Over sowing Improved Pasture Legumes In Natural Grasslands Of The Medium Altitudes Of Western Kenya

Abstract

About 1,360,000 hectares (approx, 5,420sq. m!.) in the high potential agricultural areas of the medium altitudes of western Kenya (Brown, 1963), at an elevation of about 1,200-2,100 m. (4,000-7,000 ft.) above sea level, lie in natural vegetation described by Edwards and Bogdan (1951) as Combretll1nI Hyparrhenia grasslands. These grasslands. Are dominated by coarse, stemmy grasses (Edwards and Bogdan, 1951; Bogdanand Kidner, 1967) which are low in nutritive value (Dougall and Bogdan, 1958, 1960 and 1965) and dry-matter yield (Poultney, 1959) resulting in low animal production (Bogdan and Kidner, 1967). The rainfall pattern in most areas of western Kenya is reliable (Kenworthy, 1958) and favorable for pasture growth. However, the natural cover is undesirable for good animal production.