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On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia

Received: 19 October 2021     Accepted: 8 November 2021     Published: 17 November 2021
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Abstract

The need to evaluate and identify the adaptability of these improved forage crops on station had been to identify the promising forage species to the particular agro-ecology. On farm evaluation and demonstration of Rhodes grass and Stylosanthus guanensis was carried out on 20 farmers’ fields in Yeki and Sheko districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji zones during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The study was to evaluate and demonstrate Rhodes grass and stylosanthus gaunensis at farmers’ level and to assess farmers’ opinion. The forages were planted on 10×10 plot size on each farmer’s farm land. Dry matter yield, seed yield data and farmers perceptions were evaluated. The result indicated that there was variability in performance of the improved forage species between the districts and among the farmers within the districts. The dry matter yield and seed yield for Rhodes grass obtained range from 6-10t/ha and 190.3-315.4 kg/ha respectively. For Stylosanthus guanensis, the highest dry matter was obtained in sheko district (5.1t/ha) and the lowest mean dry matter yield recorded in yeki district (3.5t/ha). Similarly, highest seed yield (269.5 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in sheko district whereas the lowest seed yield (179.2 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in yeki district. Most of the farmers were select Rhodes grass than stylosanthus on majority of selection criteria. Further demonstration of improved forage crops allows farmers to improve their knowledge and understanding on cultivation and utilization of forages crops for their animals.

Published in International Journal of Animal Science and Technology (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13
Page(s) 105-109
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Demonstration, Improved Forage, Farmer, Sheko, Yeki

References
[1] Yayneshet T, Eik LO, Moe SR., 2009. The effects of enclosures in restoring degraded semi-arid vegetation in communal grazing lands in northern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments, 73: 542-549. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3 (9), pp. 628-63.
[2] Gezahegn, M., Endale, Y., Yadessa, Dereje, T., Melkam, A., Ararsa, B. and Kefene E., 2017. Survey on Livestock Production System Characterization in Bench-Maji, Sheka and Mejenger Zones, South Western Ethiopia. IJRAS, 4 (5): 231-239.
[3] Feyisa, T. and Dejen, M., 2017. Assessment of major livestock feed resources and feeding systems in Bench-Maji zone; South Western part of Ethiopia. J. Anim. Feed Res., 7 (6): 145-153.
[4] Cook BG, Pengelly BC, Brown SD, Donnelly JL, Eagles DA., 2005. Tropical Forages: an interactive selection tool, [CD-ROM], CSIRO, DPI & F (Qld), CIAT and ILRI, Brisbane, Australia.
[5] Kiyothong, K., Satjipanon, C. and Pholsen, P., 2002. Effect of cutting height and time on seed yield and seed quality of Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol, 24 (4), pp. 587-593.
[6] Alemayehu, M., Gezahegn, K., Getnet, A. and Fekede, F., 2016. Improved forage crops production strategies in Ethiopia: A review. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res., 4 (6): 285-296.
[7] Dejene, M., Assefa, G., Kebede, G. and Kaske, K., 2012. Forage seed production and Supply Systems in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Forage seed research and development in Ethiopia, pp. 59-70.
[8] Mengistu, A., Kebede, G., Assefa, G. and Feyissa, F., 2016. Improved forage crops production strategies in Ethiopia: A review. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science Research, 4 (6), pp. 285-296.
[9] Mulualem, T. and Molla, M., 2013. Production Constraints, Farmers Preferences and Participatory on Farm Evaluation of Improved Forage Technologies in Selected Districts of Southern Ethiopia. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3 (9), pp. 628-635.
[10] Abebe, Y., Tafere, M., Dagnew, S., Tolla, M., Gebre-Selassie, Y., Amane, A. and Molla, D., 2015. Best fit practice manual for Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) production. Capacity building for scaling up of evidence-based practices in agricultural production in Ethiopia. BDU-CASCAPE Working. Paper, 10.
[11] Boonman, J. G. 1993. East Africa’s grasses and fodders: Their ecology and husbandry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dortrecht, Netherlands, p. 341.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Gezahegn Mengistu, Ararsa Bogale, Dereje Tulu, Melkam Aleme. (2021). On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 5(4), 105-109. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13

