Enhancing Growth and Nutritional Components of Hydroponic Mulato II Grass Using Moringa Leaf Extract as a Priming Agent
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Abstract
Forage grasses are vital for livestock nutrition and sustainability but face challenges due to climate change and land degradation. This study aimed to enhance the germination, growth, and nutritional quality of Mulato II grass by utilizing Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) as a priming agent. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed, testing five treatments (unprimed seeds, hydropriming, and MLE priming for 6, 12, and 18 hours), and each treatment was replicated three times. Growth parameters, biomass, and nutritional composition were analyzed statistically at a 5% significance level, with post-hoc comparisons performed using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. MLE priming for 18 hours significantly (p<0.05) enhanced performance, yielding the highest vigor index (5326.67), fresh herbage yield (196.32 t/ha), and DM yield (57.70 t/ha). Nutritional analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.0001) in ether extract (EE) content (4.54%) with MLE priming for 12 hours, while crude protein content (16.76%) and total nitrogen content (3.05%) were significantly higher with MLE priming for 18 hours. Hydropriming and MLE priming for 18 hours also significantly (p = 0.0137) achieved the highest final emergence percentage (FEP = 53.33%). The findings show that MLE priming, especially when primed for 18 hours, significantly enhances the growth and nutritional value of Mulato II grass. It is recommended as a sustainable strategy for improving forage production, with future studies focusing on long-term effects and cost-effective scaling.
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