FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF WHITE LABLAB (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet) AS INFLUENCED BY INTRA-ROW SPACING AND CUTTING AGE

Abstract

The study investigated the forage yield and quality of white lablab as influenced by intra-row spacing and cutting age. The treatment was laid down in a factorial randomized complete block design with intra-row spacing (30, 60 and 90 cm) as the first factor and cutting age (6, 9 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) as the second factor which was replicated three times. Higher (P<0.05) FFY and DFY were obtained at 90cm and 12WAS, respectively. Higher (P<0.05), DM and NFE were recorded at 90cm while higher (P<0.05) CP, EE and ash were recorded at 30cm. For cutting age, higher (P<0.05) DM, ash and NFE were recorded for white lablab forage harvested at 12WAS while crude protein and ether extract were higher (P<0.05) for white lablab forage harvested at 6WAS. NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin were higher (P<0.05) at 30cm while hemicellulose was higher (P<0.05) at 90cm. NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin were higher (P<0.05) for forage harvested at 6WAS while hemicellulose was higher (P<0.05) for forage harvested at 12 WAS. There was non-significant (P>0.05) interaction effect between intra-row spacing and cutting age on FFY and DFY, proximate and fibre fractions of white lablab. Results suggest that white lablab should be planted at 90cm while harvesting should be delayed to12WAS for higher FFY and DFY and better quality.