Response of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) to different levels of nitrogen fertilizer in the Philippines
Maria Jessa C. Veraque | Nello D. Gorne
Abstract:
Napier grass is a high yielding and easy to propagate forage crop with broad
ecological adaptation making it highly popular for smallholder farmers.
Sustained production of forage is necessary for the nutrition of ruminant
animals, which can be attained if the right amount of nitrogen fertilizer is applied.
This study was conducted to: 1) evaluate the response of napier grass to
different levels of nitrogen fertilization; 2) determine the appropriate nitrogen
level for optimum napier grass production; and 3) assess the economic benefit
of napier grass production under different levels of nitrogen fertilizer application.
The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with
three replications and five treatments (T –Unfertilized, T –30kg N ha , T –60kg 0 1 2
-1
N ha , T –120kg N ha , T –240kg N ha ). -1 -1 -1
3 4
Plant height, fresh herbage and dry matter yields were significantly affected
by the different rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Plants applied with 240kg N ha were -1
the tallest and had the heaviest fresh herbage and dry matter yields, but
comparable to those plants applied with 120kg N ha . Increasing the levels of -1
nitrogen fertilization correspondingly improved the overall forage performance
with optimum level at 120kg N ha . -1
Cost and return analysis showed that plants applied with 240kg N ha -1
resulted in the highest net income of PHP55,690 ha while the least net income -1
of PHP17,213 ha was obtained with unfertilized plants.
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