Growth and Yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis and Brachiaria mulato as Affected by Manure Application

Résumé

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of swine manure application rates on the growth components and dry matter yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis and Brachiaria mulato II grasses. The experiment was a 3 x 2 factorial experiment laid out as a split-plot design with 3 swine manure application rates (0, 5, 10 t ha^-1) as the main plot and 2 Bracharia species (B. ruziziensis and B. mulato II) as the sub-plot replicated three times. Growth parameters were determined at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of growth, while dry matter yield was determined at 8 weeks after sowing. Results showed that B. ruziziensis was morphologically taller than B. mulato II at all weeks of growth. The heights of the plants significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing manure application rate at all weeks of growth. Significantly (p<0.05) higher yield (4.36 ha^-1) was recorded for B. ruziziensis than in B. mulato (3.00 ha^-1). Dry matter yield of the plants increased as the rate of manure application increased. In conclusion, herbage yield increased as the swine manure application rate increased also, better morphological traits and yield were obtained with B. ruzuziensis than with B. mulato.