TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Manure or Fertilizer Application on Height of <I>Sorghum almum </I>Harvested at Different Maturity Stages
AU - , T.P. Lanyasunya AU - , H. Wang Rong AU - , E.A. Mukisira AU - , N.K. Kibitok 
JO  - Agricultural Journal
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
SP  - 82
EP  - 86
PY  - 2007
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-9155
DO  - aj.2007.82.86
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=aj.2007.82.86
KW  - Columbus grass
KW  -smallholder farmers
KW  -manure
KW  -fertilizer
KW  -harvest
KW  -nitrogen
AB  - This study was conducted in Naivasha, Kenya over a period of 15 weeks to determine the effect of manure or fertilizer application on height of Columbus grass (<I>Sorghum almum</I>). After field preparation, representative soil samples were taken for mineral profiling. Sixty plots of 2x2 sq. m size were then demarcated and  further  divided  into  5  similar  units  comprising  of  4  blocks  of 3 plots each. The plots in each block were independently allotted to 3 treatments in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design. Treatments were T<SUB>1</SUB>-control (without  fertilization), T<SUB>2</SUB> and T<SUB>3</SUB> received dry beef cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer, respectively. All the 4 blocks (weed free) in each of the five (randomly distributed) units were planted on the same day. Harvesting was done at 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks in a sequential manner starting with unit 1 to 5. All the blocks in each unit were harvested on the same day (at 5 cm height). Results showed that manure or fertilizer application had significant (p&lt;0.0001; r<SUP>2</SUP> = 0.9769) effect on height of <I>Sorghum almum</I>. ANOVA revealed high effect of cutting interval (p&lt;0.0001) and cutting-treatment interaction (p&lt;0.001). At 6 weeks the mean height in T<SUB>2</SUB> (p&lt;0.01) and T<SUB>3</SUB> (p&lt;0.001) were 12.74 and 19.05% higher than in T<SUB>1</SUB>. At 14 weeks T<SUB>2</SUB> (p&lt;0.01) and T<SUB>3</SUB> (p&lt;0.01) recorded 12.1 and 12.5% higher height than T<SUB>1</SUB>. At the same age however T<SUB>2</SUB> and T<SUB>3</SUB> were not different (p&gt;0.05). The observed increases in the grass height between 6 and 14 weeks represented growth rate of 3.2, 3.6 and 3.5 cm d <SUP>1</SUP> for the 3 treatments respectively. Results further showed that height growth rates in T<SUB>1</SUB>, T<SUB>2</SUB> and T<SUB>3</SUB> were higher between 6 and 10 weeks (3.83, 3.77 and 3.95 cm d <SUP>1</SUP>) compared to that recorded between 10 and 14 weeks (2.58, 3.4 and 3.12 cm d <SUP>1</SUP>). The results also showed that height was strongly correlated with concentration of essential nutrients in the plant tissue. Gauging from the results of this study, availability and the known long-term residual effect, this study concluded that though both manure and fertilizer had significant effect on height, manure would be the best cost effective option for enhancing <I>Sorghum almum</I> growth rate and therefore yield on smallholder farms in Kenya.
ER  -