Pre-scaling up of Desho grass technologies at highlands of Guji Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Basha Kebede*, Tekle Bobo and Girma Amare

Forage production is fundamental for livestock production. This activity was conducted to increase the production of improved Desho grasses, to increase wider demand for desho grass technologies, and to strengthen stakeholders’ linkage on desho grass production. In the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, 64 farmers were selected from eight kebeles in Bore, Arda Jila Mea Boko, and Ana Sora districts, based on their livestock and desho grass production. Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 and Areka DZF No# 590 improved desho grasses were pre-scaled with the recommended 50cm between rows and 10cm tillers, and 100 kg/ha NPS fertilizer was applied during planting, followed by 50 kg/ha UREA after establishment of the tillers. Desho grasses were promoted in areas ranging from 100 m2 to 400 m2. Training and a mini-field day were used to promote Desho grasses. Plot cover, plant height, regeneration, fresh biomass, and survival rate were collected through interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 variety (3.98) covered the land more than Areka DZF No# 590 (3.51). The higher plant height was recorded from Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 (95.83 cm), followed by Areka DZF No# 590 (82.95 cm). Regenerations following harvest can provide more feed from fixed land. Farmers reported that Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 and Areka DZF No# 590 varieties have 90.91% and 84.61% regeneration capacity, respectively. The Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 variety has a higher survival rate (91.13%) than the Areka DZF No# 590 variety (87.22%). The grasses performed well in terms of fresh biomass yield, plot coverage, plant height, regeneration capability, and survival rate on farmers' fields and their production can help to alleviate feed shortages in the highlands of the Guji zone. As a result, Kindo Kosha DZF No# 591 and Areka DZF No# 590 desho grasses should be disseminated to highland areas of the Guji zone.

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Published on: Jul 27, 2024 Pages: 101-106

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/gje.000102
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