Production characteristics of red napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. red) on different combination of soil and vermicompost as planting media

¹ Doctoral Degree Student of Animal Science Faculty, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia 65145
² Bachelor Degree of Animal Science Faculty, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia 65145
³ Lecturer in the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia 65145

^* Corresponding author: ifars@ub.ac.id

Abstract

This study aimed at measuring production characteristics of Red Napier grass grown on planting media comprising different combinations of soil and vermicompost. The experiment was executed in greenhouse following completely randomized design with 5 treatments i.e. T0: 100% soil (control), T1: 75% soil + 25% vermicompost, T2: 50% soil + 50% vermicompost, T3: 25% soil + 75% vermicompost and T4: 100% vermicompost. Each treatment was replicated 5 times. The soil and vermicompost proportion were from 20 kg total planting media filled in polybags on which the grass stem cuttings were planted. Harvest was done 90 days after planting. Collected data were subjected to analysis of variance and least significant difference test. The results showed that treatments did not significantly affect (P>0.05) plant height, but significantly affect (P<0.05) leaf to stem ratio and very significantly affect (P<0.01) number of tillers, number of leaves, and nutrient production of stem, leaf and herbage. Highest production of dry matter was obtained at the treatment of T3.