Dry and wet season performance of selected herbaceous legumes in Uganda

The dry matter production of 9 herbaceous legume species was evaluated over 3 years for their suitability as forage species in the subhumid regions of Uganda. Dry matter production of Centrosema pascuorum (6774), Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Wynn), Clitoria ternatea (9291), Macroptilium atropurpureum (Siratro), Stylosanthes guianesis (Cook), S. guianensis (163), S. hamata (Verano), S. scabra (441) and S. scabra (Seca) was assessed after 3-,6-,9- and 12- weeks regrowth in the wet season and after 6- and 12- weeks regrowth in the dry season. The Stylosanthes species were most productive in both wet and dry seasons. Appropriate seed production technologies need to be developed to make seed available for further studies and for distribution to farmers

Influence of biogas digesters on faecal indicator organisms in digestate and around homesteads In ethiopia

Acknowledgement: This work was funded by AUC/EUC (Afri-flame network); the authors would like to thank the laboratory and field assistants who participated in this study. The Scottish Government for funding Dr Avery’s contribution to co-authouring.Peer reviewedPostprin

Utilising Agricultural Waste To Enhance Food Security And Conserve The Environment

The rapid increase in the world's population coupled by urban migration has resulted into an increased demand for food which has in turn led to the production of large amounts of agricultural wastes, both at the farmer, municipality and city levels. The bulk of the agricultural food in developing countries is transported to cities in its raw forms, thus compounding the net effect on large deposits of waste in urban markets, around homes and in slums as well as in various dumping grounds. In Kampala alone, over 1000mt of waste accumulate in the city and only about 30% of it is collected by the City Council leaving the rest to rot and pollute the environment. Although it is recognized that the accumulation of waste has enormous ill effects on humans and the environment, such wastes, if properly managed could be considered an important bio-resource for enhancing food security in the small holder farming communities that would not afford use of expensive inorganic fertilizers. These organic wastes contain high levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and organic matter important for improving nutrient status of soils in urban agriculture. Various factors amplify the agricultural waste problem, especially in developing countries where there are limited waste recycling facilities. Most of the nutrients are leached from the dampfills and end up polluting water bodies and this has been associated with the invasion of water weeds. Most importantly, there is lack of planning, poor public awareness, poor government policy and laws, and lack of or insufficient utilization of resources. In Kampala, many small holder farmers have improved milk production by feeding animals with various combinations of agricultural wastes. Others have increased nutrient supply in soils by applying organic compost leading to improved crop yields, especially vegetables and maize which fetch high prices for the farmers thus reducing poverty levels and enhancing food security. This alternate method of removal of these wastes for agricultural production by farmers has also reduced the rate of accumulation with subsequent reduction on environmental pollution thus improving on environmental health. This paper briefly reviews how agricultural wastes can be used to enhance food security and conserve the environment

Initial agronomic evaluation of Parkia biglobosa in the humid zone of Nigeria

Determines the effect of management regimes (cutting frequency and height) on the coppicing ability, fodder production and nutritive value potentials of cultivated Parkia trees compared with Gliricidia. The study has shown that the tree has a potential as fodder for livestock as well as human food. Examines effect of 8-weekly cutting on leaf and total biomass (kg/ha), effect of cutting interval on coppice productivity, and crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility, neutral detergent fibre and tannins of Parkia biglobosa and Gliricidia sepium in the humid zone of Nigeria

Parkia biglobosa: A potential multipurpose fodder tree legume in West Africa

Parkia is a pantropical genus of about 30-40 tree legume species of considerable evolutionary, taxonomic, biological and economic improtance in Africa, Asia and South America. It has several uses, including fodder, food, medicine, green manure, fuel and timber. This paper reviews the scattered literature, emphasizing those areas relevant to fodder production that require urgent research. Only limited quantitative agronomic data exist on bioglobosa and on other species with potential for development

Contribution of Parkia biglobosa to the feeding value of pasture systems in West Africa

