AGRONOMIC INDICES AND DRY MATTER YIELD OF BRACHIARIA RUZIZIENSIS AS AFFECTED BY COW DUNG AND AGE OF CUTTING IN THE SUDAN SAVANNAH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Effect of cow dung and age of cutting on agronomic indices and dry matter yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis in the Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria was assessed in this study. The experiment was conducted at the Professor Lawal Abdu Saulawa Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria. The research was laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 3 rates of cow dung application (5, 10 and 15t/ha) and 3 ages of cutting (6, 8 and 10) weeks after planting. data on agronomic indices (Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, tiller number, number of leaves, leaf area index and dry matter yield) collected at 6, 8 and 10 WAP were subjected to 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that all the agronomic indices were significantly affected (P<0.05) by cow dung application and age of cutting. 15t/ha rate of application and cutting at 10 WAP had a better agronomic indices when compared with other manure application rates and age of cutting, respectively. It was recommended that farmers use 15t/ha cow dung for cultivation of Congo grass and harvest same at 10 WAP for a
higher agronomic indices in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria.