(a)(i) Give the botanical names of Specimens A and B (ii) State four benefits of growing of specimens À and B together in a pasture.
(b) State four management practices that could be carried out in pasture established with specimens A and B.
(c) List two other common forages that could be used in place of specimen A in a pasture.
(d) List with an example, the forms in which specimen B could be presented to livestock.
Explanation
(a)(i) Botanical names of specimens A (Centrosema) - Centrosema molle/Centrosema pubescent/Centrosema spp B (Guinea Grass) - Megathyrsus maximus/Urochloa maxima/Panicum maximum (ii) Benefits of growing specimens A and B together (Grass - legume mixture): - it suppresses weed/weed control. -Legumes supply protein to livestock/grasses supply carbohydrates/balanced diet. -Legumes add nitrogen to the soil. -Čombination is more acceptable to the animals/improves palatability. -Improves the nutritional qualities of the forage. -It reduces erosion and leaching on the forage land. -It provides adequate materials for ensiling/hay making/increases forage yield. -Mixture reduces bloat. -Mixture increase growth. -Legumes improve recovery and regrowth of grasses after grazing. -It increases the grazing period within a year/reduction in evapotranspiration.
(b) Management practices carried out on a pasture: -Application of fertilizers. -Reseeding. -Rotational grazing paddocking. -Removal of weeds. -Disease control. -Pest control. -Controlled stocking. -Cultivation of aggressive pasture species. -Irrigation. -Controlled burning. -Liming of acidic soils. -Ăvoidance of overgrazing. -Cuting at intervals. -Plough back.
(c) Other forages that could be used in place of Specimen A on a pasture: - Stylo - Stylosanthes spp. -Tropical kudzu - Pueraria spp. -Calopo - Calopogonium mucunoid -Crotalaria - Crotalaria spp. -Mucuna - Mucuna spp. -Lablab - Lablab purpureus. -Alfalfa. -Clover.
(d) Forms in which specimen B could be presented to livestock: (i) Fresh form: -Cut and carry/zee grazing. -Soilage. (ii) Dry from -Hay. (ii) Fermented form -Silage.