EFFECTS OF FARMYARD MANURE AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON DRY MATTER PRODUCTION OF TWO GRASSES

M.A. MOHD.NAJIB and A.W.HASSAN

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of different rates of farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on the dry matter production and chemical composition of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Napier grass( Pennisetum purpureum) on Serdang series( Typic Paleudult) soil.The applications of 200 kg N, 40 kg P, 80 kg K and 20 t farmyard manure per hectare result in the highest dry matter yields of both grasses. Percentage crude fibre and ether extract, and gross energy in the herbage dry matter were not affected by the various treatments imposed. The applications of farmyard manure, either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers, remarkably increased the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn in the plant tissue of both grasses. Soil pH increased and stabilized when farmyard manure was applied to the Serdang series soil during the three-year period of investigation.

Full Text (471 KB)