Dry matter yields and forage quality of grass alone and grass plus legume mixture in relation to cattle manure rates and production methods

This work was carried out at Khon Kaen University from April-November 2011 to determine dry matter yields and forage quality of the Purple Guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. TD 58) and grass plus legumes grown on Korat soil series (Oxic Paleustults). The 3 Production Methods (PM) were used viz., without legume (PM1), with Verano stylo, Stylosanthes hamata cv., Verano, (PM2) and with Wynn cassia, Chamaecrista rotundifolia cv., Wynn, (PM3). Dry Cattle Manure (CM) rates of 0, 8, 16 and 24 t ha–1 were used. They were subjected to a 3×4 factorial arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. The results showed that an increase in cattle manure rates highly increased both Dry Matter Yields (DMY%) of the grass alone and grass plus legumes. The high DMY of 10,596 and 10,673 tons ha–1 were attained with the PM2 and the PM3, respectively. An increase in cattle manure rates highly decreased Crude Protein (CP%) of the grass alone and grass plus legumes mixture. Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF%) for the grass alone increased with an increase in cattle manure rates only up to 8 t ha–1 but the production methods did not. The NDF% of the grass plus legumes mixture highly increased with an increase in cattle manure rates but a reverse result was found with the production methods. Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF%) for the grass alone highly increased but the increase was only up to 8 t ha–1. Production methods had no significant effect on the ADF%. An increase in cattle manure rates did not significantly affect DMD%, except that of the production methods where an increase was with the PM2 only.Peer reviewe