EFFECT OF VETCH INTERCROPPING AND HARVESTING STAGE ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, DRY MATTER YIELD, AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF DESHO GRASS (Pennisetum glaucifolium)

This study was conducted at Haramaya University ‘Rare’ research site to evaluate morphological characteristics, dry matter yield, and chemical composition of Desho grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium) as affected by vetch intercropping and harvesting stage. The experiment was arranged in a 3*3 factorial using a Randomized complete block design (RCBD). The treatments comprise sole Vetch, Desho*Vetch intercrop, and sole Desho grass and three harvesting stages (60, 90, and 120 days after planting). Planting was done by using root splits of Desho grass and seed for Vetch at the recommended rate. Data on different parameters (survival rate (SR), plant height (PH), basal circumference (BC), number of leaves per tiller (NLPT), number of leaves per plant (NLPP), number of tillers per plant (NTPP), leaf length per plant (LL), number of nodes per plant (NPP), internode length per plant (INLPP), leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), and fresh biomass weight (FBMwt)) were recorded and analyzed. And also data on chemical composition (dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), Ash, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose (HC), and cellulose (CL) contents), were recorded and analyzed. The DMYt.ha-1 and crude protein yield (CPY) were also calculated using recommended formulas. Soil samples were collected and analyzed before planting and after harvest. Chemical composition analysis was conducted at Haramaya University Animal Nutrition Laboratory. Data analysis was carried out using the GLM procedures of SAS version 9.4 software. The result revealed that the interaction of harvesting stage and Vetch intercropping had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the morphological characteristics (except NLPT, BC, and LSR), and chemical compositions (except DM, Ash, and HC %) of Desho grass. The intercropping of Desho grass with Vetch resulted in significantly (p < 0.001) higher DMY, CP, and CPY than sole Desho grass. The levels of NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose, and hemicellulose were significantly (p < 0.001) increased with increased advancing harvesting stage. The CP % was higher in the early harvesting (60 days) and Vetch intercropping than in late harvesting (120 days) and sole Desho grass. However, DMY (t.ha-1) was increased with increasing harvesting stage and intercropping. Thus, intercropping Desho grass with Vetch is preferable to maximize yield and CP content in the study area. Therefore, further study on comparison of intercropping of Desho grass with Vetch and other legumes forage at different seasons, locations, and over the years including In-Sacco, and In-vitro dry matter (IVDM) digestibility using a feeding trial of the animals would be crucial.