Abstract:
The
conditions
of 10 selected
grazing
reserves,
five
each
in Sokoto
and
Kebbi
States,
were
examined
to
determine
some
pre Juctivity
indices.
Samples
of soils,
forages
and
faeces
were
collected
from
t~'
reserve,s.
Forage
samples
were
analysed
for crude
protein
(CP),
Ca,
P and
dry
matter
digestibility
(DMD).
Soil
samples
were
ana lysed
for pH,
Calcium
(Ca)
and
Phosphorus
(P),
while
rib-bone
samples
were
analysed
for Ca and
P.
The
carrying
capacity
of the
reserves
were
also
evaluated.
All
samples
except
soils
were
collected
during
the
rainy
(July/August)
and
dry
(February/March)
seasons.
Soil
samples
were
collected
only
during
the
rainy
season.
Mean
CP contents
offorages
during
the rainy
and
dry
seasons
were
7.02
and
2.15%
while
DMD
were
67.5
and
43.4%
respectively.
An average
carrying
capacity
of 0.19
and
0.17
animal
units
(AU)lhectare
year
was
estimated
for reserves
in Sokoto
and
Kebbi
states
respectively.
Highly
significant
differenes
(P<O.O
I)
between
seasons
and
locations
were
observed
for
forage
Ca,
P, and
Ca:P
ratio.
DMD
and
faecal
P within
season
location
differences
were
observed
only
for Ca and
rib-bone
SG (P<O.Ol).
Highly
significant
positive
(P<O.OI)
correlations
were
found
between
soil
pH and
soil
Ca (r
=
0.92)
and
between
forage
CP and
forage
P
(r = 0.87).
Significantly
(P<0.05)
negative
correlation
was
observed
between
forage
Ca P ratio
and
rib-bone
SG
(r = 0.58).
In terms
of productivity,
there
were
no differences
between
reserves
located
in the
two
states.
