Abstract
In tropical african countries where livestock is either reared in herds on natural grasslands or individuallly tethered to herds on natural or spontaneous vegetation, the productivity is low, especially during the dry season. Using improved forages could play an important role in both enhancing livestock production and improving soil fertility and preventing from soil erosion. Eleven herbaceous forage legumes previously tested in tropical South America and South Asia by CIAT were tested in South-Kivu, D. R. Congo. Across sites, Stylosanthes guianensis, Desmodium uncinatum, Centrosema molle and Canavalia brasiliensis had a highest yield, nowhere Vigna unguiculata adapted. Differencial plant adaptation occured, e.g. Clitoria ternatea being well adaptated only in the midlands with good soils, where the mean of dry mater leaf yield was higher. Farmer evaluation emphazied overall biomass production with preference in the highlands, farmers chose Desmodium uncinatum, Canavalia brasiliensis and Lablab purpureus 21603 and in the midlands Stylosanthes guianensis 11995 and Lablab purpureus 22759. Farmer evaluation confirmed the best yield fit herbaceous forage legumes.
Highlights
This study aimed at testing adaptation improved herbaceous forage legumes selected in Tropical America by Centro International de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) agronomic performance and farmer participatory evaluation in using various agroecological zones in South-Kivu, to draw a model for similar areas
Regarding the production of leaf biomass S. guianensis, this forage was better with the production that was situated in every site
Among the 11 herbaceous forage legumes tested in 4 diversified ecological sites of Sud-Kivu, D
Summary
There are low crop productions due to poor soil management, small homelands of farmers, lack of extension services, leading to alarming nutritional status [4]. The forage crops are not exercised again to feed small animals [5] whereas improved forages could play an important role in both enhancing livestock production and improving soil fertility preventing from soil erosion. Several studies have been conducted on herbaceous fodders in the tropical region and especially in the Southeast and central Asia, in Australia and in Africa [6]-[8]. They led to selection of species and accessions notably on the basis of agronomic tests and participatory evaluation by farmers. Among most cosmopolitan we keep these effective species notably Stylosanthes spp., Lablab spp., Andropogon spp., Brachiaria spp. etc
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