Effective management of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in a crop/livestock integrated farming system in northern Ghana

Abstract

Efficient management of pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan var. Katinga, as a resource in crop/livestock integration in northern Ghana was studied. Pigeon pea plots with row lengths averaging 11 m and a planting geometry of 80 cm W 50 cm, were either pruned at 60 or 100 cm above ground level or not pruned. Pruning was done at 11 or 16 weeks after planting. Early pruning at a height of 60 cm above ground gave significantly higher (P<0.05) seed, pod, and husk yields. Feeding experiments were conducted to compare pigeon pea hay to urea treated rice straw as supplementary feed for Djallonke castrates. Diet 1 (Cajanus-N) consisted of pigeon pea hay, cassava peels, and untreated straw while Diet 2 (Urea-N) consisted of 4 per cent urea-treated straw and cassava peels. Total daily supplementary feed dry matter (DM) intake was 365 and 300 g/head for Diet 1 and Diet 2, respectively. DM digestibility was similar in both groups of animals (67.1 - 67.8 per cent). Weight gain was the same for both treatments but Cajanus-N enhanced lean tissue deposition.



Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.31(2), 1998: 161-168