Effect of interplanting Setaria with Gliricidia on chemical composition and nutritive value when fed to growing sheep

Abstract

Four cultivars of Setaria sphacelata were interplanted with Gliricidia sepium to study their compatibility. The plot sizes of Gliricidia were 8 × 4 m with inter-row spacing of 4 m and within row spacing of 50 cm. The Setaria cultivars were two ecotypes of Setaria sphacelata var. Sericea-Narok and Kazungula and two of Setaria sphacelata var. Splendida with Kenya and Tanzania origins. The spacing of Setaria within and between the rows was 50 cm. As a control. pure stand plots of Setaria and Gliricidia were also established. The effect of feeding different cultivars of Setaria supplemented with Gliricidia leaves to growing sheep on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance was studied using a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Results from the compatibility study indicated that DM yield of either crop was not negatively influenced by the presence of the other. However, DM percentage of Setaria was significantly lower (Ps0.05) in the intercrop than in the monocrop. Dry matter yield for Splendida ex. Tanzania was significantly higher (Ps0.05) than that of the other cultivars in both the monocrop and intercrop. The presence of Gliricidia significantly increased (Ps0.05) contents of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of Setaria. Results from the feeding trial indicated no significant (Ps-0.05) difference in DM intake for the different Setaria cultivars. The digestibilities of DM, CP. NDF and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were not different (P>0.05) and nitrogen balance was similar and positive. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in daily weight gains of sheep fed the different cultivars. It was concluded that Selaria can be intercropped with Gliricidia without reducing the productivity of either forage and that Setaria sphacelata has potential as an alternative fodder crop in Uganda.