Centrosema Molle Research Articles

EFFECT OF STAGE OF GROWTH ON YIELD COMPONENTS OF TWO TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL FORAGE LEGUMES IN JOS, NIGERIA

(Trifolium repens), Cook Stylo (Stylosanthes guainensis) and centrosema (Centrosema molle) forage legumes at different stages of growth in Jos, Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in 4 x4 Latin Square Design with four replicates. Yield components were measured at 3. 6, 9, 12 and 15 weeks after sowing (WAS). The result showed that plant height was higher (P<0.()5) in C 111011e at all growth stages attaining 147.75 cm at 15WAS while T. pratense had the lowest value of 61.75 in 2016 cropping season. Leaf number was higher (P<0.05) in S. guainensis (132) in 2015 while T. repens had higher value of 221 at 15WAS in 2016 cropping season. There was decrease in leaf to stem ratio in all the treatments at all stages of growth meeasured. Soil cover was higher (P<0.05) in S.guianensis, reaching about 100% at 12 WAS in 2015 cropping season while T. repens had the highest value of 98% in 2016 cropping season at 15 WAS. It is therefore, concluded that the tropical forage legumes have the potential to accumulate more dry matter than the temperate forage legume species in Jos, Nigeria.

A solanum beetle on a fabaceous weed: Possible rapid progress of adaptation to a novel host‐plant in a geographical context

AbstractOur knowledge on how the local distribution pattern of ordinary and novel hosts promotes or hinders the progress of adaptation to the novel hosts by phytophagous insects is limited. The herbivorous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) depends mainly on solanaceous plants as hosts; the major wild host of this beetle species in Java, Indonesia, is Solanum torvum. However, in several regions of Southeast Asia, including Java, H. vigintioctopunctata also occurs on the introduced fabaceous weed, Centrosema molle. Circumstantial evidence indicates that the use of C. molle by beetles became frequent in the very early 2000s in East Java. In the present study, based on laboratory and field data obtained from 2003 to 2005, we evaluated the degree of adaptation to C. molle by H. vigintioctopunctata populations from East Java and documented the geographic pattern of host‐plant distribution in East Java. Laboratory experiments revealed that the beetles from East Java possessed the highest degree of adaptation to C. molle among the beetle populations thus far investigated, suggesting that the adaptation to C. molle by beetles proceeded quite rapidly in East Java in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, field surveys showed that the habitats in East Java consisted of mosaics with sites where only C. molle was distributed and sites where C. molle and solanaceous plants co‐occurred. We discussed the role of such geographical structure of habitats in promoting the rapid adaptation of H. vigintioctopunctata to C. molle in East Java.

Establishment yield and nutrient composition of four legumes as influenced by age of growth in a cool tropical climate at Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

An experiment was conducted with 2 temperate (Trifolium pratense and T. repens) and 2 tropical (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle syn. C. pubescens) forage legumes in an elevated tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria to determine the influence of age of growth on forage yield and nutrient concentrations in the establishment year. The experiment was a 4 harvest times (9, 13, 17 and 21 weeks after sowing; WAS) × 4 legume species (2 temperate and 2 tropical) factorial treatment arrangement in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications, conducted in the growing seasons of 2015 and again 2016. In 2015, S. guianensis produced highest (P<0.05) dry matter yield (8.2 t DM/ha), while T. pratense produced the highest yield (3.6 t DM/ha) in 2016. In both years leaf:stem ratio decreased significantly with age. In 2016 crude protein (CP) concentration declined in all species as age at harvest increased (P<0.05), while at any given age highest CP concentration occurred in T. repens and lowest in S. guianensis (P<0.05). At any age, concentration of calcium followed the pattern T. pratense>T. repens>C. molle>S. guianensis (P<0.05), while phosphorus concentration in forage declined with age at harvest with significant (P<0.05) differences only for tropical legumes. The detergent fiber concentrations (NDF and ADF) were higher in S. guianensis (P<0.05) at any harvest stage. Non-linear regression analysis suggested that these forage legumes, when planted in early June in this environment, could be harvested at the optimum stages of 15, 16, 18 and 21 WAS for T. pratense, T. repens, S. guianensis and C. molle, respectively. However, more studies, especially with earlier planting dates, need to be conducted on the temperate legumes to determine their full yield potential in this environment, especially over a wider range of seasonal conditions.

