EFFECT OF COW DUNG ON THE GROWTH, FORAGE YIELD OF TWO VARIETIES OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench.) IN EKPOMA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the cropping season of 2023 to study the effect of cow dung on the growth and forage yield of two varieties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Two sorghum varieties (MLSH 151 and Samaru Local Red) were fertilized with cow dung at the rates of 0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha. The experiment was a 2x4 factorial scheme fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data collected included plant height (cm)., number of leaves/plant, number of tillers/plant, total leaf area/plant (cm), stem girth (cm), forage and dry matter yield. All data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability and means separated using Duncan's Multiple Ranged Test. The vegetative traits measured were significantly influenced by the applied cow dung: except for number of leaves/plant. Samaru local red fertilized at 15t/ha had the highest plant height (168.80cm) and number of tillers/plant (1.69cm) while the unfertilized MLSH 151 had the least values of117.60cm and 0.81, respectively. The highest total leaf area (48826.6l cm²) and stem girth (3.47cm) values were recorded in crops that received 10tha while control had the least values of 29631 .54cm and 2.05cm, respectively. Samaru- Local Red variety of sorghum had higher vegetative characters measured than MLSH 151. The application of cow dung had significant effect on the forage and dry matter yields of sorghum. Forage and dry matter yields of sorghum significantly increased with increasing rates of cow dung application up to 10t/ha and declined thereafter at the highest rate. However, Samaru-Local Red fertilized at 10t/ha PM and unfertilized MLSH 151 recorded the highest (63.97t/ha and 14.46t/ha) and least (14.99t/ha and 7.92t/ha) forage and dry matter yields, respectively. Generally, Samaru-Local Red applied 10t/ha of cow dung is the better variety for forage production for the nutrition of ever increasing ruminant livestock population in this locality.