Abstract
The study sought to investigate the effect of two planting distances and Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) intercrop on the biomass yield, chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The treatments were laid in a 2x2 factorial RCBD. The factors were two planting distances (0.5x0.5 and 0.5x1m) and two levels of intercrop (Pigeon Pea intercrop and sole Napier grass). At 90-days, the grasses were harvested and biomass yield measured. The fodder was separated into leaves and stems for chemical and digestibility analysis in 2x2x2 factorial in CRD. The interaction at all levels was not significant for all the parameters. There was a significant main effect of planting distance, intercrop and botanical fraction on biomass yield, plant height, tiller number and fodder quality. Whilst biomass yield was higher (P=0.02) in the 0.5x0.5m, no significant difference was recorded in the effect of the intercrop. Whilst intercrop affected (P<0.05) IVOMD and ME, botanical fraction significantly affected DM, CP and ME. The leaf fraction had more (P<0.05) DM, CP and ME than the stem fraction. The study revealed that close planting distance enhanced biomass yield whilst Pigeon Pea intercrop and botanical fraction affected fodder quality of Napier grass.
Highlights
Demand for meat and meat products as reflected in the number of animals imported and produced in Ghana continues to rise (SRID, 2014)
Whilst biomass yield was higher in the closely planted Napier grass, the legume intercrop did not have an effect after 90 days
Crude protein and metabolizable energy were all higher in the leaf fraction than the stem fraction
Summary
Demand for meat and meat products as reflected in the number of animals imported and produced in Ghana continues to rise (SRID, 2014). This rise in demand requires measures that will ensure that animal production barriers are minimised to the barest minimum. Forage for livestock production has often been derived from natural sources (Ansah & Issaka, 2018; Akapali et al, 2018), exposing quantity and quality of forage from these sources to fluctuations due to changes in climatic conditions. Increase in urbanisation and competition for land are major threats to the availability of rangelands or natural pasture for livestock production (Oba, 2013).
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