2022, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part C

The study was conducted to assess the effect of NPS fertilizer and harvesting stage on the morphological character and yield performance of Brachiaria grass at Wondogenet, Southern Ethiopia. Five levels of NPS (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/ha) and that of the four harvesting stages (45, 60, 75, and 90 days) after total clearing were used as experimental factors. The experiment was conducted in a 5x4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Data on the agronomic and yield performance of the grass were collected at each harvesting stage and subjected to a general linear model for the statistical analysis system. Results showed that except plant height, all morphological parameters and total dry matter yield of the grass were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by interactions of NPS fertilizer and harvesting stage. Except for leaf to stem ratio, which was increased with increasing NPS fertilizer level but decreased with the extended harvesting stage, all agronomic parameters and total dry matter yield were significantly increased with increasing NPS fertilizer level and extended harvesting stage. The total dry matter yield obtained at 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer application combined with 90 days of the harvest was statistically similar to the yield recorded for 200 kg/ha NPS application at 90 days of harvest but higher than the other. Based on the finding of this research, it can be concluded that utilization of 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer level combined with 90 days of harvest could be used in the cultivation of Brachiaria grass to achieve higher dry matter yield in the study area and similar agro ecology. Further investigation is needed relating to harvesting frequency, the chemical composition of the grass, and the economic feasibility of the experiment to confirm the present finding.