PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE NUTRITIVE POTENTIAL OF NEWLY INTRODUCED JUNCAO GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum) IN SHIKA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The global demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. Juncao grass, derived from the Chinese term "mushroom grass," represents a breakthrough in agricultural technology. This paper explores a preliminary nutritive potential of Juncao grass, focusing on its cultivation in a sustainable agriculture. An experiment was conducted at the Introduction Plot of Feeds and Nutrition Research Programme, National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, to perform preliminary investigation of the nutritive value of newly introduced Juncao grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The grass was planted in a Randomize Complete Block Design with three replicates in a 5m x 5m plots. The stem cuts were planted with 2 to 3 nodes at angle 45⁰ into the ground. Harvest was done to separate the leaves from the stem on the 10^th November, 2024 with sickles and 0.5 x0.5 quadrat. The Kjeldahl method was used to measure the total nitrogen in Juncao grass samples. Data on moisture, dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract and metabolizable energy were determined. Data collected were analysed using SAS, package and means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The percentage crude protein, ether extract, moisture and metabolizable energy are significantly (P<0.05) highly concentrated in the leaves 7.40%, 2.89%, 62.65% and 1,205 kcal/kg respectively. The percentage Dry matter (46.61%), Crude fibre (22.03%), Ash (12.82%) and Nitrogen Free Extract (12.18%) are highly concentrated in stems of Juncao grass. The nutritive values obtained for Juncao grass in Shika are critical and necessary for improvement of livestock feed. There is a serious concern to explore the potential yields of Juncao grass as feed for ruminants in Nigeria.