Calliandra Calothyrsus Research Articles

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF STINGLESS BEE (Heterotrigona itama) HONEY COLLECTED FROM Calliandra calothyrsus PLANTATION IN EAST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

Stingless bee honey is one of the most valuable insect products. The increasing popularity of stingless bee honey can be attributed to its composition, which has been linked to medicinal properties. Beekeeping with stingless bees is well-known in Indonesia, with Heterotrigona itama is the most popular stingless bee species cultivated in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Stingless bees utilize various plant species as sustenance sources. Among those plants, Calliandra calothyrsus is popular planting in Indonesian bee plantations. This study analyzed the antioxidant (DPPH assay), phytochemical (qualitative method), water, and sugar content of H. itama stingless bee honey collected from a C. calothyrsus plantation. The results show that the water and sugar contents of the honey in this study were higher than in other research. Meanwhile, antioxidant capacity was also higher than in other studies. The phytochemical contents detected from honey in this study were carotenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and triterpenoids. Even though the properties of stingless bee honey can differ based on vegetation and geographical origin, H. itama stingless bee honey collected from C. calothyrsus plantation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, showed potential antioxidant activity and phytochemical content, which is advantageous to human health.

Role of Calliandra Calothyrsus Alley Cropping for Soil Fertility and Maize Production at Bako, Western Oromia

Role of Calliandra Calothyrsus Alley Cropping for Soil Fertility and Maize Production at Bako, Western Oromia

Optimizing calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) biomass pellets: Impact of particle size and bark composition

Calliandra biomass pellets offer a promising alternative energy source to replace fossil fuels. Typically, these pellets are produced by directly processing the stem and bark of the calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) plant without separation, aiming for manufacturing efficiency. This study investigated the quality differences between calliandra biomass pellets with and without bark and varying particle sizes. Particle sizes used were 20 mesh, 40 mesh, and 60 mesh. The pellets were made using a 12 mm diameter biomass pellet mold and a manual hydraulic press with a pressure of 3 tons. Characterization involved assessing proximate analysis, calorific value, physical and mechanical properties, and Fourier Transform Infrared analysis. The test results were compared with biomass pellet standards from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Germany. Results indicate that bark affects several properties, with higher ash content observed in pellets with bark due to the higher mineral content in bark. Volatile matter decreases with finer particle size, influencing combustion rate. Moisture content is higher in pellets with bark, impacting combustion efficiency and smoke production. Fixed carbon values are influenced by moisture and volatile matter content. Calorific values are generally higher in pellets without bark and smaller particle sizes. Density and compressive strength increase with decreasing particle size. FTIR analysis reveals differences in functional groups between pellets with and without bark, indicating variations in chemical composition. Overall, this research provides insight into the potential of calliandra biomass pellets with bark and without bark along with particle size as a renewable energy source.

Application of kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn.) myco-seedcake to support energy forest establishment

Application of kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn.) myco-seedcake to support energy forest establishment

Supplementation of calliandra calothyrsus in basal fed affecting quality of sapera’s milk

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of calliandra calothyrsus powder supplemented with basal fed on milk quality in particular fat, solid non fat, lactose, and total solid. Twenty one early lactating sapera goats were assigned to 3 x 7 random group design. The dietary treatments consist of 0 %, 2.5% and 5% of Calliandra calothyrsus Powder (CCP) in the daily diet of the experimental goat. All goats were fed concentrate 1 kg DM and forage (6.8% fresh calliandra and pakchong grass in 35.38%) with the availability of water. The experiment lasted 50 d including 13 d of sampling period. Milk was taken on the last day of the treatment and was analyzed using a lactoscan to determine fat, total solid, lactose and solid non fat. Goats given 2.5% CCP produced significantly higher total solid and solid non fat content gr/day/goat milk (P < 0.05) than those given 0% and 5% CCP. The results also showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in fat content gr/day/goat of milk in dietary treatments. It is concluded that legume supplementation of 2.5% CCP can increase fat, lactose, solid non fat and total solid of sapera goats.

