Influence of soil pH and fertilization on the dry matter production, chemical composition and digestibility of perennial grasses: II: Panicum maximum Jacq.

Abstract

Reports the results of a study conducted to evaluate the influence of soil pH and fertilization on the dry matter production, chemical composition and organic matter digestibility of Panicum maximum; The influence of soil pH and fertilization (N, P and Zn) on the dry matter (DM) production, chemical composition (crude protein, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn content) and organic matter (OM) digestibility of Panicum maximum Jacq. was evaluated in pots. Panicum maximum grew best in a neutral (pH 6,5 in water) to a slightly alkaline (pH 7,5 in water) soil medium. Soil acidity (pH 4,5 in water) adversely affected DM yield as well as the crude protein (CP), P, Ca and Zn content of the above ground phytomass. Fertilization invariably increased DM production, CP content, Zn content and OM digestibility.

Keywords: Chemical composition; crude protein; Digestibility; dm yield; Dry matter production; Fertilization; grasses; k; n; organic matter; Panicum maximum; perennial grass; Perennial grasses; ph; Phytomass; phytomass production; soil acidity; Soil culture; Soil pH; yield; zn

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.