Farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its implication on livestock production in mixed-farming system areas of Bale highlands, Southeast Ethiopia; Challenges and extents of Soil and Water Conservation measures in Guba-Lafto Woreda of North Wollo, Ethiopia; Evaluation of milk production performance of lactating Fogera cows fed with urea and effective micro-organisms treated rice straw as basal diet.

E3 Journal of Agricultural Research and Development

E3 Journal of Agricultural Research and Development Vol. 4 (1) pp. 007-014, January 2014; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2276-9897


Biomass yield potential and nutritive value of selected Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars grown under tepid to cool sub-moist agro-ecology of Ethiopia

Diriba Geleti 1 * , Mekonnen Hailemariam 1 , Ashenafi Mengistu 1 , Adugna Tolera 1
1 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
2 Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
3 Hawassa University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author E-mail: dgeleti2005@yahoo.com
Accepted 5 January 2014

Abstract

Five alfalfa cultivars (FG10-09 (F), FG9-09 (F), Magna801-FG (F), Magna788 and Hairy Peruvian) were evaluated for forage biomass yield potential and quality at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center. The experiment was planted on 4 July 2012 on 12 m2 plots, each consisting of 15 rows with intra-row spacing of 0.2m at a seed rate of 20 kg/ha. The plots were laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications, and a starter fertilizer at a rate of 100 kg/ha diammonium phosphate was applied at planting. Significantly higher (P=0.05) herbage dry matter yield was recorded for FG10-09(F), FG9-09(F), Magna788 and Hairy Peruvian, while herbage yield was inferior for Magna801-FG (F). Plant height was higher (P≤0.001) for Hairy Peruvian, medium for FG9-09(F) and Magna801-FG (F), and lower for FG10-09(F) and Magna788. Regarding the leaf to stem ratio, though differences between cultivars were not significant (P>0.05), Hairy Peruvian had a lower value. Between October 2012 and October 2013, eight cuts were taken at an average interval of 54.6±12.4 days between harvests. Cuts following long and short rainy months gave superior herbage yield values, while those taken during low rainfall months had inferior values (P≤0.001). Crude protein content was higher (P=0.05) for Magna788, FG10-09 (F), FG9-09 (F) and Magna801-FG (F), but lower for Hairy Peruvian. Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents were higher in Hairy Peruvian (P=0.05), with the other cultivars exhibiting consistently low and comparable values for both fractions. In vitro DM digestibility (P=0.05) and relative feed value index (P≤0.001) values were significantly lower for Hairy Peruvian, with the remaining four cultivars exhibiting comparable values for both traits. Cultivars other than Hairy Peruvian exhibited consistently superior crude protein, in vitro DM digestibility and relative feed value index indicating their potential for promotion to advanced varietal evaluation stages and release as better alternatives for use in the farming system.

Keywords: Plant height, leaf to stem ratio, chemical composition, crude protein, digestibility Relative Feed Value,

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