Effects of Integrated Use of <em>Lantana camara, Calliandra calothyrsus</em> and Cow Manure with Diammonium Phosphate and Potassium Chloride on Haricot Bean Yield in the Northern Part of Burundi

Effects of Integrated Use of <em>Lantana camara, Calliandra calothyrsus</em> and Cow Manure with Diammonium Phosphate and Potassium Chloride on Haricot Bean Yield in the Northern Part of Burundi

ANTIBACTERIAL AND DIASTASE ENZYME ACTIVITIES OF HONEY Apis mellifera FROM INDONESIA

The quality of monofloral honey from Apis mellifera as an antibacterial can be influenced by the activity of the diastase enzyme and the secondary metabolites from the nectar source. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the activity of the diastase enzyme and the effectiveness of monofloral honey derived from Apis mellifera bees as a natural antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Sampling for monofloral honey was carried out from nine different nectar sources, namely Acacia carpa, Calliandra calothyrsus, Nephelium lappaceum, Melaleuca laucadendron, Ceiba pentandra, Mangifera indica, Coffea robusta 1, Coffea robusta 2, and Hevea brasiliensisensi. Furthermore, diastase content was determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and the bacterial inhibition zone using the disc diffusion method. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the clustering of diastase enzyme and antibacterial activity. The results showed that the highest diastase activity in monofloral honey was Mangifera indica, Nephelium lappaceum, and Coffea robusta 2 at 20.00 DN. This was followed by Nephelium lappaceum, Ceiba pentandra, and Hevea brasiliensisensisensi at 10.00 DN, Acacia carpa at 6.67 DN, Coffea robusta 1 at 5.00 DN, and Calliandra calothyrsus 4.00 DN. The clear zones for Staphylococcus aureus on Coffea robusta 2, Acacia carpa, Nephelium lappaceum, Coffea robusta 1, Ceiba pentandra, Hevea brasiliensisensisensi, Nephelium lappaceum, Calliandra calothyrsus, and Mangifera indica were 19.47, 18.53, 17.73, 17.03, 16.12, 16.10, 16.03, 15.73, and 14.73 mm, respectively. Additionally, the clear zones for Escherichia coli on Ceiba pentandra, Coffea robusta 2, Acacia carpa, Coffea robusta 1, Melaleuca laucadendron, Mangifera indica, Hevea brasiliensisensisensi, Calliandra calothyrsus, and Nephelium lappaceum were 27.93, 26.13, 24.60, 24.53; 24.53, 24.07, 21.90, 21.60, and 21.53 mm, respectively. In conclusion, clustering analysis was conducted based on nectar sources to evaluate antibacterial and diastase activity. The clusters identified are cluster 1 consisting of Hevea brasiliensisensi, cluster 2 including Mangifera indica, and Nephelium lappaceum. Others are cluster 3 consisting of Acacia carpa and Calliandra calothyrsus, and clustergroup 4 including Nephelium lappaceum, Ceiba pentandra, Coffea robusta 1, and Coffea robusta 2. Therefore, it was necessary to carry out antibacterial testing of other bacteria, specifically Salmonella typhi, and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of honey with the best antibacterial activity in various concentration variations.

Forest contribution to CO2 sequestration as mitigation climate change on the impact of tourism activities in Mount Tidar Botanical Garden

Forests offer the greatest environmental services in CO2 sequestration. According to the IPCC, forests have a lot of potential for mitigating climate change. The forest area in Mount Tidar Botanical Garden (MTBG) is used as a tourist attraction and is known as the most famous religious tourism object in Magelang. Tourist activities in MTBG are massive, tourist attractions are open 24 hours a day and never close, causing an enormous amount of CO2 emissions. This study aims to determine the total CO2 emissions of tourism activities, CO2 sequestration in vegetation MTBG, and provide recommendations on the types of vegetation that have the highest CO2 sequestration. This study is quantitative research. Primary data collection was done by taking data on vegetation diameter and LPG usage around the restaurant. The Data were analyzed by emission estimation and the allometric formula. The results showed that the total CO2 emissions from human respiration, the use of LPG, and vehicles amounted to 481,665 tons/year. The ability of plants in the MTBG forest has the potential to CO2 sequestration of 1.260,170 tons. Forests in MTBG can support climate change mitigation efforts in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals 13 because they can handle emissions with a surplus of 778,506 tons of CO2. Vegetation types that have high CO2 sequestration are Ficus benjamina, Calliandra calothyrsus, and Spathodea campanulata.

