Abstract
BackgroundA study was conducted to evaluate the effect of altitude and harvesting dates on productivity and nutritive value of three Brachiaria brizantha grass ecotypes (Eth. 13726, Eth. 13809 and Eth. 1377) in northwestern Ethiopia. A factorial arrangement of treatments was employed with a combination of three altitudes and three harvesting dates. The data collected consisted of plant height (PH), number of tillers, number and length of leaves and fresh yield. The yield and chemical analysis of forage samples were analyzed for dry matter yield, ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin. All data were subjected to analysis of variance procedures, with significance tested at P < 0.05.ResultsResults indicated that the highest plant height (PH) was recorded in all sites (low, mid- and high altitudes) by Eth. 1377 ecotype followed by Eth. 13726 ecotype (low and mid-altitudes) and in high altitude by Eth. 13809 ecotype. The highest DM yield was recorded by Eth. 13809 ecotype (7.26, 5.98 and 4.50) which was followed by Eth. 1377 ecotype (6.28, 4.68 and 4.30) at low, mid- and high altitudes, respectively. There was significant difference (P > 0.05) in DM yield with increasing harvesting dates for all ecotypes. CP content declined with increased harvesting date in all ecotypes [Eth. 13726 (16.33, 10.63 and 6.72), Eth. 13809 (13.87, 10.60 and 9.57) and Eth. 1377 (14.80, 10.15 and 7.86)] for 60, 90 and 120 harvesting dates, respectively. All ecotypes had the highest CP content at day 60 harvesting stage.ConclusionsAlthough all ecotypes had potential as an alternative ruminant feed in all altitude areas in Ethiopia, highest CP and lowest NDF and ADF concentrations were recorded by Eth13809 ecotype. Its capability to grow at low rainfall maintaining high yields is an additional advantage over the other two. Thus, among the tested ecotype grasses Eth13809 showed outstanding potential as a forage plant especially in low altitude area of northwestern Ethiopia.
Highlights
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of altitude and harvesting dates on productivity and nutritive value of three Brachiaria brizantha grass ecotypes (Eth. 13726, Eth. 13809 and Eth. 1377) in northwestern Ethiopia
Common forage crops adapted in the farming systems in Ethiopia like Napier grass (Pennisetum sp.) and silver leaf Desmodium sp. have been affected by the global effects of climate change and Napier grass is threatened by the emergence of stunt and smut diseases [37], which has limited its expansion to drier areas
The highland area was represented by Farta district, Tsegure Eyesus Kebele (Kebele is the smallest administration unit in Ethiopia) at a site called Melo located near Debre Tabor Town, at 11°11′N and 38°E and at an altitude of 2650 m above sea level
Summary
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of altitude and harvesting dates on productivity and nutritive value of three Brachiaria brizantha grass ecotypes (Eth. 13726, Eth. 13809 and Eth. 1377) in northwestern Ethiopia. In Ethiopia livestock production has been mainly constrained by inadequate supply and poor quality of Nowadays, the most important livestock feed resources in Ethiopia are natural pasture, crop residues and grass hay [1]. Finding alternative feeds for livestock is an important step to sustain livestock production in the country This constraint can be solved through finding a climate-friendly way through the introduction of improved forage varieties of the Brachiaria genus [50]. Brachiaria grasses tend to be drought resistant and resilient in infertile soils, and produce well with relatively low levels of fertilizer inputs They are resistant to many diseases affecting baseline varieties in Eastern Africa, Napier stunt and smut disease [22, 31]. As a new strategy termed using ‘climate smart Brachiaria grass’, which can withstand heavy grazing is best option
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