Effects of increasing levels of cow dung application associated with spraying of Light Matrix Organic (probiotic) on the forage production of Tripsacum laxum

Abstract

Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum) originating from Tropical America was introduced to Cameroon as an attempt to solve the problem of low forage availability during the dry season. Tripsacum laxum forage production under cow dung fertilization associated with the probiotic Light Matrix Organic (LMO) was evaluated at Bambui, North-West Cameroon. The study was carried out during the raining season (July-November) 2011 in plots established in 2010 using a factorial design with 4 cow dung application levels (0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 t/ha) each with or without LMO (10ml/l water). Growth was evaluated monthly while forage yield and nutritive value evaluation were done after 120 days of regrowth. The results showed that cow dung application appeared to have an ameliorating effect on the growth and fresh yield while the association of cow dung with LMO improved the dry matter yield and nutritive value of the forage. The cow dung application level of 15t/ha associated with LMO recorded the best output in terms of productivity (5.2 ±0.6 DM t/ha) and nutritive value (9% DM Crude Protein).

Keywords: Tripsacum laxum, organic fertilization, growth, productivity, nutritive value, cow dung, probiotic

JOURNAL OF THE CAMEROON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Vol. 11 No. 1 (2013)