Gulwa, U. and Mgujulwa, N. and Beyene, S.T.
(2018)
Benefits of grass-legume inter-cropping in
livestock systems.
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13 (26).
pp. 1311-1319.
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Abstract
Legumes (Fabaceae) are plants with the distinct ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, the atmospheric
nitrogen fixation by legumes is known as biological nitrogen fixation. Biological nitrogen fixation is the
process whereby atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia in the presence of the enzyme
nitrogenase. Nitrogen fixation in legumes starts with the formation of nodules. Inside the nodules,
nitrogen fixation done by the bacteria (Rhizobia), and the ammonia (NH3) produced is absorbed by
plant. The symbiotic relationship between a bacterium and a plant makes legumes special plants, which
offer benefits when included in farming systems. These benefits are ecosystem, economic and
environmental benefits. Inclusion of forage legumes in the form of intercropping in low-input grassland
mixtures improves forage quantity, quality and soil fertility trough addition of nitrogen (N) from N2-
fixation. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice, which involves growing two or more crops in
proximity. Legumes also improve the nutritive value of the low quality native pastures grown with them
and are important component of farming system since they have high nutritive value and able to
rehabilitate nutrient depleted soil. There are various factors affecting legume growth and development
and these factors need to be taken into account when planning to grow legumes. These factors include
pedoclimatic factors especially those associated with the soil acid complex. These factors are known
as physical, chemical, biological and environmental factors. The improvement of forage quantity and
quality through forage legume inclusion is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of
all livestock farmers. The inclusion of forage legumes in low-input grassland mixtures is vital to
improve biomass production, forage quality and ultimately soil fertility. The improvement of forage
quantity and quality is crucial for improved animal performance, which is a goal of every livestock
farmer. Forage legumes have the potential to improve the diets of ruminants because they increase the
crude protein (CP) concentration of the herbage mixture relative to that of grass monocultures.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Legumes, biological nitrogen fixation, forage quality, forage quantity |
| Author Affiliation: |
Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Dohne ADI, South Africa |
| Subjects: |
Plant Production |
| Divisions: |
General |
| Depositing User: |
Mr T L Gautham
|
| Date Deposited: |
28 Jan 2019 07:30 |
| Last Modified: |
28 Jan 2019 07:30 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/15787 |
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