Abstract
Small stakeholder farmers in southern coastal plains of Yemen as in other Arabian Peninsula countries are fanciers and suffering from shortage of forages mainly during winter season. This study was carried out during three years (2012-2014) at farmers’ fields in the southern coastal plain in Bir Jabir, Lahej in Yemen on loamy-sand soil, to determine the best irrigation water productivity of two exotic and one indigenous (local) accessions of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), cultivated at two farmer fields. Irrigation water has been added by the quantity and dates according to the farmer experience without any intervention of the researcher. The amount of added irrigation water was measured. Statistical analysis emphasized significant differences in the number of tillers per plant, in the forage fresh yield and in the irrigation water productivity (IWP) among buffel grass accessions. The highest number of tillers was recorded at Gayandah whereas the USA accession has showed the lowest one. The average forage fresh yields have reached 230.5, 208.9 and 181.4 kg/ha for Gayandah, USA and local respectively. The average irrigation water productivity (IWP) was 39.1 kg/m3. The significant difference (P = 0.048) was in favor of Gayandah accession which registered the highest IWP (43.7 kg/m3). However, there was no significant difference observed in IWP between USA and the local accession, even though this latter has apparently produced the lowest value (36.2 kg/m3).
Highlights
Fodders and pasture considered an essential substrate for the growth and development of livestock, considered as perfecter of agricultural wealth and has advantage to human needs of animal protein and dairy and other animal products.Feed scarcity is the main constraint to livestock production in dry areas
The total irrigation water applied during the years of study at the first and second fields respectively were, 465 and 452 mm during 2012, 592 and 551 mm during 2013 and 528 and 434 mm during 2014, while the added water for each watering ranged from 52 to 66 mm
The results of the study have emphasized the best performances of buffel grass variety Gayandah compared with USA and local buffel grass varieties
Summary
Feed scarcity is the main constraint to livestock production in dry areas. This scarcity is exacerbated by rangeland degradation and the recurrent droughts linked to desertification and climate change. Alternative feeds were proposed to alleviate grazing pressure on natural rangelands and to mitigate desertification (Abbeddou et al, 2010). Due to the scarcity of water resources in most areas of Yemen, natural rangelands and forage production do not cover the animals needs during the most seasons of the year. The annual feed production reaches 1,970,540 tons produced from 155,248 hectares (Agricultural Statistical Year Book-2011), seems to be very low and imposes the necessity of looking for other alternative more productive forages with higher water use efficiency
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