Biomass Yield and Nutritive Value of Ten Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Accessions at Areka, Southern Ethiopia

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1 World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 13 (5): , 017 ISSN IDOSI Publications, 017 DOI: /idosi.wjas Biomass Yield and Nutritive Value of Ten Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Accessions at Areka, Southern Ethiopia Deribe Gemiyo, Addisu Jimma and Shewangizew Wolde South Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Areka Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box: 79, Areka, Ethiopia Abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluatethe biomass yield and nutritive value of tenaccessions of Napier grass (Pennisetumpurpureum) at Areka Agricultural Research Center. The accessions evaluated were Acc. No , 16791, 16794, 16913, 16815, 16783, 15743, 1690, and local check in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications each. The biomass yield, height and leaf:stem ratio were measured every months of plant growth and chemical composition and organic matter (OM) digestibility were analyzed after 18 months. The results indicated that leaf to stem ratio of accession No was (p<0.05) higher than acc. No 16783, local, 16794, 16791, but similar to acc No.16817, 16913, 15743, DM yield of the acc No (17.90 t/ha) and local (16.68 t/ha) were (p<0.05) higher than accessions No (6.95t/ha) and (10.6t/ha) but similar to accessions No (13.86 t/ha), (11.98 t/ha), 1690(11.95t/ha), (1.3t/ha), (13.87 t/ha) and 16791(1.56 t/ha). The crude protein, OM, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin and organic matter digestibility were not different (p>0.05) among accessions. It was concluded that the accessions No , 16815, 1690, and were found promising to be scaled up or /out along with the previously adapted local accessions under climatic conditions similar to Areka. Key words: Napier grass Accession Dry matter Nutritive values In vitro digestibility Southern Ethiopia INTRODUCTION growth with the onset of rains after extended dry periods [5]. Napier grass is palatle and could be fed fresh, as Livestock production is an integral part of the silage or directly grazed on the field [6, 7]. subsistence crop-livestock mixed farming systems of Structural cell wall carbohydrates of Napier grass Ethiopia. The major constraint that influences the increase rapidly whereas crude protein (CP) content productivity of livestock is shortage of feed both in and digestibility decreases rapidly with advance in quantity and quality [1]. The major feed resources for maturity [8]. There are varietal differences in the livestock come from natural pasture and crop residue []. proportion of botanical fractions and chemical However, they are poor in quality and provide inadequate composition [9, 10]. The proportion of leaf fractions is protein, energy, vitamins and minerals [3]. positively correlated to the concentration of plant CP Nevertheless, the feed supply to animals can be and digestible energy [9] and in turn determines the improved by cultivation of tropically adapted forage intake and animal performance [11, 9]. Scaling up of species, which give reasonle yield under drought and options of proven accessions are needed to widen unstle climatic conditions. One of such forages is the the genetic diversity of the Napier grass since some Napier (Pennisetumpurpureum) grass. It is a tall perennial cultivars have shown better resistance than others in the grass and well adapted to an altitude up to 500m and outbreak of new diseases [1]. The objective of this study Rainfall mm [4]. Napiergrass is an adaptle, was to evaluate the biomass yield and nutritive value of vigorous, highly productive and withstands considerle nine imported accessions and one local variety of Napier periods of drought. It rapidly recovers from stagnation of grass. Corresponding Author: Deribe Gemiyo, South Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Areka Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box: 79, Areka, Ethiopia. 185

