SIGNAL GRASS (Brachiaria decumbens) YIELD AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH

Abstract

The research work was conducted to evaluate the yield of Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens). Plant height, number of tillers, herbage and dry matter yields were determined. Seeds were broadcasted on a prepared seed bed, grown for two weeks post-emergence and then transplanted on the field. The grass was harvested at three stages (30, 60 and 90 days post emergence) using quadrats. The plants height at 90 days showed that there was significant (P<0.05) difference between all the treatments. The Plants height ranged from 22.89 cm height at 30 days to 122.40 cm at 90 days growth. The number of tillers per plant varied between the treatments (P<0.05) and ranged from five tillers per plant at 30 days to 68.20 tillers/plant at 90 days. The fresh fodder yield also varied between all treatments (P<0.05) and ranged between 18.1 tons/hectare at 30 days to 33 tones/hectare at 90 days. The dry matter yield varied between treatments (P<0.05) which ranged between 2.35 tons per hectare at 30 days to 8.30 tons per hectare at 90 days Postemergence. Therefore, the yield of Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) increase with age up to three months.