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Publication Date
1977
Description
One of the major problems of livestock production in the Western Province of Zambia is to provide feed during the later part of the rainy season and major early part of the cool season, when the grazing area (Zambezi plain) is flooded. The bulk of this present research has been concerned with the management and improvement of the natural vegetation with emphasis on the use of irrigation, fertilizer, and herbage conservation. Herbage yields and crude protein content varied with the rate of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation level. In our trials, for every 100 mm of irrigation, grass production increased by between 200 kg and 1,975 kg DM/ha, depending on the rate of fertilizer used. Natural sward under irrigation and high fertilizer level gave a maximum yield of 17.76 t DM/ha, containing 14 %protein, per year. Without N the DM yield was 2.5 t/ha and its protein content was 8 %. In most cases single and split applications of N gave almost the same total yields. No positive or negative response was obtained to potash. Boron and sulphur tended to increase yields. The conservation of fodder as hay or silage or standing hay (for small area) is recommended as the best system for rainy and cool season feeding. when the water rises on the floodplain. The livestock industry of Zambia is vital to its development and no effort must be spared to ensure that development.
Citation
Kulich, Jaroslav, "Effect of fertilization and irrigation at different frequencies on the growth, yield, and quality of the natural floodplain sward of the Zambezi area, Zambia" (1977). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 63.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1977/sess7/63)
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Effect of fertilization and irrigation at different frequencies on the growth, yield, and quality of the natural floodplain sward of the Zambezi area, Zambia
One of the major problems of livestock production in the Western Province of Zambia is to provide feed during the later part of the rainy season and major early part of the cool season, when the grazing area (Zambezi plain) is flooded. The bulk of this present research has been concerned with the management and improvement of the natural vegetation with emphasis on the use of irrigation, fertilizer, and herbage conservation. Herbage yields and crude protein content varied with the rate of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation level. In our trials, for every 100 mm of irrigation, grass production increased by between 200 kg and 1,975 kg DM/ha, depending on the rate of fertilizer used. Natural sward under irrigation and high fertilizer level gave a maximum yield of 17.76 t DM/ha, containing 14 %protein, per year. Without N the DM yield was 2.5 t/ha and its protein content was 8 %. In most cases single and split applications of N gave almost the same total yields. No positive or negative response was obtained to potash. Boron and sulphur tended to increase yields. The conservation of fodder as hay or silage or standing hay (for small area) is recommended as the best system for rainy and cool season feeding. when the water rises on the floodplain. The livestock industry of Zambia is vital to its development and no effort must be spared to ensure that development.
