Forage Growth Biomass, Yield, and Quality Responses of Three Varieties Napier at Cutting Intervals in the South West Nigeria

Forage crops are essential for livestock production, particularly in tropical regions like Southwest Nigeria. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), widely known for its high biomass yield and nutritional value, is a popular choice for livestock feed. This study aims to evaluate the growth, biomass yield, and forage quality of three Napier grass varieties (Pakchong-1, CO-3, and Giant Napier) under three different cutting intervals (40 days, 60 days, and 80 days), providing insights for opti­mizing forage management practices. The experiment involved planting the three Napier grass varieties and evaluating their responses to cutting intervals of 40, 60, and 80 days. Key parameters measured included plant height, tiller number per plant, leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), fresh and dry biomass yield, and forage quality indicators such as crude protein, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus content. Data were statistically analysed to de­termine significant differences among the varieties and cutting intervals.The results revealed significant growth and biomass yield differences among the three varieties. Pakchong-1 exhibited the tallest plants, the highest tiller number, and the great­est biomass yield across all cutting intervals. CO-3 maintained a higher LSR, indicating better leaf retention. Biomass yield increased with longer cutting intervals, with Pakchong-1 yielding the highest fresh and dry biomass at 80 days. However, shorter cutting intervals favoured higher crude protein content, which decreased as intervals lengthened. Fibre content (NDF and ADF) increased with longer intervals, reducing digestibility. Pakchong-1 is ideal for maximizing biomass production, particularly at longer cutting intervals, while CO-3 offers advantages in forage quality at shorter intervals. These findings em­phasize the need to select Napier grass varieties and cutting intervals based on specific production goals, providing valuable recommendations for improving livestock productivity and sustainability in tropical regions.