Pre-Extension Demonstration of Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Varieties at Midland Agro Ecologies of Guji Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Livestock products like meat and milk are highly demanded for household consumption. However, the shortage of quality and quantity of feed is affecting livestock production in midlands of Guji zone which needs research and development solutions. Hence, to get maximum livestock products demonstration and use of improved forage technology such as elephant grass, which can generate a bulky of biomass for livestock is important in the study areas. Zehone-02 and Zehone-03 varieties were demonstrated to evaluate the performance and to assess farmers’ feedback on elephant grass varieties. Adola and Wadera districts were selected based on their suitability for monitoring and appropriate for elephant grass production. The varieties were demonstrated on 5mx5m plots of 14 experimental farmers. Training and mini-field day was used as promotion approach in study areas. The results of the demonstration showed that both elephant grass varieties were well performed on all experimental farmers. Despite numerical variation in plant height, number of tillers/plant and survival rate there was no significant difference between varieties. However, there was a significant difference at 5% on fresh biomass between varieties. Farmers preferred both varieties based on palatability, regeneration and drought tolerant traits of the grasses. Demonstrated elephant grasses can supply sustained and secured feed throughout the year from small plots; hence, small landholder farmers can benefit from producing the grasses. Therefore, either Zehone-02 or Zehone-03 elephant grass should be largely produced on farmers’ lands to solve feed shortage in the midland areas of Guji zone. Further studies should focus on the effect of grazing elephant grass on improvement of livestock production in the study areas.