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| dc.contributor.author | Muluken, Shiferaw | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-01-17T04:53:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-01-17T04:53:58Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-01-17 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8501 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was undertaken with the aim to investigate the improved forage production and utilization system, farmers perceptions’, yield and chemical composition of improved forages grown on natural resource conservation areas in North Achefer and Mecha Districts, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region. A total of 180 households (90 from each district) were selected and interviewed. Data was collected using semi-structure questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD).Chemical composition and Dry Matter (DM) of improved forages data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, SPSS (version 21; 2013) and SAS software (version 9.1; 2005) were used for qualitative and quantitative data analysis, respectively .The average land holding of the farmers was 2.24 ±0.052 ha per household whereas livestock holding was 5.657 ±0.2TLU per household. The land is largely used for food crop production and small amount of land is allocated for forage production. The most common forage establishment methods used by the smallholder farmers were broad casting (41%), cutting (28%) and row seedling (18%) for both districts. Improved forage production has been promoted for long time in the study areas.The forages were grown primarily for the purpose of animal feed (44%) in both districts. The forage species used in the natural resource conservation areas include sesbania (Sesbania sesban) (33%), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) (19%), Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) (18%), Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (16%) and vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) (8%) in the study areas. Backyard forage, Private pasture land, area exclosure and forage strips were the most common forage development mechanisms under the smallholder farmers in both districts.The chemical composition of forages used in the study areas showed the following composition values:Napier grass CP (10.83%), NDF (57%), ADF (48.34%) and ADL(18.67%), Sesbania CP(24.83%),NDF (34.67%),ADF (24.5%) and ADL (10.67%), Pigeon pea CP (16.33%), NDF (54.83%), ADF (46.67%) and ADL (24.57%) and Vetiver grass CP (12.36%), NDF (72.59%), ADF (63.07%) and ADL (22.17%).Farmers in the study areas had good perception about improved forage production and utilization due to their function as soil conservation and feeding value as well as income generation. As a conclusion, in the study areas improved forages were used as soil conservation, livestock feed and income, however, there was lack of skill on management and utilization of these forages. Hence, based on the current finding, relevant development and research interventions such as management and utilization of improved forage should be future direction of research and development. Keywords: Farmers perceptions’, improved forages, natural resource conservation, utilization | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | ANIMAL PRODUCTION | en_US |
| dc.title | FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS, YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF IMPROVED FORAGES GROWN ON NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AREAS IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF WEST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA REGION, Ethiopia | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
