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Optimizing Food and Feed in Maize–Livestock Systems in Northern Ghana: The Effect of Maize Leaf Stripping on Grain Yield and Leaf Fodder Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Nurudeen Abdul Rahman

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Tamale P.O. Box TL 06, Ghana)

  • Asamoah Larbi

    (Agriculture and Food Security, Anaheim, CA 92804, USA)

  • Weseh Addah

    (Department of Animal Science, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1882, Ghana)

  • Kassim Wachiebine Sulleyman

    (Department of Animal Science, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1882, Ghana)

  • Joshua Kubasari Adda

    (Department of Animal Science, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1882, Ghana)

  • Fred Kizito

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Tamale P.O. Box TL 06, Ghana
    Alliance for Bioversity and Center for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi P.O. Box 823-00621, Kenya)

  • Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 5320, Nigeria)

Abstract

Access to feed for livestock during the cropping season is a constraint to the smallholder crop–livestock farming system in northern Ghana due to backyard farming. A two-year (2017–2018) study was conducted to determine the effect of leaf stripping on yield and feed quality in maize–livestock farming systems in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions of Ghana. A factorial treatment combination of three maize-maturity types (extra-early: Abontem, early: Omankwa, and medium: Obatanpa) and three leaf stripping methods (control, leaf stripping at 50% tasseling, and leaf stripping at 50% silking of maize) were laid out in a strip-plot design with four replications per region. Stripped leaf biomass, grain yield, stover, cob size, and nutritional quality of stripped maize leaf were measured. The stripped leaf biomass, stover, and cob width of Obatanpa increased significantly relative to the other maize types in the Northern and the Upper West regions. Abontem recorded a higher ( p < 0.01) grain yield than that of the other maize types in the Upper East Region. Leaf stripping had no significant effect on the grain yield and the crude protein (CP) content of maize leaf. The CP of the maize leaf (93–100 g/kg) was above the minimum CP requirement of a quality feed for body weight maintenance of ruminants. This suggests that smallholder maize–livestock farmers could strip maize leaves at either tasseling or silking to feed their livestock during the cropping season in northern Ghana and similar agro-ecological zones in West Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurudeen Abdul Rahman & Asamoah Larbi & Weseh Addah & Kassim Wachiebine Sulleyman & Joshua Kubasari Adda & Fred Kizito & Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon, 2022. "Optimizing Food and Feed in Maize–Livestock Systems in Northern Ghana: The Effect of Maize Leaf Stripping on Grain Yield and Leaf Fodder Quality," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:2:p:275-:d:749978
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Tahiru, Fulera & Fosu, Mathias & Gaiser, Thomas & Becker, Mathias & Inusah, Baba I. Y. & Mutari, Abubakari & Buah, S. S. J. & Atakora, Williams Kwame & Mohammed, Askia M., 2015. "Fertilizer and Genotype Effects on Maize Production on Two Soils in the Northern Region of Ghana," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(4).
    3. Anslem Bawayelaazaa Nyuor & Emmanuel Donkor & Robert Aidoo & Samuel Saaka Buah & Jesse B. Naab & Stephen K. Nutsugah & Jules Bayala & Robert Zougmoré, 2016. "Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Cereal Production: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture in Northern Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Komarek, Adam M. & Abdul Rahman, Nurudeen & Bandyopadhyay, Arkadeep & Kizito, Fred & Koo, Jawoo & Addah, Weseh, 2021. "Trade-offs and synergies associated with maize leaf stripping within crop-livestock systems in northern Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
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