Abstract
The experiment was executed by Fedis Agricultural Research Center (FARC) for two consecutive years (2017/18 and 2018/19). It was conducted on-farm at Babile district of Bishan Babile and Ifa kebeles with 5 Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) cultivars namely; ILRI-7384, CV-massaba-13329, ILRI-6633, DZ-253 and local check. Experimental plots were laid out in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications with the objective of selecting/recommending high biomass yielding and adaptable Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) cultivars to the study area and other districts having the same agro-ecologies. The over year and over location statistically analysis result showed there is a significant difference (P<0.05) observed among the mean values of days to emergence, days to 50% flowering, dry Biomass yield and seed yield parameters. Maximum number of days required for first emergence was 10.42, 10.25 and 10.33 for cultivars of Rhodes DZ-253, ILRI-6633 and ILRI-7384; whereas the minimum days to emergency recorded was 8.83 and 9.08 for, local check and CV-massaba-13329 respectively. The mean numbers of days to 50% flowering for cultivar DZ-253 was 110.67 days followed by ILRI-6633 (109.83 days) and local check (109.33 days).The minimum days to 50% flowering obtained were 108.83 days and 108.92 days for ILRI-7384 and CV-massaba-13329 respectively. The maximum dry biomass yield of Rhodes grass was recorded by DZ-253 (9.42 ton ha -1 ) followed by local check (8.5 ton ha -1 ).Whereas, the minimum aboveground dry biomass yields obtained were 7.53, 7.79 and 7.95 (ton ha -1 ) for CV-massaba-13329, ILRI-7384 and ILRI-6633 respectively. In general DZ-253 and local check give higher aboveground dry matter yield than the rest cultivars. It is concluded that DZ-253 and local check are more desirable and recommended to demonstrate in the study area and districts having similar agro ecologies. Keywords: Chloris Gayana, Dry Biomass Yield, Fodder Grass. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-3-03 Publication date: February 28 th 2021
Highlights
In developing countries livestock sector plays an important role in contributing for food and nutritional security and serves as an important source of livelihood for nearly one billion poor people (Frans and Siboniso, 2010)
This study revealed that CV-massaba-13329 and ILRI-6633 required more days to full maturity than other genotypes
Five treatments of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) namely ILRI-7384, CV-massaba-13329, ILRI-6633, DZ-253 and local check were evaluated for agronomic parameters such as days to emergence, days to 50% flowering, plant height 50% flowering and dry biomass yield per hectare
Summary
In developing countries livestock sector plays an important role in contributing for food and nutritional security and serves as an important source of livelihood for nearly one billion poor people (Frans and Siboniso, 2010). Meat and other products contribute 17 percent to kilocalorie consumption and 33 percent to protein consumption globally (Melkamu, 2014).Cattle largely depends on rangeland grazing or crop residues that are of poor in quantity and quality (i.e. nutritive value). The feed shortage mostly happens in dry season of the year (Ibrahim and Olaloku, 2000). To overcome this bottleneck problem of livestock sector introducing improved forages to livestock stakeholders should have to be an obligatory and persistent activity that is expected from responsible service providers
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