Effect of Some Management Practices on Desertified Rangelands at Sinnar State, Sudan

Abstract

The study was conducted at Elsuki site 50kms, south of Sinnar Dam at the east bank of the Blue Nile, for two seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) to evaluate the effect of some management practices on desertified rangelands at Sinnar State under rainfed conditions. The design used was split-plot design with six replicates.The pasture species which formed the main factor were two pasture legumes namely: Rhyncosia memnonia and Zornia gluchidiata, and two grasses namely Barachiaria lata and Cenchrus ciliaris. The management practices that formed the sub-factor were: prescribed burning, seeding, seeding after burning and the control. Each replicate was divided into (10×40 m) main-plots, and the pasture species assigned randomly to the plots. Each main-plot was divided into (10×10m) sub-plots, the management practices were arranged randomly. Prescribed burning of designated plots was placed in June, and then seeding was applied after first rains. Measurement of plant density, composition, ground cover, frequency, forage quality and forage yield determination were carried out. Soil pH, Ece, N, P, Ca, K, Mg, HCO3, CO3, and soil silt, clay, and sand contents were determined. Generally, pasture species had no significant effect on total plant density, and native species density, The exception was Zornia gluchidiata which was unable to compete with other species and completely disappeared after a month. But, there were significant effects for management practices on the parameter. The toxic plant, Momordica tuberosasُ density decreased by burning. The highest plant composition and frequency was recorded for Barachiaria lata, Sorghum sp and Rhyncosia memnonia. Treatments had no xiii significant effect on ground cover and soil analysis attributes. It was found that the highest crude protein % was scored by Rhyncosia memnonia, and the highest crude fiber % was recorded for Zornia gluchidiata. Among the management practices the highest crude protein was scored by seeding after burning, while the highest crude fiber was scored by the control. Among pasture species, Barachiaria lata scored the highest forage yield. On the other hand, the treatment seeding and seeding after burning outyielded other treatments in forage yield.