Participatory On - Farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Legume Forage Species in Benatsemay Woreda of South Omo Zone

Abstract

Participatory field experiment was conducted at Kako and Chali peasant associations of Bena Tsemay woreda, South Omo Zone in the 2012 to 2013 main cropping seasons under rain fed conditions using the forage legume species to identify adaptable and high biomass yielding forage legume species. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design /RCBD/ with three replications where trial Agro pastoralists were considered as replications. The forage species used were Lablab intoritum, Lablab purepureus and Cow pea Legume. Each legume was planted in a single plot area of 3 m x 4 m = 12 m². Dry matter production potential of the tested species in kako peasant association is 4.5, 5.6 and 5.20 t/ha and 3.4, 5.0, and 3.68 t/ ha   for cropping year one and two respectively and where as the dry matter production potential of tested forage species trial location (Chali) is 5.2, 4.4 and 10 t/ha and 4, 3.2 and 5t/ha in year 2012 and 2013 respectively for Labalab purpureus, Lablab intoritum  Cow pea. The result of for dry matter yield (DMY) revealed that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05 ) was observed among the tested forage legume species in the 2012 cropping season in Kako peasant association however, there was significant difference (P < 0.05)  declared between Lablab purepureus and Lablab intoritum and Lablab intortum and Cow pea in the second cropping season. Out of the tested forge species over two years, the one which gave consistently the maximum dry matter yield was Lablab intoritum, which gave (10 tones ha^-1), in the first cropping season and (5 tones ha^-1) in the second cropping season is advisable for the study areas and their vicinities. Hence, use of the best performing forage species is important in the test community even though further testing is important by including their feeding value under different intervention and chemical composition to put the recommendation on strong basis.

Keywords: Cow pea legume, forage dry matter yield, forage species, Lablab intortum, Lablab purepureus.