Evaluation of Brachiaria Grass Varieties for their Agronomic Performance in Midland Areas of East Guji Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

It is referred that the evaluation of Brachiaria grass may be adaptable in drought areas, with good animal feed. The study was conducted with the objective of identifying adaptability, high survival rate, and dry matter yield of Brachiaria grass. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Four Brachiaria Brachiaria mutica Dzf No 18659 (Dzf 483), Brachiaria Decumbens Dzf No 194, Brachiaria mutica 6964 (Dzf No 484), and Brachiaria mulato were evaluated. The result revealed that plot cover, fresh biomass, dry matter yield, and plant height were highly significantly (P<0.001) different among the treatments. The highest value of plant height (170 cm) was measured from the Brachiaria mutica 6964 Dzf No 484 cultivar, followed by the Brachiaria mutica Dzf No 18659 (Dzf 483) cultivar (160 cm), while the shortest (90 cm) plant height was recorded from the Decumbens Dzf No 194 cultivar. The highest dry matter yield (11.95 t/ha) was obtained from the Brachiaria mutica 6964 Dzf No. 484 cultivar, followed by the Brachiaria mutica Dzf No. 18659 (Dzf 483 cultivar) with 11.82 t/ha. The highest survival rate (95.5%) was measured from the Brachiaria mutica Dzf No. 18659 (Dzf 483) cultivar, followed by the Brachiaria mutica 6964 Dzf No. 484 cultivar (87%). The result implies that Brachiaria mutica Dzf No 18659 (Dzf 483) and Brachiaria mutica 6964 (Dzf No 484) were well performed in agronomic parameters. Thus, it could be possible to conclude that the Brachiaria grass should be recommended for improving the constraint of feed shortage in midland agro-ecologies of the Guji zone and similar areas.

Keyswords: Brachiaria; Midland; Cultivars; Agronomic performance

Introduction

Livestock sector is expected to contribute around 19% to Ethiopia's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 45% to the agricultural GDP [1]. It contributes to the livelihoods of 60-70% of the Ethiopian population. Moreover, it ensures the availability of food, creates jobs, transportation and income to the farming community, serve as a source of agricultural inputs such as draft power and organic fertilizer as a direct contribution for crop production [2]. One of the reasons for low productivity of the livestock sector in Ethiopia is shortage of feed and low quality of available feeds, particularly in the dry seasons. Ethiopia experiences chronic shortages of both the quantity and quality of animal feed [3]. Traditional reliance on natural pastures is unsustainable due to land degradation, overgrazing, and conversion of grazing lands to cropland [4]. The quality of available feed (crop residues, poor-quality forages) is often low in nutrients, affecting animal health and productivity. Adoption of improved, high-yielding forage species is limited, hindering the potential to increase feed availability and quality [5]. Inefficient harvesting, storage, and utilization of feed resources lead to significant losses and reduced feed quality. Lack of awareness on proper feeding practices further limits productivity. In the Guji Zone, livestock constraints regarding forage include limited grazing land due to competition with crop production, insufficient forage availability, and a lack of improved forage varieties [6]. Additionally, traditional management practices and inadequate adoption of improved livestock technologies contribute to the problem. Brachiaria grass is one of the tropical and sub-tropical region suitable forage in Africa [7]. Evaluation and adaptation of Brachiaria grass for pasture improvement as early in Africa. But, its use for improvement is very recent. Brachiaria grass, tropical forage, has a history in Ethiopia that includes its role as a native grass and a recognized forage crop for livestock [8]. It's been reported that Brachiaria lata is a palatable grass in Ethiopia's rangelands. They were evaluated in multiple locations involving farmers and four superior cultivars were identified for ruminant feeding. The cultivars have been integrated into mixed crop-livestock farming system; and the significant benefits of Brachiaria grass on livestock productivity (milk and meat production) documented. Livestock production in the midland areas of East Guji, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia, is significantly constrained by feed shortages [9]. Brachiaria grasses offer considerable potential for improving livestock feed resources. To improve availability of livestock feed in terms of quantity and quality, it is better to cultivate bracharia grass forage that have better dry matter yield and nutritional quality. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate performance of Bracharia grass cultivars and select best adaptable, higher dry matter yield among four cultivars under midland areas of Guji zone.

Materials and Methods

Description of the Study Area

The experiment was carried out at Adola sub-site of Bore Agricultural Research Center (BoARC), Adola Dostrict, Guji Zone of Oromia. Adola dstrict islocated around at a distance of 470 km from Addis Ababa and 120 km from the zonal capital city, Negele Borena. It is an area where a mixed farming and sami-nomadic economic activity takes places, which has the major livelihood of the local people. The total area of district is 1254.56 km2. The district is situated at 5o44'10''- 6o12'38''N latitudes and38o34'10''- 39o12'37''E longitudes. The district is characterized by three agro-climatic zones, namely highland 11%, midland 29% and lowland 60% respectively. The major soil type of the dstricts is nitosol (red basaltic soil) and orthic Acrosols [10].

