Fodder production and its utilization by small ruminants in arid regions (FOPAR): semi-Annual Report September 1989-February 1990

In this semi-annual report for the CALAR/FOPAR project, emphasis has been placed on evaluating the regrowth and recovery following complete defoliation by grazing of the fodder shrubs, Atriplex nummularia,Atriplex canescens and Cassia sturtii. These shrubs were planted at November 1984 at five planting densities, 10,000, 4,400, 2500, 1,100 and 625 shrubs per hectare, and left undisturbed until July 1987. From July 1987, to December 1989, the shrubs were grazed until complete defoliation in each year, between July and December. Following each grazing period, the shrubs were left to recover undisturbed. Measurements of the dimensions and estimates of the total standing biomass of the shrubs were made before and after each grazing period. In addition, the the stem and leaf biomass components of the total biomass were estimated. Because the quantification of the recovery of the shrubs was based on the estimates of standing biomass before and after grazing, a statistical analyses were made of the accuracy of the double sampling technique used to estimate biomass parameters during this project. In all, 39 sets of calibration data made during the project were analysed and the results and preliminary conclusions are reported. In addition, a final report is presented on the effect of inoculation with Azopirillum and Rhizobium and root morphology of Medicago polyrnorpha summarizing all the experimentation carried out during the project.