Utilization of Arachis species as forage

Abstract

Legumes are no less important in the nutrition of grazing animals than they are in human nutrition. They serve a dual role: firstly as a source of high protein fodder in the animal diet, and secondly to inject nitrogen into the forage system by virtue of the symbiotic relationship between many leguminous species and the bacterial genera, Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Nitrogen input from the legume is one of the prime determinants of the productivity of a mixed grass/forb pasture, and high levels can only be achieved through maintaining a healthy, productive legume component in the pasture. While nitrogen can also be supplied as a constituent of chemical fertilizers, there is often farmer resistance to such practice based on economic and environmental considerations. Legumes vary in their capacity to fix nitrogen, as well as in their general suitability as forages in terms of productivity, palatability, toxicity, growth habit and adaptation to environment. Further, the legume flora varies considerably from country to country and region to region. Where there is a natural dearth of suitable forage legumes, researchers draw germplasm from similar environments elsewhere in an endeavour to provide more productive, stable pasture systems.