Influences of different types of fertilizers on the agronomic characteristics of chloris gayana forage in a selected area of Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
TAJAS
Abstract
A study was undertaken from January to April 2021 in a commercial dairy farm in Iringa,
Tanzania, to determine the effects of applying different types of fertilizers on the agronomic
characteristics of Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass). Four types of fertilizers, namely cattle farm
yard manure (CFYM), blended Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, and Zinc (NPSZn), Sulphate of
Ammonium (SA), and Urea, were applied in experimental plots using six different combinations
in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The combinations were control (T1) with no
fertilizer, CFYM alone (T2), CFYM and NPSZn (T3), NPSZn alone (T4), NPSZn with SA (T5),
as well as NPSZn with Urea (T6) allocated in four replications per treatment. The physical and
chemical properties of the soil in the experimental plots and the CFYM were also determined. The
application of the fertilizers followed the protocols of the manufacturers. The seeds of C. gayana
were broadcasted in all the experimental plots at a rate of 20 kg/ha. On the 90th day, forages
in their respective sub-plots were clipped to obtain representative samples for the determination
of the agronomic characteristics. Parameters considered were plant population (PP), number of
tillers per plant (NTPP), stem height (SH), number of leaves per plant (NLPP), leaf length per
plant (LLPP), leaf width per plant (LWPP) and stem diameter (SD). Results showed that the soil
texture was primarily sandy clay loam. The soil and manure contained total N (%) of 0.15 and
1.76 respectively. The amounts of extractable P (mg/kg) in soil and manure were 3.38 and 40.35,
respectively. The study showed that the plots fertilized by a combination of NPSZn and Urea (T6)
produced the highest (p<0.05) mean values of PP (85.7 plants/m2), NTPP (24.5), SH (136.6 cm),
NLPP (6.9), LLPP (40.9 cm), LWPP (1.5) and SD (3.1 mm) compared with other fertilizers. The
control treatment (T1) with no fertilizer application had the least (p>0.05) mean values of PP
(27.6 plants/m2), NTPP (5.3), SH (53.9 cm), NLPP (3.7), LLPP (23.4 cm) LWPP (0.5) and SD (1.5
mm). It is concluded that a mixture of blended NPSZn and Urea could improve the soil fertility and
hence promote the growth parameters of C. gayana. Further studies to determine biomass yield
and quality of the forage fertilized with different fertilizers under similar soil and environmental
conditions are recommended.
Description
Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences (2024) Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 48-60
Keywords
Agronomic characteristics, Fertilizers, Cattle farm yard manure, Chloris gayana.
Citation
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjags/index