Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) Fodder Yield Potential and Nutritive Value under Different Levels of Phosphorus in Rainfed Conditions
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Date
2017
Authors
Wafula, Wekha N.
Siambi, Moses
Ojulong, Henry
Korir, Nicholas
Gweyi-Onyango, Joseph P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SCIENCEDOMAIN International
Abstract
Scarcity of fodder is the major limiting factor for increasing livestock production in Kenya. With
rising energy costs and declining water levels in the semi-arid tropics and sub-tropics, crops that
use less water like finger millet could become an alternate fodder crop. The fodder potential of
three finger millet varieties (U-15, P-224 and a local check) were evaluated under four P fertilizer
levels (0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg ha-1 P2O5) at three sites in Kenya for two cropping seasons. The
trials were laid in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement and replicated three
times. A maximum of 28,189 kg ha-1 fresh stover yield was realized in the 25 kg ha-1 P2O5 treatment
and consequently 11,616 kg ha-1 dry stover yield. The 25 kg ha-1 rate elicited the highest fresh stover yield at Kakamega and Alupe for both seasons while at Kiboko a linear increase was
observed on the stover yield with increasing rates where the highest rate had more than 15% yield
compared to the control. The varieties also showed significant differences in all the sites with the
local variety, Ikhulule, showing the highest fresh and dry stover yield at Kakamega and Alupe
peaking at 28,852 and 12,826 kg ha-1 fresh and dry stover yields respectively. Interactions between
variety and phosphorus rates were revealed on the crude protein content of the finger millet stover.
At Kiboko, the highest crude protein (11.0%) on varieties P-224 and U-15 was exhibited at the
highest rate while on the local variety, Ekalakala, the highest protein (10.9%) was realized at the
25 kg ha-1 P2O5. At Kakamega and Alupe, the highest protein was observed on the local variety,
Ikhulule at 12.5 kg ha-1 P2O5 rate with variety P-224 and U-15 showing the highest at the 25 and
37.5 kg ha-1 P2O5 respectively. Therefore, finger millet can provide a unique opportunity to improve
the availability of fodder to smallholder livestock farmers.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Finger millet, Fodder, Stover, Crude protein, Smallholder
Citation
Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International 10(4): 1-10, 2017; Article no.JAERI.31120