Description
This experiment was carried out in the Pasture Section of the Directorate of University farms and the laboratory of Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen source (Swine manure, N.P.K. 15:15:15 as well as the control) and age at harvest on the in vitro gas production and digestibility of Oba Super II maize fodder. The experiment was in a split plot design. The nitrogen source was applied at the rate of 120 kgN/ha two weeks after planting. Maize was harvested at 8, 10 and 12 weeks after planting, oven dried and milled. Samples were taken to laboratory for in vitro analysis. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using General Linear Model (GLM). The result of this study showed that nitrogen source and age at harvest significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the volume of gas produced throughout the period of incubation. Oba super II maize fertilized with swine manure harvested 12WAP had the highest dry matter digestibility value to be 84.80 %. It was concluded that Oba Super II maize fertilized with swine manure and harvested 12 weeks after planting had the highest gas volume and can be recommended as a potential source of nutrient for ruminant animals.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Nitrogen Source and Age at Harvest on the in vitro Digestibility of Oba Super II Maize Fodder
This experiment was carried out in the Pasture Section of the Directorate of University farms and the laboratory of Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen source (Swine manure, N.P.K. 15:15:15 as well as the control) and age at harvest on the in vitro gas production and digestibility of Oba Super II maize fodder. The experiment was in a split plot design. The nitrogen source was applied at the rate of 120 kgN/ha two weeks after planting. Maize was harvested at 8, 10 and 12 weeks after planting, oven dried and milled. Samples were taken to laboratory for in vitro analysis. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using General Linear Model (GLM). The result of this study showed that nitrogen source and age at harvest significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the volume of gas produced throughout the period of incubation. Oba super II maize fertilized with swine manure harvested 12WAP had the highest dry matter digestibility value to be 84.80 %. It was concluded that Oba Super II maize fertilized with swine manure and harvested 12 weeks after planting had the highest gas volume and can be recommended as a potential source of nutrient for ruminant animals.