Diversity of endophytic bacteria isolated from leguminous agroforestry trees in western Kenya

Plants have diverse and vast niches colonized by endophytic microorganisms that promote the wellbeing of host plant. These microbes inhabit internal plant tissues with no signs of ill health. Bacterial endophytes from many plants have been isolated and characterized due to their beneficial roles however their diversity in leguminous plants still remain unexploited. Diversity of bacterial endophytes isolated from Sesbania sesban, Leucaena diversifolia and Calliandra calothyrsus was assessed using morphological and molecular characteristics. A total of 27 pure isolates were recovered from C. Calothyrsus, L. diversifolia and S. sesban constituting 44.4%, 33.3% and 22.2% from the leaves, stems and roots respectively. The isolates differentiated into Gram positive and negative with rods and spherical shapes. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed 8 closely related bacterial genera that consisted of Bacillus (33.3%), Staphylococcus (22.2%), Alcaligens (11.1%), Pantoea (11.1%), Xanthomonas,and Sphingomonas (7.4%) each. Others included Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas at 3.7% each. Bacterial endophytes of genus bacillus were isolated from all the three plants. These results indicate the presence of high diversity of endophytic bacteria associated with the different parts of L. diversifolia, S. sesban and C. salothyrsus growing in western Kenya.

Adaptation and Growth Performance Evaluation of Selected Multipurpose Trees and Shrubs at Yabello District, Borana Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

europea, and Calliandra calothyrsus, at Yabello Agriculture Research Center to evaluate their adaptability and growth performance. The experiment was arranged in RCBD with three replications. The growth parameters, namely, survival rate, plant height, diameter at breast height, and root collar diameters, were measured and recorded each year. Results revealed that the variations among tree species in survival rate were highly significant (p<0.001) after four years of age. This could be due to environmental factors and/or the genetic potential of the species, which generally govern the growth of a given species. Among the species tested, Moringa oleifera and Olea europea showed the highest performance in terms of survival rate. Olea europea and Moringa oleifera showed the highest survival rates, with 83.33% and 77.78%, respectively. On the other hand, Calliandra calothyrsus showed the lowest survival rate (22.22%). Thus, the long dry season, which extended for the last four years in the study area, clearly explains the poor survival and growth response of the species. Hence, it can be inferred that the conditions in Yabello match the environmental requirements of Moringa oleifera and Olea europea. Therefore, the species offers much promise for future use in agroforestry practices in the area. Thus, the study advocates for the proper allocation of adapted species in Yabello conditions and related agroecology for agroforestry practices, forest plantations, and economic benefits for stakeholders

Fatty acid composition of Albizia, Calliandra, Leucaena and Sesbania as tropical forage legumes

The objective of the present experiment was to determine fatty acids composition of Albizia falcataria (AF), Calliandra calothyrsus (CC), Leucaena leucocephala (LL), and Sesbania grandiflora (SG), both in the leaves and in the in vitro rumen fermentation system. Ground leaf samples of AF, CC, LL and SG were determined for their fatty acid (FA) profiles. The samples (200 mg DM each) were incubated in vitro in a rumen:buffer solution (1:2 v/v ratio) at 39°C for 24 h, either with or without the addition of linseed oil, conducted in four replicates. Following the incubation, the fermentation medium was subjected to fatty acid determination. Results revealed that the order of PUFA contents in the leaves from highest to lowest were CC>LL>SG>AF. Proportion of MUFA was particularly high in CC. Notably, the α-linolenic acid (ALA) concentration within the rumen after the in vitro incubation exhibited in the CC legume compared to the other observed legumes (P<0.05). Additionally, the in vitro incubation of CC resulted in the lowest concentration of stearic acid. The findings lead to the conclusion that CC exhibits more favorable FA profiles in the rumen when compared to the tropical forage tree-legumes in the present experiment.

Calliandra Calothyrsus as a Concentrate Substitution by Regarding its Phytochemicals and Productivity of Indonesian Peranakan Etawa Goats

Calliandra Calothyrsus as a Concentrate Substitution by Regarding its Phytochemicals and Productivity of Indonesian Peranakan Etawa Goats

Local community perception towards invasive alien plant species utilization in Bodogol – Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park

