Development Outlook; Constraints and Limits

Abstract

Many experiments attempted in various areas of the Sahel have proved that reseeding of depleted pastures is not feasible with the presently available technology and the commercially available seed pool below the 600-mm isohyet of annual rainfall (Le Houérou 1977, 1979b; Wilson 1982b). Of the 80 herbaceous tropical arid zone species of forage which have been tried at Niono (550 mm) in Mali in 1977–1980, not one single species became established and amenable to produce a grazing impact. Only a few perennial and annual legumes survived the first dry season in small numbers:

• Alysicarpus ovalifolius Stylosanthes fruticosa

• Alysicarpus vaginatus Stylosanthes hamata

• Macroptilium atropurpureum (Siratro) Stylosanthes subsericea

• Macroptilium lathyroides Stylosanthes viscosa