**2. Materials and methods**

#### **2.1 Study location**

The study was conducted in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Limpopo Province is currently divided into five administrative districts, namely Vhembe, Capricorn, Waterberg, Sekhukhune and Mopani with 29 Local Municipalities across the districts (**Figure 1**). Though, the province has a wide range of annual rainfall, ranging from <300 mm to >1000 mm, most parts are relatively dry receiving an annual rainfall of around 400 to 500 mm. Part of the study with field experimentations was conducted at the University of Limpopo experimental farm (Known as Syferkuil) and Itemeleng Bamakhutjwa Farmers' Cooperative (Ofcolaco) during 2014–2015.

#### **2.2 Climate**

The Limpopo Province is characterised by hot summer temperatures and cooler winter months with annual rainfall around 500 mm. The spring season starts in September whereas winter commences in June. The monthly temperature and rainfall recorded during the period of experimentation at the two locations are presented in **Figure 2**.

The project objectives were achieved through on a combination of several activities including meetings with relevant stakeholders and farmers, workshop deliberations, review of pertinent government documents and field experimentation. With the assistance of the provincial department of agriculture, farmers engaged in conservation agriculture across the different districts and local municipalities of the province were selected for the study. Farmers from all the five districts participated in the study, thus presenting diversity in the agroecological conditions (rainfall, temperature and soil) under which they are farming.

The approach used to achieve the two project objectives are presented as follows:

**49**

**Figure 1.**

**Figure 2.**

conservation agricultural technologies.

b.Field trials for tree fodder assessment

*Agroforestry Trees for Fodder Production in Limpopo Province, South Africa*

questionnaire to gather all relevant information from the categories of farmers listed in **Table 1**. Focus group discussions and field observations were also conducted to validate the data obtained from the farmers. The questionnaire included open-ended questions which were valuable in allowing farmers to freely express their opinions about the adoption of agroforestry in their conservation agricultural practices. The farmers selected had previously been trained in climate-smart and

*Weather data recorded during the 2014 and 2015 field trials at Syferkuil and Ofcolaco.*

*The administrative districts of Limpopo Province showing annual rainfall and study sites.*

Following the analysis of farmers' perception on the adoption of agroforestry as a valuable landuse option for climate change mitigation, the reliable supply of

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96017*

a.Resistance to the adoption of agroforestry

Information about the study sites is presented in **Table 1**. The survey was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 using a quantitative structured *Agroforestry Trees for Fodder Production in Limpopo Province, South Africa DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96017*

**Figure 1.**

*Agroforestry - Small Landholder's Tool for Climate Change Resiliency and Mitigation*

conservation agriculture practices to address feed gaps in the province.

The study was conducted in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Limpopo Province is currently divided into five administrative districts, namely

Municipalities across the districts (**Figure 1**). Though, the province has a wide range of annual rainfall, ranging from <300 mm to >1000 mm, most parts are relatively dry receiving an annual rainfall of around 400 to 500 mm. Part of the study with field experimentations was conducted at the University of Limpopo experimental farm (Known as Syferkuil) and Itemeleng Bamakhutjwa Farmers' Cooperative

The Limpopo Province is characterised by hot summer temperatures and cooler winter months with annual rainfall around 500 mm. The spring season starts in September whereas winter commences in June. The monthly temperature and rainfall recorded during the period of experimentation at the two locations are

The approach used to achieve the two project objectives are presented as follows:

Information about the study sites is presented in **Table 1**. The survey was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 using a quantitative structured

The project objectives were achieved through on a combination of several

workshop deliberations, review of pertinent government documents and field experimentation. With the assistance of the provincial department of agriculture, farmers engaged in conservation agriculture across the different districts and local municipalities of the province were selected for the study. Farmers from all the five districts participated in the study, thus presenting diversity in the agroecological conditions (rainfall, temperature and soil) under which they are farming.

activities including meetings with relevant stakeholders and farmers,

a.Resistance to the adoption of agroforestry

Vhembe, Capricorn, Waterberg, Sekhukhune and Mopani with 29 Local

communities in the Limpopo Province.

**2. Materials and methods**

(Ofcolaco) during 2014–2015.

presented in **Figure 2**.

