Effect of Different Sowing Methods on Growth and Fodder Yield of Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum L.) in Jega Semi-arid Zone of Kebbi State, Nigeria

A study was conducted during the 2016 rainy season at Jega Teaching and Research farm of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology to investigate the effect of sowing methods on the growth parameters, herbage and dry matter (DM) yield of Switch grass (Panicum vargatum) in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Treatment consisted of three sowing methods (broadcasting, dibbling and drilling) which were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times among three blocks. Each plot in each block was measuring, 2 m × 1 m. Seeds of Switch grass were sown manually at the rate of 5.6 kg/ha for all the treatments and NPK fertilizer was applied across the treatments at the rate of 100 kg/ha. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks during which the growth parameters and plant establishment counts were measured while fresh herbage and DM were determined after harvesting at the end of the period. The sowing methods had significant effect (p < 0.05) on the growth parameters and herbage yield. The highest plant height (116.52 cm), leaf width (0.98 cm), leaf length (43.10 cm) and leaf number (9.37) was recorded for dibbling sowing method. Also, the highest fresh herbage (13.70 t/ha) and DM yield (2.33 t/ha) were recorded for dibbling sowing method. However, the mean establishment counts were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the sowing methods. The results suggested that Switch grass can be successfully established in Sudan savanna zone by dibbling sowing methods for good growth performance, herbage and DM yield.