TOLERA FIKADU*, WUBISHET TESFAYE, WORKU BEKUMA AND MELESE FURGASA
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Fedis Agricultural Research Center, Harar, Ethiopia
*(e-mail : tolerafekadu7@gmail.com)
(Received : 9 February 2022; Accepted : 30 March 2022)
SUMMARY
The experiment was undertaken at midlands and highland agro-ecologyies of East Hararghe zone. The aim of the research was to determine the forage dry matter yield and quality of four lines of Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) to select promising lines for wider use among livestock producer communities. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was used. The combined analysis revealed that, the agronomic performance of ground cover, plant height, dry matter yield in ton per hectare and dry matter leaf to stem ratio were not differ significantly (P>0.05) between four Desho grass lines at midland agro ecology while plant height, dry matter yield in ton per hectare and dry matter leaf to stem ratio were not differ significantly (P>0.05). Tiller number per plant was the only parameter which was significantly different at both agro ecologies. Combined data analysis also revealed that forage nutritional quality significantly varied among the desho grass lines. Even though, the dry matter yield in ton per hectare was not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the desho grass lines, large amount of dry matter yield in ton per hectare of 25.43- 28.72 and 24.51-25.06 t/ha was produced at mid and highland agroecology, respectively. Therefore, all lines of Desho grasses were well adapted and performed good under midland and highland condition of east Hararghe zone and in similar environments/agro ecologies. Thus, these Desho grass lines should be further demonstrated and scaled-up at midland and highland agro ecologies and similar agro-ecologies of Hararghe areas.
Key words: Desho grass, dry matter yield, leaf to stem ratio, ground cover, plant height, tiller number