Comparative Evaluation of Selected Grass Species for Agronomic Performance, Forage Yield, and Chemical Composition in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Table 1

Effect of harvesting stage and improved grass species on morphological characteristics and dry matter yield.

Factors		Parameter
HD	SP	NPS	PH (cm)	NTPP	NLPP	LL (cm)	LW (cm)	LSR (kg)	NNPP	DMY (t/ha)
60	Desho	45^a	38.3^b	16^ab	110.75^ab	23^b	1.045^b	1.36^a	3^b	1.79^a
	Brachiaria	42.75^a	57.25^a	21 ^a	143.5^a	15.6^c	1.2225^b	1.05^a	6.25^a	1.87^a
	Napier	43^a	47.05^ab	10.25^b	69^b	45.03^a	2.1275^a	3.4^a	0^c	2.8^a
90	Desho	43.25^a	42.83^c	45.70^a	389.8^a	21.5^b	1.2550^b	0.81^b	6.025^b	5.3^a
	Brachiaria	43.75^a	117.8^a	36.45^a	412.9^a	20.6^b	1.4975^b	0.3^c	9.025^a	10.7^a
	Napier	39.25^b	77.1^b	16^b	145^b	60.3^a	2.4275^a	2.6^a	0^c	7.97^a
120	Desho	45.3^a	55.4^c	77.65^a	854.87^a	26.2^b	1.2^c	1.03^ab	7.3^b	8.6^b
	Brachiaria	40^ab	170.7^a	61^b	894.5^a	23.2^b	1.8^b	0.41^b	14.68^a	22.8^a
	Napier	37.8^b	137.6^b	17^c	197.76^b	82.6^a	2.99^a	1.6^a	4.96^b	18.57^a
	Overall mean	42.2	82.7	33.46	357.55	35.3	1.7	1.4	5.7	8.9
	SE	0.62	7.79	3.854	51.77	3.6698	0.1074	0.21	0.76	1.3
	CV	7.6	25.82	34.19	42.275	21.84	10.759	67.2	30.4	50.06
—	HD	Ns
Value	60	43.58^a	47.533^c	15.75^c	107.75^c	27.87^b	1.465^c	1.94^a	3.08^c	2.16^c
	90	42.08^a	79.233^b	32.72^b	316^b	34.1^b	1.73^b	1.25^ab	5.02^b	8^b
	120	41^a	121.3^a	51.91^a	649^a	44^a	1.99^a	1^b	8.98^a	16.65^a
	SPP
	Desho	44.5^a	45.5^c	46.45^a	451.799^a	23.516^b	1.1658^c	1.067^b	5.4^b	5.24^b
	Brachiaria	42.2^ab	115.2^a	39.48^a	483.614^a	19.783^b	1.5025^b	0.58^b	10^a	11.8^a
	Napier	40^b	87.25^b	14.45^b	137.245^b	62.64^a	2.513^a	2.5^a	1.65^c	9.8^a
	HD×SPP

, , , NPS = number of plants survived, HD = harvesting date, SP = grass species, PH = plant height, NTPP = number of tillers per plant, NLPP = number of leaves per plant, LLPP = leaf length per plant, LW = leaf width, LSR = leaf-to-stem ratio, NNPP = number of nodes per plant, DMY = dry matter yield ton per hectare, SE = standard error, and CV = coefficient of variation. ^a,b,cindicate significant differences of values for each parameter in a column at 60, 90, and 120 days of harvest of grass species.