Defoliation Frequencies of Forage Legumes: Effects on Yield and Nutritive Value for Beef Cattle Production

A study was conducted to determine the effect of cutting frequencies for 2 temperate (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) and 2 tropical (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle) forage legumes on dry matter yield and nutritive value for beef cattle production in a cool tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria. It was a factorial experiments with four forage legumes and three defoliation frequencies (4 x 3) making twelve treatments combinations arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The study was conducted in 2016 and 2017. The result showed that total dry matter yield (DMY) was higher (p<0.05) in T. pratense in 2017 (3.06 t/ha), while C. molle produced least DMY (1.01 t/ha). The temperate species performed better after each cut in DMY. Crude protein content was higher (p<0.05) in T. repens (26. 12 %) at the third cut. The tropical species were higher (p<0.05) in fibre contents. Dry matter intake (3.88 %), digestible dry matter (71.24 %) , total digestible nutrients (70.2 %) and relative feed value (214.53) were all higher (p<0.05) in T. repens at third cut. The temperate forage legumes generally showed more resilience to cuttings compared to the tropical species. Therefore the crops can be grown in the cool tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria as supplementary forage feeds.

Comparative studies on the yield of some herbaceous legumes and effects of storage on the quality of their pellets

Dry matter yield of herbaceous legumes and effects of storage length of their pellets on the chemical composition were investigated. A two phased field and laboratory experiment were conducted. In the first experiment, the yield of the forage legumes using a 5 x 2 factorial experiment consisting of five herbaceous legumes (Lablab purpureus, Mucuna pruriens, Centrosema molle, Centrosema pascorum and Calopogonium mucunoides) and two harvesting ages (6 and 12 weeks after sowing) laid out in a split-plot design was determined. The second experiment was the selection of herbaceous legumes with higher yields from Experiment 1 using a 3 x 4 factorial experiment consisting of the three herbaceous legumes (L. purpureus, C. mucunoides and M. pruriens) used to make pellets and four storage lengths (0 i.e. fresh, 30, 60 and 90 days). Treatments in both experiments were replicated three times. Results showed that legumes harvested 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher dry matter yield (2.73 t ha-1) than legumes at 6 WAS, while Lablab purpureus1 produced the highest (P < 0.05) dry matter yield (2.94 t ha ) of the legumes evaluated.. The physical characteristics of the herbaceous legumes pellets such as colour, odour and moldiness at different storage length showed that they were between fair and good pellets. The L. purpureus and M. pruriens had higher (P < 0.05) CP content than C. mucunoides. Differences in the CP content of pellets with the storage lengths employed was not significant (P > 0.05). Higher oxalate, phytate and saponin contents were found in mucunoides pellets than in other legumes pellets while the tannin content was in the order of M. pruriens (43.63 mg kg-1) > L. purpureus (26.00 mg kg-1) > C. mucunoides (20.31 mg kg-1). In conclusion, increasing age at harvest increased the yield of the legumes, while increasing storage duration decreased the CP content but increased the NDF, ADF and saponin content of the pellets.

Preliminary in vitro screening of some spices and medicinal plants from Edo and Rivers States, Nigeria for reducing enteric methane production in ruminants

Methane gas produced by ruminants during feed fermentation contributed to global warming as well as poor efficiency of food utilization. Mitigating ruminal methane production through anti-microbial feed additive has serious health implications. A preliminary study of the potential of medicinal plants and spices from Edo and Rivers State, as possible replacement to antibiotic feed additives was carried out. Medicinal plants and spices were purposefully sampled, dried at 40oC, milled and 10 mg was added with 190 mg of substrate in a preweighed nylon incubation bags. Bags and their contents were incubated using 30 mL of buffered rumen liquor in 100 mL syringes following the standard procedure of in vitro fermentation. Variables monitored were 24h total gas volume, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) methane (CH4 ) gas, dry matter degradability (DMD) as well as some chemical, cell wall and anti-nutritive components. Results revealed that adding the medicinal plants and spices as feed additives did not depress gas production in most cases (19.5 – 29.50 mL, 17.75 – 30.00 mL and 12.00 – 29.00 mL for Edo medicinal plants, Edo spices and Rivers medicinal plants respectively) and also did not depress DMD (> 50%). Azadirachta indica stem reduced CH4 production mostly by 53.56% while Dennttia tripetala did by 47.69% among the Edo medicinal plants and spices, respectively. In Rivers State, Amaranthus spinosus gave the highest value of 60.33% CH4 reduction. In the same bracket of similar and good CH4 reduction potentials were Alstonia boonei leaves (49.06%), Newbouldia laevis root (41.50%), Euphorbia heterophyla (37.97%), Allium crispum (47.31%), Allium cepa (46.80%), Aframomum mueguata (46.54%), Capsicum annum (47.32%), Ageratum conyzoides (56.52%), Lagenaria breviflora (48.03%) and Centrosema molle (45.08%). All the medicinal plant and spices with potential for CH4 reduction had corresponding high SCFA values (0.46 – 0.65 Mmol) with tannin (%) and saponin (%) contents of 0.011 – 17.50 and 0.01 – 2.40 respectively. Conclusively, the medicinal plants and spices demonstrated good potentials for reducing rumen methane production in vitro and may be subjected to further in vivo studies.

