Abstract:
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of planting space and harvesting height on
morphological characteristics, biomass yield and nutritive value of desho grass at Asossa
Agriculture Research Center during 2021 and 2022 cropping season. The experiment was laid out
in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 4 x 3 factorial arrangement with three replications.
The factors of the treatments were four planting space (20, 30, 40 and 50 cm), three harvesting
heights (40, 60 and 80cm). Data on agronomic characteristics, forage yield and chemical
composition were collected at each harvesting height and analyzed using the general linear model
(GLM) procedures of SAS Version (9.4), and Duncan Multiple Range Test (MRT) was used for mean
comparison. Most of the measured parameters showed significant (P<0.05) difference among
planting space and harvesting heights. The mean values of number of tillers per plant, number of
leafs per plant, number of leafs per tillers, number of nodes per plant, leaf length, internode length,
dry matter yield, crude protein yield, digestible dry matter yield, leaf dry matter yield and stem dry
matter yield were significantly increased with increasing plant spacing and increment of harvesting
height. Leaf to stem ratio, crude protein concentration, in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD),
relative feed value and ash content, increased with increasing plant spacing but decreased with
increment of harvesting height. The chemical compositions interms of neutral detergent fiber(NDF),
acid detergent fiber(ADF), and acid detergent lignin(ADL) were increased with increment of
harvesting height and also affected by plant spacing. Based on the finding of this research, it can
be concluded that utilization of 50 cm plant spacing combining with 80 cm height of harvesting
could be used in cultivation of Desho grass to achieve higher at the most agronomic performance,
crude protein yield, Digestible yield. Therefore, livestock keepers and forage producers are advised
to apply a 50 cm plat spacing and harvest at 80cm height of harvesting to get better yield and to be
profitable from the cultivation of Desho grass. Further investigation is needed using different plant
spacing and harvesting height in different agro- ecological zones across years under rain fed and
irrigation condition and using animal performance trials to confirm the present fining.
