EFFECT OF FERTILIZER TYPES ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF NAPIER (Pennisetum purpureum) GRASS ESTABLISHED IN MAKURDI AND HARVESTED AT DIFFERENT GROWTH STAGES DURING THE WET SEASON
Abstract
Organic fertilizers may be alternatives to inorganic sources for improved pasture productivity. This research investigated the comparative performance of Pennisetum purpureum pasture as affected by use of organic and inorganic fertilizer types and sampled at different ages during the wet season. The study was a factorial experimental arrangement (4 x 3) laid out as split plot design with six replicates. The two factors were fertilizer type (control-no fertilizer, Urea, Poultry droppings and cow dung) and harvesting age (60, 90 and 120 days). Fertilizer application was at the rate of 300 kg/ha in two and three equal split applications for organic and urea fertilizers, respectively. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS version 23 at 5% probability level. Dry matter yield was not influenced (p>0.05) by all the factors in this experiment. Plant height increased (p<0.05) in pasture fertilized with urea compared to other organic fertilizers, while number of leaves and length reduced (p<0.05) in pasture fertilized with cattle manure only. Tiller diameter was higher (p<0.05) in pastures fertilized with urea compared to organic fertilizer. All chemical parameters measured were not affected (p>0.05) by the different sources of fertilizer used, but crude protein and ash content reduced (p<0.05) with increasing age, while crude fibre, nitrogen free extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were increased (p<0.05) with increasing age of sampling. This study established that use of poultry droppings compared favourably with urea fertilizer and may be the alternative source of fertilizer for urea.
References
Abera, M., Tolera, A., Nurfeta, A. and Geleti, D. (2021). Herbage accumulation and nutritive value of mixtures of desho grass and Vicia spp. in southern Ethiopia. Agronomy Journal, 114:165172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20891
Adeli, A., Varco, J. J., Sistani, K. R. and Rowe, D. E. (2005). Effects of swine lagoon effluentrelative to commercial fertilizer applications on warm-season forage nutritive value. Agronomy Journal, 97:408417. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2005.0408
Akinjoye, D. J. and Olorunnisomo, O. A. (2018). Chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of three varieties of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) by Sokoto Gudali heifers. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 45(2): 273 278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v45i2.526
AOAC (2005) Official method of Analysis. 18th Edition, Association of Officiating Analytical Chemists, Washington DC, Method 935.14 and 992.24
Balabanli, C., Albayrak, S., and Yuksel, O. (2010). Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium fertilization on the quality and yield of native rangeland. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 15(2): 164168.
Bayble, T., Melaku, S. and Prasad, N. K. (2007). Effects of cutting dates on nutritive value of Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass planted sole and in association with Desmodium ( Desmodium intortum) or Lablab (Lablab purpureus). Livestock Research for Rural Development, 19(1): 27
Ekhuemelo, D.O., E.T. Tembe and M. Abah, (2019). Investigation of charcoal production in Makurdi and Guma local government areas of Benue State, Nigeria. Sustainability Agriculture, Food and Environmental Resources, 7: 69-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7770/safer-V0N0-art1557
Ewetola, I. A., Amisu, A. A., Jimoh, S. O., Muraina, T. O., Olanite, J. A. and Arigbede, O. M (2020). Impact of fertilizer types on the nutritive quality of two tropical grass species harvested at different stages of growth during wet season. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 47(3):309 322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v47i3.169
Gashaw, M., and Defar, G. (2017). Livestock feed resources, nutritional value and their implication on animal productivity in mixed farming system in Gasera and Ginnir Districts, Bale Zone, Ethiopia. International Journal of Livestock Production. 8 (2): 12-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2016.0297
Halim, R. A., Shampazuraini, S. and Idrus, A. B. (2013). Yield and nutritive quality of nine Napier grass varieties in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Animal Science, 16(2):3744.
Hassan Amin, M. M. (2011). Effect of different nitrogen sources on growth, yield and quality of fodder maize (Zea mays Li). Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 10(1): 1723. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2010.06.003
Hassan, A., Zewdu, T., Urge, M. and Fikru, S. (2015). Effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on nutritive value of C. ciliaris and P. maximum grown under irrigation at Gode, Somali region. Journal nutrition food Science, 11: 005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9600.S11-005
Khalid, M., Ijaz, A. and Muhammad, A. (2003). Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on the fodder yield and quality of two Sorghum cultivars (Sorghum bicolor L.). Int. J. Agri. Biol., 5(1): 61-63.
