Effect of Seed Rate and Stage of Cutting on Growth, Yield and Quality of Forage Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. L) at Soba, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

The study was conducted at the experimental farm of the College of Forestry and Range Science, in Soba, Khartoum State which was located between longitude 32º 52ʹ98ʺ E and latitude 15º 60ʹ 40ʺ N. The study aimed at identifying the effect of seed rate and growth stages on growth, yield and nutritive value of guar forage. Treatments were three seed rates, S1, S2 and S3 (1.2, 2.4 and 3.6kg/ha) and three stages of cuttings, flowering, pod and maturity stages. Treatments were laid on a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicates. Growth parameter measurements were taken every 15 days during the course of the experiment, while the production parameter readings were taken three times at the three stages, flowering, pod and maturity stage. The data were statistically analyzed using the SAS software program. The study found that stem diameter decreased with increased seed rate. There was a significant difference between the growth stage in terms of dry matter yield, where the seed stage recorded the highest dry matter compared to the flowering and pod stages. The study concluded that seed rate and growth stages had affected both growth parameters and dry matter yield of guar. Increased seed rate will result in high quality fodder and high forage production for livestock feeding.