Theme 2-2: Forage Production and Utilization--Poster Sessions

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The study was aimed at profiling the mineral contents of Panicum maximum var Ntchisi as influenced by organic (poultry) nitrogen rate and age at harvest. The study was carried out at the organic research farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2016. The experiment was laid in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four (4) organic nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 and 300 kgNha-1) as the main plot and three (3) age at harvest (4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback) as the subplot which amounts to twelve (12) treatment combinations with four replicates. The macro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate. The calcium (Ca) content was up to 4.35 gkg-1DM for the grass at 0 KgNha-1 which was the highest value. The magnesium (5.59 – 8.43 gkg-1DM) content had a linear increment with increased nitrogen rate. The potassium content ranged from 15.58 to 30.80 gkg-1 DM with the grass fertilized at 0 KgNha-1 having the highest K content. The phosphorus was linearly (P< 0.05) influenced with the grass fertilized at 300 KgNha-1 with the highest (1.78 gkg-1DM) content. The micro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate though without a definite pattern. The macro and micro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by age at harvest except for the copper content. The macro mineral contents decreased with advancement in age at harvest. It was concluded that the grass harvested at younger age will make a good feed resource in terms of mineral requirement of ruminants in the tropics.

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Mineral Profile of Panicum maximum var. Ntchisi as Influenced by Organic Nitrogen Rate and Age at Harvest

The study was aimed at profiling the mineral contents of Panicum maximum var Ntchisi as influenced by organic (poultry) nitrogen rate and age at harvest. The study was carried out at the organic research farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2016. The experiment was laid in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four (4) organic nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 and 300 kgNha-1) as the main plot and three (3) age at harvest (4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback) as the subplot which amounts to twelve (12) treatment combinations with four replicates. The macro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate. The calcium (Ca) content was up to 4.35 gkg-1DM for the grass at 0 KgNha-1 which was the highest value. The magnesium (5.59 – 8.43 gkg-1DM) content had a linear increment with increased nitrogen rate. The potassium content ranged from 15.58 to 30.80 gkg-1 DM with the grass fertilized at 0 KgNha-1 having the highest K content. The phosphorus was linearly (P< 0.05) influenced with the grass fertilized at 300 KgNha-1 with the highest (1.78 gkg-1DM) content. The micro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate though without a definite pattern. The macro and micro mineral contents were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by age at harvest except for the copper content. The macro mineral contents decreased with advancement in age at harvest. It was concluded that the grass harvested at younger age will make a good feed resource in terms of mineral requirement of ruminants in the tropics.