Influence of Nitrogen and Harvesting Time on Yield and Quality of Forage Pearl Millet and Rhodes Grass in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Duke, Nyakwana Nyambega
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and Rhode grass (Chloris gayana) are among the
fodder crops of great eye-catching in Kenya. They have multiple cutting nature and
high tillering ability. They do not contain poisonous acid and do well when managed
properly. Nitrogen is an obligatory nutrient for plants to growth including fodder
crops. Inadequate nitrogen leads to poor growth and grasses develop fewer tillers,
hence leading to low biomass yield, which impacts on livestock production
negatively. This research was carried out to examine the outcome of different
nitrogen rates and harvesting periods on the growth, yield and quality of forage pearl
millet and Rhode grass. The nitrogen rates were 0 (control), 50 and 100 kg N ha-1,
while harvesting times were 30, 44 and 58 days after germination. The pearl millet
cultivar was ICMV-22, Boma for Rhodes grass. The experiment was set up in a
split-plot design using an RCBD arrangement with three replications. Data collected
included the height of plants, tiller number, stem thickness, fresh foliage yield,
herbage weight, the content of ash, and organic matter. All the growth parameters
and quality data were subjected to analysis of variance using the software. Means
separated using Least Square Difference at a five per cent level of probability. The
results indicated that the differences were important (p<0.05) on plant heights,
number of tillers, stem thickness, foliage weight, yield, dry matter percentage, ash
content and organic matter when nitrogen fertilizer was supplied compared to the
control. The rate of 100 kg N ha-1 was superior while control recorded the lowest
values in all parameters. Biomass dry weight significantly (p<0.05) increased with
nitrogen application. The maximum biomass dry weight was observed in 100 kg N
ha-1 having a dry weight of 74.63g and 58.49g per plant in pearl millet and Rhodes
grass respectively. The effect of nitrogen on dry matter percentage was pronounced
more in pearl millet (33.53, 36.47) as compared to Rhodes grass (30.34, 34.01) in
short and long rains respectively. Harvesting at 58 days after germination recorded a
high forage yield (25.74t/ha, 41.32t/ha) in pearl millet, (18.86t/ha, 26.4t/ha) in
Rhodes grass during short and long rains respectively. The effect of interaction
between fodder species and nitrogen rates on quality parameters was significant in
both seasons. Dry matter and organic matter consistently increased up to the final
harvest, while ash content decreased with delaying harvest. Based on these results,
the rate of 100 kg N ha-1 was recorded to produce more superior growth parameters
for both pearl millet and Rhode grass, implying that additional nitrogen would
further increase growth. It can be concluded from the results that in order get a
higher yield of pearl millet and Rhodes grass they can be fertilized at the rate of 100
kg N ha-1 and harvested 58 days after germination.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted to the School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development of Kenyatta University in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement of Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Agronomy, September, 2021
Keywords
Influence of Nitrogen, Harvesting Time, Yield and Quality, Forage Pearl Millet, Rhodes Grass, Kiambu County, Kenya