Parkia (Parkia biglobosa) is an important traditional economic tree legume with several uses for the rural farmers in West Africa, although it has received only limited research. Parkia is dominant in natural pastures or fallow fields that are used for livestock grazing. The tree provides shade to forage grass and livestock, protects soil from heat and torrential tropical rains, resists fire damage and coppices very well after defoliation. Farmers grow several food crops under the canopy. The fruits, leaves and young seedlings, which are highly rutitions, form an important fodder for livestock in the dry season when natural pastures are poor in quality. Tree fodder production potential is quite high. The seeds and leaves contain up to 30 and 18 percent crude protein, respectively, and seeds are also eaten by humans as a major source of protein. The genus has a potential for nitrogen fixation. The paper presents data on fodder quality of Parkia and how it should be managed properly for integration in silvipastoral systems of West Africa

Effect of dried Gliricidia sepium leaf supplement on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed dried KW4 elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum

A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation with dried Gliricidia sepium leaves on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed KW4 elephant grass. Four mature rams were fed elephant grass ad libitium supplemented with four levels of gliricidia leaves (0, 4, 8 and 12 gDM kg-1wt day -1) in a 4x4 Latin swuare design. Supplementation with gliricidia leaves decreased elephant grass DM intake (g DM day-1 or g DM kg-1 BW 0.75 day -1). However, the effect of supplementation of total DM intake of the rations was not significant (P>0.05). Total crude protein intake significantly (P<0.001) increased with increasing levels of gliricidia supplementation. Total DM digestibility and body weight changes were significantly (P<0.05) improved by gliricidia supplementation; with the highest digestibility coefficient (60.5) improved by gliricidia supplementation; with the highest digestibility coefficient (60.5 percent) and body weight gain (89.3 g/day) obtained at 8 g DM kg -1wt day -1. Gliricidia supplementation significantly (P<0.001) improved nitrogen intake, absorbed nitrogen and retained nitrogen but with no significant difference at 8 and 12 g DM kg -1wt day -1 level of supplementation. The highest efficiency of N retention by sheep (44.9 percent) was obtained at 8 g DM kg -1wt day -1 level of gliricidia supplementation. The results indicated that supplemention of KW4 elephant grass with small quantities of gliricidia leaves up to 8 g DM kg -1wt day -1 enhance utilisation efficiency of the total ration. Further increases in the level of gliricidia supplementation, under the conditions of this experiment, reduced the intake of elephant grass leading to substitution effects of the basal

Influence of Seed Size on Seed and Seedling characteristics of Centrosema Pubescens

Seed of Centro of different sizes was produced from ungraded seed under three support systems; unstaked, staked and intercropped with cassava. The effect of seed size (as a result of production system) and planting depth on germination rate, germination percentage and seedling vigour were examined during laboratory and screen house experiments. Results showed slight but nonsignificant differences in seedling performance of 100 seeds weighing 2.0 and 2.9 g (from intercropped and staked centro, respectively), while seedling performance of above seeds was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of unstaked centro whose 100 seeds weighed 2.6 g. Positive associations between seedling performance and seed size were also observed. Production of centro seed from cassava supported or staked plants yielded larger seeds size and better seedling performance compared to unstaked growth

Influence of Seed Size on Seed and Seedling characteristics of Centrosema Pubescens

Seed of Centro of different sizes was produced from ungraded seed under three support systems; unstaked, staked and intercropped with cassava. The effect of seed size (as a result of production system) and planting depth on germination rate, germination percentage and seedling vigour were examined during laboratory and screen house experiments. Results showed slight but nonsignificant differences in seedling performance of 100 seeds weighing 2.0 and 2.9 g (from intercropped and staked centro, respectively), while seedling performance of above seeds was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than that of unstaked centro whose 100 seeds weighed 2.6 g. Positive associations between seedling performance and seed size were also observed. Production of centro seed from cassava supported or staked plants yielded larger seeds size and better seedling performance compared to unstaked growth