Tropicultura (Jan 1995)
Evaluation pastorale des savanes du ranch de Kolo (Bas-Zaïre)
Abstract
Rangelang Assesment of Kolo Ranch Savanna - Zaire. In a ranch where the number of heads are stabilised for over 25 years, the authors have analysed the productivity, stocking rate and the pasture management on the 51.000 ha natural rangelands. The referred region has a soudanian climate with a 5 months dry season. The grazing areas have been classified and mapped into 8 morpho-pedological units. Regarding the flora, these areas are : a) sandy soils covered by Loudetia arundinacea savannas (4, 1 % of total area), b) sandy clay/clayed soils covered mainly by Hyparrhenia diplandra savannas (44 %) on the plateaus and in the bottom areas, and by Hyparrhenia lecomtei savannas (26 %) on the poorer soils on the slopes and on the tops. The daily productions of these savannas available to animals have been evaluated in each various morpho-pedological units. These productions were respectively 1.9 and 3.8 times lower in average and at the end of the dry season than in the wet season. The pasture management (rotation on 5 plots) and the stocking rate used (2.5 LSU) are established in accordance with the constraints issued from the measurements of the productivity and the nuthtional value of the grass regrowth taken after the controlled burning of the plots. For this type of extensive rearing, the estimated average stocking rate seems to be carried out starting by the average of grass regrowth after burning during the dry season. Nevertheless, this type of forecasts would only be applicable to areas wider than the one utilised by a single herd which is the most practical working unit of rangelands for pasture management.
