Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T03:57:46.330Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of nitrogen application on growth characteristics of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. U. Okeagu ,
O. E. Asiribo  and
J. O. Akinola
M. U. Okeagu
Affiliation:
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1096, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria
O. E. Asiribo
Affiliation:
Data Processing Unit, Institute of Agricultural Research, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria
J. O. Akinola
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaira, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) given 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg N/ha and protected from defoliation by growing in cages was evaluated for tiller height, tiller density and dry matter (DM) yield in 1979 and 1980.

Nitrogen rate had highly significant linear effects on tiller height and density and DM yield of the grass at each age of pasture regrowth and at all the ages of pasture regrowth combined in 1979 and 1980. The quadratic effect of N rate was not significant in either year.

The positive linear responses shown by the growth of tillers and the overall yield of the grass at N rates up to 400 kg/ha suggest that further work, using N rates above 400 kg/ha, is needed to ascertain the optimum N requirement of this grass.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 113 , Issue 3 , December 1989 , pp. 373 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Akinola, J. O., Chheda, H. R. & Mackenzie, J. A. (1971). Effect of cutting frequency and level of applied nitrogen on productivity, chemical composition, growth components and regrowth potential of three Cynodon strains. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 8, 63–76.Google Scholar
Bean, E. W. (1961). The influence of nitrogen and light intensity on the growth of grass swards. Phd thesis, University of Reading.Google Scholar
Brockington, N. R. (1962). Fertilizer trials on some cultivated grasses in Northern Rhodesia. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 30, 345–354.Google Scholar
Brockington, N. R. (1964). Fertilizer responses of giant Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) in Northern Rhodesia. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 76–83.Google Scholar
Chheda, H. R. & Akinola, J. O. (1971). Effects of cutting frequency and levels of applied nitrogen on productivity, chemical composition, growth components and regrowth potential of three Cynodon strains. I. Yield, chemical composition and weed competition. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 8, 44–62.Google Scholar
Chheda, H. R. & Saleem, M. A. M. (1973). Effects of cutting after grazing on yield, quality and utilization of Cynodon 1B-8 pasture in southern Nigeria. Tropical Agriculture 50, 113–119.Google Scholar
Gregory, F. G. (1937). Mineral nutrition of plants. Annual Review of Biochemistry 6, 557–578.Google Scholar
Holt, E. C. & Lancaster, J. A. (1968). Yield and stand survival of Coastal Bermuda grass as influenced by management practices. Agronomy Journal 60, 7–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karim, M. Z. (1961). Physiological and agronomic studies on Prairie grass. Msc thesis, Lincoln College, University of New Zealand.Google Scholar
Langer, R. H. M. (1959). Growth and nutrition of timothy (Phleum pratense). V. Growth and flowering at different levels of nitrogen. Annals of Applied Biology 47, 740–751.Google Scholar
Okeagu, M. U. (1982). Effects of age of pasture and rate of nitrogen application on dry matter yield of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens). National Animal Production Research Institute Seminar paper, 1982.Google Scholar
Vose, P. B. (1960). The physiology of the vegetative grass plant. Report of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station 1959, 17–18.Google Scholar