Reintroduce perennial grasses
Grass can be stored for periods of fodder scarcity
The abundance of the most valuable grass species in many parts of the country has decreased, resulting in a loss of grazing value and decreased carrying capacities of most grazing lands.
Farmers can reintroduce valuable perennial grasses through reseeding, in order to restore grazing lands and produce fodder.
These grasses include Cenchrus ciliaris (Blue Buffalo grass) and Anthephora pubescens (Wool grass), among others.
According to Agribank’s technical advisor for livestock and rangeland, Erastus Ngaruka, the grass can be cultivated in fields like food crops and can also be planted in grazing areas.
He says that the seeds can be harvested from standing dry grass or purchased from common agricultural input suppliers such as Agri-gro and Agra, among others.
"It is very important that cultivated grasses are protected from disturbances such as grazing and are allowed to grow to maturity until they produce seeds and can regenerate themselves."
In the ground
Once harvested, grasses can be processed into hay or milled and mixed with other feed, then used or stored for periods of fodder scarcity, says Ngaruka.
He points out that Namibian rangelands present a variety of forage resources to livestock and wild animals for survival.
These plant groups include grass, trees, bush and forbs, which are utilised by both grazing and browsing animals.
Ngaruka explains that grass is however the feed-base of grazing livestock in Namibia.
"The abundance of the most valuable grass species in many parts of the country has decreased, resulting in a loss of grazing value and decreased carrying capacities of most grazing lands."
Nature disturbed
Consequently, livestock production and potential income have been negatively affected.
He says the disappearance of the most valuable grasses can be attributed to selective grazing pressure by livestock, which compromises their establishment and competitive ability to survive. This gives rise to the opportunistic invasion of grazing lands by less desirable plant species, which include grasses such as Aristida stipitata and other bush species such as Senegalia mellifera (Blackthorn), among others.
In addition, Ngaruka says, overgrazing exposes the soil to erosion and heavy trampling, resulting in poor rangeland productivity, which is further exacerbated by erratic rainfall patterns.
"The grazing value of an area is determined by the grass species' composition and their abundance over the grazing land."
Fast food
According to him, two types of grass can be distinguished in terms of their life cycles or life spans: annual and perennial grasses.
He explains that an annual grass is mainly the first grass type to emerge in abundance after the first rainfall showers and, thus, the first green food for grazing animals after the dry season.
Annual grasses have a shallow root system, few leafy materials, and only need a minimal amount of moisture, nutrients and sunlight.
"Moreover, annual grasses grow and produce seeds fast but survive only during the rainy season and die at the onset of winter."
The next annual grass will only grow from the seed.
Deeply rooted
In contrast, perennial grasses have a deep root system, massive leaf material, require sufficient investment in terms of moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, and thus take about two to three months to grow to maturity.
Perennial grasses constitute the bulk of the grazing animal’s diet throughout the year.
According to him, at the end of the rainy season, perennial grasses do not die but go into dormancy for the whole dry season.
"They shed seeds and store nutrients in their stump as food reserves for the next season’s growth."
Ngaruka says that the same dormant grass stump will produce fresh or new stems and leaves, and the seeds will germinate into new grasses (seedlings).
Furthermore, these grasses shed seeds as they start to dry up in the dry season, starting in May.
These seeds can be found in soil ditches. In August, the wind distributes and buries them, and when the rainfall activities start, the germination process begins.
These grasses include Cenchrus ciliaris (Blue Buffalo grass) and Anthephora pubescens (Wool grass), among others.
According to Agribank’s technical advisor for livestock and rangeland, Erastus Ngaruka, the grass can be cultivated in fields like food crops and can also be planted in grazing areas.
He says that the seeds can be harvested from standing dry grass or purchased from common agricultural input suppliers such as Agri-gro and Agra, among others.
"It is very important that cultivated grasses are protected from disturbances such as grazing and are allowed to grow to maturity until they produce seeds and can regenerate themselves."
In the ground
Once harvested, grasses can be processed into hay or milled and mixed with other feed, then used or stored for periods of fodder scarcity, says Ngaruka.
He points out that Namibian rangelands present a variety of forage resources to livestock and wild animals for survival.
These plant groups include grass, trees, bush and forbs, which are utilised by both grazing and browsing animals.
Ngaruka explains that grass is however the feed-base of grazing livestock in Namibia.
"The abundance of the most valuable grass species in many parts of the country has decreased, resulting in a loss of grazing value and decreased carrying capacities of most grazing lands."
Nature disturbed
Consequently, livestock production and potential income have been negatively affected.
He says the disappearance of the most valuable grasses can be attributed to selective grazing pressure by livestock, which compromises their establishment and competitive ability to survive. This gives rise to the opportunistic invasion of grazing lands by less desirable plant species, which include grasses such as Aristida stipitata and other bush species such as Senegalia mellifera (Blackthorn), among others.
In addition, Ngaruka says, overgrazing exposes the soil to erosion and heavy trampling, resulting in poor rangeland productivity, which is further exacerbated by erratic rainfall patterns.
"The grazing value of an area is determined by the grass species' composition and their abundance over the grazing land."
Fast food
According to him, two types of grass can be distinguished in terms of their life cycles or life spans: annual and perennial grasses.
He explains that an annual grass is mainly the first grass type to emerge in abundance after the first rainfall showers and, thus, the first green food for grazing animals after the dry season.
Annual grasses have a shallow root system, few leafy materials, and only need a minimal amount of moisture, nutrients and sunlight.
"Moreover, annual grasses grow and produce seeds fast but survive only during the rainy season and die at the onset of winter."
The next annual grass will only grow from the seed.
Deeply rooted
In contrast, perennial grasses have a deep root system, massive leaf material, require sufficient investment in terms of moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, and thus take about two to three months to grow to maturity.
Perennial grasses constitute the bulk of the grazing animal’s diet throughout the year.
According to him, at the end of the rainy season, perennial grasses do not die but go into dormancy for the whole dry season.
"They shed seeds and store nutrients in their stump as food reserves for the next season’s growth."
Ngaruka says that the same dormant grass stump will produce fresh or new stems and leaves, and the seeds will germinate into new grasses (seedlings).
Furthermore, these grasses shed seeds as they start to dry up in the dry season, starting in May.
These seeds can be found in soil ditches. In August, the wind distributes and buries them, and when the rainfall activities start, the germination process begins.
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