Abstract: The effect of rates of sulphur (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 ppm) on herbage yield of Pennisetum glaucum grass grown on sand culture and arranged in randomized complete block design was investigated. Yield parameters measured were plant height, growth rate, number of leaves, number of tillers and herbage fresh weight. Addition of sulphur favoured plant growth and forage yield. Sulphur doses were positively correlated with herbage fresh weight (r = 0.897*). Herbage fresh weight of plants receiving 2.5 ppm S level was 183% higher than the control, increase in height 58% over the control at the first clipping and 80% by the fourth clipping. Sulphur doses of 2.5 ppm and 7.5 ppm produced leaves 2.6 times and 1.9 times more than the control by the third and fourth clipping respectively. Though plants that receive 10 ppm sulphur produce the highest number of tillers, increasing sulphur levels to 10.0 ppm did not have significant advantage over plants with 2.5 ppm sulphur supply level. Therefore, herbage fresh weight obtained from grasses that received from 2.5 ppm and 10.0 ppm did not have profound differences. Average fresh weight was strongly positively associated with plant height, tiller number and number of leaves produced (0.994**, 0.989** and 0.991**) respectively. Recommended sulphur level for herbage production in Pennisetum glaucum in the humid tropics is 2.5 ppm S equivalent to 5 kg S/ha.
Keywords: Pasture Improvement, Forage yield, Sulphur Nutrition, Indigenous grass, Humid Tropics.
Title: HERBAGE YIELD RESPONSE OF PENNISETUM GLAUCUM TO SULPHUR FERTILIZATION IN THE HUMID TROPICS OF NIGERIA
Author: JOSEPH ETIM OKON ANSA
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
Research Publish Journals
