Fodder Species Adaptability and Potentialities
Tivet, F; Tran Quoc, H; Phanthanivong, I; Soukhalivong, K; Phonekhampheng, C;
Konthong, K; Khamxaykhay, C; Chantharath, B; Panyasiri, K; Lienhard, P; Julien, P, Lecomte, P
Tivet, F; Tran Quoc, H; Phanthanivong, I; Soukhalivong, K; Phonekhampheng, C;
Konthong, K; Khamxaykhay, C; Chantharath, B; Panyasiri, K; Lienhard, P; Julien, P, Lecomte, P
Southern Xayabury – Lao PDR
Cattle fodder systems in the south of Xayabury can be characterised by limited management costs and low capital investment. Natural pasture lands provide the main fodder resources to the animals. Rice straws are also used to complete cattle consumption.
Genetic race improvement is frequently done by crossing local cows (identified as belonging to “Asian yellow” race) with Brahman genitors imported from Thailand.
A progressive deterioration of natural pasture lands can be observed: compacted soils related to overgrazing, qualitative and quantitative decreasing of fodder resources (generalisation of Chrysopogon aciculatus and/or
Imperata cylindrica cover).
Confronted to such situation, an increasing number of farmers express their wish to improve fodder resources. Initiative of implementing pasture areas are steadily raising.
Cattle breeding is presently extending…
OBJECTIVES
•To analyse fodder species adaptability according to the various landscape and soil units.
• To define and propose to farmers solutions for pasture lands management in order to improve both qualitatively et quantitatively fodder resources.
MATERIALS and METHODS
Five fodder species collections from 0.3 to 0.8 ha have been implemented. The following species were tested: B. ruziziensis, B. humidicola, B. decumbens, B. brizantha, B. dictyoneura, Panicum maximum, Andropogon gayanus, Paspalum atratum, Centrosema pascuorum and Stylosanthes guianensis. (coming from Thailand, NAFRI-CIAT/FSLP projects, Southedge Seeds…).
The various species were conducted under 3 different levels of mineral fertilisation (F0, F1 and F2) with 3 replicates of 4 m2for each elementary plot (specie x fertilisation level). Every 21 days, biomasses were slashed, weight and then exported.
In parallel, a network of 50 pilot farms was created to analyse new fodder systems introduction with and on-farmers fields situation.
POTENTIALITIES OF TESTED SPECIES
Stylosanthes guianensis
Panicum
maximum humidicolaBrachiara
Brachiara ruziziensis
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS NETWORKS FOR FODDER IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT
03/ 03 30 /0 4 14 /0 6 25 /0 7 05/ 09 15 /1 0 F0 F2 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
F0
F1
F2
Exemple of B. ruziziensis 16.4 T/ha 14 T/ha 5.3 T/haDry biomass evolution on granite rocks
F0 : no fertilisation - F1 : 300 kg/ha of 9-24-24 + 50 Kg N. F2 : 600 kg/ha of 9-24-24 + 70 kg N
Daily growth in between March and October 2002 (kg DM/ha/d) with (+) and without fertiliser (-)
0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 10 0 kg MS.ha-1.j-1 B . r uz i z i e n si s B . r uz i z i e n si s B . d e c u m be n s B . di c t y o n e u r a P . m a x i mu m 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 10 0 kg MS.ha-1.j-1 B . r u z i z i e n si s B . d e c u m b e ns B . h u m i d i c o l a B . d i c t y on e u r a P . m a x i m u m A . g a y a n us
Sandstones Basic soils
(+)
(+)
(-)
(-)
Daily consumption of a 300 kg cow = 7,5 Kg/dM/day
P. maximum dry season
B. Ruziziensisraining season
Cuttings of B. humidicola
Farmer fields visit
•Assistance to farmers for fodder seeds provision,
overgrazed pasture lands regeneration and management in the south of Xayabury
• 4 species presently adopted by farmers : B. ruziziensis, B. humidicola, Panicum maximum and Stylosanthes guianensis (implementation by seeds or root cuttings according to species)
National
National ProgramProgramofofAgroecologyAgroecology
