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Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 20 July 2022    Accepted: 7 November 2022    Published: 16 November 2022
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Abstract

Determining the forage yield and nutritional value of forage crops constitutes prerequisite to improve the productivity of livestock. Thus, identifying the grass lines to the specific agro-ecology can help to reduce the feed gap in Eastern Oromia. The experiment was carried out at midland and highland agro ecologies of East Hararghe zone of Oromia during 2018-2020 main cropping seasons to identify the most adaptable, high yielder in forage biomass and nutritive value Dasho grass line/s. Four Dasho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) lines (Kindo kosha-DZF-591, Araka-DZF-590, Kulumsa, Kindo kosha-DZF#589) were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on tiller number, plot cover, plant height, biomass yield, Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were recorded during the investigation. The combined analysis of the current study revealed that Desho grass lines had significant difference in tiller number per plant (p<0.05), however, no significant (p>0.05) difference observed in forage dry matter, plot cover, plant height and leaf to stem ratio at both agro ecologies. When the nutritive value was observed, the Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents were shown significant (p<0.001) difference among the Desho grass lines considered in the trial. Kulumsa-DZF-592 had significantly higher crude protein and lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents. Generally, the high forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional contents in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) of Desho grass lines suggested that they have excellent forage yield and nutritional value that deserves special attention to the grass. Therefore, all the Desho grass lines were well adapted and produced optimum forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional value at midland and highland agro-ecologies of East Hararghe Zone environmental conditions. Particularly, Kindo kosha-DZF#589 (28.72 t/ha) and Kulumsa-DZF-592 (28.51 t/ha) were well performed at midland agro-ecology while Kindo kosha-DZF-591 (25.06 t/ha) and Araka-DZF-590 (24.93 t/ha) were at highland agro-ecology. Thus, further research on demonstration and scaling up should be implemented at both agro-ecologies of the study areas.

Published in American Journal of Plant Biology (Volume 7, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12
Page(s) 177-182
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Forage, Biomass Yield, Plot Cover, Nutritional Value, Plant Height, Tiller Number

References
[1] Albayrak, M. Turk, O. Yuksel, M. Yilmaz Forage yield and the quality of perennial legume-grass mixtures under rainfed conditions Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 9 (1) (2011), pp. 114-118.
[2] Anele UY, Arigbede OM, Südekum KH, Oni AO, Jolaosho AO, Olanite JA, Adeosun AI, Dele PA, Ike KA, Akinola OB (2009). Seasonal chemical Composition, in vitro fermentation and insacco dry matter degradation of four indigenous multipurpose tree species in Nigeria. Animal Feed Science and Technology 154: 47–57.
[3] Bimrew A. (2016). Evaluation of the Agronomic, Utilization, Nutritive and Feeding Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum Pedicellatum). PhD. Dissertation, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
[4] CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2016. Agricultural sample survey. Volume II, Report on livestock and livestock characteristics (private peasant holdings). Statistical Bulletin 585 (2): 33–35 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[5] CSA (Central Statistical Authority), (2015). Agricultural sample survey agricultural sample survey livestock and livestock characteristics (private peasant holdings), Ethiopia. Das MK, Fuentes RG, and Taliaferro CM (2004) Genetic variability and trait relationships in switchgrass. Crop Sci. 44: 443-448.
[6] Demeke S, Asmare B, Tolemariam T, Tegegne F, Haile A, Wamatu J (2017a). Effects of altitude and harvesting dates on morphological characteristics, yield and nutritive value of Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) in Ethiopia. Agriculture and Natural Resources 51: 148-153.
[7] Ecocrop, (2010). Ecocrop database. FAO. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srven/home. (Accessed 02 February 2015). Anele, U. Y., Arigbede O. M., Südekum K. H., Oni A. O., Jolaosho A. O., Olanite J. A, Adeosun.
[8] EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization), (2014). PQR database. Paris, France: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. http://www.eppo.int/DATABASES/pqr/pqr.htm (accessed on 29 July, 2015).
[9] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). (2010). Grassland Index. A searchable catalogue of grass and forage legumes Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
[10] ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) (2009) Forage Seed System in Ethiopia: Fodder round Table meeting, Workshop held on International Livestock Research Institute. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[11] Leta G, Duncan A, Abdena A (2013). Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) for livestock feed, grazing land and soil and water management onsmall-scale farms. NBDC Brief 11. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya.
[12] Lukuyu, B., Franzel, S., Ongad, P. M. and Duncan, A. J., (2011). Livestock feed resources: current production and management practices in central and northern rift valley provinces of Kenya. Livestock Res. for Rural Dev., 23 (5).
[13] SAS, 2002. Statistical Analysis System, version 9.0, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
[14] Shiferaw, A., Puskur, R., Tegegne, A. and Hoekstra, D. (2011). Innovation in forage development: Empirical evidence from Alaba Special District, Southern Ethiopia. Development in Practice 21 (8): 1138–1152.
[15] Smith, G., 2010. Ethiopia: Local solutions to a global problem. (Available from http://www.new-ag.info/en/focus/focusItem.php?a=1784)
[16] Tekalegn Yirgu, Solomon Mengistu, Edao Shanku and Fromsa Ijara, (2017). Desho Grass (Pennisetum. pedicellatum) Lines Evaluation for Herbage Yield and Quality under Irrigation at Wondogenet. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science 17 (5): 427-431.
[17] Tilahun G, Asmare B, Mekuriaw Y. (2017). Effects of Harvesting Age and Spacing on Plant Characteristics, Chemical Composition and Yield of Desho Grass (Pennisetum Pedicellatum Trin.) in the highlands of Ethiopia. Tropical Grasslands 5 (2): 77-84.
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    Tolera Fikadu, Melese Furgasa, Worku Bekuma, Wubshet Tesfaye, Fraol Legesse. (2022). Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. American Journal of Plant Biology, 7(4), 177-182. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12

