Publication Date
1993
Description
The permanent grasslands based mainly on Eragrostis olivacea are (disappearing in Burundi, because of the increasing density of small . farms. As a result, the integration of forage cultivation in the traditional farming systems becomes of vital importance for the survival of livestock production. A 5-year investigation on yields, nutritive value, persistence and adaptability to soil and altitude of several indigenous and introduced tropical forage grasses and legumes in various ecological regions of Burundi led to proposals that some well-adapted species and cultivars be distributed to farmers. Some species, like Tripsacum andersonii, Pennisetum purpureum and Desmodium intortmn, are quite productive all over the country. Others, including Setaria sphacelata, Brachiaria, Panicum maximum, Stylosanthes guianensis, Centrosema pubescens, Pueraria phaseoloides and . Neonotonia wightii, are limited to specific regions because of temperature, rainfall and dry season duration. The growth of the leguminous fodder trees Leucaena leucocephala, L. diversifolia and Calliandra calothyrsus is particularly influenced by soil acidity and altitude. This paper summarises the results of multisite and comparative trials conducted at 7 different sites and proposes a choice of forages for different soil types, altitudes and levels of farming intensity in Burundi.
Citation
Brandelard, P and Ncamihgo, O, "Potential Yield and Adaptability of Tropical Forages in Different Ecological Regions of Burundi" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 9.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session13/9
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Potential Yield and Adaptability of Tropical Forages in Different Ecological Regions of Burundi
The permanent grasslands based mainly on Eragrostis olivacea are (disappearing in Burundi, because of the increasing density of small . farms. As a result, the integration of forage cultivation in the traditional farming systems becomes of vital importance for the survival of livestock production. A 5-year investigation on yields, nutritive value, persistence and adaptability to soil and altitude of several indigenous and introduced tropical forage grasses and legumes in various ecological regions of Burundi led to proposals that some well-adapted species and cultivars be distributed to farmers. Some species, like Tripsacum andersonii, Pennisetum purpureum and Desmodium intortmn, are quite productive all over the country. Others, including Setaria sphacelata, Brachiaria, Panicum maximum, Stylosanthes guianensis, Centrosema pubescens, Pueraria phaseoloides and . Neonotonia wightii, are limited to specific regions because of temperature, rainfall and dry season duration. The growth of the leguminous fodder trees Leucaena leucocephala, L. diversifolia and Calliandra calothyrsus is particularly influenced by soil acidity and altitude. This paper summarises the results of multisite and comparative trials conducted at 7 different sites and proposes a choice of forages for different soil types, altitudes and levels of farming intensity in Burundi.
