TITLE:
Effects of Different Levels of Fertilization with Hen Droppings on the Production and Chemical Composition of Pennisetum clandestinum (Poaceae)
AUTHORS:
Wauffo David Fokom, Fernand Tendonkeng, Gilles Jiope Azangue, Emile Miégoué, France-Gina Tobou Djoumessi, Nyah Cédric Kwayep, Mama Mouchili
KEYWORDS:
Fertilization, Hen Droppings, Biomass, Chemical Composition, Pennisetum clandestinum
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.11 No.4,
September
1,
2021
ABSTRACT: The use of organic manures, constitute
an alternative to that of polluting artificial fertilizers. In this study, the
effect of various levels of hen droppings fertilization on the production of
biomass, chemical composition and carrying capacity of P. clandestinum were
evaluated at the Research and Experimental Farm (REF) and at the Animal
Nutrition and Feeding Laboratory of the University of Dschang, between
April and September 2016. A completely randomized block design comparing three
nitrogen level of fertilization in hen droppings form (0; 100 and 200 kg N/ha)
on 4 m2 plot of P. clandestinum were used. Each treatment was carried out in
four replications for a total of 12 experimental plots. Then a sample of 500 g
of forage has been collected in the center of each plot, then dried and used
for the evaluation of the biomass and the chemical composition of P. clandestinum, according to the level of fertilization
and the cutting frequency. The results showed that the fertilization with the
hen droppings positively influenced (p tion at the
first cutting frequency and the highest value (47.12 cm) was obtained with of
200 kg N/ha rate of fertilization. The biomass of this fodder increased
significantly (p s with
the increasing cutting of frequency whatever the level of fertilization.
Independently of the fertilization and the cutting frequency, the maximum
biomass (6.22 t DM/ha) was obtained with the first cutting at the 200 kg N/ha
of hen droppings fertilization. The fertilization influenced in variable way
the chemical composition of P. clandestinum. The dry matter and organic matter content
decrease with the level of fertilization and the highest values (83.79% and
89.39% respectively for the DM and OM) were obtained on the control plot at the
third and the first cutting. Moreover, the ash and crude protein contents
increased significantly (p