GROWTH AND YIELD COMPARISON OF PERENNIAL GRASSES AS RAINFED FODDER PRODUCTION

Abstract

Ten perennial fodder grasses were compared for growth and yield at New Developmental Farm, Agricultural University at Peshawar, Pakistan during 2006 and 2007. Tufts were transplanted on 16-02-2006 at 50 cm distance in 3 x 3 m plots replicated 4 times in RCB design. Fertilizer was applied 60 and 30 kg ha-1 as N and P using urea and SSP respectively. Results revealed that on 2 years average data, Pennisetum purpureum was highest in fresh matter, followed by Setaria anceps than any other grass while Panicum maximum showed the lowest fresh matter. The sequential dry matter growths against time of all grasses were in agreement with total dry matter yield with highest for Panicum typhoides, followed by with a non-significant difference with Sorghum almum, and Setaria anceps. Crop growth (CG) and mean of the growth rate with plant height were also in close association. Culm density did not vary as much as reported in dry matter and yield of the 10 species from each other. Grass Digitaria decumbense were lower in dry matter and plant height but found relatively denser than any other grass in the group. Grasses having highest dry matter were the highest in showing the leaf area index and showed the highest radiation use efficiency. Among the leaf and stem fraction of culms, grasses (e.g. P. typhoides and S. almum) showing the highest dry matter among the group and is termed as superior in growth and fodder yield. The study suggests that P. purpureum, P. typhoides and S. almum are relatively high potential grasses for cultivation at marginal and low fertile lands under rainfed condition yielding good fodder through judicious utilization of the available solar light per unit ground area.