Integration of shade-tolerant forages in the one million trees initiative of Lukenya University

Solomon Mwendia, et al.

Description

Selected legume Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L) varieties are cool-weather plants that we hypothesize will also perform well under shade
Grass pea is quite tolerant to limited soil moisture and does well in nutrient-poor soils characteristic in the targeted area- semi arid
Varieties that are low in β-ODAP (β-N-oxalylamino-l-alanine acid) a neurotoxin are preferable , but the toxin usually concentered in seeds, while for the rest of biomass is what is targeted in this case for livestock
Grass pea is a good source of protein for the animals CP 21 -24%
The varieties will also be compared against other forage varieties hypothesized to be drought tolerant

Comments

Is there a conversation with Sawsan on her grasspea work which looks very similar?

If grasspea is toxic are there other less risky options? What is it about grasspea which makes it attractive?

Forage peanut is also shade tolerant. Any thought of testing that? Popular in SE Asia

It seems that the Grass Pea was selected because of its drought resilience and good adaption to nutrient poor soils. Where is the connection to shade tolerance?

Does the forage help with establishment of the trees? What are the safeguards to the establishment of this forage? What is the potential for scaling this initiative beyond the university at later stages? How does this fit in national Kenya policies?

Have you screened other shade tolerant options, for example pinto peanut Arachis pintoi.

why grass pea and not other species?

the shade treatment is going to be under artificial shade? there is a trade-off between shade tolerance and drought resistance. if grass pea depends mostly on deep roots to access water under drought, plants under shade are going to suffer (under shade there is less production of roots)