) + elephant grass; and (iii) pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield (206 g/kg DM) + elephant grass. The experimental design was completely randomized with the three treatments (grazing systems) and three replicates (paddocks) in split-plot grazing cycles. Forage samples were collected to evaluate the pasture and animal responses. Leaf blades of elephant grass and the other companion grasses of pinto peanut were collected to analyse the crude protein, in vitro digestible organic matter and total digestible nutrients. The pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield + elephant grass treatment was found to give the best results in terms of herbage yield, forage intake and stocking rate, as well as having higher crude protein contents for both elephant grass and the other grasses, followed by pinto peanut with low-density forage yield + elephant grass and finally elephant grass alone. Better results were found with the grass–legume system for pasture and animal responses.


1977 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tran Dang Hong ◽  
F. R. Minchin ◽  
R. J. Summerfield

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