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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Local knowledge about fodder plants in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil

Authors: Alissandra Trajano Nunes, Reinaldo Farias Paivade Lucena, Mércia Virgínia Ferreira dos Santos, Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

This study evaluated local knowledge of the fodder plants of the Caatinga in northeast Brazil (seasonal dry forest). Specifically, the goal was to catalog local knowledge regarding the use of native and exotic forage plants in two rural communities located in the state of Paraíba (northeast Brazil), to provide information for nutritional investigations and to verify how the knowledge of these resources is distributed.

Methods

The communities were followed for three consecutive years, and interviews were conducted with 44 families (20 men and 24 women). Nine of these individuals were determined by the snowball technique to be key informants who held more specific knowledge about the topic. The data were structured into a database and statistically analyzed.

Results

Overall, 136 plants from 37 families and 113 genera were cited, and the knowledge of men was at a higher level than that of women (p < 0.05). Participants demonstrated a sophisticated knowledge of nutritional characteristics such as nutritional value, palatability, availability and productivity. Native plants were highlighted over the exotic, especially for species of the families Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae and Fabaceae.

Conclusions

The great diversity of plants cited by the informants demonstrates the potential of local vegetation and the importance of traditional knowledge in the research process and in the characterization of forage resources. This diversity also favors the selection of promising species for future biotechnological investigations.
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Metadata
Title
Local knowledge about fodder plants in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil
Authors
Alissandra Trajano Nunes
Reinaldo Farias Paivade Lucena
Mércia Virgínia Ferreira dos Santos
Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-11-12

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