GRAZING RATE AND SYSTEM TRIAL OVER FIVE YEARS IN A MEDIUM-HEIGHT GRASSLAND OF NORTHERN TANZANIA Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic); maps Authors O'Rourke, James T Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 08:14:47 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/298474 INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. 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It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For any illustrations that cannot be reproduced satisfactorily by xerography, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and tipped into your xerographic copy. Requests can be made to our Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases we have filmed the best available copy. University Micrdrilms International 300 N. /EEB ROAD. ANN ARBOR. Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1 R 4EJ. ENGLAND 7 909479 ••ROURKE, JAMES TOM GRAZING RATI: AND 5Y!»TE.M TRIAL OVER FIVE VEARS IN A MEDIUM-HEIGHT GRASSLAND L1F NORTHERN TANZANIA. THE UNIVERSITY LJF A4 1ZDNA, PH.D., 1976 University Microfilms International 300 N ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 GRAZING RATE AND SYSTEM TRIAL OVER FIVE YEARS IN A MEDIUM-HEIGHT GRASSLAND OF NORTHERN TANZANIA by James Tom O'Rourke A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the SCHOOL OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY WITH A MAJOR IN RANGE MANAGEMENT In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 7 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE I hereby recommend that this dissertation prepared under my direction by James Tom O'Rourke entitled GRAZING RATE AND SYSTEM TRIAL OVER FIVE YEARS IN A MEDIUM-HEIGHT GRASSLAND OF NORTHERN TANZANIA be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy a / 2-. I ^ b Dissertation director Datia As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read this dissertation and agree that it may be presented for final defense. CLu<j /J?, /?7J? /ft. <<, 7^ V la < J J . /<? 7/ '7, /713 Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent on the candidate's adequate performance and defense thereof at the final oral examination. STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: '/ fstc/2 A< ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was conducted within the Masai Livestock Improvement Project under the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the U. S. Agency for International Development, Mr. E. G. Van Voorthuizen very generously donated his data and reports on the Ardai grazing trials up to 1972. Mr. Zacharia Shirima and his crew at Ardai are commended for their ability to keep the trials running cn a day-to-day basis in the face of very limited financial and moral support. During my stay in Tanzania, this crew consisted of Messrs. John Mroso, Joseph Lendiy, Sirily Macha, Dwo Pius, Lengai Metipyeki, Songoyo Loitare, Zylabu Bennet, Loitare Loputu, Lomaito Sumayani, Sambweti Loiluda, Joshua Sheukindo, Saringe Melita, Mrefu Mafuta, Lucas Kanja, Saidi Msumari, Salaya Lawasare, Gunda Mbogo, Hamisi Rashidi, Mathew Loiluda, and Mshindo. Hiese people also assisted in monthly collection of livestock weights. Range Officers Lendiy, Kyambwa, Williams, Lyaruu, Kinwari, Katitu, Mollel, Isae, and Marandu and Messrs. Kisaka, Senga, Kikaho, Shirima, and Mshindo contributed at various times in collection of vegetative data. Drs. Phil Ogden, John Cassidy, and Dennis Herlocker, Mr. Bill Muldowny, and Vr. Warren Putnam reviewed various aspects of the research proposals. iii iv Data analysis assistance was provided, in part, by Mr. Harry Goforth and Mrs. Susan Ciolek-Torrello. Ms. Linda White aided in the literature search, and proof reading assistance was provided by Mr. John Masanja and Mrs. Susan Tolley. Drs. Phil Ogden, Lamar Smith, Ervin Schmutz, and Jack Stroehlein smoothed out my idiosyncracies in writing style. Most sincerely goes my appreciation to Nancy, Chuck, Kevin, and Valerie for putting up with my Ph. D. adventures and absenteeism in family life while making sacrifices in their own goals, for a much longer period than should have been necessary. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix ABSTRACT x INTRODUCTION 1 Justification . 1 Objectives 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 5 Forage Use in East Africa 5 Rules of Thumb for Forage Use 5 Suggested Grazing Schemes 7 Nomadic Use 9 Wildlife Use 10 Effects of Forage Use on Soil Moisture ......... 11 Effects of Forage Use on Plant Succession 11 Forage Nutritive Value , . : 12 General Forage Nutritive Value , 12 Protein Values 13 Forage and Nutrient Selectivity 16 Mineral Values 17 Fat Requirements 18 Starch Equivalent 19 Grazing Studies 19 Grazing Studies in Areas Receiving Less Than 800 mm Rainfall 19 Grazing Studies in Areas Receiving More Than 800 mm Rainfall 24 Night Grazing 32 Summary 33 STUDY AREA 39 Location 39 Relief 39 Soils and Associated Vegetation 39 Climate 44 Traditional Masai Land Use 50 v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued Page METHODS 53 Pasture and Water Facilities 53 Livestock Management—June 1969-July 1972 54 Livestock Management—July 1972-July 1973 56 Vegetation Sampling Procedures—July 1968-July 1973 .... 58 Statistical Analysis 61 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 65 Vegetation 65 Forage Production 65 Forage Utilization 69 Plant Species Composition 73 Total Plant Frequency 82 Litter 86 Bare Soil, Rock, and Erosion Pavement 86 Livestock 87 Forage Nutritive Content 87 Weight Changes of Livestock by Season 88 Total Weight Changes per Animal and per Hectare .... 91 Night Grazing 97 CONCLUSIONS 100 APPENDIX A. PLANTS ENCOUNTERED ON ARDAI TRANSECTS 102 APPENDIX B. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATING COSTS OVER FIVE YEARS AT THE ARDAI RANCH 105 APPENDIX C. NUTRITIVE VALUES FOUND THROUGHOUT EAST AFRICA ON SPECIES OCCURRING AT ARDAI 109 APPENDIX D. TREATMENT MEANS AND SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WITHIN VARIABLES 124 REFERENCES 129 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Monthly precipitation from November 1968, through April 1973, at the Ardai Ranch 48 2. Grazing system established at Ardai beginning July 1, 1972 57 3. Vegetation sampling scheme at Ardai from 1968 to 1973 for forage production, forage remaining, and frequency . 59 4. Source, degrees of freedom, and expected mean squares of analysis of variance utilized when data existed to test between pastures within rotation 63 5. Source, degrees of freedom, and expected mean squares of analysis of variance utilized when data did not exist to test between pastures within rotation 64 6. Forage production in kg/ha for east and west pastures at Ardai, Tanzania, from 1968 to 1973 66 7. Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon, composition on north and south blocks at Ardai, Tanzania, from 1968 to 1973 . 74 8. Couch grass, Digitaria sealarum, composition on north and south blocks at Ardai, Tanzania, from 1968 to 1973 . 77 9. Total plant, litter, and bare soil percentage frequency in 1973 after five years on rotationally and continuously grazed paddocks under three levels of intensity at Ardai, Tanzania 83 10. Cumulative steer weight gain from July 1, 1969 to January 1, 1970, in kg/animal and kg/animal/ha on Ardai paddocks grazed continuously and in rotation under three intensities of use 92 11. Cumulative steer weight gain from September 1, 1970, to July 1, 1972 in kg/animal and kg/animal/ha on Ardai paddocks grazed continuously and in rotation under three intensities of use 93 vii viii LIST OF TABLES—Continued Table Page 12.