AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF BRACHIARIA MULATO II AS AFFECTED BY FERTILIZER RATE AND CUTTING AGE

O. A. Aderiola; S. N. Adedokun; T. F. Oyelade; A. P. Makinde; S. T. Oyewole

Authors

O. A. Aderiola Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State
S. N. Adedokun Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State
T. F. Oyelade Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State
A. P. Makinde Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State
S. T. Oyewole Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State

Keywords:

Brachiaria mulato II, Plant height, Agronomic performance, Cutting frequency, Fertilizer Quantity

Abstract

A 12 week study was conducted to investigate the agronomic performance of Brachiaria mulato II In a randomized complete block design using 4x3 factorial arrangement with 4 cutting age and 3 fertilizer quantity. Data collected were plant height (PH), numbers of tillers (NT), leaves per tiller (LT), leaf length (LL) leaf width (LW) and herbage yield. All data were subjected to analysis of variance using a general linear model of SAS (2000) and means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) 5% probability level. The highest and lowest PH (98.98vs 58.71cm) was recorded at 12 and 3 weeks, fertilizer quantity had no effect on plant height. NT were significant (P=0.0032) for age and fertilizer quantity.LT were not affected by age (P=0.061) and fertilizer application (P=0.051). Age had effect (P=0.041) on LL and LW (P=0.012).herbage yield was affected by age (P=0.0018) but not by fertilizer application (P=0.12). It could be concluded that age improved the agronomic performance of Brachiaria mulato II.