2 World J. Agric. Sci., 13 (5): , 017 MATERIALS AND METHODS overnight. The DM yield of each accession at each plot was calculated on dry matter basis by multiplying the Study Site: The experiment was conductedat Areka percentage dry weight of the sub-samples from the whole Agricultural Research Center, ManteDubo sub-research fraction to the fresh weight of the respective accessions site. The site is located at a distance of out 300km south at each plot per 8m and converted to hectares. of the capital, Addis Aba and at an altitude of 1711 masl and situated at N ` and E `. The rain Height and Leaf to Steam Ratio (LTSR) Determination: fall is bimodal and ranges between 101 and 1600mm with The height of plant at each plot was measured by highest from July to September. The mean annual measuring all the samples harvested for DM yield temperature ranges between and 4 C. determination and the average height of all the plants was taken as a height of plant at each plot. LTSR of Napier Source of Planting Material and Experimental Design: accessions at each plot was measured by the fraction of Nine imported and one local accessions of weight of leaf of plants sampled for herbage yield Napier(Pennisetum purpureum) grass were brought from determination to the weight of stem of plants sampled for Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debrezeit herbage yield determination. Agricultural Research Center and planted at Areka Agricultural Research Center for performance evaluation. Chemical Analysis: Forage samples of each accession, The Napier accessions (treatments) were 16817, 16791, prepared following the procedure of AOAC (000), were 16794, 16813, 16815, 16783, 15743, 1690, and local dried at 60 C for 48 hours.the samples were sent to the check with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) Holeta Agricultural Research Center for loratory with three replications each. Local check was the analysis. Accordingly, the CP, organic matter (OM), previously released and widely adopted at farmer s neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), conditions and used as a control to compare the lignin and organic matter digestibility (OMD) values were performance of other accessions in the study area. A analyzed. single plot of 4 x 3m (1m ) containing 4 rows, each row 0.75m apart and plant spaced 0.5m within rows. The Statistical Analysis: Data collected were subjected to spaces between plots were 1.5m and the total area of Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General experiment was 15 x 43.5m (65.5m ). Therefore, a total of Linear Model procedure of SPSS version 16 (006). thirty (30) plots each measuring 1m were used for the Where F-tests declared significance at P<0.05, means were planting. separated using Duncan multiple range test. Land Preparation and Planting: A total area of 15 x 43.5m RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (65.5m ) plot was ploughed and harrowed with a tractor. The field was divided in to thirty (30) plots with each Effect of Accession on Biomass Yield: The DM yield of plot measuring 1m. The parent plants were cut into the accessions No and local were higher (p<0.05) stems with three nodes per cutting for planting. The than the accession No and but similar to the cuttings were planted0cm deep at an angle of out accession No.16783, 1690, 16913, 15743, and C. Plant population per plot were 64 (4m/0.5m*4 row) (Tle 1). The mean DM yield of Napier accessions in the and plant population per accessions were 19 (64 plants present study at months age (1.77 tonsdm/ha) was *3 reps). lower than the previous findings of which is 41.05tDM/ha at 4 months age [14] which might be due to the Dry Matter Yield Determination: An area of 8m (x4m) proportional increment of dry matter yield with advance in was randomly selected and harvested with a sickle at a age of cutting [15]. The high dry matter recorded for height of 0cm ove the ground. The total harvest per accession16815, local, 1690, 16817, 16791, 15743, plot of fresh forage was weight and out 500g of sub 16913and suggested that these accessions are samples taken from each plot and chopped in short competent with local accession and less moisture is lengths (-4cm) for dry matter determination using AOAC present in the grass and will therefore reduce the rate at [13] procedure. This involves drying in an oven at 10 C which the grass deteriorate when stored [14]. 186

3 World J. Agric. Sci., 13 (5): , 017 Tle1: Effect of accession on DM yield (ton/ha), leaf to steam ratio and height (m) of ten Napier accessions at months of age Napier accessions Items Local Mean SE LTSR c a bc DM yield bc a a c Height Mean with different superscript in the same row are significantly different at p<0.05. Tle : The chemical composition (%) of ten pooled Napier accessions at full maturity (out 18 month s age) Accession DM OM NDF ADF Lignin CP OMD Local Mean SE Effects of Accession on Leaf to Stem Ratio and Plant Chemical Composition: The chemical composition of 10 Height: The LTSR of Napier accession1690 was higher Napier accessions are presented in Tle. The CP, OM, (p<0.05) than Napier accessions 16783, local, 16794, 16791, NDF, ADF, lignin and OMD were not different (p>0.05) but similar to accessions16817, 16913, and among accessions indicating that accessions 1690, 16817, 16913, The overall mean in