African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6894

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of harvesting stage on yield and nutritive value of antelope grass (Echinochloa pyramidalis) hay under natural pasture in Nuer Zone of Gambella, Ethiopia

Yien Deng Pathot
  • Yien Deng Pathot
  • Abobo Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Gambella, Ethiopia.
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Woldegebriel Tesfamariam Berhanu
  • Woldegebriel Tesfamariam Berhanu
  • Pastoral, Agro Pastoral and Special Support Requiring Region Research and Capacity Building, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P. O. Box, 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 12 November 2022
  •  Accepted: 24 February 2023
  •  Published: 30 April 2023

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate and identify the appropriate harvesting stage of growth and quality of antelopegrass (Echinochloa pyramidalis) hay under natural pasture. DM%, fresh biomass yield (FBY), dry matter yield (DMY) and gross energy (GE) were determined. The main analysis such as ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen (N) contents were analyzed. The result showed that FBY, DMY and total nitrogen were affected significantly (p<0.05) by maturity stage of the grass. In contrast, GE of antelope grass hay was not significantly (>0.05) affected by maturity stage of pasture. FBY and total N were decreased with increased maturity stage, while DMY was increased with pasture age. The highest CP% was obtained at booting stage, while the lowest CP was obtained from the dough stage of growth which is significantly (p<0.05) decreased as forage mature. The means for DMY of antelope grass hay under natural pasture was 21.12 t DM/ha. The average crude protein content of antelope grass for this study was 12.56%. Generally, harvesting stages were significantly affected dry matter and CP content.

Key words: Echinochloa pyramidalis, hay, pasture, yield, nutritive value, antelope grass, harvesting stage, Nuer Zone.