The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa is faced with inadequate quantity of livestock feed especially during the drier (winter) seasons. Forage legumes were over sown into natural grasses to determine their potential to improve feed quality and quantity. Four forage legumes namely: Trifolium vesiculosum (Arrowleaf clover), Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza) , Trifolium repens (white clover) and Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) were intercropped with native grasses in the old arable land located in Lushington communal area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The treatments consisted of natural grasses growing in pure stands and native grasses intercropped with forage legumes grown under rain-fed conditions. Grasses and legumes were harvested for dry matter yield (DMY) once in spring 2013 (September-November), summer 2014 (December-February), autumn 2014 (March-May) and winter 2014 (June-August). Amongst the legumes, L. cuneata was more (P<0.05) productive than rest of the legumes. However, T. vesiculosum was the least (P<0.05) productive legume during the four seasons. Total dry matter (TDM) yield was higher (P<0.05) during summer and lower during winter seasons, respectively. Grasses harvested in autumn had the highest (P<0.05) 12% crude protein (CP) than those harvested in winter which, had the lowest 4.6% CP content. Similarly, all legume pastures harvested in spring had superior (p<0.05) 10.8% CP, while those harvested in winter had the least 3.5% CP. Likewise, forages harvested during the wet seasons (i.e. autumn and or summer) had improved (P<0.05) herbage micro nutrient content than those harvested in the drier (winter) season. Results of the study indicated that overall total dry matter yield of grass-legume mixtures was higher than that of sole natural grasses, with grasses constituting the major component of the herbage yield. Results from this study also indicated that forages produced in wetter seasons had superior biomass yield and nutritive value, respectively.
This study investigated dip-tank use effects on the surrounding woody vegetation cover and encroachment level and on their indigenous utilisation. Eight dip tanks, three in deep-pale-brown old alluvium sandy, three in deep-yellow-red loamy, and two in rock outcrops and stony ground soils, were selected. Woody vegetation survey was conducted at 50, 100, 150, 300, 500, 700 and 900 m from each dip tank. Dichrostachys cinerea and Acacia tortilis were the dominant woody species in all areas. In deep-pale-brown old alluvium sandy soils, D. cinerea density was affected by distance from dip tank up to 150 m (p = 0•03), where the density of A. tortilis was low (p = 0•02). In deep-yellow-red loamy soils, the lowest and highest (p = 0•05) D. cinerea densities were recorded at 150 and 700 m from the dip tank, respectively. Inconsistent results were found on the piosphere formation of total woody density and cover. Nevertheless, large areas surrounding the dip tank had a bush cover of >50 per cent. This study concluded that there was heavy bush encroachment around many dip tanks despite the harvest for woody species by the community. Therefore, there is a need to develop a sustainable and integrated bush control programme that provides conservation plans for species valuable for food and livelihood security. The programme should be based on communal participation and consider shifting of old dip-tank sites and protecting the areas from disturbance. Indiscriminate (burning) or selective (manual) or a combination of the two bush control methods may be initially recommended after a rest period of at least two consecutive growing seasons.
Legumes (Fabaceae) are plants with the distinct ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen; the atmospheric nitrogen fixation by legumes is known as biological nitrogen fixation. Biological nitrogen fixation is the process whereby atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia in the presence of the enzyme nitrogenase. Nitrogen fixation in legumes starts with the formation of nodules. Inside the nodules, nitrogen fixation done by the bacteria (Rhizobia), and the ammonia (NH 3) produced is absorbed by plant. The symbiotic relationship between a bacterium and a plant makes legumes special plants, which offer benefits when included in farming systems. These benefits are ecosystem, economic and environmental benefits. Inclusion of forage legumes in the form of intercropping in low-input grassland mixtures improves forage quantity, quality and soil fertility trough addition of nitrogen (N) from N 2fixation. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice, which involves growing two or more crops in proximity. Legumes also improve the nutritive value of the low quality native pastures grown with them and are important component of farming system since they have high nutritive value and able to rehabilitate nutrient depleted soil. There are various factors affecting legume growth and development and these factors need to be taken into account when planning to grow legumes. These factors include pedoclimatic factors especially those associated with the soil acid complex. These factors are known as physical, chemical, biological and environmental factors. The improvement of forage quantity and quality through forage legume inclusion is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of all livestock farmers. The inclusion of forage legumes in low-input grassland mixtures is vital to improve biomass production, forage quality and ultimately soil fertility. The improvement of forage quantity and quality is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of every livestock farmer. Forage legumes have the potential to improve the diets of ruminants because they increase the crude protein (CP) concentration of the herbage mixture relative to that of grass monocultures.
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