AGRONOMIC INDICES OF PANICUM MAXIMUM AS AFFECTED BY BIOCHAR AND GOAT MANURE IN THE SUDAN SAVANNAH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigates the agronomic indices of Panicum maximum influenced by biochar and goat manure mixture across varying application rates and harvest stages in the Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid in a Randomized complete block design and replicated three times, three (3, 6 and 9t/ha) application rates alongside three harvest stages (6, 8 and 10) weeks after planting. Results indicated that the application of biochar and goat manure did not significantly affect Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and number of leaves: however, tiller number was significantly higher at the 6t/ha combination. In contrast, the harvest stage exhibited a significant impact on all agronomic indices, with the 10-week post planting yielding the most favourable results, followed by 8- and 6- weeks after planting. These findings suggest that biochar/goat manure mixture influences tiller development, and the timing of harvest is crucial for optimizing the agronomic performance of Panicum maximum in this region. It is therefore recommended that farmers in this region use biochar/goat manure at 6t/ha for the cultivation of Panicum maximum and harvest at 10 weeks after planting for higher forage productivity to enhance sustainable livestock production.