Effect of seedbed methods and time of harvest on the yield and nutritive value of some forage crops grown on Vertisol at Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

Authors

• Abate Tedla International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
• Helena Airaksinen International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
• M. A. Mohamed-Saleem International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72462

Abstract

The influence of the improved drainage broadbed and furrow (BBF), as opposed to the traditional flat seedbed over the growing season on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of Avena sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Vida dasycarpa, Trifolium steudneri and Sesbania sesban were studied on Vertisol. Up to 7 t/ha dry matter yield was recorded for Avena sativa and Lablab purpureus when planted on Vertisols with improved drainage. Dry matter yield of forage crops also increased with advance in stage of maturity or subsequent harvests. On both improved and traditional flat seedbed methods, the chemical analysis of forage crops showed similar declines in crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) levels as the maturity of forage crops progressed.