Influence of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N application on tiller production and herbage yield distribution over time in a guinea grass (Panicum maximum) sown pasture

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of cutting frequency and nitrogen rates on guinea grass (Panicum maximum) tiller production and herbage yield distribution over time. Plants were grown in the Department of Crop Science Research and Teaching Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A 4 × 4 factorial experiment replicated three times was set in a randomized complete block design. Treatments comprised four levels of nitrogen fertilizer at 0, 150, 300 and 450 kg ha-1 and four harvesting frequencies of three-, six-, nine- and 12-weekly intervals. Tiller number per square meter of ground significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing interval of cuts, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased with incremental application of fertilizer N in all the years. The three-weeks interval of cuts significantly produced the highest tiller number when combined with the highest N rate of 450 kg N ha-1 in 2003 compared with six- , nine- or 12-week intervals of cut. Grass tiller number significantly (P < 0.05) increased with frequent cutting of intervals earlier in the 2001 season (June to August) than later (September to November) when compared with the infrequent cutting intervals. In most periods of the years, dry matter yields of grass herbage and crop fractions were significantly increased with increase in interval between cuts and with incremental application of nitrogen. However, grass dry matter yields were significantly reduced with longer intervals, relative to the shorter intervals late in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons.Key words: Nitrogen fertilizer, crop fractions, interval between cuts, seasons

Preliminary study of the contribution of native legumes to the nitrogen economy of natural grasslands

The need to discover suitable native legumes of high nitrogen fixing ability was pinpointed. Potential native legumes growing in the wild in Nsukka, Nigeria were identified and the seeds were collected. Desmodium ramisissimon was found to be the common legume species in the University area and was used for germination and nodulation studies. D. ramisissimon showed good potentiality with regards to nodulation ability and was recommended for further investigation.Key words: Nodulation, germination, nitrogen fixation, Desmodium ramisissimon

Seasonal availability and physical and chemical characteristics of four major browse plants used for stall-feeding of livestock in Eastern Nigeria

Four major browse species were studied with respect to their time of availability throughout the year and some aspects of their physical and chemical characteristics. Elaeis guineensis and Ficus elasticoides were available at all times of the year for stock feeding. For the physical milling characteristics studied, the browse species compared well with those of the legume species included in the study or were intermediate between those of the legumes and grasses. The nutrient composition indicated that the browse species could be a good source of livestock feed, especially during the dry season when grass from the natural grassland is scarce.Key words: Nutrient composition, milling characteristics, livestock, browse species

Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in different local agricultural waste materials

The present study was conducted to evaluate different substrates for establishment of yield performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The substrates were prepared from single or mixture of different agricultural waste materials supplemented with lime and water as additive to each substrate. A total of eight substrates labeled 1 to 8 were prepared. Substrate 4, which is a mixture of palm kernel cake and maize cob, had the highest mycelia growth rate (80%), sprouted 15 days after inoculation and yielded the highest total fresh weight for a period of 10 harvests (2957.5 g). Substrate 3, a mixture of palm kernel cake and sawdust, had 78% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 16 days after inoculation and yielded 2535.7 g fresh mushroom. Substrate 2 is a mixture of maize straw and sawdust and had 75% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 17 days after inoculation and a total of 2207.4 g fresh weight. The mushroom grown in substrates 4, 3 and 2 produced bigger and firmer fruiting bodies, which differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the other substrates. Substrates 1 and 5 which had 50% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 31 and 33 days after inoculation and 1408.8 and 1092.6 g, respectively, were recorded after a period of 10 harvests. Substrate 4, 3 or 2 is therefore recommended for cultivation of oyster mushroom.Keywords: Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), mycelial growth, palm kernel cake (PKC), substrate, maturit

Influence of seedbed preparation on the growth and development of medium maturing varieties of soybean(Glycine max (L) Merril)

No Abstract. Bio-Research Vol. 4(1) 2006: 23-2

Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products used in traditional sheep and goat production in rural communities of Markudi LGA

A study of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products in Makurdi was conducted in June, 2008. Interview schedule was administered to farmers in five communities in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Fourteen (14) crop residues and eleven (11) agro-industrial byproducts were identified. The crop residues were grouped under cereal crop residues (3), root crop residues (5), legume crop residues (3), and fruit crop residues (3). All the sampled respondents kept livestock and depend on the natural pasture as the main source of feed for their animals. The mean stock number per farmer in this study was 14.0 for goats and 10.2 for sheep with the highest numbers being in the Agan community. Crop residues collection in this area is done twice daily. Thesource of crop residues in the area is generally close to the farmers’ residence being 400 metres away. Most of these crop residues are available and utilized all the year round and are fairly palatable to ruminant animal with a mean score of 2.0. Palatable and very palatable crop residues (with mean scores of 3.0 and 4.0, respectively), constitute 56.0%, while unpalatable materials constitute only 8.0% of all the residues. Most of the crop residues have low levels of anti nutrients and are therefore suitable for livestock feeding

