Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of spacing (60cm X 60cm,
60cm X 90 cm) on yield, growth parameters viz. fourth leaf length, fourth
leaf width, plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of tillers per
plant and nutritive values viz. crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral
detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ash content of CO-3
fodder grass during May-July 2013 at Regional Agricultural Research and
Development Centre, Killinochchi, Sri Lanka. The experiment was
conducted using complete randomized block design with four replicates.
Fresh matter yield at 60 days after harvesting was not influenced by spacing.
All growth parameters showed significant increase with two weeks interval
up to 60 days. Crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber
(NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ash content were not significantly
influenced by the plant spacing used in this experiment. Results concluded
that spacing could be increased (60cm x 90cm) than recommended spacing
(60cm x 60cm) without significantly affecting yield and nutrient composition
of CO-3 in the dry zone of Sri Lanka.
