| The value of forage tree legumes in agriculture:
For livestock:
- Valuable source of high quality, protein rich forage, for subsistence
and commercial livestock production
- Able to supply foliage during dry periods when herbaceous species
are not available
- Deep rooted drought tolerant leguminous trees often present the only
options for introduction of exotic species to improve forage diets in
arid and semi-arid regions
- Used as living fences for livestock
- Some species used as anthelmintic in mono-gastric livestock
For farming systems:
- They are a source of N-rich mulch for cropping systems
- They can enhance the sustainability of farming systems due to longevity,
fertility enhancement characteristics, and physical stability in the
landscape
- They often supply trellises or support for climbing crops, and shade
for plantation crops,
- They can be a valuable source of fruit, vegetables and herbal medicines
for human consumption
For people and the environment:
- Their use offers opportunity to intensify agricultural production
sustainably
- Forage trees are used to stabilize sloping lands and sand dunes against
erosion due to their deep rooted habit
- Forage trees are often the principal source of timber, fuelwood, and
charcoal for domestic consumption
- They provide habitat for wildlife, and as woody perennials, act as
a sink for CO2 with positive effects on climate
- Tree legume foliage, whether sold as fresh forage or pelletised and
exported, is a source of cash income for farmers
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