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Farmersday
7 May 2005
Embargo: Immediate Release
Farmers’ Day- Drakensburg 6 May 2005
THE EFFECT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF AGROFORESTRY SPECIES ON THE SOIL MOISTURE REGIME OF TRADITIONAL CROPPING SYSTEMS IN RURAL AREAS. PHASE II: ON FARM TRIALS OF ALTERNATIVE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS.
CS Everson (CSIR), B. Methembu (Mangosuthu Technikon), TM Everson (UKZN)
One of the major constraints in rural farming systems of the Upper Thukela is the shortage of adequate and good quality forage during the dry winter season. Supplementation of feed using commercial supplements is expensive for resource-poor farmers and they are not easily available in remote areas. Provision of alternative sources of fodder such as tree leaves and pods can increase production. The introduction of tree species for fodder should decrease the grazing pressure on the existing grassland. This will result in improved basal cover, decreased soil erosion and promote greater water infiltration. A pilot study in the Upper Thukela indicated that the introduction of fodder trees as an alley cropping system into maize fields increased fodder production. However one of the problems of alley cropping is that it is difficult for the farmer to harvest the fodder and weed the cropland. This project is investigating alternative agroforestry systems that will optimize management of crops and fodder trees. The capacity of rural farmers will be built by involving farmers in the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of the trials.
OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the effect of different agroforestry systems on increasing fodder production in rural farming systems.
2. To determine the effect of agroforestry practices on soil water availability to traditional crops (e.g. maize).
3. To determine whether the inclusion of trees in traditional cropping systems can enhance the infiltration of rainfall and prevent soil loss.
4. To compare the water use of an indigenous fodder tree (Acacia karroo) and an exotic fodder tree (Leucaena), in order to test the hypothesis that indigenous fodder trees are more conservative water- users than exotic tree species.
The study site is located approximately 35 km north-west of Bergville (280 30’S, 280 00’E) (Figure 1). The farm on which the study was carried out falls within a communal rangeland area previously known as the “Upper Tugela Location”. The total area of the region is approximately 1 000 km2. The area is bordered to the south-west by Lesotho and to the north and north-east by the Thukela River and Woodstock dam. The farm is situated approximately 1000 m from the Woodstock dam.
The research the focus of the project is on providing fodder for a small dairy enterprise owned by Mr. Simon Mbhele. Four agroforestry systems have been implemented to address the problem of fodder shortage in winter:
(i) The first system was the establishment of Dolichos (a fodder legume) and fodder trees on the fence line land at the homestead.
(ii) The second system was the establishment of a fodder bank (L. leucocephala, A. karroo and kikuyu) on un-utilized land at the homestead.
(iii) The third system was the establishment of a fodder bank at the dairy site (L. leucocephala, A. karroo).
(iv) The fourth system was the establishment of a silvopastoral system comprising winter pasture species (Tall Fescue and Cocksfoot) and fodder trees (L. leucocephala, A. karroo).
The silvopastoral system is a new concept for farmers in the Upper Thukela.
The establishment of the temperate pastures and the measured biomass production has demonstrated the potential for the use of temperate grass species for small scale dairy systems in the Upper Thukela region. However, the establishment of these pasture species requires constant management and it is unlikely that they could be established in a dry land situation. The use of these systems should therefore be aimed at emerging farmers like Mr Mbhele and Mr. Mahlobo. The project has demonstrated that small scale, inexpensive irrigation is feasible if there is electricity and a small water course in the vicinity.
The establishment of the fodder trees is slow and is linked to the severe frosts and high atmospheric evaporative demand measured at this site. L. leucocephala appears to have potential as a fodder species as it has the ability to die back in winter. Acacia karroo appears to be frost sensitive.
The results demonstrated increase in pasture production when planted with trees (with more increase becoming evident where pasture grasses are planted with Acacia karroo). The increase can be attributed to micro-climate modification by tree shade as significant increase of dry matter production occurred next to the trees in 15 cm zone.
Combination of dolichos and maize has potential to result in increased fodder production when compared to maize planted alone. This fodder increase was highly significant and the use of Dolichos to increase fodder production in the area is a technique that could also be used by poor farmers.
Mr Mbhele (farmer) has shown renewed interest in dairy farming as demonstrated by increase of lactating cows from 2 to 7. There is a significant increase in milk yield from 15L/day to 100L/day and as a result the potential income has increased from R1350 to R9000 per month.
RELEASED BY:
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CONTACT PERSON:
Dr Colin Everson
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