Effects of Fertilizers and Rates of Application on Growth and Yields of Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana Cv. Callide)

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Dagwom farm, National Veterinary
Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. The objective of the
research was to compare the effects of three fertilizers (urea, NPK and poultry
st nd rd th manure) and four rates of application (coded 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 to represent either 0,
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150, 300 and 450 kg N ha for urea and NPK or 0, 25, 50 and 75 t ha for poultry
manure) on the growth, fresh herbage and dry matter yields of a 2 year old Rhodes
grass (Chloris gayana cv. Callide) pasture. Twelve factorial treatments were fitted
into a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated 3 times. The
variables measured were sward height (cm), fresh herbage and dry matter yields (t
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ha ). Poultry manure was comparable to NPK and furnished significantly better
growth, higher fresh herbage and dry matter yields than urea. The significantly (p<
0.05) tallest sward (58.10 cm) was obtained from poultry fertilizer. Similarly, the
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significantly heaviest dry matter yields of 15.30 and 18.20 t ha were produced with
rd th the 3 and 4 rates of poultry fertilizer application, respectively. Rhodes grass could
provide substantial quantities of fodder for ruminant nutrition if fertilizer
application is adequate. Poultry manure should therefore be harnessed for
increased production of Rhodes grass at NVRI, Vom.