Dry Matter Yield and Quality of Two Temperate and Two Tropical Forage Legume Hays Harvested at Early-Flowering in Jos, Nigeria

The study was designed to evaluate the dry matter yield and quality of two temperate (T. Pratense and T. repens) and two tropical forage legumes (S. guianensis and C.molle) harvested at early-flowering stage for hay in a cool tropical environment of Vom, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The legumes were planted in the month of June, 2015 and 2016 in a 4 x 4 Latin Square Design with four replicates in plots measuring 5 m x 3 m. The forages were harvested at early-flowering stage for yield components, dry matter yield and nutrient quality evaluation.
 The result showed that C. molle was significantly (P<0.01) higher in height in the two seasons compared to the other legumes. Number of leaves per plant was higher (P<0.01) significantly in S. guianensis (125.00) in 2015 whereas, T. repens had higher (P<0.01) value (187.25) in 2016 cropping season. Stylosanthes guianensis produced significantly (P<0.01) higher dry matter with 10.42 t ha-1 in 2015, while the dry matter yield obtained from C. molle (2.90 t ha-1) was the highest in 2016. Trifolium pratense and T. repens were scored excellent grade, while Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle were scored good in quality. Crude protein content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T. repens (18.38%) compared to T. pratense (16.50 %), whereas S. guianensis produced the least value of 13.83%. The crude fibre content of the of the forage materials on the other hand was significantly higher (P<0.0I) in S. guianensis (37.29 %) compared to the other forage legumes.
 The temperate forage legumes in this trial were higher in nutrient content, but lower in dry matter yield. Therefore, the forage crops may serve as better supplementary feeds for livestock feeding especially during the dry season.

Nutrient intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance of two temperate and two tropical forage legume hays fed to New Zealand white rabbits

An experiment was carried out to evaluate two temperate forage legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) and two tropical forage legumes (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle) for hay intake and digestibility in the cool tropical climate of Vom, Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria. The legumes were planted in the month of June, 2016 and harvested at early-podding stage for hay. Sixteen (16) growing male New Zealand White rabbits were used for the digestibility study. The rabbits were arranged in a Completely Randomised Design and in individual cages measuring 55 cm x 39 cm x 40 cm. Nutrient contents, intake and digestibility in rabbits were determined. Crude protein content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T. repens (18.38%) compared to T. pratense (16.50 %), whereas S. guianensis produced the least value of 13.83%. The crude fibre content of the hay was significantly higher (P<0.0I) in S. guianensis (37.29 %) compared to the other forage legumes. Dry matter intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (77.88%) compared to T. pratense (76.57%), and the lowest value of 62.97% was obtained in S. guianensis. Crude protein intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (15.05 g d-1) compared to those fed T. pratense (12.71 g d-1), but S. guianensis had the least value of 8.64 g d-1. On the other hand, rabbits fed S. guianensis hay had a higher (P<0.01) crude fibre intake (23.39%). Trifolium repens was significantly (P<0.01) higher in dry matter and crude protein digestibility (64.79 and 85. 88 %), while S. guianensis had lower values of 56.89 and 71.33%, respectively. Trifolium repens also had a significantly (P<0.01) higher total nitrogen intake and retained compared to the other forage legumes. Nitrogen retained in T. repens was 2.40 g d-1 compared to 1.87 g d-1 in T. pretense, while S. guianensis had the lowest of 1.34 g d-1. The temperate forage legume hays were higher in nutrient content, intake and digestibility compared to the tropical legume hays. Therefore, the forage crops may serve as better supplementary feeds for livestock feeding especially during the dry season.

