The Effects of Manure Applications on Yields and Protein Content of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Pakchong 1) in Organic Farming System

Abstract

The research was conducted to investigate the effect of the yields and protein content responses of Napier grass Pakchong 1 (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Pakchong 1) to four organic fertilizer treatments and three cutting dates of grass. The field trial was laid out in a factorial experiment in RCBD with 4 replications. The first factor was 4 manure applications including; T1) non-fertilizer (control) T2) composted cow manure at 680 kg/rai (CCM) T3) composted cow manure at 680 kg/rai combined with foliar application of pig manure tea (1: 100 v/v) at 100 liters/rai for 2 times (CCM+PMT) T4) composted cow manure at 680 kg/rai combined with cow sewage 1,000 liters/rai for 2 times (CCM+CS). The second factor was 3 cutting intervals of 45, 60, and 75 days. The results indicated that there was no interaction between the manure applications and cutting date on the yield of Napier grass Pakchong 1 (P≥0.05).  But the results indicated that the total fresh yields of T4 (CCM+CS), T3 (CCM+PMT), and T2 (CCM) were higher than that applied with T1 (control). In addition, the total fresh yield of Napier grass significantly increased (P<0.01) with an increase in cutting dates.  Therefore, the suitable age of harvesting the grass for animal feed was 45 days, as the 45-days grass had the highest protein content (P<0.01)