Effects of Irrigation Interval and Stage of Growth on Dry Matter Yield and Nutritve Value of Columbus Grass (Sorghum almum)
Abstract
The effects of irrigation intervals and stage of growth on dry matter yield and nutritive value of Sorghum almum (Columbus grass) was determined at the Livestock Teaching and Research farm of Federal College of Horticulture Dadin-kowa Gombe, Gombe State, Niger. The treatments consisted of four (4) irrigation intervals (Zero, One day, Two days and Three days) and five stages of growth (vegetative, boot, milk, soft dough and hard dough stage). The experimental design used was a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. The results revealed that both irrigation interval and stage of growth had significantly affected dry matter (DM) yield of S almum. The results also showed that proximate principles differed significantly between irrigation interval and stages of growth. Dry matter was significantly (p<0.01) higher at the hard dough stage (79.15%), Ash was significantly higher (p<0.01) at the vegetative stage (8.71%,) compared to other stages. Similarly for crude protein and ether extract, vegetative and boot stages recorded higher (P<0.01) values (10.45 and 8.26%) (7.12 and 7.10%) respectively. While CF, ADF and NDF were significantly greater (P<0.01) at hard dough stage (53.49, 48.57 and 73.68%, respectively). It was concluded that Sorghum almum could be produced using 1 to 3 days irrigation intervals and be harvested at milk and soft dough stages for higher dry matter yield and nutritive values in the semi-arid zone of Gombe state Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that famers can harvest their forage at the aforementioned stages for better yield and quality and fed to their livestock for better performance.
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References
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