EFFECT OF SOWING DATE, PHOSPHORUS LEVEL AND CUTTING STAGE ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CENTROSEMA PUBESCENS
EFFECT OF SOWING DATE, PHOSPHORUS LEVEL AND CUTTING STAGE ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CENTROSEMA PUBESCENS
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Date
1998-02
Authors
OMOKANYE, AKIM TUNDE
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Abstract
The effect of four sowing dates (June 21, July 5, July 19 and
August 2), three phosphorus levels (0, 30 and 60kgP2Os/ha and four
stages of maturity (10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks post planting, WPP) on
forage and seed production of centro were studied in two trials
between 1991 rainy and 1992 dry seasons at Shika in the Northern
Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria.
In trial 1, the total dry matter (DM) yield declined between June
21 and August 2 from 2.3 to 1.2 TDM/ha, while for early and delayed
cuts the range was 1.04 to 2.66 TDM/ha. Phosphorus application (0
to 60kgP2O5/ha) resulted in mean DM yields of 1.5 to 2.7 TDM/ha,
respectively. Mean leaf content was highest(57%) for sowing between
June 21 and July 5. Similarly, mean leaf content was respectively
highest (63% and 55%) for cutting at 10WPP and the application of
60kgP2O5/ha. The N contents were best with July 5 sowing, when cut
at 10 WPP at 60kgP2O5/ha. Sowing of Centro on August 2 resulted in
the highest Ca content, while cutting 12 WPP resulted in the
highest Ca content. Phosphorus content was not affected (P>0.05) by
sowing date but was influenced by stage of growth and phosphorus
application. The Ca: P ratio of the forage was affected by sowing
date and cutting stage but was not influenced (P>0.05) by
phosphorus application. The results indicate that for better yield
the optimum stage of cutting would lie between the 14th and 16th
week following planting.
In trial 2, the variation in seeds per pod for plantings between
June 21 to August 2 was from 16.5 to 14.5, while for unfertilized
and fertilized plots seed number varied between 12.6 and 16.2/pod.
The weight of 1000 seeds decreased with delayed planting.
Phosphorus application improved seed weight. Seed yield was highest
(lOOOkg/ha) for July 5 sowing with phosphorus application of
60kgP2Os/ha combination. The variation in mean seed yield for
planting between June 21 and August 2 was 782.0 to 360.3 kg/ha. The
application of 0 to 60kgP2O6/ha resulted in mean seed yields of
405.7 to 776.8kg/ha. The data suggest that early plantings (June
21st and July 5th) in combination with phosphorus fertilizer
application (30 and 60kgP2O5/ha) will suffice for satisfactory
heavier seeds and seed production per unit area.
Description
A thesis submitted to Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Nigeria, in partial fulfilment of the requirement
for degree of Master of Science.
Department of Animal Science
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria
Keywords
SOWING DATE,, PHOSPHORUS LEVEL,, CUTTING STAGE,, YIELD,, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION,, CENTROSEMA PUBESCENS