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Potential of Indigofera species as forage crops
Indigofera is a large genus with some 700 species in tropical Africa, Asia, Australia and North and South America. According to Hedberg and Edwards (1989), there are about 78 species that were recorded in Ethiopa. Naturally, the Indigofera species are distributed across a wide range of agro-ecological areas, which range from arid to sub-humid conditions and at an altitude of less than 2200 m (Abubeker Hassen 2006, Unpublished data) Many species in Africa and Asia are reported to be useful for forage, green manure or as cover crops (Fröman 1975). Apart from this, a number of Indigofera species are known to contain the pigment indigo (Aylward et al. 1987), which is already used for commercial dye production. Among those occurring in Ethiopia some of the species recommended for forage production by Fröman (1975) include I. hirsuta, I. pilosa, I. schimperi, (syn. I. oblongifolia), I. spicata and I. subulata (syn. I. trita) while species such as I. hirsuta and I trita were recommended for green manure or as cover crops.
Typical of the Leguminosae, the Indigoferas are high in protein, and their ability to tolerate drought, floods and salinity makes them agronomically very desirable (Skerman 1982). For example, the dwarf shrubs such as Indigofera spinosa are described as a key element of pastoral subsistence in the arid and semi-arid ecosystems of Northern Kenya (Coughenour et al. 1990). Key attributes, which make it a valuable forage species, are its palatability (Coppock et al. 1986, 1988), its resistance to herbivory (Bamberg 1986; Mugambi 1989), and its ability to respond to small rainfall events (Coughenour et al.
CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1. POTENTIAL OF INDIGOFERA SPECIES AS FORAGE CROPS
1.2. LIMITATIONS OF INDIGOFERA SPECIES AS FORAGE CROPS
1.3. NON-PROTEIN FREE AMINO ACID IN FORAGE AND RANGE PLANTS
1.4. POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME TOXICITY IN ANIMALS.
1.5. CONCLUSION AND HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
1.6. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
CHAPTER 2 EFFECT OF PRE-PLANTING SEED TREATMENT ON DORMANCY BREAKING AND GERMINATION OF INDIGOFERA
ACCESSIONS
2.1. ABSTRACT.
2.2. INTRODUCTION
2.3.MATERIAL AND METHODS.
2.4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .
2.5. CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 3 MORPHOLOGICAL AND AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISATION OF INDIGOFERA SPECIES USING MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS .
3.1. ABSTRACT
3.2 INTRODUCTION.
3.3MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.4. RESULTS
3.5. DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 4 FORAGE PRODUCTION AND POTENTIAL NUTRITIVE VALUE EVALUATION OF 24 SHRUB TYPE INDIGOFERA ACCESSIONS GROWN UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS
4.1. ABSTRACT.
4.2. INTRODUCTION.
4.3.MATERIAL AND METHODS .
4.4. RESULTS
4.5. DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 5. VARIATION IN GROWTH, DRY MATTER YIELD AND ALLOCATION, WATER USE AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY RESPONSE OF FOUR INDIGOFERA SPECIES SUBJECTED TO MOISTURE STRESS AND NON-STRESS CONDITIONS.
5.1. ABSTRACT
5.2. INTRODUCTION.
5.3.MATERIALS AND METHODS
5.4. RESULTS
5.5. DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 6 THE INFLUENCE OF SEASON AND SPECIES ON FORAGE QUALITY OF FIVE INDIGOFERA ACCESSIONS
6.1. ABSTRACT
6.2. INTRODUCTION
6.3.MATERIALS AND METHODS
6.4. RESULTS
6.5. DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 7 INTAKE AND IN VIVO DIGESTIBILITY OF INDIGOFERA FORAGE, COMPARED TO MEDICAGO SATIVA AND LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA FORAGE, BY MERINO SHEEP.
7.1. ABSTRACT.
7.2. INTRODUCTION.
7.3.MATERIALS AND METHODS
7.4. RESULTS
7.5. DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
REFERENCES
