Range pastures comprising of naturally growing grasses and legumes constitute the major source of feeds throughout  the  year  for  livestock  production  in  South-western Uganda (Katuromunda et al., 2017). For decades, livestock grazing in the sub-region was characterized by nomadism where the  higher  mobility of herds and more wide spread pasture resting enabled recovery of the range pasture (Gantuya et al., 2021). This created an adequate and sustainable source of livestock feeds. However, following changes in land use as a result of population explosion, sedentary pastoralism which involves grazing of animals in a confined area and on a permanent basis has taken over the traditional nomadic pastoralism (Muwanika et al., 2019). In the sedentary grazing system, lack of adequate pastures is the major constraint of livestock production for pastoralists in South-western Uganda (de Vries, 2019). This is largely attri-=buted to climate change effects mainly drought, inappropriate land use practices and exceeding livestock carrying capacities (Kabonesa and Kindi, 2013; Byenkya et al., 2014).

For instance, due to climate change effects, it has become common for South-western Uganda to experience drought for at least 183 days a year (Ntakyo et al., 2020), which negatively affects the productivity of range pastures. More so, whereas optimum stocking rate of livestock in semi-arid areas is recommended at 0.71 Tropical livestock Unit/Ha (TLU/Ha), (Mulindwa et al., 2009), the average stocking rate of farms in grazing areas of South-western Uganda stands at 1.4 TLU/Ha (Tibezinda et al., 2016). Such a high stocking rate exerts pressure on the available feed resources thus affecting the productivity of livestock which is reflected in low milk yields and high livestock mortalities especially in the dry season.

The decline in range pasture productivity poses diverse negative consequences to the socio-economic well-being of livestock farmers in South-western Uganda. Over 60% of the households in the grazing areas of South-western Uganda depend on livestock production as a source of livelihood (Makuma-Massa et al., 2017). At a national level, over 37 % of the cattle products especially milk that contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product are obtained from South-western Uganda (Creemers and Aranguiz, 2019). Thus, there is need for interventions that are capable of improving the productivity of range pastures in the sub-region for sustainable livestock production.

Like all agricultural systems, the status of soil moisture and nutrients is of paramount value in sustainable production of range pastures (Zornoza et al., 2015). These soil parameters influence rates of pasture growth and regeneration following grazing which aspects are pivotal in livestock production. In most grazing areas, soil moisture and nutrients are highly affected by bare grounds and compacted soils (Bolo et al., 2019). Such conditions are conspicuously evident in the grazing areas of South-western Uganda (Njagi et al., 2022), calling for strategies to counteract the pasture production challenges.

In developed countries, there is increasing literature highlighting interventions that improve the productivity of range pastures (Aguiar et al., 2017; Zu Ermgassen et  al., 2018; Griffiths et al., 2021). For instance, in New Zealand, range pastures have been intensively managed through increased nitrogen fertilizer application and irrigation (Whitehead et al., 2018). In sub-Saharan Africa, information on pasture improvement practices focusing on soil moisture conservation and nutrient management is largely lacking. For South-western Uganda, it is reported that in the last decade, there were efforts of improving the productivity of range pastures through the dryland husbandry project. The project promoted practices which included pasture establishment; organic manuring, water harvesting, over-sowing and reseeding; legume pasture seed production and erosion control (Twinamasiko et al., 2020). Without clear explanation, there was unanticipated drop out of implementation of pasture improvement practices and technologies by livestock farmers upon the project expiry.  

Thus, refocusing pasture improvement practices through soil moisture conservation and nutrient management is needed especially in the face of climate change where production resilient technologies are desired. However, baseline information on existing practices which is necessary in determining pathways for sustainable management of the range pastures remains scanty. Therefore, this study sought to assess: (1) What soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices are being undertaken by farmers in range pasture management? and (2) What information sources and constraints of soil moisture conservation and nutrient management regarding range pasture management are being utilized and experienced by the livestock farmers?

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In several farming communities, adoption of agricultural innovations is reported to be a function of extrinsic factors such as the characteristics of the adopter and intrinsic factors especially the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of the potential adopter towards the innovation (Meijer et al., 2015). The external environment for instance social networks, extension systems, policy support and market opportunities at the exposure of the adopter during decision making have equally impacted on farmers’ response to technologies (Oriana et al., 2019). Depending on the predominant context, a range of factors can positively or negatively impact on farmers’ ability to adopt technologies (Onuche et al., 2020).

Understanding how different aspects impact on farmers’ decision regarding production enhancing technologies is pivotal in designing effective technological packages and dissemination mechanisms. As presented in Figure 1, this study focused on highlighting the different soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices in the range pastures in South-western Uganda, sources of information and constraints and   underlying   factors   that  shaped  the  response  of farmers to the different soil management aspects.

