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Effects of agroforestry on rangeland conditions and animals performance

¹Institute of Environmental Studies, Arid Lands, Sudan
²Ministry of Animal Wealth, Rangeland Administration, Sudan

Abstract

The present study was initiated with the objective to investigate the effect of agroforestry and seasonality (during two successive years) on five range species using moringa tree in the model. The study utilised an enclosure located in a peri-urban area in Khartoum state. Measured parameters included days to germination, flowering and seed setting as well as productivity expressed in dry matter yields (ton hectare-1). The nutritive value was analysed for pre- and post-flowering physiological status. Soil samplings were done before and after plantation for the study of soil chemistry. 9 rams were divided into 3 groups, one fed moringa alone, the other fed moringa together with a mixture of range species (50:50), the third a mixture of range species alone.
Within the agroforestry model, the highest yields were obtained in 2014 by Dactyloctnium aegyptium (90 ton/hac), followed by Farsetia longisiliqua (21 ton/ha), then Lasiurus scindicus (14 ton/ha), Clitoria ternatae (7 ton/ha) and finally Alysicerpus monilifer (2.1 ton/hac). During the year 2015, the highest yield was obtained by Lasiurus scindicus (248 ton/ha) followed by Clitoria ternatae (289 ton/ha), then Dactyloctnium aegyptium (92 ton/ha) then Alysicerpus monilifer (91 ton/ha) and Farsetia longisiliqua (90 ton/ha). For both control and agroforestry treatments, year effect was significant (P ≤ 0.001) where year 2015 gave better yields,

Crude protein and dry matter contents increased in post-compared with pre-flowering whereas ether extract and ash content decreased with post-flowering for all plant species, Soil anaylsis showed significant improvement after plantation as compared to before, however, soil salinity and Phosphours was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced due to plantation. The mean gain in body weight was the highest (7.1kg) for rams given the mixture of range species and moringa followed by those given range species alone (4.7kg) and those given moringa alone (3.3kg), the differences were significant ((P ≤ 0.05). however, the feed conversion ratio was better for rams fed moringa alone (0.039), then those fed range species alone (0.044), then those fed moringa plus range species (0.082). It could be conculded that agroferstry could improve both range condition and animal preformance

Keywords: Agroforestry, animals’ performance, rangelands

Contact Address: Muna Ahmed, Institute of Environmental Studies, Arid Lands, Gamhuria Street, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan, e-mail: munamm789yahoo.com