Grassland Research in Nigeria - A Survey with Recommendations

PAST and present attempts to upgrade grassland productivity in Nigeria are briefly surveyed. The considerable potential of the Nigerian environment for grassland farming and the tremendous research efforts applied are not reflected in the level of animal production which, at this stage, is low. The imbalance is attributed to shortage of expertise, limited application of tropical agronomic principles and weakness in the dissemination of research findings. Proposals are made in respect of a proper integration of the soil, pasture and animal systems whereby the need for expensive conservation and supplementary feeding procedures will be reduced. The implications of the suggestions are discussed.

Methods to describe the botanical composition of vegetation in grassland research

Summary In terms of botanical composition, grassland vegetation in experimental plots and field studies can be described by means of different parameters (plant density, cover, frequency or yield proportion). Each parameter describes different features, which under certain circumstances may be correlated one to each other to some extent, but are not fully equivalent. The choice of the parameter to be assessed depends therefore, in first instance, on the specific aim of the investigation. For the assessment of the chosen parameter, many methods are available that differ from each other in terms of subjectivity, precision, effort and requirement for technical equipment. The choice of method depends mainly on the required precision, the affordable effort and on the available resources.

Study of green fodder yield potential of pearl millet genotypes under rainfed conditions of Gujarat, India

Twenty three fodder pearl millet genotypes including two checks <italic>viz</italic>., DFMH 30 and PAC 981 were evaluated at Pearl millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU), Jamnagar and Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari during <italic>kharif</italic> 2014. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, plant height, dry fodder yield and green fodder yield while differences for plant population and grain yield were non significant. The locations differences were found significant for all the characters studied. The genotypes x locations differences were observed non significant for all the traits except plant population and grain yield. Days to 50 % flowering varied from 52 days (DFMH 30) to 77 days (IP 15564). Days to maturity ranged between 75 days (IP 2761) to 96 days (IP 14542). IP 22269 (342 cm) was observed the tallest genotype, while, check DFMH 30 (252 cm) was manifested the shortest genotype. Dry fodder yield ranged from 96 q/ha (IP 5153, IP 2761) to 208 q/ha (ICMV 05222). The genotype ICMV 05222 (390 q/ha) produced the highest green fodder yield among all the genotypes followed by IP 6202 (348 q/ha) and IP 15564 (341 q/ha). Hence, these three genotypes <italic>viz</italic>., ICMV 05222, IP 6202 and IP 15564 may be considered for general cultivation under rainfed conditions of Gujarat.

Future challenges for grassland farming

New Zealand's grassland industries are entering a new phase of rapid technological and structural change. A complex mix of factors fuels this including institutional reform, Government science policy, growth in telecommunications, trade reform, and changes in consumer expectations and society's values towards the environment and new technology. Developing a common inspirational purpose, picking and investing in a 'best bet' future scenario, managing constraints to productivity gains, and increasing technology transfer and farmer learning are some of the challenges that those in the grassland sector must met. Keywords: future scenarios, grassland research, land inventory, production, productivity