Seed yield and quality of cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela under various agronomic practices in sub-humid eastern zone of tanzania

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Livestock production especially ruminants, is one of the major agricultural activities in Tanzania. Both traditional and improved livestock production depend on natural and improved forages which are inadequate due to land use pressures from other users which sometimes result in resource use conflicts. Land ownership to intensify livestock farming is shown to be one of the steps for increased livestock productivity, improved degraded grazing land and for resolving conflicts associated with land use pressures. Pasture establishment is an alternative solution to improve owned land and hence increased livestock productivity, despite inadequate availability of good quality planting material especially grass pasture seeds. Cenchrus Ciliaris cv.Biloela (buffel grass) is among those adapted promising grass species promoted for establishment for its desirable drought tolerant characteristics, Inadequacy and poor viability of the buffel grass seeds seem to be the hindrance. Available information showed that, low fertility of soils and high risks of diseases are among the major factors affecting viability of buffel grass seeds in wet season. There is also limited information on production of seeds and forage biomass of this grass in dry season under irrigation, its response to different fertilizer application rates, rows spacing, cutting heights and the overall biomass productivity under field conditions. Therefore, there was a need to conduct a study to gain a practical experience on how to compromise facts on seed quality and forage biomass production under field conditions in sub humid agro-ecological zone of Tanzania. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of various agronomic practices on seed yield and quality of Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela in the sub-humid eastern zone of Tanzania.