Pasture And Forage Crops I SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

MEANING OF PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS

Pasture refers to an area of land covered with forage crops which are usually grasses and legumes that are grazed or fed on by livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. 

Forage crops on the other hand are plants cultivated for their vegetative portions and used in fresh or preserved forms of feeding livestock.

USES OF FORAGE CROPS

Forage crops have the following uses:

1. Livestock Feed: Forage crops are usually used for feeding livestock like cattle, sheep and goat. Hay, straw and sillage are prepared from forage crops
2. As Cover Crops: Most forage crops, especially leguminous plants, serve as cover crops which add nutrients to soils and control weed growth.
3. Conservation of Soil Moisture: most forage crops, especially leguminous plants, help to conserve soil moisture by preventing evaporation.
4. Prevention of Erosion: some forage crops, especially leguminous plants, help to prevent water and wind erosion
5. As green Manure: Fore crops, especially when they are young could be ploughed into the soil as green manure
6. For roofing Farmsteads: Some forage crops like guinea grass and elephant grass are usually used for roofing farmsteads as a result of their strong stems and plenty leaves.
7. As Bedding Materials: Most forage crops serve as bedding materials for animals.

TYPES OF PASTURE

There are two main types of pastures. These are:

1. Natural Pasture: Natural pasture is also referred to as natural grassland or rangeland. In this pasture, grasses and legumes grow naturally on their own and are feed upon by farm animals, i.e., grasses are not planted by farmers. Examples of natural grassland are the savanna areas of Nigeria.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL PASTURE

• Natural pastures of grassland contains poor quality grasses and legumes
• It contains soil types that are low in fertility
•  It contains wide varieties of grasses and legumes, some of which may not eaten by livestock
• It has good regenerative ability
• Productivity of natural pasture is very low and resistant to drought
• Forage crops in natural pasture can withstand trampling by farm animals.
•  Natural pasture may contain some grasses which cannot be easily eradicated
• New growth is stimulated by burning

2. Artificial Pasture: This is also referred to as established or sown pasture. In this pasture, grasses and legumes are deliberately planted and managed by man to be fed on by livestock.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTIFICIAL PASTURE

• It contains high quality grasses and legumes
• It contains no weeds except some shade trees
• Selected grasses and legumes are grown in adequate proportion
• It has high regenerative ability after being fed on by animals
• It can withstand trampling by farm animals. It is properly managed for high productivity of the forage crops e.g. fertilization, irrigation and rotational grazing.