Methane Mitigation Potential of Foliage of Fodder Trees Mixed at Two Levels with a Tropical Grass

Enteric methane (CH4) emitted by ruminant species is known as one of the main greenhouse gases produced by the agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to assess the potential the potential for CH4 mitigation and additionally the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, dry matter degradation (DMD), digestibility and CO2 production of five tropical tree species with novel forage potential including: Spondias mombin, Acacia pennatula, Parmentiera aculeata, Brosimum alicastrum and Bursera simaruba mixed at two levels of inclusion (15 and 30%) with a tropical grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The forage samples were incubated for 48 h, and a randomized complete block design was used. Crude protein content was similar across treatments (135 ± 42 g kg−1 DM), while P. purpureum was characterized by a high content of acid detergent fiber (335.9 g kg−1 DM) and B. simaruba by a high concentration of condensed tannins (20 g kg−1 DM). Likewise, A. pennatula and P. aculeata were characterized by a high content of cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids respectively. Treatments SM30-PP70 (30% S. mombin + 70% P. purpureum) and BA30-PP70 (30% B. alicastrum + 70% P. purpureum) resulted in superior degradability at 48h than P. purpureum, while in the AP30-PP70 (30% A. pennatula + 70% P. purpureum) was lower than the control treatment (p ≤ 0.05). At 24 and 48 h, treatments that contained P. aculeata and B. alicastrum yield higher CH4 mL g−1 DOM than P. purpureum (p ≤ 0.05). The inclusion of these forage species had no statistical effect on the reduction of CH4 emissions per unit of DM incubated or degraded at 24 and 48 h with respect to P. purpureum although reductions were observed. The use of fodders locally available is an economic and viable strategy for the mitigation of the environmental impact generated from tropical livestock systems.

​Nutritional Evaluation of Predominant Tree Fodders and Shrubs of Southern Kerala as a Quality Livestock Feed

Background: India ranks first in global livestock production and it is an important subsidiary enterprise that support more than 75 per cent of the rural community. But fodder production is not well practiced in our country and animals generally consume naturally grown grasses and shrubs which are of low quality in terms of protein and available energy. Hence, there is an urgent need to look for new fodder resources that are sustainable in nature and cover our fodder deficit. Keeping the above in view, the present study has been proposed to evaluate the predominant tree fodders and shrubs of Southern Kerala as a quality livestock feed. Methods: The study was conducted in College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during January-September, 2020 to assess the nutritional value of predominant tree fodders and shrubs in Southern Kerala as a quality feed for cattle. Ten different fodder trees and shrubs that locally fed to the cattle viz., Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora), erythrina (Erythrina indica), Drumstick (Moringa oleifera), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Glyricidia (Glyricidia maculate), Matti (Terminalia elliptica), Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), Cassava (Manihot esculenta), Banana (Musa acuminate) and Mango (Mangifera indica) were selected and analysed for proximate composition, crude fiber and mineral status. Result: The result revealed that mean values for dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and total ash in tree fodders were 37.07±4.02, 18.52±1.72, 18.56±2.07, 4.68±0.51, 8.72±0.66, respectively. The study also proved that Sesbania grandiflora (Agathi) is nutritionally superior to other tree fodders with high crude protein (25.24%) and lower crude fiber (8.43%) content. The Neutral Detergent Fiber content of fodder tree leaves varied from 17.34- 65.32 per cent and that of Acid Detergent Fiber from 11.10-48.69 per cent. Phosphorus and potassium status of top feeds comes under the range of 0.26-0.93 per cent and 1.0-2.7 per cent respectively. However the highest amount of Calcium as well as magnesium was found in Moringa oleifera (2.75 and 0.60 per cent respectively).