Effects of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N application on growth and production on guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq) sown pasture

A study was conducted to determine the effects of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N rates on growth and production of guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq). The experiment was conducted in Nsukka, Nigeria. Treatments comprised four levels of fertilizer N (0, 150, 300 and 450 kg N ha- 1) and four cutting intervals (3, 6, 9 and 12 weekly intervals). Plant height, tiller number and herbage dry matter yields were significantly increased by 6%, 44% and 53%, respectively, during the establishment year when fertilizer-N rate was increased from 0 to 450 kg N ha-1. The extent of weed cover was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by 33% in 2000 when fertilizer-N rate was increased from 0 to 450 kg N ha-1. Increase in interval between cuts from 3 to 12 weeks significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant height in all the years. Plant height was increased (P < 0.05) by 28%, 34% and 28% in 2001, 2002 and 2004, respectively, when fertilizer N was increased from 0 to 450 kg ha-1. Application of N at 450 kg ha-1 produced similar plant heights in 2001 with the 300 kg N ha-1 but differed from the 150 kg N ha-1. Increase in nitrogen application progressively increased (P < 0.05) plant height in 2002 and 2004. Keywords: Cutting regime, nitrogen fertilizer, plant height, establishmen

Effect of sward type, cutting frequency and fertilizer-n application on pasture establishment, growth and yield in guinea grass-verano stylo pastures.

This experiment was a 3 x 3 x 2 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design and was replicated three times. Treatments comprised three sward types (pure grass, pure legume and grass/legume mixed swards), three cutting regimes (4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks) and two nitrogen fertilizer rates (0 and 300 kg N ha-1). Increasing the interval between harvests increased the number of branches per plant, number of leaves per legume plant, and heights of grass and legume species. The application of N increased heights of grass and legume plants, with no effect on the number of leaves per plant and number of branches per legume plant. Fertilizer effects on height of grass and legume plants were generally, not significant during the later periods of 2006 and 2007. There were significant reductions in the height, number of nodules per plant, length of longest root per plant, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, and dry matter yields of leaf, stem and root fractions per verano stylo plant in the grass-legume mixed swards when compared with the pure legume swards

Effect of plant population and N fertilizer on the growth and yield of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc.)

Responses of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) to 3 levels of fertilizer N (0, 50, and 100 kg N/ha) and seven plant populations (55555, 63492, 74074, 88888, 111111, 148148 and 222222 plants/ha) were studied under field conditions in Nsukka, Nigeria. The experimental design was a randomized complete block and there were three replications. Seed yield progressively increased with increasing plant population, being significantly highest at 222,222 plants/ha. The application of 100 kg N/ha increased the total dry matter per plant compared with no application or with 50 kg N/ha, although seed yield benefits were not readily apparent. Nodulation was not statistically influenced by N treatment although zero or- low N application showed a slight increase in nodulation, suggesting a lack of adequate population of the effective rhizobium in the location. Innoculation of bambara groundnut seeds with effective rhizobium strain before planting becomes necessary for good nodulation and production of the crop under Nsukka agro-ecological conditions.Key words: Vigna subterranea, nodulation, N-fertilizer, plant population, seed yield, drymatter yield

Seasonal variation in the anti-nutrient and mineral components of some forage legumes and grasses

This study was conducted in Nsukka, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of season of harvest (rain and dry) on the anti-nutrient and mineral components of four herbaceous legumes (Calapogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens, Stylosanthes guyanensis and Pueraria phaseoloides) and four forage grasses (Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Cynodon nlemfuensis and Andropogon gayanus). The grasses were analyzed separately from the legumes. A 2 × 4 factorial arrangement laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) was used. Species, season and their interaction significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the anti-nutrient and mineral concentrations in the forage grasses and legumes. The alkaloid, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), oxalate, phytate, saponin, tannin, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents of the grasses and legumes were significantly (P < 0.05) higher during the rainy than in the dry season. The concentrations of N, P and K varied significantly (P<0.05) among the legumes and between the grass species. C. mucunoides harvested during the rainy season significantly yielded higher percentage N compared with other legumes while P. phaseoloides harvested during the rainy season which had higher concentration of K than other legumes in any season. P. maximum harvested during the rainy season significantly produced higher N content compared with other grasses in any season while P. purpureum harvested in the rainy season significantly gave higher percentage of K and P compared with other grass species in any season.Keywords: Alkaloid, hydrogen cyanide, oxalate, saponin, tannin, minerals, grasses legumes, seasonAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 142-14