Effect of Goat Manure and Harvesting Age on Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Hydroponic Wheatgrass Fodder
Effect of Goat Manure and Harvesting Age on Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Hydroponic Wheatgrass Fodder
Rukayat Omolara Folarin1,2, Nurhadirah Hairil1, Nurafiqah Anis Ismail1, Putri Athirah Zamrifana1, Lina Nadhirah Abdullah1, Muhammad Afiq Zabhin1, Ariff Imran Alkaf1, Farrah Izzuanie Zainudin1, Hanisah Basir1, Asmad Kari1, Enike Dwi Kusumawati3, I Wayan Karyasa4 and Connie Fay Komilus1*
ABSTRACT
Hydroponic wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum Linn) production is an alternative to conventional planting, providing a constant supply of green fodder for livestock year-round. It involves growing plants without soil in water or a nutrient-rich solution in a greenhouse. All parts of the hydroponic fodder (leaves, stems, roots, and grain) are fed to livestock by the farmers. This experiment aimed to identify the effect of goat manure liquid fertilizer on growth performance, production yield and proximate composition of all four parts of wheatgrass, including the appropriate day of harvesting. This study used a complete randomised design (CRD) with four treatments in triplicates. Four treatment levels were control (C) without goat manurer; Treatment 1 (T1): 100 gof goat manure per 1 litre of water; Treatment 2 (T2): 200 g of goat manure per 1 litre of water; and Treatment 3 (T3): 300 g of goat manure per 1 litre of water. Fodder plants were planted under a 12-hours photoperiod at room temperatures of 25°Cto30°C. Growth performances and production yields were measured while nutrient compositions were analysed. Plants were harvested on the 8th, 9th and 10th day after planting and separated into four parts (leaf, stem, grain and root). Data were analysed using a two-way approach ANOVA. Results showed that 300 g of goat manure per one litre of water showed higher growth performance and production yield with significantly highest crude protein. In conclusion, 300 g of goat manure can be used as fertilizer in hydroponic forage production.
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August 2024
Vol. 40, Sp. Iss. 1