Contour Ridge Tillage for Improved Crops and Fodder Trees Production in the Villages of Kani and Noumpinesso, Southern- Mali

In rural Mali shortage of livestock feed is a challenging phenomenon worsening day by day, particularly in the villages of Kani and Noumpinesso. The significant decrease in crops yield and livestock are due to persistent and continuous land degradation and over grazing. Soil water erosion and inappropriate or ineffective farming systems led to land degradation over the many years. A purposeful growing of fodder plant (fast growing trees species) and crops in interacting combinations for a range of benefits would be required using a technology that is easily adaptable by the rural farming communities. Contour ridge (CR) technology is a holistic approach that protects farmlands from erosion; increases soil moisture, nutrient availability for crops and associated fast growing trees. The CR technology in combination with forage and improved crop production systems were applied in Kani and Noumpinesso villages of southern Mali and resulted indicated that at the end of rainy season of 2017 and 2018 the application of CR technology significantly increased (p < 0.05) Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala growth and development. Similar to 2017, in 2018 CR technology significantly increased (p < 0.05) sorghum, millet, maize, and cotton growth, yield, and economic benefit. At Kani during 2017 and 2018 season soil moisture was always significantly higher (p < 0.05) under fodder planted area than non-fodder planted area, and the difference was high with respect to farmlands without CR.

Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena).

L. leucocephala is a versatile, fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing tree well suited to management in agroforestry systems. It has been, and still is, the most important species of Leucaena, both in terms of indigenous use of pods for food in Mexico and wider use as an exotic for livestock fodder, green manure, small wood products such as fuelwood and poles, and soil conservation. The value of L. leucocephala lies in its combination of multiple products, exceptional fodder quality, fast growth, and ease of propagation and management by farmers. It is one of the foremost tropical fodder trees, often being described as the 'alfalfa of the tropics' and was one of the first species to be used for the production of green manure in alley farming systems and live-barrier slope stabilization. These uses and benefits, combined with abundantly available seed, led to pantropical promotion and planting of L. leucocephala which was often heralded as a 'miracle tree' by national and international development agencies. With wider planting, a number of important limitations have become apparent including lack of cold and drought tolerance, poor growth on acid soils, heavy pod production resulting in weediness, low wood durability, and susceptibility to an important defoliating insect pest, the psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana. No other factor has halted promotion and use of L. leucocephala, and prompted the search for new genetic diversity and alternatives, with such urgency as the spread of the psyllid. The very extensive literature on L. leucocephala has been the focus of numerous reviews including those by Oakes (1968), Gray (1968), Pound and Martínez-Cairo (1983), National Research Council (1984), Brewbaker (1987), Hocking (1993), Jones et al. (1992, 1997) and Hughes (1998b).

Perceptions pastorales des ligneux fourragers par les agropasteurs et les transhumants au centre du Sénégal

L’étude est réalisée dans les parcours communautaires du département de Kaffrine. Cette zone constitue un axe incontournable de transhumance pendant saison sèche des ruminants. Sa végétation ligneuse contribue à l’affouragement du cheptel mais subit d’énormes pressions de diverses sortes. Ce travail a pour objectif principal d’évaluer l’importance des espèces ligneuses dans le bassin arachidier. Une enquête ethnobotanique a été réalisée sur la base d’un questionnaire portant sur les espèces fourragères utiles, leurs princiapaux usages, les modes d’exploitations et les parties utilisées. L’enquête a révélé que 82,14% des espèces ligneuses inventoriées sont considérées comme fourragères. Il s’agit notamment de Adansonia digitata, Cordyla pinnata, Faidherbia albida, Ficus capensis, Ziziphus mauritiana et Sterculia setigera. Ce constat montre l’importance de la richesse spécifique des champs où se trouvent toutes ces espèces. La saison sèche est la période pendant laquelle les ligneux sont plus exploités par les agropasteurs. D’autres enquêtés utilisent ces ligneux fourragers pour l’alimentation humaine, la pharmacopée, l’artisanat, le bois d’oeuvre, le bois de chauffe, etc., ce qui montre une forte pression sur ces ressources. La promotion de la régénération naturelle assistée, la réalisation des cultures fourragères (sensibiliser les paysans sur les bienfaits de ces cultures), des émondages modérés limités par exemple au quart de la couronne des arbres fourragers, pourraient contribuer à atténuer les pressions exercées sur les ligneux les plus appétés.Mots clés : Enquête ethnobotanique, forêt, champs, pression. English Title: Pastoral perceptions of fodder ligneous by agro-pastoralists and transhumants in central Senegal The study is carried out in the community routes of the department of Kaffrine. This zone constitutes an essential axis of transhumance during the dry season of ruminants. Its woody vegetation contributes to the feeding of the livestock but is under enormous pressure of various kinds. The main objective of this work is to assess the importance of woody species in the groundnut basin. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out on the basis of a questionnaire relating to useful fodder species, their main uses, the modes of exploitation and the parts used. The survey revealed that 82.14% of the woody species inventoried are considered as fodder. These include Adansonia digitata, Cordyla pinnata, Faidherbia albida, Ficus capensis, Ziziphus mauritiana and Sterculia setigera. This observation shows the importance of the specific richness of the fields where all these species are found. The dry season is the period during which woody trees are more exploited by agro-pastoralists. Other respondents use these woody fodder for human consumption, pharmacopoeia, handicrafts, lumber, firewood, etc., which shows great pressure on these resources. The promotion of assisted natural regeneration, the production of fodder crops (making farmers aware of the benefits of these crops), moderate prunings limited, for example, to a quarter of the crown of fodder trees, could help to reduce the pressures exerted on woody plants. the most popular.Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, forest, fields, pressure.