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    ACS Style

    Gezahegn Mengistu; Ararsa Bogale; Dereje Tulu; Melkam Aleme. On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Int. J. Anim. Sci. Technol. 2021, 5(4), 105-109. doi: 10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13

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    AMA Style

    Gezahegn Mengistu, Ararsa Bogale, Dereje Tulu, Melkam Aleme. On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Int J Anim Sci Technol. 2021;5(4):105-109. doi: 10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13,
      author = {Gezahegn Mengistu and Ararsa Bogale and Dereje Tulu and Melkam Aleme},
      title = {On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Animal Science and Technology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {105-109},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijast.20210504.13},
      abstract = {The need to evaluate and identify the adaptability of these improved forage crops on station had been to identify the promising forage species to the particular agro-ecology. On farm evaluation and demonstration of Rhodes grass and Stylosanthus guanensis was carried out on 20 farmers’ fields in Yeki and Sheko districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji zones during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The study was to evaluate and demonstrate Rhodes grass and stylosanthus gaunensis at farmers’ level and to assess farmers’ opinion. The forages were planted on 10×10 plot size on each farmer’s farm land. Dry matter yield, seed yield data and farmers perceptions were evaluated. The result indicated that there was variability in performance of the improved forage species between the districts and among the farmers within the districts. The dry matter yield and seed yield for Rhodes grass obtained range from 6-10t/ha and 190.3-315.4 kg/ha respectively. For Stylosanthus guanensis, the highest dry matter was obtained in sheko district (5.1t/ha) and the lowest mean dry matter yield recorded in yeki district (3.5t/ha). Similarly, highest seed yield (269.5 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in sheko district whereas the lowest seed yield (179.2 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in yeki district. Most of the farmers were select Rhodes grass than stylosanthus on majority of selection criteria. Further demonstration of improved forage crops allows farmers to improve their knowledge and understanding on cultivation and utilization of forages crops for their animals.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - On Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Rhodes Grass and Sylosanthus guanensis in Selected Districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia
    AU  - Gezahegn Mengistu
    AU  - Ararsa Bogale
    AU  - Dereje Tulu
    AU  - Melkam Aleme
    Y1  - 2021/11/17
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13
    T2  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    JF  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    JO  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    SP  - 105
    EP  - 109
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1312
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20210504.13
    AB  - The need to evaluate and identify the adaptability of these improved forage crops on station had been to identify the promising forage species to the particular agro-ecology. On farm evaluation and demonstration of Rhodes grass and Stylosanthus guanensis was carried out on 20 farmers’ fields in Yeki and Sheko districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji zones during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The study was to evaluate and demonstrate Rhodes grass and stylosanthus gaunensis at farmers’ level and to assess farmers’ opinion. The forages were planted on 10×10 plot size on each farmer’s farm land. Dry matter yield, seed yield data and farmers perceptions were evaluated. The result indicated that there was variability in performance of the improved forage species between the districts and among the farmers within the districts. The dry matter yield and seed yield for Rhodes grass obtained range from 6-10t/ha and 190.3-315.4 kg/ha respectively. For Stylosanthus guanensis, the highest dry matter was obtained in sheko district (5.1t/ha) and the lowest mean dry matter yield recorded in yeki district (3.5t/ha). Similarly, highest seed yield (269.5 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in sheko district whereas the lowest seed yield (179.2 kg ha-1/year) was obtained in yeki district. Most of the farmers were select Rhodes grass than stylosanthus on majority of selection criteria. Further demonstration of improved forage crops allows farmers to improve their knowledge and understanding on cultivation and utilization of forages crops for their animals.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Teppi, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Teppi, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Teppi, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Teppi, Ethiopia

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