Constraints of small-scale irrigated fodder production and nutrition assessment for livestock feed, a case study in Ethiopia

Livestock is an integral part of the agricultural system in sub-Saharan Africa, serving as a food source, income, fertilizer, and power for farming transportation. However, productivity livestock has been hampered due to lack sufficient quantity quality feed. This study evaluates gaps constraints fodder nutritional potential feed using small-scale irrigation (SSI). The comprised 30 randomly selected farmers from two different ecological zones Ethiopia. Half cultivated Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Robit watershed northern Ethiopia, other half mixed vetch (Lathyrus cicera) oats (Avena sativa) Lemo southern Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) were applied integrated manner assess impacts SSI at field-scale levels, respectively. watershed-scale analysis showed that there substantial amount surface runoff shallow groundwater recharge could be used dry season production irrigation. Field data calibrated APEX model indicated yield maximized with 550 mm water watershed. While watershed, maximum may achieved 250 water. major sites soil fertility, especially nitrogen phosphorus, was limited by high temperature. Fodder samples collected time harvest evaluate quality. higher matter ash (mineral) content compared vetch. crude protein (18%) (10%) (6%). Overall cultivating provided superior performance terms providing environmental services.