Abstract:
Livestock production is an agricultural system that serves as humanity’s protein
and calorie source. Its production is the main economic stay for some people and
a complementary source for others. However, land misappropriation and draught
constrain the sustainable production of pasture for feeding livestock. Further
aggravated by farmer/herder clashes and wetlands extinction. The need for an
experiment for the selection of the best pasture species in the Sudan Savannah
region that can thrive well under diverse soil textures and moisture status
becomes imperative. This trial was conducted in the screen house of Babcock
University, objectively to test the performances of Sorghum almum, Andropogon
gayanus, Brachiaria mulato and Centrosema pascuorum under Sand, Sandy Clay
Loam, and Sandy Loam textures and four water regimes: 100%, 75%, 50%, and
25%. Standard agronomic recommendations were practised throughout the
experiment. Data collected included plant height, fresh and dry shoot and root
weights, number of leaves, and leaf length. Data generated were analyzed using
ANOVA. According to the results, Sandy Loam soil (Soil type from Gamawa)
was the best for supporting all the pasture species, followed by Sandy Clay Loam
(Soil type from Zaki). S. almum outperformed other pasture species significantly
irrespective of soil textural type and water stress level treatments, followed by B.
mulato. For water levels; 100% and 75% had the most promising biomass
outcome. Based on the results, a 75% water regime which represents 25% deficit
of the actual crop water requirement is recommended for the production of the
tested pastures in the area.
