摘要
Field experiments were conducted at Dabagi Farm of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto （13~I＇N and 5~15＇ E）, in the Semi-arid of Nigeria, during 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons to determine the effect of sowing methods on growth and fodder yield of Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano. Three sowing methods （dibbling, broadcasting and drilling） were investigated. The experimental design adopted for the study was the randomized complete block design （RCBD） replicated three times. The parameters monitored included plant height （cm）, leaf length （cm）, leaf width （cm）, number of leaves, canopy spread （cm）, stand count and herbage yield. Samples were randomly taken and marked for the measurement of the parameters at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks after sowing （WAS）. Herbage yield （kg hal） was determined at the end of the 14th week. Result of the study revealed that the sowing methods had significant effect （P 〈 0.05） on growth parameters at 2 to 14 WAS in 2007, 2008 and in their combined analysis. Dry matter yield differed （P 〈 0.05） significantly. Dibbling method produced plants that were taller, longer, with wider canopy spread and leaves as well as more leaves and stands （P 〈 0.05）. The year 2007 produced taller plants, longer, wider canopy spread and leaves as well as more leaves and stands （P 〈 0.05） in all the weeks compared to the year 2008. It was therefore concluded from the results of this study that dibbling method of sowing was the best for Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano production at 50 ~ 50 cm inter and intra-row spacing in the semi-arid of Sokoto agro-ecology in northwestern Nigeria, presumably due to low competition for scarce moisture and creation of more space in this sowing method.