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    Tolera Fikadu; Melese Furgasa; Worku Bekuma; Wubshet Tesfaye; Fraol Legesse. Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am. J. Plant Biol. 2022, 7(4), 177-182. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12

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    Tolera Fikadu, Melese Furgasa, Worku Bekuma, Wubshet Tesfaye, Fraol Legesse. Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am J Plant Biol. 2022;7(4):177-182. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12,
      author = {Tolera Fikadu and Melese Furgasa and Worku Bekuma and Wubshet Tesfaye and Fraol Legesse},
      title = {Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Plant Biology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {4},
      pages = {177-182},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpb.20220704.12},
      abstract = {Determining the forage yield and nutritional value of forage crops constitutes prerequisite to improve the productivity of livestock. Thus, identifying the grass lines to the specific agro-ecology can help to reduce the feed gap in Eastern Oromia. The experiment was carried out at midland and highland agro ecologies of East Hararghe zone of Oromia during 2018-2020 main cropping seasons to identify the most adaptable, high yielder in forage biomass and nutritive value Dasho grass line/s. Four Dasho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) lines (Kindo kosha-DZF-591, Araka-DZF-590, Kulumsa, Kindo kosha-DZF#589) were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on tiller number, plot cover, plant height, biomass yield, Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were recorded during the investigation. The combined analysis of the current study revealed that Desho grass lines had significant difference in tiller number per plant (p0.05) difference observed in forage dry matter, plot cover, plant height and leaf to stem ratio at both agro ecologies. When the nutritive value was observed, the Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents were shown significant (p<0.001) difference among the Desho grass lines considered in the trial. Kulumsa-DZF-592 had significantly higher crude protein and lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents. Generally, the high forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional contents in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) of Desho grass lines suggested that they have excellent forage yield and nutritional value that deserves special attention to the grass. Therefore, all the Desho grass lines were well adapted and produced optimum forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional value at midland and highland agro-ecologies of East Hararghe Zone environmental conditions. Particularly, Kindo kosha-DZF#589 (28.72 t/ha) and Kulumsa-DZF-592 (28.51 t/ha) were well performed at midland agro-ecology while Kindo kosha-DZF-591 (25.06 t/ha) and Araka-DZF-590 (24.93 t/ha) were at highland agro-ecology. Thus, further research on demonstration and scaling up should be implemented at both agro-ecologies of the study areas.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Desho Grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) in Midland and Highland Agro-Ecologies of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Tolera Fikadu
    AU  - Melese Furgasa
    AU  - Worku Bekuma
    AU  - Wubshet Tesfaye
    AU  - Fraol Legesse
    Y1  - 2022/11/16
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12
    T2  - American Journal of Plant Biology
    JF  - American Journal of Plant Biology
    JO  - American Journal of Plant Biology
    SP  - 177
    EP  - 182
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-8337
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpb.20220704.12
    AB  - Determining the forage yield and nutritional value of forage crops constitutes prerequisite to improve the productivity of livestock. Thus, identifying the grass lines to the specific agro-ecology can help to reduce the feed gap in Eastern Oromia. The experiment was carried out at midland and highland agro ecologies of East Hararghe zone of Oromia during 2018-2020 main cropping seasons to identify the most adaptable, high yielder in forage biomass and nutritive value Dasho grass line/s. Four Dasho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) lines (Kindo kosha-DZF-591, Araka-DZF-590, Kulumsa, Kindo kosha-DZF#589) were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on tiller number, plot cover, plant height, biomass yield, Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were recorded during the investigation. The combined analysis of the current study revealed that Desho grass lines had significant difference in tiller number per plant (p0.05) difference observed in forage dry matter, plot cover, plant height and leaf to stem ratio at both agro ecologies. When the nutritive value was observed, the Ash, crud protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents were shown significant (p<0.001) difference among the Desho grass lines considered in the trial. Kulumsa-DZF-592 had significantly higher crude protein and lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents. Generally, the high forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional contents in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) of Desho grass lines suggested that they have excellent forage yield and nutritional value that deserves special attention to the grass. Therefore, all the Desho grass lines were well adapted and produced optimum forage biomass yield and moderate nutritional value at midland and highland agro-ecologies of East Hararghe Zone environmental conditions. Particularly, Kindo kosha-DZF#589 (28.72 t/ha) and Kulumsa-DZF-592 (28.51 t/ha) were well performed at midland agro-ecology while Kindo kosha-DZF-591 (25.06 t/ha) and Araka-DZF-590 (24.93 t/ha) were at highland agro-ecology. Thus, further research on demonstration and scaling up should be implemented at both agro-ecologies of the study areas.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia

  • Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia

  • Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia

  • Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia

  • Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia

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