NUTRITIVE SCREENING AND FORAGE YIELD OF GUINEA AND HYBRID NAPIER GRASS VARIETIES UNDER DENSE SHADE OF MATURE OIL PALM PLANTATION

Cattle grazing and sparse weed flora due to poor light infiltration in mature oil palm plantations have created a need for the identification of shade tolerant fodder grass varieties. A total of 14 varieties of Guinea grass and four varieties of hybrid Napier were screened for 4 years under dense shade of mature oil palm plantation. Significant differences were observed among the fodder grass varieties evaluated for fodder yield and nutritive quality attributes. Of all the varieties, Sampoorna (24.55 t/ha), CO-4 (22.52 t/ha) and KKM-1 (22.34 t/ha) among hybrid Napier grass and BG-1 (23.12 t/ha), DGG-1 (22.00 t/ha), CO-3 (21.38 t/ha) and Grazing Guinea-1 (20.28 t/ha) among Guinea grass have been identified as promising fodder yielders. Overall, better nutritive levels in fodder quality attributes like crude protein (11.88%), crude fat (2.15%), neutral detergent fibre (66.75%), acid detergent fibre (44.37%), lignin (8.91%) and acid insoluble ash (6.00%) were observed in Sampoorna. Because of unique/sturdy growth habit, better adaptation and optimum fodder yield, Sampoorna along with Grazing Guinea-1 can be the most suitable option for a sustainable oil palm-based farming system.