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Yield and chemical composition of Pennisetum hybrid fertilized with animal manures and harvested at different times

Ojo, V.O.A. ¹*, Ogunsakin, A.O.¹, Dele, P.A.¹, Adelusi, O.O.², Olanite, J.A.¹, Adeoye,S.A.¹, Amole,T.A.¹ and Onifade,O.S.¹

¹Department of Pasture and Range Management,
²Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B 2240 Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2015 18(2): 65-80

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The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of animal manures and harvest times on the growth, dry matter yield and chemical composition of Pennisetum hybrid. The vegetative planting materials were sourced from a previously established plot and were planted in 5-litre capacity pots filled with a mixture of soil and manure at 3:1 ratio with the exception of the control that contained solely soil. The experiment was a 5x3 factorial design with four animal manure types: cattle, swine, poultry, goat and a control and three harvest times of 4, 8 and 12 wk after planting. The grass was evaluated for growth and proximate, fibre and mineral composition. The interaction effects of manure type and harvest interval were significant for all the parameters evaluated. Leaf and tiller numbers of grass fertilized with animal manures were higher (p<0.05) at 12 wk than unfertilized grass. Dry matter yield at 12 wk was lower (p<0.05) for unfertilized grass (4.94 kg/stand/pot) compared to grass fertilized with cattle, goat, poultry and swine manures at 12 wk (9.45, 16.02, 10.11 and 6.32 kg/stand/pot, respectively). The grass fertilized with goat and swine manures had higher (p<0.05) ash content than other treatments at 4 wk. The crude protein contents of Pennisetum hybrid grass fertilized with cattle, goat, poultry, and swine manures were higher (p<0.05) at 4, 8 and 12 wk than the control. The fibre contents were higher in unfertilized grass at 12 wk than in grass fertilized with animal manures. The grass fertilized with cattle manure had the highest (p<0.05) Na (0.62 %) and Mg (1.12 %) contents while grass fertilized with poultry manure had the highest (p<0.05) Ca and K contents (1.37 and 1.4 %, respectively) at 12 wk. Harvesting at 12 wk resulted in increased dry matter yield and mineral compositions while harvesting at 4 wk resulted in increased CP, EE and ash values for grass fertilized with animal manures. Application of animal manure improved the yield and chemical composition of Pennisetum hybrid.