The use of improved forages for sustainable land use | [Uso de forrajes mejorados para uso sostenible de la tierra]

Tropical grasses and legumes are proving to have multiple end uses and when well managed contribute to more sustainable land use. In addition to use as pasture plants they are being used as fodder banks for grazing or 'cut and carry', for cover crops, as erosion barriers, for fallow improvement and as agro-industrial crops. Selection of forages in CIAT initially had a narrow focus, namely, for pasture improvement for the acid infertile soils of the Llanos of Colombia. However, selection under conditions of low soil fertility and high disease and insect incidence resulted in liberation of species that have since proved to have wide adaptation to many other agro-ecosystems. Further, the use of these legumes and grasses in prototype production systems has shown that they are beneficial in terms of improved soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics and can contribute to sustainable pasture and integrated crop-livestock systems in different agro-ecoregions. A range of grasses and legumes from these selections have been released by different countries. There has been widespread adoption of the grasses for use in improved pastures but poor adoption of the legumes. The reason for the poor adoption of legumes is that (1) many have not been persistent under grazing (2) there is little recognition by farmers of the long term benefit and (3) many land holders have focused on profits arising from increased land values rather than increased productivity per se. It is now recognized that successful introduction of legumes for pastures will depend on choice of appropriate production 'niches', in particular, in more intensive livestock and crop-livestock systems and on development of legume technology in partnership with farmers. New opportunities have been recognized for the use of grasses and legumes in non-livestock systems. There has been widespread adoption as covers for high value tree crops even though there has been little extension effort in this area. Legumes have been successfully adopted for feed meal production and could be more widely used in improvement of fallow lands. There is a need for development of indicators at the farm level for use in the economic assessment of the long-term value of new 'forage' technology for the community as well as the more immediate benefits to the individual. Further input in sociological studies and development of seed systems for production of cheaper seed is required. New opportunities have been recognized for the use of grasses and legumes in non-livestock systems. There has been widespread adoption as covers for high value tree crops even though there has been little extension effort in this area. Legumes have been successfully adopted for feed meal production and could be more widely used in improvement of fallow lands. There is a need for development of indicators at the farm level for use in the economic assessment of the long-term value of new "forage" technology for the community as well as the more inmediate benefits to the individual. Futher input in sociological studies and development of seed systems for production of cheaper seed is required