Biomass yield and nutritive quality of four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum as influenced by three cutting intervals in the humid zone of Nigeria

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cutting intervals on dry matter (DM) yield, yield components and nutrient contents four varieties Pennisetum purpureum. Varieties experimented include: Local green, purple, S13 S15. These were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. All P. purpureum cut at 4, 8 12 weeks after cutback (WAC) represent first, second third respectively. Results showed that grasses significantly decreased from first intervals. Variety S15 recorded higher (P < 0.05) (13.26 t ha-1) interval. had leaf proportion (89) interval tiller density (137.00 tiller-1 m2) (than other varieties). Cutting significant crude protein (CP) content which for In contrast, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) acid (ADF) increased all varieties. The CP different within levels recommended optimum animal performance.