Efecto de la especie y la edad de rebrote en el perfil de ácidos grasos de leguminosas y arbustivas tropicales

Se evaluó el efecto de tres edades de rebrote (4, 8 y 12 semanas) sobre la producción de forraje, calidad nutricional y perfil de ácidos grasos en leguminosas herbáceas: Clitoria ternatea, Pueraria phaseoloides, Canavalia brasiliensis, Centrosema molle, Centrosema macrocarpum, Alysicarpus vaginalis y Lablab purpureus; en leguminosas arbustivas: Cratylia argentea, Gliricidia sepium, Desmodium velutinum, Cajanus cajan y Leucaena leucocephala; y en una arbustiva no leguminosa: Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae). Se utilizó un diseño de parcelas divididas con bloques al azar, en el cual la parcela principal fue la especie forrajera y la subparcela la edad de rebrote. Los principales ácidos grasos presentes en las especies fueron el ácido palmítico (C16:0), ácido linolénico (C18:3) y linoleico (C18:2). Sin embargo, en las leguminosas herbáceas y arbustivas, el contenido de ácidos grasos fue diferente y disminuyó con la edad de rebrote en los dos grupos. La relación C18:2/C18:3 fue mayor en las leguminosas herbáceas que en las arbustivas, lo cual podría resultar en una mayor concentración de ácido linoleico conjugado (ALC) en la grasa de la leche. La leguminosa Cajanus cajan presentó el mayor (p<0,05) contenido de ácido linolénico (C18:3) y de precursores de ALC en las tres edades de rebrote evaluadas, lo cual sugiere que su uso en la alimentación de bovinos en sistemas de doble propósito resultaría en concentraciones altas de ALC c9 t11 en la grasa de la leche, en comparación con otras especies.

Morphology of Some Species in the Subfamily Papilionoideae

Morphological study of ten species in the subfamily Papilionoideae was carried out with the view to documenting diagnostic characters that would distinguish or group the species. The species studied belong to four tribes, namely: tribe Desmodieae – Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC., Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.) Desv., Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC., tribe Phaseoleae – Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., Calopogonium mucunoides Desv., Centrosema molle (Mart.) ex. Benth., Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) Walp., Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp., tribe Crotalarieae – Crotalaria retusa Linn., tribe Robinieae – Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. Qualitative and quantitative traits which had not been documented in previous works, especially in Nigeria, were studied. These include plant life span; leaf/leaflet apex, base, margin and pubescence; stem type, colour, shape and pubescence; sepal colour and pubescence; nature of margin of petal standard and presence or absence of pedicel; fruit colour, pubescence, tip and shape; seed colour, shape, surface and presence or absence of prominent hilum on the seed; number of seeds per fruit; pedicel length; length and width of petal standard, keel and wing. Characters of taxonomic value documented in this study were leaf type, leaf shape, leaf base, petiole type, stem type, seed shape, petal standard length, petal keel length and petal wing width. Data were subjected to one - way analysis of variance using Duncan’s multiple range test. It was noted that the important characters that can be used in establishing taxonomic relationship in the sub-family Papilionoideae were leaf type, leaf shape, leaf base, petiole type, stem shape, petal colour, petal margin and seed shape.

Bradyrhizobium centrosemae (symbiovar centrosemae) sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium americanum (symbiovar phaseolarum) sp. nov. and a new symbiovar (tropici) of Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi establish symbiosis with Centrosema species native to America

In this work we analyze through a polyphasic approach several Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in Venezuela from root nodules of Centrosema species. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the strains belong to three clusters within genus Bradyrhizobium which have 100% similarity with Bradyrhizobium daqingense CCBAU 15774TBradyrhizobium guangxiense CCBAU 53363T and Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi SEMIA 690T. The results of recA and glnII gene analysis confirmed the identification of the strains CMVU02 and CMVU30 as Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi but the nodC gene analysis showed that they belong to a new symbiovar for which we propose the name tropici. Nevertheless, the concatenated recA and glnII gene phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic characterization showed that the strains A9T, CMVU44T and CMVU04 belong to two novel Bradyrhizobium species. The analysis of the nodC gene showed that these strains also represent two new symbiovars. Based on these results we propose the classification of the strain A9T isolated from Centrosema molle into the novel species Bradyrhizobium centrosemae (sv. centrosemae) sp. nov. (type strain A9T=LMG 29515T=CECT 9095T). and the classification of the strains CMVU44T and CMVU04 isolated from C. macrocarpum into the novel species Bradyrhizobium americanum (sv. phaseolarum) sp. nov. (type strain CMVU44T=LMG 29514T=CECT 9096T).