Description of the study area

This study was carried out in five districts namely; Isingiro, Kiruhura, Lyantonde, Mbarara and Ntungamo (Figure 2). The study districts are located in the southern part of the cattle corridor of Uganda and constitute the livestock hub of the country (Balikowa, 2011; Sempiira et al., 2017). The climate is predominantly semi-arid with mean annual rainfall of 1010 mm distributed in a bimodal pattern (Owoyesigire et al., 2016). Temperature ranges from 20 - 30°C where high peaks are recorded in January and July and the average elevation of the area stands at 1800 m above sea level (Twongyirwe et al., 2019). Soils are generally sandy loam and basing on the nature of climate and soils, savannah grassland type of vegetation with scattered Acacia tree species characterize the area. Livestock  production  is  the  major  economic  activity  where dominant domestic fauna is cattle comprising of the indigenous Ankole long horn cattle and Ankole Longhorn X Holstein Friesian crosses (Johansson et al., 2015).

Study design and data collection

Using purposive sampling techniques, two livestock dominated sub-counties in each of the study districts were selected. This was done with the help of the District Production Officers. In each sub-county, 25 livestock farmers (50 per district) were randomly selected using simple random sampling techniques. In the latter method, key community roads/access routes connecting the livestock farmers in the area were identified with the help of Sub-county extension officers. Along each route, a sample homestead was selected on opposite sides of the road at an interval of two farm homesteads from the preceding house. Within a homestead, the respondent considered was the household head, wife or a responsible mature person who had been involved in the day to day running of the farm activities for a minimum period of 5 years. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a total of 250 respondents. Data were collected on selected socio-economic profiles of respondents, land and grazing characteristics, soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices used in the range pastures, sources of information and constraints experienced by farmers regarding soil moisture conservation and nutrient management in the range pastures.

Data analysis

The collected data were coded and entered into SPSS version 16.0 statistical software for descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency tables and charts were generated using descriptive statistical tools to present information summaries of the households. Non-parametric test in form of Chi-square was undertaken to establish significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. The dependent variables in the study included soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices, sources of information for the practices and constraints experienced by farmers in adoption of diversified practices.  Independent variables included age, gender, education level, marital status, land and grazing characteristics and grazing systems of the respondents. Due to the multiple choice nature of sources of information and constraints experienced by farmers, multiple response sets were created and associated frequency tables generated. The major responses from multiple response tables were subjected to Multivariate regression analysis to identify significant associations with the independent variables. The choice of multivariate analysis was based on the strength of the test to establish associations between multiple dependent variables and independent variables in a single analysis. Where significant associations existed, cross tabulation tables were generated to display the extent to which categories of independent variables influenced the dependent variables.

Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents

In this study, a large number of the respondents were male (62.0%, n=155) and the dominant age range was 51-60 years (29.6%, n=74) (Table 1). For most of the respondents,   primary   status  was  the  highest  level  of education attained (31.6%, n=79) and 87.2% (n=218) of the respondents were married.

Household grazing characteristics of the respondents

Table 2 shows that the majority (31.2%, n=78) of the respondents owned up to 20 acres of land, where the land used for grazing activities was predominantly in the range of 1-20 acres (38.2%, n=97). These results reveal a fact that the dominant land acreage of up to 20 acres owned by most respondents was almost utilized entirely for livestock production. This close range of the land size owned by respondents and the portion which is allocated to grazing signifies the importance of livestock production in the livelihoods of pastoralists in South-western Uganda. In some other areas in Uganda where livestock production is practiced, cattle farmers have been reported to own an average of 40 acres where a small portion (23%) of their land is allocated to cattle keeping (Turinawe et al., 2012). Cattle was the major type of livestock kept (99.6%, n=249) and these were dominated by Friesian crosses with most farmers keeping up to 20 heads (39.2%, n=98) per household. The dominance of Friesian crosses as opposed to the traditional Ankole long horn cattle is largely due to farmers’ shift from the traditional subsistence to market-oriented livestock farming to benefit from the high demand for livestock products especially milk in the country (Ntakyo et al., 2020). This creates a demand for a consistent supply of feed resources to sustain livestock production.

This study has shown that agroforestry through retention of indigenous tree species in grazing lands was the major soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practice used in the range pastures in South-western Uganda.

Farmers’ own knowledge was the main source of information regarding soil moisture conservation and nutrient management in the range pastures followed by fellow farmers. However, the limited flow of information to farmers through extension officers has revealed limited awareness and inadequate inclusion of soil moisture conservation and nutrient management aspects for range pastures in extension programs for livestock production.  Lack of information coupled with lack of funds was the major constraints experienced by farmers. The significant association of education level and lack of information calls for deliberate effort in development and effective dissemination of appropriate information materials that take into account the literacy level of majority of the respondents. Therefore, to enhance adoption of soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices for range pastures, farmer participatory testing and adaptation of alternative practices alongside agroforestry is recommended. Inclusion of soil moisture conservation and nutrient management practices for range pastures should be made deliberate in extension programs for livestock production. More so, the study recommends financial incentives to livestock farmers to boost their capacity to invest in soil management practices for sustainable production of range pastures. 

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.