Abstract:

This study aims at improving the forage production and utilization for increased milk
productivity of Uganda's smallholder dairy systems. The study focuses on three
candidate forage species, namely; Calliandra calothyrsus, Vernonia amygdalina and
Morus alba. The choice of these species was based on findings of a baseline survey
conducted among smallholder dairy farmers in Masaka and Mbale districts. The study
will (i) assess the effect of varying cutting heights on the amount of biomass produced;
(ii) evaluate the effect of spacing on biomass/foliage production and (iii) determine
harvesting intervals for optimal foliage production. Complete Randomised Block Design
will be used to establish an on-station Type 1 (Researcher designed, researcher managed)
forage trial at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI) research
station at Kifu, Mukono District in central Uganda. The trial will have three blocks, each
representing a different species. Each block will have three plots of different spacing i.e.
50cmx50cm (control), 75cmx75cm and 100cmx100cm. The plots of spacing of
75cmx75cm and 100cmx100cm will each have sub-plots which will be subjected to
varying cutting heights at two levels of 25cm and 100cm, and varying cutting frequency.
The spacing, 50cmx50cm (Control), will be evaluated at only one level of cutting height
of 50cm. This will give 5 treatments for each block (50 X 50 X 50, 75 X 75 X 25, 100 X
100 X 25, 75 X 75 X 100 and 100 X 100 X 100). Each of these treatments will be
replicated thrice yielding a total of 15 subplots in each block. The data to be collected
from the trial will include Seedling survival (%), Plant height (m) and Biomass
production (kg). Collected data will be entered in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and later
exported to Minitab statistical software and Genstat for analysis of variance (ANOVA) in
biomass produced under different treatments (cutting height, cutting frequency and
spacing). The AREPMEASURES procedure (Genstat) will be used to analyse changes in
treatment effect over time to generate information not only about the effects of cutting
frequency, cutting height and spacing, and interactions between them, but also how these
may change over time. The information obtained from this study will be disseminated to
small holder dairy farmers' networks, in workshops and published for wider outreach.