Usefulness of Discarded Woody Materials of Selected Encroacher Tree Species of Savannah Landscapes in Namibia

Kaambu, Teodor Ndilinane (2019) Usefulness of Discarded Woody Materials of Selected Encroacher Tree Species of Savannah Landscapes in Namibia. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study determined the usefulness of discarded woody materials from selected encroacher tree species in northern Namibia. The twigs, leaves and pods were collected from Omufituwekuta and Ehi-rovipuka community forest. The main objective was to determine proximate composition, energy values and farmer’s perceptions on uses of discarded woody materials as bush-feed. Data was collected in October 2016, January & June 2017. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to find mean difference between the four selected tree species. Questionnaire was used for farmer’s perceptions on the use bush-feeds in relation to different seasons. Tree species encompasses of Philenoptera nelsii, Baphia massaiensis, Acacia ataxacantha and Colophospermu mmopane. Neutral-Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid-Detergent Fiber (ADF), Ether Extracts (EE) Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and Metabolisable Energy (ME) were analysed. Results show that Baphia massaiensis has average of total ash (3.96%), EE (1.51%), CP (14.30 %), ADF (44.34%), NDF (54.02%), Ca (0.68%), P (0.07%), OMD (39.63%) and ME (5.47%). Philenoptera nelsii had total ash (5.31%), EE (1.66%), CP (15.7 %), ADF (43.75%), NDF (57.04%), Ca (0.97%), P (0.07%), OMD (43%) and ME (5.83%). Acacia ataxacantha had total ash of (5%), EE (2.20%), CP (12.99%), ADF (43.18%), NDF (54.93%), Ca (0.92%), P (0.08%), OMD (42.30%) and ME (5.87%). Colophospermum mopane recorded total ash of (6.41%), EE (8.82%), CP (9.40%), ADF (36.8%), NDF (47.10%), Ca (1.42%), P (0.10%), OMD (29.27%) and ME (6.27%). On farmer’s perceptions 43% used bush–feed during summer, 34 % in autumn and 23 % in spring. Study found means of proximate composition and energy values for all tree species were equal. It is recommended that farmers should be educated on benefits of knowing chemical composition of tree species in developing various products. Information adds to their Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to better manage their animals during the dry seasons.

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