Fodder banks are important agroforestry technologies that improve access to off-season livestock feed among smallholder farmers. However, fodder banks also contribute to nutrient mining, through biomass transfer, and therefore their sustainably may be downplayed. In order to identify sustainable managemt options, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of management practices (spacing and pruning frequency) on forage yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) of two contrasting leguminous Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner and non-leguminous ( Vernonia amygdalina Del) fodder shrubs. A field trial, with the two shrubs separately planted at different spacing (0.75 × 0.75 m and 1.0 × 1.0 m) and frequency of complete pruning (5- and 9-week interval), was established in a three-replicate randomized complete block design. Harvesting of fodder biomass was done for two consecutive years from the start of pruning. Total and aggregate SOC of the top soil (0–15 cm) and sub-soil (0.15–0.30 m) was assessed in four particle-size fractions. For both species, wider spacing significantly reduced ( p = 0.037) forage biomass by approximately 20%. Pruning at 9-weeks produced more forage biomass for C. calothyrsus , but not for V. amygdalina . The size of the soil aggregates significantly increased ( p = 0.027) by 8% in the 9-week compared to 5-week pruning frequency. Total organic carbon (TOC) in sub soil under C. calothyrsus was 7% higher than that under V. amygdalina . Wider spacing and lower pruning frequency significantly increased OC in sub soil ( p = 0.003) by 4% and 9%, respectively. Therefore, a spacing of 1.0 m combined with a pruning frequency of 9 weeks is optimum for forage and SOC. These results suggest that the sustainability of fodder banks can be achieved by optimizing pruning frequency and plant spacing. Therefore, proper management of fodder banks can contribute to climate-smart agriculture through increasing soil carbon sequestration and increased livestock productivity among stallholder farmers.

中文翻译：

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饲料库下饲料生物量和土壤团聚体碳的对比管理制度

饲料库是重要的农林业技术，可改善小农户获得淡季牲畜饲料的机会。然而，饲料库也通过生物量转移促进养分开采，因此它们的可持续性可能被淡化。为了确定可持续管理选项，本研究的目的是确定管理实践（间距和修剪频率）对两种对比豆科植物 Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner 和非豆科植物（斑鸠菊属植物斑鸠菊属植物）的牧草产量和土壤有机碳 (SOC) 的影响amygdalina Del) 饲料灌木。在三个重复的随机完整区组设计中建立了田间试验，将两种灌木以不同的间距（0.75 × 0.75 m 和 1.0 × 1.0 m）和完全修剪频率（5 周和 9 周间隔）分开种植. 从修剪开始，连续两年收获饲料生物量。表层土壤（0-15 厘米）和下层土壤（0.15-0.30 米）的总有机碳和聚集体 SOC 以四种粒度级分进行评估。对于这两个物种，更宽的间距显着减少（p = 0.037）牧草生物量约 20%。在 9 周时修剪为 C. calothyrsus 产生了更多的草料生物量，但对 V. amygdalina 则不然。与 5 周修剪频率相比，9 周土壤团聚体的大小显着增加了 8%（p = 0.027）。C. calothyrsus 下亚土的总有机碳（TOC）比 V. amygdalina 下高 7%。较宽的间距和较低的修剪频率分别显着增加了亚土 (p = 0.003) 4% 和 9% 的 OC。因此，间距为 1。0 m 结合 9 周的修剪频率是草料和 SOC 的最佳选择。这些结果表明，可以通过优化修剪频率和株距来实现饲料库的可持续性。因此，适当管理饲料库可以通过增加土壤碳固存和提高摊贩农民的牲畜生产力，为气候智能型农业做出贡献。