Fodder biomass, nutritive value, and grain yield of dual‐purpose improved cereal crops in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, availability of quality feed is the major constraint on livestock productivity. Adoption of improved cereal cultivars among farmers could enhance fodder supply. This study assessed the potential for improved cereal cultivars to provide food and feed. The study sites were located in the Köppen climate Zone B (Katchari and Saria) and Köppen climate Zone A (Farakoba) in Burkina Faso (Beck et al., 2018). Five cultivars of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], nine cultivars of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and four cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) were grown during two rainy seasons. Grain yield and forage biomass were assessed, and samples analyzed for nutritive value using near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). For pearl millet, MISARI‐1 produced greatest grain yield (1.7, 2.2, and 2.6 Mg DM ha–1, for Katchari (Zone B), Saria (Zone B), and Farakoba (Zone A), respectively) and its fodder biomass averaged 4.0 Mg DM ha–1 across sites. For sorghum, Sariasso‐14, Sariasso‐16, and ICSV1049, produced the greatest grain yield in Saria (Zone B) (1.2–1.6 Mg DM ha–1) and Farakoba (Zone A) (1.1–1.9 Mg DM ha–1). Sorghum cultivars SF15, M67‐M2, and Ponta negra produced more than 5.0 Mg DM ha–1 of fodder across locations. Maize cultivars only differed in fodder biomass, with cultivar Wari producing 4.3 Mg DM ha–1 in Farakoba. The stover of the three species had high fiber, low digestibility, and crude protein concentration ranged from 40 to 94 g kg–1. Fodders from dual‐purpose cereals are valuable feed resources for crop–livestock systems in the Sahel region. Adoption of improved food–feed cultivars has potential to increase fodder productivity and feed quality for livestock, enhancing livelihood of small‐holder farmers in Burkina Faso.

Effect of pelleting crop residues on feed intake and digestibility in Djallonke sheep in North-sudanian zone of Burkina Faso

“…Thus, straws of improved variety of sorghum are sufficient to boost microbial activity in the rumen and improve ration degradation. The content obtained is higher than the results (3.96%) of Zampaligré et al [21] on the same variety. For cowpea haulms, the results obtained on the protein content (15.88%) are similar to that (18,5%) reported by Simian [22], higher than those (10.6%) reported by Azoutane et al [23], but lower than what Baba et al [24] obtained (21.3%) with an improved cowpea variety These differences could be explained by the varieties used, but also the conditions for collecting and storage of residues after harvesting the seeds.…”

Nutritional Value of Climate-Resilient Forage Species Sustaining Peri-Urban Dairy Cow Production in the Coastal Grasslands of Benin (West Africa)

“…Although, there could be a great opportunity to improve forage availability through cropping [ 69 ] by using climate-resilient forage species. So far, research on forage species to cultivate in SSA had focused on dual-purpose cereals and legumes [ 70 ]; however, our study showed some interesting native grass and legume species to be introduced in agricultural systems.…”

Morpho-physiological traits and SSR markers-based analysis of relationships and genetic diversity among fodder maize landraces in India

“…Fst values between Group I and Group III was highest (0.121) followed by 0.118 between Group I and Group II and 0.113 between Group II and Group V. Mantel test indicated signi cant but weak (0.11*) association between morphological and molecular data. [27] also found non-signi cant genotypic variation for OM and CP in four maize cultivars. The use of large number of genotypes exhibits much signi cant variation as evident from ndings of [10].…”