Effect of Days to Harvest Plant on Growth, Yield and Chemical Composition of Napier Grass (Pennisetum prupureum. Schumach) As A source of Forage

The study was conducted at Soba Agricultural Scheme, Jabal Awlia locality, Khartoum. It aimed to investigate the effect of days of harvest on the growth and yield attributes of Napier grass and its organic chemical components. The treatments were laid in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Three treatments (90, 105, and 120 days ) days of harvest. Growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant and stem thickness, yield attributes (fresh and dry matter) and organic matter components were measured at any cutting period. The data were analyzed using SAS statistical software and mean separation was carried out using Duncan's multiple range tests. The study revealed that the growth parameters were not significantly affected by days of harvest, while the yield parameters were affected significantly by the cutting age. Cutting age 120 days produced the highest biomass yield 65.63 tons/ha fresh weight and 9.79 tons/ha dry matter. Organic matter components of Napier grass forage were significantly different on the different days to harvest, except crude protein. The study concluded that the cutting periods affected significantly yield parameters and organic matter components of napeir grass forage.