Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Livestock production is an agricultural system that serves as humanity’s protein and calorie source. Its production is the main economic stay for some people and a complementary source for others. However, land misappropriation and draught constrain the sustainable production of pasture for feeding...

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Main Authors: Amarachi G. Nwokocha, Sani Idris, Yunusa M. Ishiaku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Diyala 2023-06-01
Series:مجلة ديالى للعلوم الزراعية
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.djas.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/dasj/article/view/6351
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author Amarachi G. Nwokocha
Sani Idris
Yunusa M. Ishiaku
author_facet Amarachi G. Nwokocha
Sani Idris
Yunusa M. Ishiaku
author_sort Amarachi G. Nwokocha
collection DOAJ
description Livestock production is an agricultural system that serves as humanity’s protein and calorie source. Its production is the main economic stay for some people and a complementary source for others. However, land misappropriation and draught constrain the sustainable production of pasture for feeding livestock. Further aggravated by farmer/herder clashes and wetlands extinction. The need for an experiment for the selection of the best pasture species in the Sudan Savannah region that can thrive well under diverse soil textures and moisture status becomes imperative. This trial was conducted in the screen house of Babcock University, objectively to test the performances of Sorghum almum, Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria mulato and Centrosema pascuorum under Sand, Sandy Clay Loam, and Sandy Loam textures and four water regimes: 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%. Standard agronomic recommendations were practised throughout the experiment. Data collected included plant height, fresh and dry shoot and root weights, number of leaves, and leaf length. Data generated were analyzed using ANOVA. According to the results, Sandy Loam soil (Soil type from Gamawa) was the best for supporting all the pasture species, followed by Sandy Clay Loam (Soil type from Zaki). S. almum outperformed other pasture species significantly irrespective of soil textural type and water stress level treatments, followed by B. mulato. For water levels; 100% and 75% had the most promising biomass outcome. Based on the results, a 75% water regime which represents 25% deficit of the actual crop water requirement is recommended for the production of the tested pastures in the area.
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spelling doaj.art-a09772eb8a9d440e8209d4fdd2bfa6272023-07-11T10:42:13ZengUniversity of Diyalaمجلة ديالى للعلوم الزراعية2073-95242310-87462023-06-01151819210.52951/dasj.23150109Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, NigeriaAmarachi G. Nwokocha0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8049-4703Sani Idris1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7206-9889Yunusa M. Ishiaku2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5333-7094Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, NigeriaDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, NigeriaNational Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University Shika Zaria, NigeriaLivestock production is an agricultural system that serves as humanity’s protein and calorie source. Its production is the main economic stay for some people and a complementary source for others. However, land misappropriation and draught constrain the sustainable production of pasture for feeding livestock. Further aggravated by farmer/herder clashes and wetlands extinction. The need for an experiment for the selection of the best pasture species in the Sudan Savannah region that can thrive well under diverse soil textures and moisture status becomes imperative. This trial was conducted in the screen house of Babcock University, objectively to test the performances of Sorghum almum, Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria mulato and Centrosema pascuorum under Sand, Sandy Clay Loam, and Sandy Loam textures and four water regimes: 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%. Standard agronomic recommendations were practised throughout the experiment. Data collected included plant height, fresh and dry shoot and root weights, number of leaves, and leaf length. Data generated were analyzed using ANOVA. According to the results, Sandy Loam soil (Soil type from Gamawa) was the best for supporting all the pasture species, followed by Sandy Clay Loam (Soil type from Zaki). S. almum outperformed other pasture species significantly irrespective of soil textural type and water stress level treatments, followed by B. mulato. For water levels; 100% and 75% had the most promising biomass outcome. Based on the results, a 75% water regime which represents 25% deficit of the actual crop water requirement is recommended for the production of the tested pastures in the area.https://journal.djas.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/dasj/article/view/6351pasture speciessoil texturewater application regimedroughtlivestock
spellingShingle Amarachi G. Nwokocha
Sani Idris
Yunusa M. Ishiaku
Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
مجلة ديالى للعلوم الزراعية
pasture species
soil texture
water application regime
drought
livestock
title Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
title_full Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
title_fullStr Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
title_short Selection of Drought-Tolerant Pasture Species under Varying Soil and Moisture Conditions in Bauchi State, Nigeria
title_sort selection of drought tolerant pasture species under varying soil and moisture conditions in bauchi state nigeria
topic pasture species
soil texture
water application regime
drought
livestock
url https://journal.djas.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/dasj/article/view/6351
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AT yunusamishiaku selectionofdroughttolerantpasturespeciesundervaryingsoilandmoistureconditionsinbauchistatenigeria