Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid <i>Brachiaria</i> cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia

Wondimagegn Tadesse; Berhanu Alemu; Mesganaw Addis

doi:doi:10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia

Wondimagegn Tadesse, Berhanu Alemu, Mesganaw Addis

Published in Research & Development (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 5 January 2021 Accepted: 29 January 2021 Published: 10 March 2021

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Abstract

Livestock are an important component of nearly all farming systems in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of livestock in the country, productivity is low due to shortage of feed in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on agronomic performance and dry matter yield of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting under irrigation supplementation in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 x 20, 30 x 40, 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected on agronomic characteristics were plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf: stem ratio basal circumference and dry matter yield (DMY). The highest DMY 9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha were recorded for narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) (S1F3) and narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha) (S1F2), respectively. The current study concluded that, dry matter yield of Mulato II grass can be improved by urea fertilizer application specifically the application of 50 kg/ha urea fertilizer with better economic feasiblity. On the other hand, planting at narrower spacings 20x20 cm were found to have high DMY values and it reduce land shortage problem than other spacings. Similar studies need to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.

Published in	Research & Development (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
Page(s)	14-19
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Urea, Spacing, Dry Matter Yield, Chemical Composition

References

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APA Style

Wondimagegn Tadesse, Berhanu Alemu, Mesganaw Addis. (2021). Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Research & Development, 2(1), 14-19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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ACS Style

Wondimagegn Tadesse; Berhanu Alemu; Mesganaw Addis. Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Res. Dev. 2021, 2(1), 14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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AMA Style

Wondimagegn Tadesse, Berhanu Alemu, Mesganaw Addis. Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Res Dev. 2021;2(1):14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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@article{10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13,
  author = {Wondimagegn Tadesse and Berhanu Alemu and Mesganaw Addis},
  title = {Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia},
  journal = {Research & Development},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {14-19},
  doi = {10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rd.20210201.13},
  abstract = {Livestock are an important component of nearly all farming systems in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of livestock in the country, productivity is low due to shortage of feed in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on agronomic performance and dry matter yield of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting under irrigation supplementation in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 x 20, 30 x 40, 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected on agronomic characteristics were plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf: stem ratio basal circumference and dry matter yield (DMY). The highest DMY 9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha were recorded for narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) (S1F3) and narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha) (S1F2), respectively. The current study concluded that, dry matter yield of Mulato II grass can be improved by urea fertilizer application specifically the application of 50 kg/ha urea fertilizer with better economic feasiblity. On the other hand, planting at narrower spacings 20x20 cm were found to have high DMY values and it reduce land shortage problem than other spacings. Similar studies need to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia
AU  - Wondimagegn Tadesse
AU  - Berhanu Alemu
AU  - Mesganaw Addis
Y1  - 2021/03/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
T2  - Research & Development
JF  - Research & Development
JO  - Research & Development
SP  - 14
EP  - 19
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7057
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
AB  - Livestock are an important component of nearly all farming systems in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of livestock in the country, productivity is low due to shortage of feed in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on agronomic performance and dry matter yield of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting under irrigation supplementation in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 x 20, 30 x 40, 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected on agronomic characteristics were plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf: stem ratio basal circumference and dry matter yield (DMY). The highest DMY 9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha were recorded for narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) (S1F3) and narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha) (S1F2), respectively. The current study concluded that, dry matter yield of Mulato II grass can be improved by urea fertilizer application specifically the application of 50 kg/ha urea fertilizer with better economic feasiblity. On the other hand, planting at narrower spacings 20x20 cm were found to have high DMY values and it reduce land shortage problem than other spacings. Similar studies need to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Wondimagegn Tadesse

Department of Animal Production and Technology, College of Dry Land Agriculture, Kebri Dehar University, Kebri Dehar, Ethiopia
Berhanu Alemu

Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
Mesganaw Addis

Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

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Wondimagegn Tadesse, Berhanu Alemu, Mesganaw Addis. (2021). Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Research & Development, 2(1), 14-19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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ACS Style

Wondimagegn Tadesse; Berhanu Alemu; Mesganaw Addis. Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Res. Dev. 2021, 2(1), 14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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AMA Style

Wondimagegn Tadesse, Berhanu Alemu, Mesganaw Addis. Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Res Dev. 2021;2(1):14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13

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@article{10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13,
  author = {Wondimagegn Tadesse and Berhanu Alemu and Mesganaw Addis},
  title = {Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia},
  journal = {Research & Development},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {14-19},
  doi = {10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rd.20210201.13},
  abstract = {Livestock are an important component of nearly all farming systems in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of livestock in the country, productivity is low due to shortage of feed in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on agronomic performance and dry matter yield of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting under irrigation supplementation in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 x 20, 30 x 40, 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected on agronomic characteristics were plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf: stem ratio basal circumference and dry matter yield (DMY). The highest DMY 9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha were recorded for narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) (S1F3) and narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha) (S1F2), respectively. The current study concluded that, dry matter yield of Mulato II grass can be improved by urea fertilizer application specifically the application of 50 kg/ha urea fertilizer with better economic feasiblity. On the other hand, planting at narrower spacings 20x20 cm were found to have high DMY values and it reduce land shortage problem than other spacings. Similar studies need to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Plant Spacing and Fertilizer Level on Agronomic Performance and Forage Yield of Hybrid Brachiaria cv. Mulato II Grass, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia
AU  - Wondimagegn Tadesse
AU  - Berhanu Alemu
AU  - Mesganaw Addis
Y1  - 2021/03/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
T2  - Research & Development
JF  - Research & Development
JO  - Research & Development
SP  - 14
EP  - 19
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7057
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20210201.13
AB  - Livestock are an important component of nearly all farming systems in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of livestock in the country, productivity is low due to shortage of feed in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on agronomic performance and dry matter yield of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting under irrigation supplementation in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 x 20, 30 x 40, 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected on agronomic characteristics were plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf: stem ratio basal circumference and dry matter yield (DMY). The highest DMY 9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha were recorded for narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) (S1F3) and narrower plant spacing (20 x 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha) (S1F2), respectively. The current study concluded that, dry matter yield of Mulato II grass can be improved by urea fertilizer application specifically the application of 50 kg/ha urea fertilizer with better economic feasiblity. On the other hand, planting at narrower spacings 20x20 cm were found to have high DMY values and it reduce land shortage problem than other spacings. Similar studies need to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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