DRY MATTER YIELD OF Brachiaria ruziziensis AS AFFECTED BY POULTRY MANURE RATES AND STAGES OF HARVEST.

Abstract

The study was carried out at Professor, Lawal Abdu Saulawa Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Dutsin-Ma to evaluate the effect of poultry manure rates and stages of harvest on the dry matter yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a 3×3 factorial arrangements, with three manure rates (5, 10 and 15 t/ha), replicated three times and stages of harvest (6, 8 and 10WAP). Poultry manure rate was the first factor while the stage of harvest was the second factor. A week before transplanting, poultry manure was applied to each plot manually by broadcast and immediately incorporated into the soil using hoe. Seedlings of B.ruzi were uprooted from the Pasture introduction plot of the Teaching and Research Farm and transplanted to the experimental field with inter and intra-row space of 0.5m and 0.2m respectively when the rain was established. Weeds were controlled during the experimental period. Data on Dry Matter Yield of B.ruzi was taken at each of the stageof harvest. Data collected on dry matter yield was subjected to ANOVA, using GLM SAS, 2005. Significant difference among the treatment means were compared using DMRT. The result showed that the DMY was higher (P<0.05) at 10WAP and 10t/ha of poultry manure application rate. It was concluded that poultry manure should be applied to Brachiaria rThe study was carried out at Professor, Lawal Abdu Saulawa Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Dutsin-Ma to evaluate the effect of poultry manure rates and stages of harvest on the dry matter yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a 3×3 factorial arrangements, with three manure rates (5, 10 and 15 t/ha), replicated three times and stages of harvest (6, 8 and 10WAP). Poultry manure rate was the first factor while the stage of harvest was the second factor. A week before transplanting, poultry manure was applied to each plot manually by broadcast and immediately incorporated into the soil using hoe. Seedlings of B.ruzi were uprooted from the Pasture introduction plot of the Teaching and Research Farm and transplanted to the experimental field with inter and intra-row space of 0.5m and 0.2m respectively when the rain was established. Weeds were controlled during the experimental period. Data on Dry Matter Yield of B.ruzi was taken at each of the stageof harvest. Data collected on dry matter yield was subjected to ANOVA, using GLM SAS, 2005. Significant difference among the treatment means were compared using DMRT. The result showed that the DMY was higher (P<0.05) at 10WAP and 10t/ha of poultry manure application rate. It was concluded that poultry manure should be applied to Brachiaria rruziziensis at the rate at 10
ton/ha and the forage be harvested at 10WAP to achieve a higher forage yield.