FIELD STUDIES ON SEED PRODUCTION IN THREE TROPICAL PASTURE GRASSES AT SHIKA, NIGERIA
FIELD STUDIES ON SEED PRODUCTION IN THREE TROPICAL PASTURE GRASSES AT SHIKA, NIGERIA
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Date
1984-09
Authors
EMMANUEL, CHIA AGISHI
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Abstract
The effects of row spacings on Biloela buffel grass and fertilizer
nitrogen on Biloela buffel grass, gatton panic and green panic grown for
seed production, were studied for three years at the National Animal
Production Research Institute, Shika, Nigeria. The row spacing and one
of the two nitrogen trials were carried out under rain-fed conditions on
the upland. The remaining nitrogen trial was under limited irrigation
on the 'fadama' (lowland). Row spacing involved, broadcast and 30, 60
and 90 cm while the nitrogen treatments were 0, 100, 200 and 400 kgN/ha
on the fadama, and 0, 200, 400 and 600 kgN/ha on the upland. Successive
method of seed harvesting by hand was used.
Row spacing had lower shoot density but higher shoot fertility than
the broadcast treatment. Shoot densities increased almost linearly with
decrease in row widths; narrowing row widths from 90 to 30 cm, more than
doubled the shoot density. Shoot fertility, number of seeds per inflorescence
and seed size increased with wider row spacings, while inflorescence
density seed yield, harvest efficiency and dry matter yield decreased.
Total clean seed yields from two harvests were 895.8, 943.0, 777.2 and
488.7 kg/ha for the broadcast, 30, 60 and 90 cm spacings respectively.
Nitrogen application increased shoot density and fertility, inflorescence
density number of seeds per inflorescence, seed size, caryopsis
content, seed yield and dry matter yields of the three species at both
sites, but the nitrogen effects were generally more pronounced for the
fadama crops. The positive effect of nitrogen on shoot and inflorescence
densities was probably amplified by the successive method of seed harvesting.
In this method, only the ripe heads are removed at each harvest occasion.
The cutting of the heads appeared to stimulate the development of more
of reproductive shoots. The fadama crops apparently benefited more from
this method of seed harvesting than the upland crops.
High seed yields were recorded at the fadama site. Harvested seed
yields varied from 558 kg/ha at N0 to 1000.00 kg/ha at N200 for buffel
grass, with corresponding ranges of 439.2 to 927.2 kg/ha for green panic
at the fadama site. In the case of gatton panic the range was 516.8 kg/ha
at N0 to 1069.8 kg/ha at N 4 0 0 . On the upland, seed yields varied from
313.8, 234.2 and 283.6 kg/ha for buffel grass, gatton panic and green
panic, respectively at N0 to the corresponding figures of 570.6, 663.6
and 777.4 kg/ha at N600.
The fadama crops had higher crop indices and efficiencies of seed
yield response to applied nitrogen than the upland crops. Crops at both
sites had high harvest efficiencies. Simple correlation matrix for seed
yield attributes showed that inflorescence density and shoot fertility
were the main determinants of potential seed yield
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Postgraduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the award
of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Animal Science
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
September, 1984
Keywords
FIELD STUDIES,, SEED PRODUCTION,, TROPICAL,, PASTURE GRASSES,, SHIKA, NIGERIA