Department of Agricultural Research and Technical Services (DARTS)

 
  Pastures Commodity Team

   
The Pastures team conducts research on range management and planted pasture plants. This research is aimed at improving livestock production, particularly small ruminants which depend on natural pastures.

Areas of research

(i) evaluating/screening Leucaena and other leguminous pasture trees for resistance/tolerance against psyllids,
(ii) improving yields and nutrient content of various pasture plants, and
(iii) improving livestock production through appropriate pasture utilization.

Achievements

Recommended Pastures
(i) grasses (Rhodes grass, baffle grass, star grass, napier grass and guines grass)
(ii) legumes (Leucaena, sirato and silver leaf desmodium).
(iii) publication of the Pastures Handbook for Malawi that is in wide use in the country.

Improved cultural practices
(i) reinforcement of both upland and dambo pastures with legumes, and
(ii) nitrogen fertilizatiuon for grasses and phosphorus fertilization for legumes and browse (Leucaena) to improve pasture yields.


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