**2.2 Climate**

**2.1 Study location**

browse on the species. Clearing of *Vachellia karroo* on rangelands has been reported to increase of grass productivity [21]. Any additional approach which can utilise the pruned biomass from the *Vachellia karroo*after mechanical control for livestock feeding will be beneficial. Furthermore, if a reduced amount of *Vachellia karroo* is left on defined areas of the rangelands, the increased quantity and quality of the grass in combination with the invader *Vachellia karroo* legume will constitute a workable tree-livestock pasture system to address feed gap for the livestock farming

This study was initiated to promote agroforestry systems among smallholder farmers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, following two key objectives: First, to understand the reason behind the lack of adoption of agroforestry by farmers as a landuse option to adapt to climate challenges despite the numerous government's interventions. Secondly, to report on results from local on-station and on-farm experiments about the potential of *Moringa oleifera* and *Vachellia karroo (formerly Acacia karroo)* as agroforestry fodder tree species in combination with

**48**

*The administrative districts of Limpopo Province showing annual rainfall and study sites.*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Weather data recorded during the 2014 and 2015 field trials at Syferkuil and Ofcolaco.*

questionnaire to gather all relevant information from the categories of farmers listed in **Table 1**. Focus group discussions and field observations were also conducted to validate the data obtained from the farmers. The questionnaire included open-ended questions which were valuable in allowing farmers to freely express their opinions about the adoption of agroforestry in their conservation agricultural practices. The farmers selected had previously been trained in climate-smart and conservation agricultural technologies.

#### b.Field trials for tree fodder assessment

Following the analysis of farmers' perception on the adoption of agroforestry as a valuable landuse option for climate change mitigation, the reliable supply of


**Table 1.**

**51**

*Agroforestry Trees for Fodder Production in Limpopo Province, South Africa*

livestock feed from agroforestry tree species to address feed shortages emerged as one of the key focus areas that farmers are determined to pursue. To facilitate the incorporation of agroforestry fodder in the farming activities in the Limpopo Province, a review of the limited field studies on *Moringa oleifera* and *Vachellia karroo* that have been conducted in the province and their potential as a feed source for

The moringa trial was established as a randomised complete block design (RCBD) at two locations in the Limpopo Province, namely the University of Limpopo experimental farm at Syferkuil and farmers' field at Ofcolaco,

Trichardsdaal Mopani District 2014 to 2016 to assess the effect of planting density and cutting interval on aboveground biomass production and nutritional quality of *Moringa oleifera* under different climatic conditions. The densities examined were four levels, namely, 435,000, 300,000, 200,000, and 100,000 plants ha−1 under four replications. Planting was carried out on 07 to 15 December 2014 at the two

Irrigation was applied for four hours twice a week using a sprinkler irrigation system until the sixth week to encourage good tree establishment, afterwhich the study was allowed to run under rainfed conditions. Weather data were collected throughout the trial from Syferkuil and at a weather station located less than 10 km from the experimental area at Ofcolaco. During the course of the study, the experimental units were well maintained by removing weeds manually with hand hoes. Insect pest and plant disease incidences were not observed during the study. To reflect the financial constraints experienced by the local smallholder farmers, no fertiliser was applied in this study. The initial physical and chemical properties of the soils under test were determined at a depth of 0–30 and 30–60 cm using an

Aboveground biomass was harvested manually with pruning shears from

 area when 90% of the plants within an experimental unit reached a height of at least 50 cm, measured from ground height of 10 cm above the ground surface. The height of plants was measured from five plants selected randomly from an experimental unit prior to harvesting the biomass. The measurements were made between ground level and the tip of the uppermost leaf of the plant. Biomass harvesting from main plant and regrowth occurred in all four seasons, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring designated as H1, H2,

Moringa leaf samples, dried at room temperature (24∘C) for 72 hours, and then further oven-dried for 48 hours at 65∘C until the samples had reached constant dry weight were ground to pass through a 2 mm sieve. Ten grams of a fine fraction was used to determine their chemical composition. Crude protein was determined using the Kjeldahl method [22]. Other minerals such as P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn were

Data were analysed using the standard analysis of variance procedure with the Statistix version 10.0 to determine the effect of planting density and harvest frequency on measured variables. Where significant -values from the treatment effect were found, means were separated by the least significant difference (LSD) at a probability level of 0.05. Linear correlation and regression analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel to determine the relationship between cutting

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96017*

livestock farmers is reported here.

auger to identify their nutrient status.

determined using atomic absorption [23].

frequency and biomass yield.

**2.3** *Moringa oleifera* **trial**

*2.3.1 Study site*

locations.

a 2.5 m<sup>2</sup>

H3 and H4.

