Effect of Using Urea Fertilizer or Cattle Manure in Different Levels and Harvesting times on Yield and Protein of Green Panic Grass (Panicum maximum. var. trichoglume)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the dry weight yield, crude protein content and crude protein yield of green panic grass (Panicum maximum. var. trichoglume) which was treated with urea fertilizer or cattle manure at different harvesting times. The experiment was conducted at the experimental plot of the  Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Science and Technology, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat Institute during July, 1998 to March, 1999. The experiment was laid out in split plot in time with 3 replications and the main plot arranged in randomized complete block design. The main plot comprised of seven treatments of fertilizer application which were non-fertilizer, 3 rates of urea fertilizer (20, 40 and 60 kg/rai) and 3 rates of cattle manure (2, 4 and 6 ton/rai ). The sub plot was harvested 4 times at 49, 42, 35 and 28 days intervals after defoliation. Results indicated that maximum total dry weight yield , crude protein content and crude protein yield was from 60 kg/rai of urea fertilizer application. Urea fertilization treated at rate of 20, 40 and 60 kg/rai and cattle manure treated at rate of 2, 4 and 6 ton/rai application increased averaged dry weight yield which was higher than non fertilizer 108, 197, 287, 29, 58 and 89 percent respectively. The harvests taken at 49, 42 and 28 days gave the highest dry weight yield, crude protein content and crude protein yield respectively. Moreover urea fertilization treated at the rate of 60 kg/rai and harvested at 42 days after defoliation was maximum crude protein yield. Production performance of green panic grass which received 6 ton/rai of cattle manure and 20 kg/rai of urea fertilizer were almost the same.