Publication Date
1993
Description
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 resenrch. Parkia is dominant in natural pastures or fallow fields that are used for livestock grazing. The tree provides shade to forage grasses 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 nutritious, 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% 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.
Citation
Sabiiti, Elly N.; Cobbina, J; and Lambourne, J, "Contribution of Parkia biglobosa to the Feeding Value of Pasture Systems in West Africa" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 5.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session56/5
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
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 resenrch. Parkia is dominant in natural pastures or fallow fields that are used for livestock grazing. The tree provides shade to forage grasses 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 nutritious, 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% 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.
