Productivity and Quality of Pakchong-1 Hybrid Grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum) at Different Harvesting Ages and Fertilizer Levels

Abstract

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objectives:&lt;/b&gt; The main feed for ruminants is forage, therefore it is necessary to need forage with high productivity and high nutritional content. One type of forage with very high productivity and high nutritional content is Pakchong grass 1. This study aims to determine the productivity of Pakchong 1 grass at different harvesting ages and levels of fertilizer. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This study was carried out at the Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung. This research method was experimental with a completely randomized design with a 4×3 factorial pattern, with 3 replications. The first factor is harvesting age that consisting of 4 levels each: P&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; = 40 days, P&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; = 50 days, P&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; = 60 days and P&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; = 70 days. The second factor was the level of fertilizer use from the three treatments, each: J&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; = Low dose (consisting of 50 kg urea ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;, 25 kg TSP ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; and 25 kg KCl ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;), J&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; = Moderate dose (consisting of 100 kg urea ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;, 50 kg TSP ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; and 50 kg KCl ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;), J&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; = High dose (consisting of 200 kg urea ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;, 100 kg TSP ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; and 100 kg KCL ha&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;). Based on ANOVA, it showed that there was no significant interaction between the treatment on all parameters (p>0.05). &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The treatment of harvesting age also significantly affected the grass stem leaf ratio (p<0.05). Crude protein content and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were also affected by the age of the cut (p<0.05). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; It was observed that there was no interaction between a dose of fertilizer and harvesting age on all parameters. There was no significant also on dose fertilizer treatment. Meanwhile, significant results on harvesting age on the parameter of biomass production, leaf-stem ratio, crude protein content and NDF content.

Keywords: Pakchong-1; animal feed; biomass; harvesting age; nutrient; productivity; quality.