Das Projekt "Leguminosenmischungen für ganzjährige Weidehaltung in Südwest-Nigeria" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Fakultät III Agrarwissenschaften I, Institut für Pflanzenproduktion und Agrarökologie in den Tropen und Subtropen, Fachgebiet Biodiversität und Landrehabilitation in den Tropen und Subtropen durchgeführt. In a series of small-plot grazing trials and one large-plot grazing trial, species mixtures of complementary legumes were compared with one-species only swards. Furthermore, the effect of supplementation of several legume mixtures on reproductive cycling of heifers was be tested. Results confirmed the hypothesis that mixtures of legumes are more easy to establish and to manage than single species stands, thus maintaining a stable legume component (30-50 percent) in the pasture. Essential features of mixtures were the compensation for failures of establishment and persistence of single species, and the ability of the various species to complement each other in terms of seasonal, spatial and temporal variation in productivity, nutritive value and palatability. The grazing trials showed that heifers with daily access of 2-3 hours to the legume mixtures gained or maintained weight even during the dry season whereas the control group lost weight. During the observation period comprising two dry seasons and one wet season, average daily liveweight gains were five to six times higher for animals with access to legume pastures than for those without.