Proceedings of the 3rd Scientific Conference of Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7527

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Ecological restoration of degraded rangelands in East Africa: success and failure of traditional enclosure
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Saidi, Selemani Ismail
ncreasing rangeland degradation in East Africa due to alarming land use pressure has created a serious debate which calls for quick land rehabilitation. Unsustainable utilization of range resources due to diversification of human economic activities have resulted to poor rangeland productivity. The projected increase in human population by 33% in 2050 implies more demand on scarce range resources which will intensify rangeland degradation if restoration measures are not undertaken. Although, rehabilitation plans have been developed in different countries within East African region, but implementation has been slow due to inadequate financial resources, lack of ecological restoration skills and failure to assimilate traditional range management practices. Poor integration of indigenous knowledge with ecological methods has resulted into limited constructive collaboration between scientists and local communities toward combating environmental degradation. Despite the fact that traditional range management practice using deferred grazing system (enclosure) has successfully conserved environment and improved the livelihood of some pastoral communities elsewhere but the practice is poorly adopted for up-scaling to other communities. Traditional enclosure has been used as rehabilitation strategy to restore severely degraded rangeland through quick vegetation recovery which subsequently reduces soil erosion, increase water infiltration and provide dry season feeds for livestock. This paper therefore reviews factors limiting adaptation and adoption of tradition enclosures for rangeland rehabilitation and hence recommends the best way for integration of local knowledge with ecological restoration methods for sustainable rangeland improvement.
Natural resources conservation and livestock interface
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Kavana P. Y.; Sangeda A. Z.
Natural resources conservation and livestock interface is conspicuous in areas adjacent to protected areas where interactions among wildlife, human and livestock commonly occur inside and around protected areas. The interactions commonly result in conflicts mainly the Human- Wildlife Conflict (HWC) and between Livestock and Wildlife with both negative and positive consequences that exist between them. The conflicts are stemmed on competition for limited natural resources when human, livestock and wildlife share the environment. Economic processes influence agricultural and wildlife-based enterprises as sources of income for communities while ecological processes influence the relative efficiencies of livestock and wildlife species in utilizing available natural resources. It has been observed that when livestock and wildlife share the same area, wildlife tend to disappear when livestock production is so specialized where irrigated and fertilized improved pastures, feed supplementation and fenced paddocks are put in place to support livestock production while wildlife left to exist naturally. This consequently result in Human- Wildlife Conflict as both livestock kept by human and wildlife tend to trespass the boundaries that separate them. The negative impacts associated with conflicts between Human and Wildlife compels the governments, wildlife managers, scientists and local communities to find solutions. Principally there are two main approaches in managing human wildlife conflicts that include prevention and mitigation. In addition, there is a new socio-economic approach in alleviating conflict which is based on changing attitudes of communities to wildlife conservation through education and ensuring that affected communities and individuals are active participants in, and enjoy tangible benefits from wildlife conservation. Analysis of the situation of natural resources conservation and livestock interface in Tanzania indicate that continuous livestock grazing system shows signs of rangeland deterioration in communal grazing lands adjacent to protected areas. It was envisaged that the situation might entangle livestock keepers in a vicious cycle of poverty due to losses of livestock under deteriorated rangelands.
Effect of placement depth of planting fertilizer on above and below ground growth characteristics of centrosema pubescens
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Joel, D. A.; Mtengeti E. J.
Livestock production in Tanzania is limited by poor availability of high nutritional forage species from natural grazing land. The leguminous fodder seems to be the best options for livestock feeding due to their high nutritive values especially protein contents, but their productivity is limited by unpredictable rainfall and poor soil fertility particularly in semi-arid regions. Although application of phosphate fertilizers is recommended for increasing productivity of Centrosema pubescens, yet poor agronomic practices especially the optimal fertilizer placement depth constraints its growth performance during establishment. This study tested the influence of Diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer placement depth on above and below ground growth characteristics of Centrosema pubescens during establishment at Magadu Dairy Farm located at Sokoine University of Agriculture. The five fertilizer placement depths i.e. 0 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm, were compared in terms of growth characteristics of both roots and shoots as well as above ground biomass yield. It was found that the above ground biomass production, shoots growth and root growth characteristics increases with increasing levels of planting placement depth. The optimal depth recommended for maximum yield was at 15 cm. It was suggested that farmers should adhere to recommended fertilizer placement depth for good establishment of Centrosema pubescens.
