Yield and nutritive value of hydroponic fodders as influenced by frequency of watering

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effect of frequency of watering on the yield and nutritive value of some selected tropical cereals; Rice (Oryza  sativa), Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) in hydroponic trials. Grains of rice, wheat and maize were purchased from an open market in Ile-Ife and were setup in locally fabricated hydroponic chamber in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), where frequency of watering served as the main treatment and the cereal grains as the block effect. Grains were cleaned, washed, sterilized. The fresh (hydroponic) fodders were  harvested on the eighth day and data were collected on the yield, height and the proximate content of the hydroponic fodders. Proximate contents were determined according to the procedure of AOAC. Data were analyzed using a two – way analysis of variance of the general linear model procedure of SAS. Results obtained indicated that the yield and proximate composition of the hydroponic fodders were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the cereal types and frequency of watering. The study concluded that watering thrice a day improves the yield and the nutritive value  of the selected grains.

Keywords: hydroponic fodder, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, watering frequency