Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine appropriate time and efficient techniques of harvesting methods for Panicum Coloratum forage. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design (RCBD,) in 4x4 factorial combinations of harvesting methods (mowing, sweating, shaking and sweeping) and time harvesting (14^th, 21^th, 28^th and 35^th days) after full anthesis. The experiment was replicated four times. The Results revealed that the mean number of inflorescences per M², number of racemes per inflorescence, number of spikelet per raceme f were significantly different across the years. Seed yield and seed germination percentage were affected by different harvesting methods and time of harvesting and also influenced by their interactions. The sweating method gave more seed yield 633 and 618kg/ha on the 28^th and 35^th days of harvesting with 66 and 64 germination percentages respectively. In conclusion, smallholder farmers or commercial seed producers can produce optimum seed yield and quality by sweating method at 28 or 35 days of harvesting after full anthesis.

Keywords: Harvesting; Method; Panicum coloratum; Time