Abstract
This experiment was under taken at Mechara Agricultural Research center of on- station site for two consecutive years of 2016 and 2017 cropping season. The aim of the research was to identify the best adaptable and high biomass and dry matter yielders from four ecotype of Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) to demonstrate promising ecotypes for livestock producer’s community in the study area. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was employed to evaluate the ecotypes. The result revealed that the agronomic performance of regeneration percentage, plot cover, plant vigor and leaf to stem ratio were not shown significant difference (P>0.05) between Desho grass lines. However, significantly difference (P<0.05) were observed in plant height and dry matter yield between four Desho grass lines. The highest dry matter yield were produced from Areka-DZF # 590 (28.74 t/ha), Kulumsa-DZF#592 (26.14 t/ha) and KK1-DZF # 591(23.59 t/ha) lines and produced 0.71, 0.66 and 0.59 leaf to stem ratio, respectively. The mean value of dry matter yield, biomass (herbage) yield and leaf to stem ratio was increased from first to second harvesting year. The dry matter yield had strongly positive correlation with morphological parameters of leaf to stem ratio (r=0.8; P<0.01), plant height (r=0.62; P<0.05), plot cover (r=75; P<0.05), and low correlation with biomass yield (r=0.2). Based on the result, Areka-DZF#590, Kulumsa-DZF-#592, and KK1-DZF#591 lines were well adapted and performed from Desho grass lines evaluated in this experiment. Therefore, these selected Desho grass lines should be further demonstrated and scaled-up at around Mechara Agricultural Research station and similar agro-ecologies of Hararghe areas. Key words: Desho grass, dry matter yield, leaf to stem ratio, lines.
Highlights
Despite Ethiopia having a large livestock population (Central Statistical Agency, 2016), the productivity of livestock is low
Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) is among the indigenous grass in Ethiopia belonging to the Poaceae family of monocot angiosperm plants
The result revealed that the agronomic performance of regeneration percentage, plot cover, stand vigor, leaf to stem ratio were not shown significance difference (P>0.05) between Desho grass lines considered in this experiment
Summary
Despite Ethiopia having a large livestock population (Central Statistical Agency, 2016), the productivity of livestock is low. To combat existing livestock nutritional constraints, the use of locally available forage plants as feed resources is highly recommended as they are familiar to smallholder farmers, grow with low inputs and are adaptable to local agro-ecological conditions (Anele et al, 2009). It grows in naturally spreading across the escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands and used for multiple purposes (Smith, 2010). Desho grass is used as a year-round livestock fodder. Due to its rapid growth rate, Desho grass provides regular harvests, even reaching monthly cuts during the rainy reason. Just before the dry season, sufficient grass is harvested and stored as hay and can prepared as silage to feed the livestock until the rains return (Danano, 2007)
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