The spread of invasive alien species in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park is considered causes disturbance and damage threats to ecosystems, habitats, and native plant species. There are three invasive alien plant species spread in Bodogol area, a part of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, namely Maesopsis eminii, Calliandra calothyrsus, and Austroeupatorium inulifolium. Two out of these three species, i.e Maesopsis eminii and Calliandra calothyrsus are well known as useful plants and have a high Index Cultural Significance (ICS). In 2019 a study was conducted to quantify the perception of the community in Bodogol towards Maesopsis eminii and Calliandra calothyrsus utilization. Data were collected through interview and filling out questionnaire by 42 respondents using tri-stimulus amar framework. The results of the study obtained total value of quantifying the perception is 2.24 out of 4.00 in Likert’s scale. The value shown that community in Bodogol had positive perception towards these invasive alien plant species. The factors that affected community perceptions are the level of knowledge about invasive species and the benefits of the species. Therefore, this study is important as input for decisions in determining appropriate management of invasive species in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park area.

The Effect of Various Compositions of Planting Media On The Growht of Red Calliandra Seedlings (Calliandra calotrhyrsus Meissen)

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of various types of planting media on the growth of calliandra seedlings. This research was carried out in Wuasa Village, North Lore District, Poso Regency and was carried out for 7 months, namely from April to October 2021. The research method used a Completely Randomized Design (RAL) which consisted of 4 treatments, namely: PO = Land Without Fertilizer (control), P1 = Soil + Sand + Soil Liquid Fertilizer + Leaf Liquid Fertilizer, P2 = Soil + Sand + Solid Organic Fertilizer, P3 = Soil + Sand + Solid Organic Fertilizer + Soil Liquid Fertilizer + Leaf Liquid Fertilizer Each treatment was repeated as many times as ten times, so that a total of 40 experimental units were needed. The observational data was analyzed using analysis of variance (F) with the Least Significant Difference (BNT) test at a significance level of 5%. The results of the research showed that treatment with various types of planting media had a very significant effect on increasing the number of shoots, increasing height, increasing the number of leaves and stem diameter on the growth of calliandra calothyrsus Meissen seedlings. Soil+sand+solid organic fertilizer+soil liquid organic fertilizer+liquid organic leaf fertilizer (P3) is the best medium for the growth of calliandra mesh (Calliandra calothyrsusMeissen) seedlings, in all the variables observed.

Increasing phosphorus rate alters microbial dynamics and soil available P in a Lixisol of Zimbabwe.

Soil phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major challenge to food security in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Zimbabwe, where farmers largely depend on local organic nutrient resources as fertilizer in the production of crops. Soil microorganisms can contribute to synchronous availability of soil P to plants through regulating immobilization and mineralization cycles of soil P pools but their activity may be influenced by antecedent soil P, P fertilizer application regimes and P uptake by plants. Using soils collected from plots where Crotalaria juncea (high quality), Calliandra calothyrsus (medium quality), cattle manure (variable quality), maize stover and Pinus patula sawdust (both low quality) were applied at the rate of 4 t C ha-1 with 16 kg P ha-1 at the start of every season over 16 seasons. A pot study was conducted to evaluate the influence of increasing inorganic P fertilizer rates (26 and 36 kg P ha-1) on soil microbial dynamics, soil P pools, and maize P uptake. Results indicated that nineteen (19) fungal and forty-two (42) bacterial colonies were identified over the study period. Fungi dominated bacteria on day one, with Aspergillus niger showing a 30-98% abundance that depends on organic resource quality. Overall, microbial diversity peaked activity characterized succession on day 29, which coincided with a significant (P<0.05) increase in P availability. Increasing P rate to 26 kg P ha-1 amplified the microbial diverse peak activity under medium-high quality resources while under the control the peak emerged earlier on day 15. Mucor and Bacillus had peak abundances on day 43 and 57, respectively, across treatments regardless of P rates. Treatment and P rate had a significant (P<0.01) effect on microbial P. Bacteria were more responsive to added P than fungi. Increasing P to 36 kg P ha-1 also stimulated an earlier microbial diverse peak activity under maize stover on day 15. Addition of P alone, without supplying complementary nutrients such as N, did not have a positive effect on maize P uptake. Farmers need to co-apply medium-high quality organic resources with high fertilizer P rates to increase microbial diversity, plant available P and maize growth on sandy soils (Lixisols). Our results suggest that there is a need to reconsider existing P fertilizer recommendations, currently pegged at between 26 and 30 kg P ha-1, for maize production on sandy soils as well as develop new fertilizer formulations to intensify crop production in Zimbabwe.

