Year: 2020 | Month: October | Volume 10 | Issue 5

Effect of Levels of N-fertilizer and Cutting Height on Nutrient Content and Nitrogen Recovery Rate of Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum L.) in Mersa, Ethiopia

Hussen Ebrahim Fasil Negussie Getachew Animut
DOI:10.30954/2277-940X.05.2020.2

Abstract:

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates (NFR) and cutting height (CH) on the nutrient contents and nitrogen recovery of elephant grass when grown in Eastern Amara Region of Ethiopia. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Nitrogen (4 levels) and Factor B: Cutting height (3 levels). Experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The results indicated that nitrogen and plant height significantly affected dry matter yield (DMY) of Pennisetum purpureum L. in which N application of 161 kg ha-1 and cutting height of 15 cm showed the highest leaf while leaf to stem ratio did not affected due to these two factors. Similarly, application of N and cutting height significantly influenced on nutrient contents in which N application at the rate of 69 kg ha-1 and cutting at the height of 15 cm brought the highest crude protein content whereas NDF and ADF contents were higher at cutting height of 22.5 cm with the lowest application of N (69 kg ha-1). Nitrogen recovery rate did not positively correlated with increased levels of N fertilizer applications as the maximum value (473.79 %) was recorded for those treated at the rate of 69 kg ha-1. Therefore, from this study it can be conclude that N application at the rate of 69 kg ha-1 and harvesting at a cutting height of 15 cm might be optimum for better nutrients content, greater DM yield and efficient N recovery rate of Pennisetum purpureum L.

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