Integration of Improved Forage Species in Mixed Farming System to Increase Feed Availability and Resiliency for Sustainable Productivity in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Ten accessions of forage seeds from Brachiaria and Panicum genome were evaluated at Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research - Animal Research Institute’s pasture experimental field in
Nyankpala to determine the agronomic performance and biomass yield for integration into mixed
farming system to increase feed availability and resiliency. The forage accessions were planted as
a complete randomized design (CRD) with plot size of 5 x 2 m square as treatments units and replicated four times. The forage was left on the field after harvesting and sprouted at the on-set of
rains in second year (2024). Data were taken on the second year’s re-established forages. Panicum
mun river was selected among the forage accessions and planted on-farm in three demonstration
fields in different locations in the farmers’ fields in Doku community. Agronomic and biomass
yield data were collected both on-station and on-farm fields. Results of the on-station first harvest
showed that DM yield was highest (P = 0.019) in Panicum mun river (2.14 tonnes/ha) and lowest
in Brachiaria talisman (1.07 tonnes/ha). It further revealed that the Panicum varieties performed
higher (P<0.001) than the Brachiaria varieties. The DM yield obtained from second on-station
harvest data, Panicum varieties was 1.9 tonnes/ha higher (P=0.014) than 1.5 tonnes/ha in Brachiaria varieties. The on-farm results showed that mean plant height values of 104.3, 103.0 and 166.5
cm for fields I, II and III respectively. Dry matter yield obtained were 3.33, 3.34 and 4.89 tonnes/
ha for fields I, II and III respectively with field III value being highest (P=0.015). The best performing forages among the 10 accessions were P. mun river., P. mombasa and B. Camello. These
forages could be integrated into the mixed farming system to improve feed availability and resiliency.