Nitrogen utility on income over feed cost in complete feed napier grass cv gama umami based with different calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) substitution levels

The purpose of this study was to determine the N efficiency and economics of complete feed based on Napier grass cv Gama umami with different levels of Calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus). The Ewes used in this study were 15 with 11.3±1.34 kg of body weight at the age of 8 months. Complete feed treatment given to livestock objects, namely T0 = Napier grass cv GU 60% + Concentrate 40%; T1 = Napier grass cv GU 45% + Concentrate 40% + Calliandra 15%; T2 = Napier grass cv GU 30% + Concentrate 40% + Calliandra 30%. The sample collection phase consisted of treatment feed, leftover feed, and urine which were collected for seven days. The resulting data was then processed using One-way ANOVA with data that had differences in further testing using DMRT (p<0.05). The experimental results showed that the addition of Calliandra levels in complete feed did not affect nitrogen retention in sheep (p>0.05). Economic figure on feed with the addition of Calliandra to complete feed showed a higher income when compared to feed without using Calliandra (p<0.05). The most effective use of Calliandra level with the highest income is seen in giving as much as 30%.

Preparation and application of a novel adsorbent from red calliandra hydrochar for pollutant remediation

In this study, saturated and superheated agents were used to produce activated carbon from red calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) hydrochar. Proximate, ultimate, XRD, FTIR, thermal gravity analyzer, and SEM were used to characterize the prepared activated carbon. Chemical pollutants, such as benzene, chloroform, methylene blue (MB), and iodine, were used to test the adsorption ability. The hydrothermal and activation procedures were conducted at 250 °C and 800 °C, respectively. The activation of superheated agents effectively increased the BET surface area compared to saturation and thermal methods alone. The BET surface areas were measured as 470, 759, and 766 m²/g for thermal, saturation, and superheated methods, respectively. The superheated method preserved tiny mesopores (2–10 nm), while saturation produced large mesopores (20–50 nm), and the thermal method was more favorable for macropore development (>50 nm). Analyses of the structure of superheated activated carbon (HC–SS) showed that the aromatic layer (Lc) was thinner, which led to pores that were smaller. The adsorption test confirmed the superiority of the superheated method. For the pollutant species benzene, chloroform, MB, and iodine, HC–SS exhibited adsorption abilities of 146, 240, 81, and 618 mg/g, respectively.

Managing soil organic carbon in tropical agroecosystems: evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya

Abstract. In sub-Saharan Africa, maize is one of the most important staple crops, but long-term maize cropping with low external inputs has been associated with the loss of soil fertility. While adding high-quality organic resources combined with mineral fertilizer has been proposed to counteract this fertility loss, the long-term effectiveness and interactions with site properties still require more understanding. This study used repeated measurements over time to assess the effect of different quantities and qualities of organic resource addition combined with mineral nitrogen (N) on the change of soil organic carbon (SOC) contents over time (and SOC stocks in the year 2021) in four ongoing long-term experiments in Kenya. These experiments were established with identical treatments in moist to dry climates, on coarse to clayey soil textures, and have been conducted for at least 16 years. They received organic resources in quantities equivalent to 1.2 and 4 t C ha−1 yr−1 in the form of Tithonia diversifolia (high quality, fast turnover), Calliandra calothyrsus (high quality, intermediate turnover), Zea mays stover (low quality, fast turnover), sawdust (low quality, slow turnover) and local farmyard manure (variable quality, intermediate turnover). Furthermore, the addition of 240 kg N ha−1 yr−1 as mineral N fertilizer or no fertilizer was the split-plot treatment. At all four sites, a loss of SOC was predominantly observed, likely because the sites had been converted to cropland only a few decades before the start of the experiments. Across sites, the average decline of SOC content over 19 years in the 0 to 15 cm topsoil layer ranged from 42 % to 13 % of the initial SOC content for the control and the farmyard manure treatments at 4 t C ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Adding Calliandra or Tithonia at 4 t C ha−1 yr−1 limited the loss of SOC contents to about 24 % of initial SOC, while the addition of sawdust, maize stover (in three of the four sites) and sole mineral N addition showed no significant reduction of SOC loss over the control. Site-specific analyses, however, did show that at the site with the lowest initial SOC content (about 6 g kg−1), the addition of 4 t C ha−1 yr−1 farmyard manure or Calliandra with mineral N led to a gain in SOC contents. The other sites lost SOC in all treatments, albeit at site-specific rates. While subsoil SOC stocks in 2021 were little affected by organic resource additions (no difference in three of the four sites), the topsoil SOC stocks corroborated the results obtained from the SOC content measurements (0–15 cm) over time. The relative annual change of SOC contents showed a higher site specificity in farmyard manure, Calliandra and Tithonia treatments than in the control treatment, suggesting that the drivers of site specificity in SOC buildup (soil mineralogy, soil texture, climate) need to be better understood for effective targeting management of organic resources. Farmyard manure showed the highest potential for reducing SOC losses, but the necessary quantities to build SOC are often not realistic for smallholder farmers in Africa. Therefore, additional agronomic interventions such as intercropping, crop rotations or the cultivation of crops with extended root systems are necessary to maintain or increase SOC.