CP and OMD obtained at and contained higher nutrients than others months age in the present study (5.4 and 40.04%), and the performance of animals is closely related to the respectively, however, are much lower than the mean amount of leaf in the diet because leaf is generally of values at to 4 months reported previously (10.77 and higher nutritive value than stem [16]. The LTSR of 6.5%), respectively, as reported by Taye et al. [15]. This accession No16815 was higher (p<0.05) than might be due to the Napier grass considered in this study accession In the present study, the LTSR ranging is high in CP and OMD that decreasesrapidly with from 0.31 (accession 16791) to 1.01 (accession 1690) were advance in maturity [8]. We found the highest CP (6.66%) different from the range of ratios reported by Elkana et al. in Napier accession No while the lowest CP (4.3%) [17] who reported that 1.7 to 3.1 was might be due to in accession No However, the CP content of all the varietal differences of Napier grass. Accession Napier accessions in the present study was below the recorded the lowest (0.31) LTSR but the tallest (1.3) of all minimum level (7%) required for optimum rumen function the accessions were similar to the trend reported from [8]. This might be due to the grasses were harvested western Kenya [17]. relatively at old age. Therefore, under practical production The height of Napier grass was similar (p>0.05) settings Napier grass harvest at 18 months age requires among accessions at months of age (Tle 1). In the higher supplementation to support reasonle present study, the minimum height of 1m was found in the productivity of animals than Napier grass harvest at accession No. 1690, local, 16794, 16817, 16913, 16819, earlier stages of growth and while the maximum height of 1.3 m was The overall mean in OMD obtained at 18 months found in accession No and16791 which indicated of age in the present study (40.04%), however, is much that at months of age all Napier accessions attained the lower than the mean values at to 4 months reported optimum plant harvesting stage (1-1.5m) for forage [4]. previously (6.5%) by Taye et al. [15] was might be due 187

4 World J. Agric. Sci., 13 (5): , 017 Tle 3: Rank of Napier accessions in terms of CP (%) and OMD (%) Accession CP Grade OMD Grade Grade sum Overall Rank Local Tle 4: Correlation between leaf to stem ratio and nutrient content of 10 Napier accessions OM NDF ADF Lignin CP OMD LTSR OM 1.00 NDF ADF * Lignin CP -0.6 * OMD * LTSR p< 0.01; *p<0.05 to Napier grass is considered to be high in OMD that The higher crude protein and organic matter decreases rapidly with advance in maturity [8]. We found digestibility constituentof forage plants are better in the highest OMD from the accession No while the quality than the same forage plants with lower crude lowest from accession The reduced in OMD with protein and organic matter digestibility constituents. maturity for tropical grasses has generally been attributed Therefore, Napier grass with better crude protein and to an increase in structural cell wall components and digestibility content ranked as the better performed decline in leaf to stem ratio [18]. accession. Therefore, Napier accessions No , 1690, The overall mean in NDF and lignin obtained at 18 st nd, rd th th 16815, and were ranked 1, 3, 4 and 5, months in the present study (80.98 and 8.16%) respectively and outperformed than local and accessions respectively, however, are much higher than the mean No.16791, 16819, and in terms of CP content values at to 4 months age reported previously (71. and and OMD. 4.9%), respectively, by Taye et al. [15]. This might be due to Napier grass is considered to be low NDF and lignin Correlation Studies: The ADF was positively that increase rapidly with advance in maturity [8]. The correlated with OM (0.43*) and NDF (0.78) (Tle 4). overall mean in ADF obtained at 18 months age in the As it would expected, the ADL (lignin) was present study (4.90%) was similar to the mean values at positively correlated with NDF (0.51*) and ADF (0.73). to 4 months age harvest reported previously (43.10%) On the other hand, the CP content was negatively by Taye et al. [15]. On the contrary, Zinash et al. [19]; correlated with NDF (0.43*) while its correlation Seyoum et al. [0] and Taye et al. [15] who reported with OM, ADF and ADL was negative and weak. CP, increasing trends in the ADF content as maturity OMD and LTSR were positively correlatedand that advanced. In our study, the highest NDF (83.61%) was means the accession with higher leaf to stem ratio, usually found for accessions No while the lowest NDF had the higher CP content and OMD and in turn (78.64%) for accession No The highest lignin determines the intake and animal performance [11, 9]. (8.80%) was found for accessions No while the The negative correlation between cell wall lowest lignin (7.83%) for accession No However, components (ADF and NDF) and in vitro digestibility was the quality of all Napier accessions in the present study reported previously in similar agro-ecological areas [0]. with respect to NDF content was lower than the It is also in line with other reports [8] who reported recommended medium and higher quality roughage feeds reduced digestibility of roughages with higher fiber of and below 45%, respectively [1]. contents. 188

