Evaluation of Multifunctional Fodder Bank Trees and Shrubs in Meskan Woreda Enseno Usma Kebele

Abstract

Agroforestry is a system and/or practices which incorporates different component in the same piece of land to produce forage, crop product, wood product and so on. Forage is the major limiting factor in tropical specially, in Ethiopia, feed source is depends on natural grazing (green grass). This research is design to evaluate the biomass production potential and nutritive value fodder tree and shrubs during dry season, planted as protein band. The research was done in experimental plot of 26m*19.5m with 4m*4m plot size. Five fodder trees,susbania sesban, Moringa stenopetala, Morus alba, Lucenia luecocephala and Azandritcha indica were selected for experiment based on their adaptability to the area. According to the research Sesbania sesban had shows high growth rate having height of 0.67m and 2.84m in the first and the second years followed by Lucenia luecocephala with heght of 0.21m and 1.05m in the first and the second year respectively. Similarly, Sesbania sesban had provide high leaf biomass in dry season for animals followed by Lucenia luecocephala with 4.5kg and 0.87kg of biomass respectively.  On the other hand Morrus alba had show low growth rate, in height, leaf number, no. of branch and root collar diameter, and leaf biomass production. Azandritcha indica had no survived that means all most seedling were died and the remaining were not grow for measurable size with respect to others. The leaf chemical composition of those fodder tree were analyzed in laboratory. Dry matter content of all analyzed species were not show any significant differenc b/n them. Moringa stenopetala, Morus alba and Leuceana leucocephala have show high in crude protein, mineral matter and calcium relative to others. Based on this study we concluded that those tree species like Sesbania sesban, Moringa steopetala amd leuceana leucocephala were can provide enough forage during dry season having good chemical composition. Then farmers can plant those species as fodder source in piece of land.

Keywords: Agroforestry, dry season, farmers, fodder bank, fodder tree, enseno usma