What is it about?
Semi-arid range grasses are key sources of feed for livestock as well as restoration of denuded environments. They possess unique characteristics and are well adapted for the challenging environmental conditions in those regions. There exists a wide ecotypic variability within the grasses that can be exploited to suit specific environments and for specific roles. This paper describes the effects of clipping management on some of the grass ecotypes of species used in reseeding and livestock production in a semi-arid environment.
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Why is it important?
We simulate possible scenarios and their potential outcomes by manipulating clipping of grass ecotypes to mimic grazing in semi-arid environments. This is because grazing is a key driver of forage dynamics in grasslands where a majority of livestock are found. With the increase in cultivation of rangeland grasses and reseeding of overgrazed landscapes, there is need to have appropriate management strategies in order to benefit more from the grasses, by increasing yields and productivity rather than reverse the gains.
Perspectives
Developing and writing this article gave me great insights into the world of indigenous range grasses, most of which have not been given attention despite their immense contribution to the welfare of human beings directly and indirectly. This also led to the appreciation of the dynamics involved in grasses in general and the effects of grazing in semi-arid ecosystems.
Bosco Kisambo
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Morphological and productivity responses of Buffel grass (
Cenchrus ciliaris
) and Guinea grass (
Panicum maximum
) ecotypes to simulated grazing in a semi‐arid environment, Grassland Research, January 2023, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/glr2.12033.
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