IDENTIFICATION OF UNCULTIVATED PASTURE SPECIES AND ITS AVAILABILITY IN THE SEMI-ARID ZONE OF ALIERO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A total of nine (9) visits on weekly basis were done during the rainy season to investigate the abundance of uncultivated pasture species in the semi-arid zone of Aliero LGA of Kebbi State. Every week, pasture samples contained in about 3 to 5 sacks of various sizes were purchased from three hawkers at different locations within the town. Personal interview with the hawkers revealed that the pasture species encountered were collected at both cultivated and fallow areas. The encountered pasture species from each sack were sorted into various individual species on weekly basis to determine the frequency of each species. The encountered pasture species comprises of; Digiteria alata, Andropogon gayanus, Commelina banghalensis, Bororia radiate, Cenchrus biflorus, Pennisetum pedicellatum, Setaria sphacellata and Indigofora hirsute. The pasture species varies in their frequencies with the highest dominant species from Digiteria alata and Bororia radiate having 21.43% each while the least frequent species are Setaria sphacellata and Cenchrus biflorus having
2.38% each. These pasture species are the dominant in the study area during the rainy season. The study area constitutes grasses, legumes and forbs species which are of good pasture materials that could support ruminant production. Also the area comprises of decreaser and increaser pasture species
which serves as feed to the animals and support the hawkers for their livelihood during the rainy season.