Continuous extensive land use without proper land management has the potential to degrade the inherent soil fertility. Kwallatawa grazing lands are experiencing such exploitation which if not properly addressed, can dwindle their potentials. To address this, characterization and classification of the soils were carried out at reconnaissance level to assess the properties of the grazing soils. Two pedons were dug and described following FAO (2006) guidelines. The results show that pedons Gra P1 and P2 had shallow to slightly deep genetic horizons. They also show discernible colour pattern at both topsoil and subsoil layers. The pedons were sandy in texture with moderate bulk density (1.4 g Bd cm-3) and low (<50%) to high (>50%) porosity at surface and subsurface horizons respectively. Similarly, the soils were moderately acidic (5.81 mean), low in organic carbon (2.3 g C/kg mean), CEC (5.37 cmol+ CEC/kg mean) as well as high in total nitrogen (1.14 g N kg-1 mean), exchangeable sodium (>0.5 cmol+ Na kg-1) and percent base saturation (>80%). The Pedons Gra-P1 and P2 were respectively classified following USDA Soil Taxonomy as Typic Ustipsamments and Lithic Ustipsamments, and then subsequently correlated with WRB for Soils Classification as Eutric Arenosols (Arenic) and Plinthic Arenosols (Arenic). Our results revealed the soils to be acidic and fall within low to medium fertility class, as such liming and incorporation of organic residue were recommended to checkmate their deficiencies.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) seed at graded levels on the carcass characteristics of “broilers”. Two hundred and forty broilers were used which were randomly allotted to four treatment groups, each replicated four times in a completely randomized design. The diets contained 0% level of LBSM which served as experimental control, while other three diets contained 5, 10, and 15% levels of LBSM. The experiment was divided into two phases (starter and finisher) each of which lasted for 28 days. Carcass weight and dressing percentage were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by the experimental diet but live weight was significantly influenced (P<0.05) by LBSM. Only the back weight was significantly affected (P<0.05) by the test diet among the prime cuts. Significant difference (P<0.05) were also observed in organs weight except the abdominal fat. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant difference between treatment groups in term of performance parameters. Where significant difference existed, Duncan’s multiple range test was used to separate the means. Data analysis was carried out using (SPSS, 2013version 20.0). It is concluded that LBSM is safe for feeding broilers and can be included in the diet at starter and finisher phase at (5-15% - 10 and 15%) inclusion levels respectively without any deleterious effect on the growth performance.