Comparison of Chemical Composition, In Vitro Digestibility, and Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy in Estimating In Situ Rumen Degradable Protein of Tropical Foliage

Tropical foliage is an alternative source for protein enrichment in the dairy ration. However, due to the expensive, laborious, and time-consuming data-gathering method, its degradability database for inclusion in ration formulation is still lacking. This study aims to estimate tropical foliage's in situ protein degradability (RDP) using chemical compositions, in vitro digestibilities, and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) methods. The study used one hundred ten tropical foliage samples and observed chemical composition, in vitro dry and organic matter digestibility, and in situ degradation characteristics variables. NIRS spectra were collected to calibrate and validate the in situ degradation characteristics. Correlations were made prior to regression analysis. The results showed that tropical foliage varied in ash (3.02%-18.3%), crude protein (CP) (11.6%-30.7%), crude fiber (CF) (10.2%-29.8%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (31.0%-58.2%), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (18.7%-44.1%), dry matter digestibility (DMD) (23.9%-73.2%), organic matter digestibility (OMD) (25.6%-73.9%), and in situ RDP (21.0%-75.4%). The foliage was highly degraded (RDP > 60%) except for Calliandra calothyrsus (59%). In situ RDP significantly correlated with ash, CP, CF, DMD, and OMD with coefficient correlations (r) of 0.43, 0.60, -0.33, 0.74, and 0.76, respectively. Estimation of RDP using chemical composition and in vitro digestibility followed the equation: RDP (%)= 0.69 + 2.122 CP (%) with R²= 0.41 (p<0.01) and RDP (%)= 0.162 ash + 1.270 CP -0.104 CF + 0.489 IVOMD, with R²= 0.68, p<0.01). Calibration of NIRS using in situ RDP resulted in a regression coefficient (R²) of 0.78. It is concluded that RDP tropical foliage can be estimated more accurately using NIRS compared to in vitro digestibility and chemical composition.

Cost-Benefit Implications of Conservation Agriculture with Trees in the Dry Lands of Machakos County, Kenya

The adoption of conservation agriculture and agroforestry has been cited as the solution to the degradation and low profitability challenges in the drylands. The two systems have been known to result in high profitability through the improvement of yields and lowering of crop production costs. The study was carried out as part of ongoing experimentation established in the short rains (SR) season of 2012 by the World Agroforestry Centre in an on-station site at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Machakos County, Kenya. The trials were based on a split plot arranged in a randomised complete block design with two farming systems (conventional and conservation agriculture) serving as the main blocks, 10 treatments and three replicates, summing to a total of 60 plots. In the fields, three shrub species (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn., Cajanas cajan (Pigeon pea), and Gliricidia sepium Jacq.) were planted in three different spacing (1.5 x 1 m, 3 x 1 m, 4.5 x 1 m) for maize-legume intercrops. The costs of production were recorded consistently in each season (LR 13, SR 13, and LR14). The maize and legume yields were valued at the market selling price from the local market, and a cost-benefit analysis was done through the calculation of benefit-cost ratios (BCR). The data was statistically analysed using ANOVA and means were separated using LSD at p &lt;0.05. Results showed significantly high BCR under conservation agriculture (p &lt;0.0001) in all seasons with sole CA having the highest BCR of 9.9 in LR 2014. The BCRs were lower in the first season due to high initial production costs, but this increased steadily in the succeeding seasons. The study concludes that conservation agriculture both with trees and as the sole is beneficial to the farmer, with higher net benefits compared to conventional tillage