Influence of nitrogen fertilizer on yield, chemical composition and degradability of Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott

Abstract

A study on the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on yield, chemical composition and ruminal degradability of Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott was conducted. A randomized complete block design was used. Nitrogen treatments were applied at rates of 0 (control), 8, 16, 32 and 64 kg N/rai. Total dry matter yield and crude protein (CP) content of the Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott which had received 64 kg N/rai were significantly highest (p<0.05). CP content of the first-cut grass that had received 64 kg N/rai was numerically highest but did not significantly differ (p>0.05) from that of 32 and 16 kg N/rai. Similarly, CP content of 30-day interval-cut grass was significantly highest (p<0.05) in the 64 kg N/rai plot. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect cell wall and lignocellulose contents, and dry matter degradability of the grass.