5 World J. Agric. Sci., 13 (5): , 017 CONCLUSIONS 6. Woodard, K.R. and G.M. Prine, Forage yield and nutritive value of Elephant grass as affected The Napier accession No.16913, 16815, 1690, by harvest frequency and genotype. Agron. J., and outperformed local accessions in terms of leaf 83: to steam ratio and ranked better in CP and OMD and they 7. Woodard, K.R., G.M. Prine and D.B. Bates, are similar to local accession in terms of dry matter yield. Silage characteristics of elephant grass as affected Therefore, Napier accessions No , and 1690 by harvest frequency and genotype. Agron. J., are better options to be scaled up/out with the previously 83: adapted local accession underthe existing climatic 8. Van Soest, P.J., Nutritional Ecology of the conditions of Areka. Ruminant, Comstock Publishing Associates.A division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS London. 9. Islam, M.R., C.K. Saha, N.R. Sarker, M.A. Jalil and We would like to acknowledge East Africa M. Hasanuzzaman, 003. Effect of variety on Agricultural productivity project (EAAPP) for funding proportion of botanical fractions and nutritive this study, technical assistants ofareka Agricultural values of different Napier grass (Pennisetum Research Center for their active help in data collection and purpureum) and relationship between botanical Areka Agricultural Research Center for hosting the study fractions and nutritive value. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. through vehicle and material support. Sci., 16(6): Mwendia, S.W., D.M. Mwangi, R.G. Wahome and REFERENCES M. Wanyoike, 008. Assessment of growth rate and yield of three Napier grass varieties in Central 1. Tilahun, A., M. Solomon and R. Ralph, 005. highlands of Kenya. East African Agriculture and Identification of livestock feed production in Forestry Journal, 74(3): Ethiopian Highlands: potential and experiences of the 11. Gwayumba, W.D.A., Christensen and J.J. Mckinnon, th African Highlands Initiative. Presented at the Dry matter intake, digestibility and milk yield EVA Annual Conference, 8 June005, ECA, Addis by Friesian cows fed two Napier grass varieties. Aba. Asian-Australian Journal of Animal Science,. Alemu, T. and G. Lemma, Botanical composition 15(4): and productivity of natural pasture in the 1. Farrell, G.S.A., Simmons and R.J. Hillocks, 001. ArjoAwraja, western Ethiopia. In: Proceedings of the Aspects of the biology of ustilagokamerunensis a Fourth National Livestock Improvement Conference, smut pathogen of Napier grass (Pennisetum held at Addis Aba, Nov. pp: purpureum). J. Phytopathol., 149: Daniel, K., Effect of development stages of at 13. AOAC, Official methods of analysis of the harvest, nitrogen application and moisture th Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 15 availility on the yield and nutritional value of edition.association of official analytical chemists, Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) Lucerne (Medicago Washington, D. C. sativa) pastures. Ph.D. Thesis. Swedish University of 14. Ansah, T., E.L.K. Osafo and H.H. Hansen, 010. Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Herbage yield and chemical composition of four 4. Getnet, A., 003. Feed resource development and varieties of Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass utilization: possible options and recommendations harvested at three different days after planting. under Ethiopian condition. Training handout Agriculture and biology journal of North America, prepared for agricultural subject matter specialist, 1(5): HoletaAgricultural Research Center, Holeta, Ethiopia, 15. Taye, B., M. Solomon and N.K. Prasad, 007. Effects pp: 18. of cutting dates on nutritive value of Napier 5. Sollenberger, L.C., J.R. Jones, K.A. Albrecht and (Pennisetum purpureum) grass planted sole and in G.H. Ruitenberg, Vegetative Estlishment of association with Desmodium (Desmodiumintortum) Dwarf Elephant grass.effect of defoliation prior to or Ll (Ll purpureus). Livestock Research planting stems. Agron. J., 8(): for Rural Development, 19(1). 189

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