The experiment was conducted in the 2018 cropping season with the objective of evaluating the effects of harvesting stage and seed rate on agronomic performance and quality traits of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana K.) grown in northwestern Ethiopia under rain-fed conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted using two factors of main factor harvesting stages in three levels (60, 90, and 120 days) and the sub-factor of seed rate in three levels (5, 10, and 15 Kg/h) using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected for morphological traits such as plant height, tillers number, leaf length, leaf number per plant, and quality traits such as crude protein (CP%), total ash, acid detergent fiber (ADF%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF%) and acid detergent lignin (ADL%). The data were subjected to ANOVA using SAS software. Results showed significant effects of seed rate by harvesting stage interaction on all plant morphological traits, DM yield, and quality traits (P<0.05). As the seed rate and harvesting stage increased, there was an increase in tiller number, leaf length, plant height, NDF, and ADL and ADF%. There were significant (P<0.05) increments in DM yield as the result of descending seed rate and advanced maturity. Also, CP and total Ash were markedly decreased as the harvesting stages were increased. It could be concluded that both seed rate and harvesting stage are important agronomic practices in Rhodes grass production; hence, 90 days harvesting stage and lower level of seed rate (5 kg/ha) are recommended for better yield and quality traits of Rhodes grass. تفاصيل المقالة

This study was aimed to study the effects of cutting interval on yield, morphological and quality traits of three grass species under irrigation conditions in Mecha district, Ethiopia. There were three kinds of grasses namely Para (Brachiaria mutica Stapf.), Napier (Pennisetum purpureum), and Desho (Pennisetum pedicellatum) at three cutting days (60, 90,120). The experimental design was random complete block design with three replications giving a total of nine plots. The grasses were first harvested after 60 days of regrowth; second and third harvests were done after consecutive 30 days of re-growth. Data collected for plant height, tillers number, leaves number per plant and leaf to stem ratio (LSR), dry matter (DM) yield and quality traits as ash content, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). All harvested data were laid open to GLM ANOVA procedures of SAS version 9.0. Result showed, harvesting age was significantly affected all the traits except LSR in three grasses. DM yield, plant height, tillers number and the number of leaves per plant ADF, NDF ADL were increased with increasing harvesting age, whereas ash content and CP decreased. It was concluded that Napier grass produces a higher forage yield among the three grasses and longer harvesting days interval result in increased forage DM yield and decrease the CP content in all the studied grasses. At 120 days Napier grass recorded the highest DM yield (16 t/ha). Further research is needed to be conducted over much longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture. تفاصيل المقالة