Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia

Dry, dehiscent fruits of Acacia tortilis provide important fodder for pastoral livestock in dry seasons on the central Borana Plateau, fruits of A. nilotica may also be useful during drought. Information was needed on fruit yield to assess what these species could contribute to improved calf feeding...

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Autores principales: Atsedu, M., Coppock, D. Layne, Detling, J.K.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 1994
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28136
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author Atsedu, M.
Coppock, D. Layne
Detling, J.K.
author_browse Atsedu, M.
Coppock, D. Layne
Detling, J.K.
author_facet Atsedu, M.
Coppock, D. Layne
Detling, J.K.
author_sort Atsedu, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Dry, dehiscent fruits of Acacia tortilis provide important fodder for pastoral livestock in dry seasons on the central Borana Plateau, fruits of A. nilotica may also be useful during drought. Information was needed on fruit yield to assess what these species could contribute to improved calf feeding systems based on local resources. Fruit production of 10 mature trees per species was measured at five sites for seven months during 1988-9(n=50 per species). Fruit yields varied according to site, season and species X site (each at P<0.001), but there was no main effect of species (P=0.13). Yields were not correlated with trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) or canopy area within or across species (P>0.05 in all cases). Yields ranged from 0 to 40 kg DM per tree overall, with an average of 5.3 kg DM per tree (or 65 g DM/m2 of canopy area). This average tree had a DBH of 26 cm and a canopy area of 81 m2. Low and highly variable fruit yields appear to constrain enhanced use of these species here. These species warrant further attention in research and development, however, given their strategic value as forage resources in pastoral systems and their ability to persist in variable environments.
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spelling CGSpace281362024-04-25T06:01:52Z Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia Atsedu, M. Coppock, D. Layne Detling, J.K. semiarid zones fruits feeds acacia tortilis acacia nilotica plant production pastoralists Dry, dehiscent fruits of Acacia tortilis provide important fodder for pastoral livestock in dry seasons on the central Borana Plateau, fruits of A. nilotica may also be useful during drought. Information was needed on fruit yield to assess what these species could contribute to improved calf feeding systems based on local resources. Fruit production of 10 mature trees per species was measured at five sites for seven months during 1988-9(n=50 per species). Fruit yields varied according to site, season and species X site (each at P<0.001), but there was no main effect of species (P=0.13). Yields were not correlated with trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) or canopy area within or across species (P>0.05 in all cases). Yields ranged from 0 to 40 kg DM per tree overall, with an average of 5.3 kg DM per tree (or 65 g DM/m2 of canopy area). This average tree had a DBH of 26 cm and a canopy area of 81 m2. Low and highly variable fruit yields appear to constrain enhanced use of these species here. These species warrant further attention in research and development, however, given their strategic value as forage resources in pastoral systems and their ability to persist in variable environments. 1994-07 2013-05-06T06:59:59Z 2013-05-06T06:59:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28136 en Limited Access Springer Agroforestry Systems;27(1): 23-30
spellingShingle semiarid zones
fruits
feeds
acacia tortilis
acacia nilotica
plant production
pastoralists
Atsedu, M.
Coppock, D. Layne
Detling, J.K.
Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title_full Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title_fullStr Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title_short Fruit production of Acacia tortilis and A. nilotica in semi-arid Ethiopia
title_sort fruit production of acacia tortilis and a nilotica in semi arid ethiopia
topic semiarid zones
fruits
feeds
acacia tortilis
acacia nilotica
plant production
pastoralists
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28136
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