Comparative performance of fertilizer types on growth, yield of Panicum maximum var. Ntchisi (JAC) and Andropogon tectorum during early rainy season in Abeokuta South West, Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to examine comparative performance of fertilizer types on growth and yield of Panicum maximum and Andropogon tectorum during the early rainy season in Abeokuta. It consists of three factors namely: 4 fertilizer types, 2 grass species and 2 age at harvest allotted to main plots, sub plots and sub-sub-plots respectively. It is therefore factorial experimental arrangement (4 x 2 x 2) laid out in a split-split-plot design with three replicates having a total number of sixteen (16) treatments. The fertilizer types were N.P. K. 20:10:10 (NPK), Aleshinloye organo-mineral (AOM) and poultry manure (PM) and a control. These were applied at the rate of 120 kgN/ha based on their nitrogen content. The grasses were Panicum maximum (Ntchisi) and Andropogon tectorum which, were harvested at 6 and 8 weeks after cut back (i.e. 6 WAC and 8WAC) for determination of dry matter yield. Growth parameters such as leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), number of tillers (TN) and number of leaves (LN) were estimated from 2 to 6 weeks after cut back in the early rainy season following the year of establishment. The results show that fertilizer types did not significantly affect (P>0.05) the LL and LW of A. tectorum and P. maximum. There were significant differences (P<0.05) among the mean values of LL and LW due to effect of grass species. Similarly, the mean values obtained for TN and LN were not different (P>0.05) under the influence of fertilizer types, but TN and LN were (P<0.05) affected by grass species. There were no significant differences among the mean values of LW but the mean values of LL were different (P<0.05) as a result of interaction effects of fertilizer types and grass species. The mean values of TN and LN were different (P<0.05), though not in a specific trend. However, the mean values of LN were (P>0.05) differed at 4 and 6 WAC.The fertilizer types and grass species did not influence (P>0.05)the mean values of dry matter yield (DMY), forage proportion (FP) and weed proportion (WP). The mean values presented in the result indicated that age at harvest affected (P<0.05) DMY, FP and WP. The highest DMY and FP (29.89 t/ha and 99.82 %, respectively) were observed at 8 weeks. The highest WP (0.89%) was recorded at 6 weeks. It could be concluded that when moisture content is inadequate, fertilizer application may not elicit any significant influence on the growth and biomass production of forage plants.Keynote: Comparative performance, fertilizer types, early rainy season, Panicum maximum, Andropogon tectoru