Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Brachiaria ruziziensis forage as influenced by fertilizer rate, plant spacing, and harvest age. The study was a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 3 fertilizer rates of NPK 15:15:15 (0, 120, and 240 kgN ha-1), 2 plant spacing (0.5m x 0.5m and 1.0m x 1.0m), and 2 age at harvest (8 and 10 weeks after planting (WAP). The proximate and fibre fractions of the forage based on different treatments were determined. Results showed that fertilizer rates significantly (P<0.05) increased the crude protein (40%) and ash (11.42%) contents of B. ruziziensis that received 240kgN ha-1, while higher crude fibre (16.45%) was recorded in B. ruziziensis with fertilizer rate of 120 kgN ha-1. Sowing of the grass at an interval of 1.0 m2 recorded a higher significant (P<0.05) effect on ether extract (EE) (4.82%). The highest values for acid detergent lignin (16.78%), acid detergent fiber (48.23%), neutral detergent fiber (63.79%), cellulose (31.45%), and hemicellulose (63.79%), as influenced by harvest age, were recorded for the grass sowed at 1.0m2. In conclusion, the application of fertilizer at 240kg N/ha rate, spacing of 1.0m2, and harvested at 10 weeks promotes better nutrient quality of Brachiaria ruziziensis grass.
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