Experimental Treatments and Design

The experiment was conducted at Bore Agricultural Research center during 2019 and 2020 cropping season. Four Brachiaria grass cultivars (Brachiaria mutica Dzf No 18659 (Dzf 483)), Brachiaria decumbence Dzf No 194, Brachiaria mutica 6964 Dzf No 484, and Brachiaria mulato) roots were brought from Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debrezeite Agricultural Research Center (DZAC) and Oromia Agricultural Research, Mechara Agricultural Research Center (McARC) in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The prepared experimental land was divided into three blocks which totally contain about 12 plots with each plot size area 7.5 m2. The Brachiaria cultivars were spitted on plot size 2.5m length m x 3m width within space between rows and plants were 50 cm, 20cm and 1m between plots and replication respectively. Inorganic fertilizer of 100kg/ha of NPS and 50Kg/ha of urea were applied during the establishment.

Data Collection

All data on morphological parameters and dry matter yield of forage were like plants height, fresh biomass, dry matter yield, leaf to steam ratio, survive rate, plot cover and vigor were recorded.

Plant survival rate was calculated as the ratio of the number of alive plants per plot to the total number of plants planted per plot and then multiplied by 100 [11].

Plant height: Plant height was measured on the primary bud from the soil surface to the base of the top-most leaf using a meter designated by [12]. It was based on five plants was randomly selected in each plot, measured using a steel tape from the ground level to the highest leaf. For determination of biomass yield, genotypes were cutting at 5-10cm from the ground level from two central rows [13].

Vigor and plot cover: These were measured on plot basis using (1-9) rate scale and converted into percentages. The 1-9 scales are described is a common type of visual assessment scale. The values are subjective and rely on an observer's interpretation.

Dry matter yield (DMY): After harvesting the middle four rows, the total biomass yield was determined using sensetive balance from each plot at each harvesting date. The dry matter yield (DMY) was determined at the end of every harvesting day. Based on fresh biomass yield from the sample area of each plot were used to calculate total dry matter yields for each plot, thereafter, converted to metric tons per hectare [14]. The harvested fresh sample was measured right in field by sensitive weight balance and 300g subsample per plot was brought to Bore Agricultural Research Center and sampled sample was placed to oven dried for 72 hours at a temperature of 65co for dry matter determination.

Then dry matter yield (t/ha) was calculated by [15] formula:

The dry matter yield (t/ha) = TFW × (DWss /HA × FWss) ×10

Where TFW = total fresh weight kg/plot,

DWss = dry weight of subsample in grams,

FWss = fresh weight of subsample in grams,

HA = Harvest plot area in square meters and 10 is a constant for conversion of yields in kg/m2 to t/ha.

Leaf to stem ratio (LSR) - leaf to stem ratio of crops was determined at the optimum harvesting stage by taking 200g samples from each plot, partitioning into leaves and stems by manually. Each sample of leaf and stem was dried in the oven dry at 105C0 for 24 hours, and then, the leaf: stem ratio was estimated by dividing leaf dry weight by stem dry weight. The leaf-to-stem ratio was calculated by applying the following formula [16]:

LSR = Dry weight of leaves (g)

Dry weight of stem (g)

Statistical Analysis

All collected data were analyzed using the general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS 2002) version 9.1. Mean were separated using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% significant level. The statistical model for the analysis data was: Yijk= μ + Aj + Bi + eijk

Where; Yijk= response of variable under examination, μ = overall mean,

Aj = the jth factor effect of treatment/cultivar,

Bi = the ith factor effect of block/ replication and

eijk = the random error.

Results & Discussion

Agronomic Performance of Brachiaria Grass

Number of Plant Survival: The performances of Bracharia grass cultivar were shown in Table 1. The result indicated that the tested cultivars were varied non-significantly (p>0.05) on survive rate percentages. Numerically the highest survive rate percentages were recorded from Brachiaria mutica Dzf No 18659 (Dzf 483) (95.5%) followed by Bracharia mulato (82.5%) cultivars. The lowest survive rate percentage was recorded from Brachiaria Decumbens Dzf No 194 (70.3%).

    

    

    Table 1: Over all mean agronomic performance of Brachiaria grass cultivars in Midland agro-ecologies of areas.
    

    

    

    Figure 1: Map of study area. Source: Own computational GIS data.
    

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Citation:Bekele K, Jabessa T, Tesfaye G. Evaluation of Brachiaria Grass Varieties for their Agronomic Performance in Midland Areas of East Guji Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia. Austin J Plant Biol. 2025; 11(2): 1063.

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