Vegetation composition, yield, and nutritive value in communal grazing areas of Chalinze division in Bagamoyo district

This study was conducted in Chalinze division in Bagamoyo District to assess and evaluate the condition of pastoral communal grazing area in yield, botanical composition of herbaceous plant species as well as nutritive value. Yield forage samples were collected using 0.25m2 metal quadrat after which chemical composition, dry matter yield (DMY) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (INVDMD) were analyzed. Line Interception Method was used to estimate forage species distribution. Woody species density was determined by Point Centre Quarter. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for pH, organic carbon, textural class and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Data on DMY, chemical composition, vegetative cover, stocking capacity, and canopy area and tree density were analyzed by the General Linear Model procedures of SAS (1998). Results indicate that Vigwaza village had the highest mean tree density of 2 308 tree / ha, neutral detergent fibre of 73.17%, acid detergent fibre of 25.91% and the lowest stocking rate of 20 ha AU-1 during the wet season. Kaloleni village had the mean highest tree canopy area (6.6 m2) and height (7.5 m), respectively and INVDMD of 47.9% during the dry season. Matuli village had relative higher DMY (1 869 and 4 106 kg / ha), CP content (4.72 and 6.7%) both during dry and wet seasons respectively. Matuli village had higher ADL content (10.5 ± 0.8%) during dry season compared to Kaloleni (7.3 ± 0.8%) and Vigwaza (9.6 ± 0.8%) villages. Calcium content ranged from 0.22 ± 0.01% in Kaloleni to 0.25 ± 0.01% in Vigwaza villages during dry season, while in wet season calcium content ranged from 0.24 ± 0.01% in Matuli to 0.26 ±0.01% in Vigwaza villages. The dominant herbaceous grass species were Urochloa, Panicum, and Eragrostis species. Acacia polyacantha, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia tortilis, Pterocarpus angolensis and combretum molle were the dominant woody vegetation. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the range condition in communal grazing areas in terms of forage availability and quality is declining and some measures should be taken to prevent range deteriorationLivestock Development and Fisheries through Agricultural Sector Development Project