Abstract:
Pastoralists have managed their production system for many
centuries and have had detailed knowledge of the biodiversity
and environment of their grazing lands. Feeding of livestock is
though still a major challenge to sustainable productivity of
pastoral communities in the dryland areas in view of the current
changes in climate. The day-to-day impacts of climate change
such as higher temperature and erratic rainfall are increasing
the pastoralists’ inability to feed their animals. There is need to
understand the impact of climate change on the change in the
utilisation of the feed resources by the pastoralists so as to
mitigate the negative effects. This will help to know which
indigenous forage species have become less used or even
become extinct and which ones are becoming more adaptable
and therefore more important. Currently in sub-Saharan Africa,
and Zambia in particular, there is lack of information concerning
the pastoral production systems and their adaptive use of forages
in view of the changes in climate. It is therefore important to identify the indigenous forage species which are used more
than before and promote their utilisation to ensure sustainability
of livelihoods of the pastoralists. This paper therefore looks at
the changes in use of grass and browse species as an adaptation
to climate change and through this process improve their usage
in feeding livestock in dryland pastoral areas.
La réserve d’azote des sols agricoles doit être renouvelée
périodiquement afin de maintenir un niveau adéquat pour la
production agricole. Ce remplacement d’azote du sol est
généralement accompli par l’ajout d’engrais ou de produits de
fixation biologique d’azote (BNF). La symbiotique BNF permet
à beaucoup de légumineuses de répondre à leurs besoins en azote de l’atmosphère plutôt que de sol, mais dans certains cas,
la population résidente de bactéries rhizobium, le micro symbiote
associés aux légumineuses fixatrices d’azote, pourraient
fonctionner comme un partenaire symbiotique efficace.
L’augmentation de céréales, d’arbres et production de
légumineuses et de pâturages correspondant à ces légumineuses
avec les microsymbiotes corrects sont donc un élément clé de
l’amélioration de l’agriculture et les services éco-systémiques
dans les zones tropicales. L’identification des créneaux pour les
légumineuses BNF dans les systèmes agricoles existants est
d’une importance capitale comme les prix des engrais
inorganiques continuer à augmenter.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
1481-1484
Notes:
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme climate change".
