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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2009 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 8 | Page No.: 1240-1243
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2009.1240.1243
Effects of Plant Spacing on Yields and Nutritive Values of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) Under Intensive Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Irrigation
Sumran Wijitphan, Pornchai Lorwilai and Chutipong Arkaseang

Abstract: There was a significant effect of plant spacing on total dry matter yield among 50 x 40, 50 x 40, 50 x 40 and 50 x 100 cm plant spacing of Napier Grass. The highest total dry matter yield of 70.84 t ha-1 was obtained from 50 x 40 planting configuration. There was significant effect of plant spacing on dry matter production of the grass from 8 harvests. In a 50 x 40 planting configuration, the range of dry matter production from 11 harvests was 2.6-10.19 t ha-1. Plant spacing did not have significant (p>0.05) effect on Crude Protein (CP), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) but Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) was significantly affected (p<0.01) by plant spacing. The ranges of CP, ADF, NDF and DMD under different planting configurations were 13.2-13.9, 41.5-43, 66.9-68.2 and 74.7-75.5%, respectively. Intensive management of Napier Grass pasture may help to overcome the problem of shortage and low quality of feed supply during the dry season.

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How to cite this article
Sumran Wijitphan, Pornchai Lorwilai and Chutipong Arkaseang, 2009. Effects of Plant Spacing on Yields and Nutritive Values of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) Under Intensive Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Irrigation. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8: 1240-1243.

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