Survival strategies of Centrosema molle and C. macrocarpum in response to drought

The response of a genotype each of C. moll e and C. macrocarpum to drought (low soil moisture availability) was studied in a seasonally dry tropical environment throughout 3 consecutive years. Changes in soil water content, leaf water relations and gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, forage yield and leaf area index (LAI) were compared in well-watered and droughted plots. Soil water depletion during the study occurred mostly at 0‒20 cm depth. Minimum values of leaf relative water content, water potential (ψ l ) and net photosynthesis in unwatered plants were within the ranges: 68 ( C. molle ) to 70% ( C. macrocarpum ); -1.6 ( C. molle ) to -0.9 MPa ( C. macrocarpum ); and 8 ( C. molle ) to 10 µmol/m 2 /s ( C. macrocarpum ), respectively. Leaf movements helped to avoid excessive solar radiation incidence, yet efficiency of chloroplast Photosystem II in stressed leaves of C. molle was negatively affected. Above-ground biomass and LAI were reduced only in C. macrocarpum (45‒50% reduction) as a result of moisture stress. Leaves of both species behaved as isohydric, though larger declines in ψ l in C. molle may suggest a less effective control of water loss; this promoted more leaf senescence. Drought survival in these species depends on a combination of avoidance and tolerance strategies; the relative importance of both mechanisms depends on species and the duration and intensity of water deficit. Further studies with a higher number of accessions/ecotypes of each species are suggested in order to corroborate our findings. Keywords: Acclimation, physiological response, soil transpirable water, tropical forage legumes, water stress.

Testing Agro-Ecological Adaptation of Improved Herbaceous Forage Legumes in South-Kivu, D.R. Congo

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.

Dry season forages for improving dairy production in smallholder systems in Uganda

Economically feasible strategies for year-round feed supply to dairy cattle are needed to improve feed resource availability, milk yield and household income for the smallholder dairy farming systems that predominate in the rural Eastern and Central African region. Currently, Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) is the major forage in zero-grazing production systems, but dry-season production is often constrained. Our results from 24 farms show that sowing forage legumes, including Centrosema molle (formerly C. pubescens ) and Clitoria ternatea, with Napier grass and Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato improved both yield of forage and protein concentration. Sowing of 0.5 ha Napier-Centro plus 0.5 ha of Mulato-Clitoria increased milk yield by 80% and household income by 52% over 0.5 ha Napier grass monoculture. Possible income foregone from the crops which could have been grown on the additional 0.5 ha must be considered in assessing the economic viability of the system.

Nutritional and sensory profiling of the African giant land snail fed commercial-type and leaf-based diets in a rain-forest ecology

Nutritional and organoleptic properties of the African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) were investigated using 96 healthy-looking growing snails maintained on broiler starter mash (BSM) as control, Talinium triangulare or waterleaf, Centrosema molle or centro leaves, and Carica papaya or pawpaw leaves for 16 weeks. This study was set up as a completely randomized design (CRD) with the snails allocated to 4 treatment groups (broiler starter mash (BSM) as control; Talinium triangulare leaves or waterleaf; Centrosema molle or centro leaves; Carica papaya or pawpaw leaves) and 3 replications each of 8 snails (giving a total of 24 snails per treatment group). At the end of the 16-week period, 4 snails were each harvested at random from the 3 replicates of each of the 4 treatments, sacrificed, processed and analyzed. Dry matter (DM), ash, fat or ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) were higher (P < 0.05) in the BSM group, while crude fibre (CF) was higher (P < 0.05) in centro leaves (34.2 g/100 g) and crude protein (CP) was higher in pawpaw leaves. Meancholesterol level was very low (0.003 ± 0.0006 mg/100 g) in the snail. Negative correlation (r = -0.99; P < 0.05) was recorded between diet CF and moisture content of the snail meat, while feed EE had a positive correlation (r = 0.98; P < 0.05) with snail cholesterol level. Based on tastiness, toughness and tenderness of the snails fried and stewed with spices or only steamed without spices, preference ranking in descending order gave pawpaw leaves > BSM = centro leaves > waterleaf. Thus, snails fed pawpaw leaves performed better than the control diet and could be exploited as a cheap feed resource for smallholder snail production in the humid tropics. Low fat and cholesterol levels in the African giant land snail make it very suitable for ameliorating human cardiovascular-related diseases.Key words: Composition, nutrient, palatability, sensory, snail