*Information on survey study conducted in Limpopo Province.*

*Agroforestry Trees for Fodder Production in Limpopo Province, South Africa DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96017*

livestock feed from agroforestry tree species to address feed shortages emerged as one of the key focus areas that farmers are determined to pursue. To facilitate the incorporation of agroforestry fodder in the farming activities in the Limpopo Province, a review of the limited field studies on *Moringa oleifera* and *Vachellia karroo* that have been conducted in the province and their potential as a feed source for livestock farmers is reported here.

### **2.3** *Moringa oleifera* **trial**

#### *2.3.1 Study site*

*Agroforestry - Small Landholder's Tool for Climate Change Resiliency and Mitigation*

**50**

**Farm** Trichardsdaal:

Ofcolaco

NBef Organic farming

Phungo Livestock

*Capricorn*

Polokwane

Farm, Palmietfontein

Lagos farming

Waterberg

Mogalakwena

cooperative

Leeukraal farm in

Sekhukhune

Makhudumathaga

Nebo

Makhumeka Irrigation

Vhembe

Thulamela

scheme

**Table 1.**

*Information on survey study conducted in Limpopo Province.*

Mopane

Ba-Phalaborwa

**District** 

**Local Municipality**

**Current Farming Activity**

**Farming system**

**No. of** 

**Coordinates**

**farmers**

**Municipality**

Mopane

Maruleng

Maize, Vegetables, Drybean,

Irrigated and dryland

38

S 24 06 45.68

E 30 23 15.85

Mangoes and litchis Pigeon

pea, Cattle and goats

Moringa, and Vegetables,

Irrigated Organic

12

S 23 47 00.2 E 30 34 28.7

farming

Dryland

4

S 23 46 14.24 E 29 26 05.13

tree lucerne

Sheep and goats raised on

rangeland with grass and

Acacia shrub.

Goat production raised on

Irrigated and dryland

2

S 24 06 50.68 E 28 57 56.82

rangelands and moringa.

Dryland maize and sorghum

Dryland

48

S 24 55 22.15

E 29 48 00.05

production, cattle and goats

raised on rangeland

Conventional vegetable,

Irrigated

25

S 22 58 23.2 E 30 38 20.3

maize and mango

production.

The moringa trial was established as a randomised complete block design (RCBD) at two locations in the Limpopo Province, namely the University of Limpopo experimental farm at Syferkuil and farmers' field at Ofcolaco, Trichardsdaal Mopani District 2014 to 2016 to assess the effect of planting density and cutting interval on aboveground biomass production and nutritional quality of *Moringa oleifera* under different climatic conditions. The densities examined were four levels, namely, 435,000, 300,000, 200,000, and 100,000 plants ha−1 under four replications. Planting was carried out on 07 to 15 December 2014 at the two locations.

Irrigation was applied for four hours twice a week using a sprinkler irrigation system until the sixth week to encourage good tree establishment, afterwhich the study was allowed to run under rainfed conditions. Weather data were collected throughout the trial from Syferkuil and at a weather station located less than 10 km from the experimental area at Ofcolaco. During the course of the study, the experimental units were well maintained by removing weeds manually with hand hoes. Insect pest and plant disease incidences were not observed during the study. To reflect the financial constraints experienced by the local smallholder farmers, no fertiliser was applied in this study. The initial physical and chemical properties of the soils under test were determined at a depth of 0–30 and 30–60 cm using an auger to identify their nutrient status.

Aboveground biomass was harvested manually with pruning shears from a 2.5 m<sup>2</sup> area when 90% of the plants within an experimental unit reached a height of at least 50 cm, measured from ground height of 10 cm above the ground surface. The height of plants was measured from five plants selected randomly from an experimental unit prior to harvesting the biomass. The measurements were made between ground level and the tip of the uppermost leaf of the plant. Biomass harvesting from main plant and regrowth occurred in all four seasons, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring designated as H1, H2, H3 and H4.

Moringa leaf samples, dried at room temperature (24∘C) for 72 hours, and then further oven-dried for 48 hours at 65∘C until the samples had reached constant dry weight were ground to pass through a 2 mm sieve. Ten grams of a fine fraction was used to determine their chemical composition. Crude protein was determined using the Kjeldahl method [22]. Other minerals such as P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn were determined using atomic absorption [23].

Data were analysed using the standard analysis of variance procedure with the Statistix version 10.0 to determine the effect of planting density and harvest frequency on measured variables. Where significant -values from the treatment effect were found, means were separated by the least significant difference (LSD) at a probability level of 0.05. Linear correlation and regression analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel to determine the relationship between cutting frequency and biomass yield.

### **2.4** *Vachellia karroo* **trial**
