Effect of Top Dressing and Over Sowing Improved Forages on Biomass Yield and Herbaceous Composition of Grazing Land in Bursa Woreda of Sidama Region
Worku Bedeke*
Published: August 31, 2022
Abstract
Natural pasture productivity is reducing due to shrinkage of grazing land in highlands of crop livestock mixed production system; which is aggravated by poor management and misuse of it. The study was conducted in bursa district of Sidama region in 2018 and 2019 cropping season with objective of identifying effects of urea top dressing and grass and legume over-sowing on herbaceous production, species composition improvement of grazing land. Five different treatments were applied as T1, control, .T2. over sowing phalaris grass, T3, over sowing clover, T4, top dressing 100kg of urea, T5, top dressing 50 kg urea and over-sowing phalaris. All experimental plots were fenced throughout the study period. There was statistically significant difference at (p≤0.05) among treatments in total dry matter yield; having a DMY of 2.54 tone/ha DM in T1 followed by 2.32 tone/ha in T2. There was no statistically significant difference at (p≤0.05) in legume dry matter yield among treatments. Species composition was categorized in dry matter base as grass, legumes and herbs; of these grasses dominated in all experimental plots followed by legumes. Statically significant difference at (p≤0.05) was recorded in year two than year one in all parameters recorded having 1.96 tone/ha and 2.06 tone/ha DM respectively in year one and two. From the identified grass species Setariaverticellata frequently occurred in urea applied plots whereas Trifoliumruppellianum was dominant species in non-urea applied plotsespecially in clover over-sown plots. During field observation, the participants of the grazing land day rated the Urea applied treatment as best because of the high yield of pasture. Finally it could be recommended to top dress urea for increased biomass yield. It would be better to conduct a long-term study to examine the effects of the different treatments on productivity of grazing lands, herbaceous species composition, grazing capacities, livestock and the environment.