Abstract
Assessments of Desmodiumintortum (Desmodium),Rhodes grass and Alfalfas was carried out on 54 farmers fields in Bolososore, Soddo and Kedidagamila districts of Wolayita and Kembata-tembaro zones of Southern Ethiopia during 2010/2011 cropping season. The objectives of the study was to test the adaptability and acceptability of grass and legume forages, create awareness to the farmers and evaluate the yield performance of the forage species by farmers’ evaluation criteria. The range and mean performance of annual grass and legume forages showed considerable amount of variability among the traits in all tested locations. For instance, fresh biomass and dry matter yields of Desmodium was varied from 55.3-83.2 t/ha and 20.01-46.75 t/ha, in Boloso, 41.7-79.3 t/ha in Soddo and 33.8-76.4 t/ha and 13.9-34.2 t/ha in Kedidagamila districts respectively. Moreover, the fresh biomass yields of Rhodes grass varied from 31.9-98.0 t/ha and 27.8-39.3 t/ha for Soddo and Kedidagamila districts, respectively. Besides, the fresh biomass and dry matter yields of alfalfa is varied from 21.9-44.1 t/ha and 22.1-34.30 t/ha and 8.26-23.26 t/ha and 10.6-17.6 t/ha for Sddo and Kedidagamila districts, respectively. Based on farmers’ evaluation, the performance of Desmodium wasthe second place after Rhodes grass in all tested districts. In all tested farmers’ field, both desmodium and Rhodes grass were the most vigorous, persistent and highly adapted species, and thus can be safely suggested for all tested districts. Based on the overall mean evaluation criteria, 33.05%, 49.34% and 17.73% of tested farmers were select desmodium, Rhodes grass and alfalfa respectively.
Highlights
2.2 Selection of Participating HouseholdsEthiopia stands first in Africa and tenth in the world in its livestock population (CSA, 2006)
This study was conducted at Bolososore, Soddo and Kedidagamila districts of Wolayta and Kambata-tembaro zones of southern Ethiopia
The environmental conditions of all districts are favorable for production of desmodium, (Desmodium intortum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and rhodes grass (Chloris gayana)
Summary
2.2 Selection of Participating HouseholdsEthiopia stands first in Africa and tenth in the world in its livestock population (CSA, 2006). The production and productivity in this sector is low due to many biotic and abiotic factors Feed scarcity in both quantitative and qualitative dimensions is one of the major constraints for the promotion of the livestock subsector in Ethiopia (Alemu, 1997; Tesema and Halima, 1998). Increased livestock population and the subsequent rise in feed demand are expected to occur largely in the country, where livestock feed production is already insufficient (Lulseged, 1995). This situation warrants the use of appropriate technologies that can optimize utilization of available feed resources and alternative technologies to replace traditional practices (Nandi and Haque, 1986)
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