Lesson Note on the Factors Affecting Distribution and Productivity of Pasture For SS1

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TOPIC: Pasture and Forage Crops (continued)

FACTORS AFFECTING DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PASTURE

DISTRIBUTION

1. Climatic factors: These are rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine etc. They affect vegetation types and places of their growth eg savanna climate favours the growth of grasses and legumes
2. Edaphic/Soil factors: They are soil Ph, texture, structure and fertility. They also influence pasture types and areas of distribution.
3. Biotic factors: These influence pasture distribution eg pests diseases, parasites, predators etc
4. Other factors include: pollution, topography, farming system, social religion and economic factors

PRODUCTIVITY

1. Aggressiveness: This is an ability to compete with weeds
2. Persistence: it is the ability to survive and spread
3. Resurgence: it is an ability to grow in spite of trampling and cutting
4. Resistance: it is the ability to withstand drought, diseases and pests.
5. Seed viability: it is the ability of pasture’s seed to remain alive for a long time
6. Good management: this includes the application of fertilizer, water, etc
7. Correct stocking density: this is to avoid overgrazing of the available pasture.
8. Resistance to trampling.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PASTURE

To establish pasture, certain factors must be put into consideration, among these factors are :

FACTORS AFFECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PASTURE

1. Purpose of pasture establishment whether permanent or short term
2. Adaptability of the pasture to local environment
3. Palatability of the species i.e the pasture must be acceptable to the animals
4. Compatibility of grasses and pasture i.e they should be able to grow together without undue competition
5. Maturity period of the species. The pasture must be early maturing
6. Life span (cycle) of species must be similar
7. Time of planting
8. Environmental factors like climatic, edaphic and biotic factors

PROCESS OF PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT

1. Site selection
2. Clearing and stumping
3. Tillage practices
4. Planting of forage either by seeds, stem or stolon
5. Supplying
6. Paddocking
7. Irrigation
8. Harvesting: this can be either direct or zero grazing

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF PASTURE

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