@article{Idowu_Hassan_Tanko_Amodu_Adewumi_Oyewo_Adeleke_Bello_Kperum_2020, title={CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PANICUM MAXIMUM AS AFFECTED BY PIG MANURE RATES, PLANTING METHODS AND HARVESTING STAGES IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA.}, volume={4}, url={https://fjs.fudutsinma.edu.ng/index.php/fjs/article/view/53}, abstractNote={<p>Effects of Pig manure application, planting methods and harvesting stages on chemical composition of <em>Panicum</em> <em>maximum</em> were evaluated during the rainy season of 2018 at the Feed and Nutrition Research Program of the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria. The experiment was laid in a Split Plot Design with 4×2×3 factorial arrangement replicated three times. The manure rates were 0, 5, 10 and 15t/ha, planting methods were; drilling and broadcasting methods while the harvesting stages were 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting. The results indicated a higher (P&lt;0.05) (93.76%) forage dry matter (DM) at 9<sup>th</sup> week of harvest while the CP content increased (P&lt;0.05) with increasing rate of manure application&nbsp; (8.46-12.62%) while there was a decline in CP content as the harvesting stage advanced (10.85-13.00%). Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) affected by pig manure rates (3.49-6.45%). Phosphorus content of the forage was significantly affected by manure application (0.11-0.17%) while the harvesting stage had a significant (P&lt;0.05) effect on Zn, Cu and Fe with 9<sup>th</sup> week of harvest having the highest values for the micro-nutrients evaluated. It was hence concluded that the chemical composition of <em>Panicum</em> <em>maximum </em>was affected by the treatments. Therefore, pig manure can be applied at 15t/ha using broadcasting method of planting. <em>Panicum</em> <em>maximum </em>forage can be harvested at 9<sup>th</sup> week after sowing for better mineral composition in Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria.</p&gt;}, number={1}, journal={FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES}, author={Idowu, Waheed and HassanM. R. and TankoR. J. and AmoduJ. T. and AdewumiA. E. and OyewoT. O. and AdelekeR. A. and BelloS. S. and KperumN. T.}, year={2020}, month={Apr.}, pages={340 - 347} }