Response of fodder crops to repurposed livestock kraals in the Zambezi Region of Namibia

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of kraal abandonment duration on fodder crop performanceand soil fertility in semi-arid Namibia. Five crops—Cenchrus ciliaris, Medicago sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Zea mays,and Helianthus annuus—were cultivated at kraal sites abandoned for 5 years (K05) and 10 years (K10), alongsidenon-kraaled control sites (K00). The findings indicate that K05 sites exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) levelsof soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compared to both K00 and K10 sites. Correspondingly,K05 sites demonstrated enhanced seed germination rates, accelerated seedling emergence and increased biomassproduction. The duration of kraal abandonment also influenced soil texture, resulting in increased sand content anddecreased proportions of silt and clay, while magnesium and pH levels rose, and calcium levels declined over time.Collectively, these results suggest that a 5-year abandonment period is more advantageous than a 10-year period forthe repurposing of kraal sites for fodder crop production and optimizing fertility benefits. Nevertheless, the varyingresponses of different crops underscore the significance of species selection. These findings provide critical insightsfor the sustainable repurposing of abandoned kraals for fodder production in semi-arid regions of southern Africa.