Growth and Yield Performance of Vegetatively Propagated Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum L)

An experiment on the growth and yield performance of vegetatively propagated Guinea Grass using five plant densities and different levels of Nitrogen fertilizer application was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm University of Nigerian Nsuka. The treatment consisted of five plant densities (10,000, 20,000, 40,000, 80,000 and 100,000 stands/ha) and two levels of Nitrogen fertilizer application (75kg N/ha, 150 kg N/ha) and a control without Nitrogen fertilizer application were combined in a split plot arrangement with Nitrogen fertilizer allotted the main plot and spacing the Subplots in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Parameters evaluated were plant height, leaf area, tiller number, leaf number, at bi-weekly interval for eight weeks, while leaf and tiller dry weight were determined after fodder harvest. Results showed that Nitrogen application had no significant effect on plant height, leaf area, tiller number, leaf number, leaf and tiller dry weight. Spacing however, produced significant effect on plant height, filler number, leaf number, leaf and tiller dry weight. Plant population of about 80,000 and 100,000 clumps/ha produced substantial reduction of weeds.