Screening Sorghum Varieties Under Different Climatic Conditions in the Central Highlands of Yemen

The study was carried out at Central Highlands Research Farm, in Yemen, during 2014 and 2015 seasons, to study the adaptation of five sorghum varieties introduced from (ICBA) and local variety (white sorghum) against climate changes, to obtain good quantity and high forage yield varieties. RCBD design with three replications was used.

Productivity and quality of panicum (Panicum turgidum Forssk) grown naturally at the Eastern Province of Saui Arabia

The present study aimed to evaluate the productinty status of panicum turgidum (Thumam) under the environmental conditions of the eastern province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Forty eight experimental sites (each of 25 m2, i.e. 1*25 m) were randomly selected from three locations (Roads of Riyadh, Ogair and Damam), which represent the micro-environment of thumam. Obtained results showed that the dominated plant species associated with thumam were Eragrostis barrelieri, Haloxylon salicornicum, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Plantago ovata and Zygophyllum coccineum. The forage production of thumam was 57 kg dry matter/ha. However, the nutrient value of it was relatively low due to the low protein content (4.2 %) and high crude fiber (30.2 %). Moreover, neutral detergent fiber was 62.4 %, acid detergent fiber was 65.4 % and lignin was 11.70 % which indicate low nutritional forage value, compared with traditional forage crops, i.e. Rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana) and Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa). Macronutrient contents (Na, K, Ca and Mg) were in the range of sheep and camel requirements, while P was very low as well as micronutrients (Zn, Cu and Mn).

The Importance of Triticale as a New Hybrid Crop, in Animal Alimentation

Triticale is a new crop, its major advantage in farming systems has been as good forage or grain crop for animal feed. It is possible for its utilization as dual-purpose crop. In some areas (Mediterranean conditions), it can compete with traditional small grain forage cereals. Nevertheless, the differential response of its cultivars to the process of clipping indicate the existence of genetic variation, and the selection process may improve in its utilization as dual-purpose crop. Where all cultivars studied were better than the substituted one for identical utilization.