Kubkomawa H.I., and Kenneth-Chukwu O.M. (2019). Forage resource utilization and management for greater ruminant production: a review. International Journal of Agricultural Research, Sustainability, and Food Sufficiency (IJARSFS), 6(01):295-314
Macpherson, A. (2000). Trace-mineral Status of Forages. In: Givens DI, Owen E, Axford RFE, Omed HM, eds. 2000. Forage Evaluation in Ruminant Nutrition. C A B International, UK. pp. 345-371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851993447.0345
Mihret, B., Asmare, B., and Mekuriaw, Y. (2018). Effect of fertilizer type and plant spacing on plant morphological characteristics, yield and chemical composition of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) in Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 10(2):107 - 114
Njoka-Njiru, E., Njarui, M. G., Abdulrazak, S. and Mureithi, N. (2006). Effect of intercropping herbaceous legume on dry matter yield and nutritive value of the feedstuffs in semi-arid region of eastern Kenya. Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica, 39(4): 255 262.
Norsuwan, T., Marohn, C., and Jintrawet, A. (2014). Effects of irrigation treatments and nitrogen applications on Napier grass planted in dry season as energy crop at Chiang Mai province. Khon Kaen Agricultural Journal, 42(2): 17
Oliveira, S., Daher, R.F., Ponciano, N.J., Gravina, G.D.A., Augusto, J. (2015). Variation of morpho-agronomic and biomass quality traits in elephant grass for energy purposes according to nitrogen levels. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 6:16851696.
Perez, A. A.S., Lopez, A. P. and Acosta, M.E.F. (2010). Optimal harvest age for napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) during the rainy season based on yield and nutritional value. Tecnica Pecuaria en Mexico, 48(3):277-286
Rinehart, L. (2008). Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers. A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Pp 9-10
Schick, B and Beckman, B. (2023). Pasture and Forage Minute: Understanding ADF and NDF, Hay Quality after Calving. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. CropWatch. University of NebraskaLincoln (Accessed November, 2024)
Sinaga, D.M., Aprilia, D., Zuhro, F., Setiawati, R., Siswi, R. (2016). Elephant Grass Planting Plan at Eruption-affected Areas in Mount Merapi: Methods and Harvesting Time. 1213 May 2016, Proceedings of 4th Asian Academic Society International Conference (AASIC), Indonesia. Pp. 599605
Sollenberger, L.E., Woodard, K.R., Vendramini, J.M.B., Castillo, M.S., Gallo, M. (2014). Invasive populations of elephant grass differ in morphological and growth characteristics from clones selected for biomass production. Bioenergetic Research, 7: 13821391. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9478-9
Stida, W.F., Almeida, B.D.O., Daher, R.F., Roberta, C., Moraes, D.O. (2018). Effect of nitrogen and potassium fertilization doses on elephant-grass genotypes for energy purposes. Journal of Agricultural Science, 10(10): 446459. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v10n10p446
Talukder, M., Shahjahan, M., Khandaker, Z and Billah, M.D. (2021). Effect of organic fertilizer on morphological characteristics, biomass yield and chemical composition of Napier and Jumboo grass. Conference: Annual Research Review Workshop 2020, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka-1341.
Tekletsadik, T., Tudsri, S., Juntakool, S. and Prasanpanich, S. (2004). Effect of dry season cutting management on subsequent forage yield and quality of ruzi (Brachiaria ruziziensis) and dwarf Napier (Pennisetumpurpureum L.) in Thailand. Kasetsart Journal (NaturalScience), 38:457467.
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B. and Lewis, B. A. (1991). Techniques for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and non-starch polysaccharides in re-flection to animal production. Journal of Dairy Science, 74:3583597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Wadi, A., Ishii, Y. and Idota, S. (2004). Effect of cutting interval and cutting height and dry matter yield and overwintering ability at the established year in Pennisetum species. Plant Production Science 7:8896. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1626/pps.7.88
Walton, D. C. (2003). Biochemistry and Physiology of Abscisic Acid. Annual Review of Plant Physiology, 31(1):453-489 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pp.31.060180.002321
Wangchuk, K., Rai, K., Nirola, H. and Dendup, C. (2015). Forage growth, yield, and quality responses of Napier hybrid grass cultivars to three cutting intervals in the Himalayan foothills. Tropical Grasslands Forrajes Tropicales, 3: 142150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(3)142-150
Yossif, A. M. and Ibrahim, Y. M. (2013). Effect of fertilizers (Urea, farmyard and chicken manure) on Growth and yield of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana L. Knuth.). Universal Journal of Plant Source, 1(3): 8590. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13189/ujps.2013.010305
Copyright (c) 2025 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