Progress and Challenges in Ex Situ Conservation of Forage Germplasm: Grasses, Herbaceous Legumes and Fodder Trees

Forages provide an important livestock feed resource globally, particularly for millions of smallholder farmers, and have important roles in natural resource management and carbon sequestration, reducing soil erosion and mitigating the effects of climate change. Forage germplasm remains the basis for the selection and development of new, higher-yielding and better adaptedgenotypes to meet the increasing demand for livestock feed. Rapid rates of genetic erosion of forage diversity due to land-use change from natural pastures and rangelands to crop production to meet the food security requirements of a growing global population, together with pressures from a changing climate, highlight the necessity for ex situ seed conservation of forage genetic resources to provide germplasm for use by future generations. Whilst many forage species have orthodox seeds, the diverse range of genera and species which provide forage is a challenge in terms of the wide scope of information and understanding on conservation methods that genebank managers require—particularly for tropical forages, many of which are comparatively under-researched. We review the challenges to the conservation of tropical forage species by seed in ex situ genebanks and provide information on optimum methods for their management.

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

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.

Fodder Production and Livestock Rearing in Relation to Climate Change and Possible Adaptation Measures in Manaslu Conservation Area, Nepal

A study was conducted to find out the production potential, nutrient composition, and the variability of the most commonly available fodder trees along with the varying altitude to help optimize the dry matter requirement during winter lean period. The study was carried out in Lho and Prok Village Development Committee of Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA), located in Gorkha district of Nepal.The study was conducted in two parts: social and biological. Accordingly, a households (HHs) survey was conducted to collect primary data from 70 HHs, focusing to the perception of respondents on impacts of climatic variability to the feeding management. The next part consisted of understanding yield potential and nutrient composition of the four most commonly available fodder trees (M. azedirach, M. alba, F. roxburghii, F. nemoralis), within two altitudes range: (1500-2000 masl and 2000-2500 masl) by using a RCB design in 2*4 factorial combination of treatments, each replicated four times. Fresh yield and dry matter yield of the each fodder trees was significant (P<0.01) between the altitude and within species. Fodder trees yield analysis revealed that the highest dry matter (DM) yield (28 kg/tree) was obtained for F. roxburghii but that remained statistically similar (P>0.05) to the other treatment. On the other hand, most of the parameters: ether extract (EE), acid detergent lignin (ADL), acid detergent fibre (ADF), cell wall digestibility (CWD), relative digestibility (RD), digestible nutrient (TDN), and Calcium (Ca) among the treatments were highly significant (P<0.01). Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(2): 227-235