Morphological Characteristics, Biomass Yield and Nutritional Composition of Bajra Napier Hybrid Grass (CoBN-5) under High-Altitude Conditions in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
J. Selvamani *
Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India.
S. Satheesh Raja
Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India.
N. Prema
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Bajra Napier Hybrid grass (CoBN-5) is a commonly used fodder crop that is highly valued for producing huge quantities of yield and being nutritious. This study was carried out at Sheep Breeding Research Station (SBRS), located in Sandynallah, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India, which is at an elevation of 2200 meters above mean sea level. The main goal of the study was to assess the plant's physical features, how much biomass it produces, and its chemical composition under typical conditions of a temperate high-altitude area. For this, 45 samples were collected, each between aged 75 - 85 days old, from different fields to ensure that the samples were representative of the whole area. The Morphological Characteristics measured included slightly lower were, how long and wide their leaves were, and how many tillers grew from each group of plants. The amount of biomass was estimated using a standard quadrat sampling method, in which the experimental area was divided into equal sections. The chemical composition was analyzed using standard procedures outlined by the AOAC in 2019. The results showed that as average plant height was 306.67 ± 10.17 cm, the stem diameter was 2.33 ± 0.17 cm, the leaves were 102.67 ± 3.28 cm long and 5.3 ± 0.21 cm wide, and each group of plants had between 25 to 40 shoots. The annual biomass yield was 128 t acre⁻¹ year⁻¹”, with 5 harvests throughout the year. This is little lower than what is typically achieved in tropical lowland areas due to the plants going into a dormant state during the months of December to February, which is when frost occurs. The chemical composition of the plant, when measured based on dry matter, was 10.58 ± 0.07% crude protein, 5.46 ± 0.13% ether extracts, 28.37 ± 0.43% crude fiber, 17.20 ± 0.26% total ash, and 38.39 ± 0.57% nitrogen-free extract. These findings show that CoBN-5 is a good source of essential nutrients and promising crops for yield making it suitable for small-scale dairy farms in hilly and cold-prone regions. It offers balanced nutrition and is economically viable for such environments.
Keywords: Bajra napier hybrid grass, CoBN-5, biomass yield, chemical composition, high-altitude fodder