Influence of Cutting, Nitrogen Fertilizer and Plant Spacing on Yield , Quality and Persistence of Purple Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum TD58).II. Influence of Cutting Intervals and Nitrogen ferTilizer Levels on Yield , Quality and Persistence

Abstract

This field experiment was conducted to study the influence of cutting intervals and nitrogen fertilizer levels on yield, quality and persistence of Purple guinea grass under field conditions at Khon Kaen University from May 2004- January 2006. Design of experiment was 3 X 4 Factorial in RCBD with 4 replication. Factor A consist of 3 cutting intervals (20, 30 and 40 days) and factor B was 4 different amouts of nitragen (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg N / rai/year). The results showed that. in the first year, the total dry matter yield (TDMY) Was not affected by cutting intervals, However, the harvesting frequencies affected the seasonal productivity (P<0.01). In the second year, cutting intervals had a significant impaet on TDMY, both in the rainy and dry season productivity (P<0.01). The supply of nitrogen fertilizer had effected on TDMY, the rainy and dry season productivity (P<0.01). The cutting intervals and nitrogen fertilizer supply had affected on grass quality (P<0.01). The TNC of stubble was significantly interaction (P<0.01) between cutting intervals and levels of fertilizer.