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Abstract

Utilisation of three Erythrina species, E. indica, E. subumbrans and E. variegata, was studied in three different areas of Lao PDR (centre, north and south). Many farmers used both E. indica and E. variegata for fencing and as a shade tree and E. variegata leaves were also used as a traditional food and medicine. Erythrina subumbrans was commonly used as a shade plant and as fertiliser for Arabica coffee plants. Erythrina foliage was to some extent used as a feed supplement for cattle, goats, buffaloes and horses. In the biomass experiment, E. variegata was tested with two different fertilisers, cow manure and mineral fertiliser, and a control treatment (no fertiliser). Branch cuttings were used as planting material. The foliages were harvested six months after establishment. Dry matter (DM) yields were recorded and nutritive values of the foliage analysed. Fertilisers significantly decreased the mortality of shoots and increased the height of shoots and fresh and crude protein (CP) yield. Total DM foliage yields were 194, 363 and 326 kg/ha and CP yields 29, 55 and 48 kg/ha for control, cow manure and mineral fertiliser, respectively. There were no significant differences in nutritive value of the foliage between treatments. The mean values over treatments in E. variegata were 200 g CP/kg DM in the leaves, and 7.6 g Ca, 2.0 g P and 8.4 g condensed tannins/kg DM in leaves plus petioles.

Keywords

Cow manure; Foliage; Lao PDR; Mineral fertiliser; Nutritive value; Yield

Published in

Livestock Research For Rural Development
2012, volume: 24, number: 8, article number: 137

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132249