Effect of Soil Quality on Potential of Forage Establishment in Chivi Fallow Lands, Zimbabwe

There have been concerns about the poor communal grazing resources and the resulting degradation and depletion of communal rangelands in Zimbabwe. Different government departments, researchers, and non-governmental organisations have implemented a range of programmes and recommendations to improve communal grazing systems in efforts to conserve communal rangelands. Notable examples include introduction of improved forage grasses, veld legume reinforcement and agro-forestry technology. However, success in improving communal grazing resources has been limited with forage productivity in communal areas declining, soils still being eroded, as well as loss of flora and fauna diversity. The objective of this study was to generate scientific information under communal farm conditions, on the effect of soil quality on potential of forage establishment in Chivi fallow lands, relate soil fertility across different fallow groups to the quantity and quality of native and improved forage species, and to develop recommendations on suitable forage for Chivi communal area. Two legumes and two grasses species were planted in watered plastic pots in a factorial design with different forage species as factor one, i.e., Neonotonia wightii , Desmodium uncinatum, Pennisetum purpurium (bana grass) and Cynodon nlefluensis (star grass) and soil from different fallow periods as factor two, i.e., 1-2, 3-5 years, 6-10 years, >10 years, undisturbed land. Results revealed that fallow period had noeffect on forage emergence, however it significantly affect weekly change in plant height, tiller count and leaf accumulation.