Effect of plant spacing and nitrogen fertilizer levels on the growth, dry-matter yield and nutritive quality of Columbus grass (Sorghum almum stapf) in southwest Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted in 2006 and 2007 to determine the agronomic performance and nutritive value of Sorghum almum for introduction in the derived savannah area of Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in a 2×4 factorial design with 2 plant spacings (0·5×0·5m and 1·0×1·0m) and 4 nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels (0, 60, 120 and 180kgNha-1). Plant height, tiller number, leaf proportion, biomass yield and nutritive value of the herbage were evaluated as part of the search for alternatives (especially drought tolerant) to local forages for dry season feeding of ruminants. Herbage yield data were tested for linear, quadratic and cubic trends to identify the optimal fertilizer levels for both spacings. Spacing×N interactions (P<0·05) were observed for plant height and tiller number in both years. Agronomic performance was marginally better in 2007 compared with 2006. The maximum dry-matter (DM) yield of 3500 and 3740kgha-1 for the more dense row spacing (0·5×0·5m) was achieved at N fertilizer levels of 144 and 149kgNha-1 for 2006 and 2007 respectively. For the less dense (1·0×1·0m) row spacing, the maximum DM yield of 3020 and 3240kgha-1 was achieved at 51 and 97kgNha-1 for 2006 and 2007 respectively. The crude protein content of the grass ranged from 61 to 89gkg-1DM, while the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content ranged from 700 to 734gkg-1DM. The ability of S. almum to persist into the second year in this region is seen as a promising index as persistence is one of the characteristics of a good forage plant. Considering the exorbitant price of N fertilizer, less dense row spacing with N fertilizer rate in the range of 50-100kgNha-1 is hereby recommended for this region. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.