Review of strategies for forage conservation and utilization to improve animal productivity in Tanzania
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Msalya, George
Ruminants are the major animals in Tanzania contributing significantly to both gross and agricultural domestic products of the country. However, it has been shown that the contribution of livestock sector has not reached the expected potential due to various factors. Nutrition is among the major challenges causing low production from ruminants in Tanzania. This is because over 90% of animals depend on communal pastures which are characterized with low nutrients. The common practices of the livestock keepers in the main production systems include feeding the animals in situ and watering them in common water points thus defecation, urination and trampling of fodder further degrade the quality and reduced quantity of forage. In addition, the pastures are not well managed. Furthermore, the situation is exacerbated by effects of climate variability which cause a reduction in forage quantity and quality significantly. This review paper was based on systematic search of literature (SSL) from various sources to understand the common feed utilisation and conservation methods used by livestock keepers in Tanzania. The review established that, grazing is the only form of forage utilization employed by over 90% of all livestock keepers. Other forms of ruminants feeding including the cut and carry of home grown and seasonal natural pastures in the smallholder dairy farming systems (SDFS) mainly found in the highland areas of Tanzania. Hay is the commonest method for feed (forage) conservation in Tanzania. However, it has been discovered that the combined methods of feed conservation and utilization have not improved ruminants nutrition over the years. It is therefore necessary to encourage the farmers (livestock keepers) to opt for integrated methods which can increase the quantity and quality of feeds thereby enhancing animal productivity.
Need for well trained personnel on range resources inventory and monitoring for sustainable utilization of grazing lands in Tanzania
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Mtengeti, Ephraim Joseph
Continuous extensive cultivation, unplanned conservation and unguided grazing have resulted to depletion of soil organic matter, severely threatening soil fertility and damaging soil structure and thus loss of the ecosystem ability to produce commodities and values. Therefore, families are migrating from one place to another to find fertile soils to grow their crops, and pastures and water for the livestock. The conservationists increase force to guard protected areas even those taken from the common unmanaged grazing lands. In the worst cases, bitter confrontations have erupted over land use pressure between migrating pastoralists and crop cultivators and even between the crop growers, livestock keepers and conservationists. Several approaches have been sought in resolving bitter consequences of land use pressure by relocating farmers and pastoral communities or use force to bring harmony in case of confrontations but such approaches cannot repair as quickly as possible the loss of the ecosystem ability to provide commodities and values to the poor communities. The bench mark for resolving such chaos over land use pressure is to build capability of the farmers and pastoral communities on soil and water conservation so as to improve biomass and at least increase vegetation cover to about 75 % throughout the year. This can only be done with well skilled personnel who can efficiently conduct grazing lands resources inventory and monitoring and guide the livestock keepers on sustainable use of these lands. This will increase vegetation cover and thus rain water infiltration, organic carbon, improve soil structure, improve biomass and thus better crop and livestock production. This paper elaborates the importance of well trained personnel on efficient range resources inventory and monitoring for sustainable utilization of the public and private grazing land areas in Tanzania.
Herbaceous vegetation response on continuous grazing around Wami Sokoine Charco dam
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Makanya T. M.; Lyimo D.; Lutatenekwa D. L.
This paper provides basic information on the effects of grazing around the charcoal damat Wami Sokoine grazing lands in Mvomero district. Livestock grazing have enormous effect on vegetation composition and structure of grasslands. Different grazing regimes have different ecological outcomes in different ecosystems. The present study determined the effect of grazing close to watering point on herbaceous vegetation composition and structure. Data collected include species composition and distribution, canopy cover percentage, height and root structure of herbaceous species.Results indicated negative impacts grazing close to the watering point on species composition and structure. Grazing pressure and trampling thought to be the cause of few species with the lowest mean of height, root depth and branching in area close to the watering point. More studies are required to understand dynamics of herbaceous species around watering points in grazing areas at different seasons of the year.
Effects of applying different combinations of fertilizers on growth performance of cynodon nlemfuensis
(Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST), 2018) Selemani I.S.; Shani G.J.
Scarcity of livestock feeds during dry season in Tanzania raises the concern for maximizing grass production during wet season and conserve for critical dry season feeding. However, poor soil fertility and unpredictable rainfalls are the major limiting factors for maximum grass production. To achieve this, a study was conducted at Magadu dairy farm to assess the effect of different combination levels of fertilizers on growth and yield performance of native stargras (Cynodon nlemfuensis). The four combination levels of farmyard (FYM) manure and NPK were applied randomly to different plots of stargras using the Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The results indicated that, the best performance in terms of tiller number, tiller length and above-ground biomass production were obtained in treatment received 75:25 ratio of NPK and FYM respectively. It was noted that, the above ground biomass yield was significantly low to those treatments received less than 50% NPK. Therefore, anintegration of NPK and FYM at 75:25 and 50:50 ratios which yielded 3.5 and 4 t/ha respectively, are recommended for maximum and profitable production of C. nlemfuensis.

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