Evaluation of native browse species for fodder production and quality in Tabora, Tanzania

Abstract

A study was conducted on acidic sandy soils in the Tabora region of Tanzania to evaluate the potential of four selected native browse species Margaritaria discoides, phyllanthus engleri, Phyllantus reticulatus and Dichrostachys cinerea in comparison with an exotic species leucaena pallida. The five browse species were planted at a spacing of 1.0 m between rows and 0.75m within the rows. Growth, productivity and forage quality were evaluated over three growing seasons. PHyllanthus engleri had 100% survival and M. discoides had the lowest survival (24%). The average annual fodder yields of native species ranged from 0.34 t ha~1 for p. reticulatus to 0.93 t ha~1 for D.cinerea: control L. pallida produced 1.10 t ha~1