Some productivity indices of Dabagi Farm Rangeland in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Species composition, herbage yield and dry matter production of Dabagi farm rangeland was evaluated during late rainy season. Results of the study showed higher composition of trees in the Virginland (10 species ha^-1); with Acacia nilotica, Balanites eagyptiaca, Piliostigma reticulatum and Azadirachta indica being dominant, compared to 4 and 0 species ha^-1 in the Fallowland and Hillyland respectively; with Azadirachta indica and Piliostigma reticulatum as dominant species on Fallowland. Virginland and Fallowland had higher composition of shrubs (29 and 25 species ha^-1, respectively), dominated by Combretum micranatum, Guera senegalensis, Lennea kerstingii, Cassia arereh and Boscia senegalensis on the Virginland; Piliostigma reticulatum, Guera senegalensis and Dichrostaychys cineria on the Fallowland and Guera senegalensis and Combretum micranatum on Hillyland. Fallowland recorded higher composition of grasses (11 species m^-2), with Chloris robusta, Seteria pallid-fusca and Pennisetum pedicellatum being dominant, than the Virginland (6 species m^-2), with Andropogon pseudapricus and Pennisetum pedicellatum, and Hillyland (6 species m^-2), with Andropogon pseudapricus being dominant. Virginland and Fallowland recorded higher composition of legumes and forbs (19 species), with Monechma ciliatum, Alysicarpus vaginalis and Seteria verticillata being dominant, than in Hillyland, where Monechma ciliatum and Seteria verticillata dominate. Herbage yield and herbage dry matter production were higher (P < 0.05 in Fallowland (2.803 t DM ha^-1; 140.156 t DM) and the Virginland (2.386 t DM ha^-1; 95.422 t DM) compared to the Hillyland (0.027 t DM ha^-1; 2.65 t DM). Fallowland and Virginland sites at Dabagi farm hold greater potentials for pasture productivity during the rainy season than Hillyland.