Effect of five forage legume covers on soil quality at the Eastern plains of Venezuela

At the Eastern planes of Venezuela, large to tracts of pastureland are sustained by low fertility acid soils that often lead to overgrazing, decreased pasture production, invasion by weeds, and soil compaction and erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of local forage legume species and its influence on chemical and biochemical properties of soil with the ultimate goal of identifying which one of these species have the potential to be used as cover in the establishment of a “Ley farming” system. The study was conducted on an Oxisol and used five local species from the genus Centrosema ( Centrosema brasilianum, Centrosema macrocarpum, Centrosema pascuorum, Centrosema rotundifolium and Centrosema molle) which were established as cover for a period of 3 years. Dry matter (DM) and soil samples were collected twice a year, during the dry season (April) and during the rainy season (October). The soil parameters evaluated were total nitrogen, organic matter, calcium, potassium, magnesium, pH, soil respiration, and enzymatic activities that include β-glucosidase, arylsulphatase, phosphatase, urease, protease, dehydrogenase and catalase. The annual average data were used to identify indicators of soil quality through principal component analysis (PCA) that led to calculate a soil quality index (SQI). The results indicated that DM production varied among the different legume covers, showing C. macrocarpum the greatest productivity (1340 kg h −1). The PCA identified seven of the tested soil variables as quality indicators: total nitrogen, pH, calcium, soil respiration and arylsulfatase and β-glucosidase activities. Total nitrogen, P and β-glucosidase activity were the indicators showing the largest changes over time being able to discriminate between treatments. After the 3 year period of the trial the SQI of the soil tested raised from 0.17 (very low quality) to 0.30 (low quality) where C. brasilianun, C. pascuorum and C. molle were established and to 0.40 (moderate quality) where C. macrocarpum and C. rotundifolium were established. Thus, the legume crop covers influenced positively the soil quality. C. macrocarpum was the legume cover that showed the greatest soil improvement, having the best potential to be used as forage cover to establish a “Ley farming” system at the Eastern planes of Venezuela.

Feed intake, growth rate and some anatomical characteristics of broilers fed commercial diets supplemented with green feeds

AbstractA study was conducted on the Teaching and Research Farm of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria to evaluate the nutritional suitability of four treatments, namely a commercial type broiler diet as compared with the commercial diet supplemented with either fresh centrosema (Centrosema molle), pueraria (Pueraria phaseoloides), or waterleaf (Talinium triangulare) leaves. These diets were fed to 120 day-old chicks (Lohmann Brown) over a 62-day period with treatments arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD). Chemical composition of broiler basal diets differed significantly from the three green foliage supplements. Dry matter (DM) of leaf meals ranged from 97.8 to 227.0 g kg−1which was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of broiler basal diets which averaged 900 g kg−1. Crude protein (CP) of leaf meals, however, ranged from 182.0 to 244.0 g kg−1which was generally higher than basal diets (130–153 g kg−1). Similarly, crude fiber (CF) was highest for centrosema and pueraria leaves (330–342 g kg−1) and lowest in basal diets (164–222 g kg−1). However, ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) were significantly higher in broiler basal diets. Broiler daily and total feed intake over 62 days were similar between treatments and the control, averaging 112 g d−1, while diets containing waterleaf were slightly (2.5%) lower. Total and daily bodyweight (BW) gains (2110 g and 34 g d−1) were also similar between treatments and the control, except that gains where the broiler diet was supplemented with centrosema foliage were 2.9% higher. A higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) and lower protein efficiency ratio (PER) for the diet supplemented with pueraria indicates a higher feed efficiency and better protein efficiency in the commercial control diet. Carcass characteristics with the commercial control diet included greater (P<0.05) intestinal length and gizzard and spleen weights than with green foliage supplements. However, broiler carcass weight was generally lowest (P<0.05) in the control group (64.3 g/100 g BW) and highest in the waterleaf group (71.3 g/100 g BW). Small differences in carcass weight among the treatments tested reduces the effectiveness of green feeds for practical and economic intensive broiler production. However, increased effectiveness of green feed supplementation for broiler production might likely be observed where broilers are managed on fenced rangelands planted to selected green feeds or in integrated systems where other livestock (rabbits, sheep, goats, etc.) are jointly reared. These results support the recommendation that leaf meals of green feeds should be incorporated into broiler diets in future studies.