The objective of the research was to determine the effects of liquid organic fertilizer and defoliation interval on growth characteristics and quality of elephant grass cv. Taiwan. The research was assigned in completely randomized 3 x 3 factorial design with 3 replications. The first factor was liquid organic fertilizer with three doses (0, 300, and 600 ml/polybag) and the second factor was defoliation interval with 3 intervals (30, 45 and 90 days). Parameters observed were plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, number of tillers, dry weight, crude protein, ADF and NDF contents. Results showed that liquid organic fertilizer had significant effect (P<0.05) on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, number of tillers, and dry matter yield but had no significant effect on crude protein, ADF and NDF contents. Defoliation interval significantly (P<0.05) influenced growth characteristics and quality of the plant. As increasing defoliation interval, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and number of tillers increased, but crude protein decreased while ADF content increased. NDF levels did not significantly influenced by defoliation interval. It can be concluded that liquid organic fertilizer and manipulation of defoliation interval can be used to increase the growth characteristics and quality of elephant grass cv. Taiwan.

Many factors affected the milk production and milk quality of dairy cattle, such as the breed, age, type of feed, months of lactation, time milking and others. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in milk production and milk quality in the morning and afternoon milking of dairy cows given corn cobs fermented. The study was carried out for one month, using eight lactating cows, divided into two groups each consisting of four cows. P1= complete feed + 40% of elephant grass, P2= complete feed + 20% of elephant grass + 20% of fermented corn cobs. Data analysis was displayed in chart form, the average and standard deviations and analyzed descriptively. The results showed that milk production in the morning milking treatment P1 was 18.36 %, higher than in the afternoon milking and P2 milking morning treatment was 11.56%, higher than in the afternoon milking or the second average morning milking treatment 14.96 % higher than afternoon milking. The milk production of group P1 which not given corn cobs fermented was 8.54 ± 2.78 L/h/d in the morning which was higher than the afternoon milking with average milk production 5.89 ± 1.89 L/h/d, while in the cattle group (P2) which gets fermented corn cobs, milk production in the morning milking was 8.40 ± 1.68 L/head/day, higher than with the afternoon milking with an average milk production of 6.65 ± 1.59 L/h/d. The quality of milk at morning milking was showed from the protein content (3.26%) and fat (3.37%) lower than in afternoon milking with the protein content of 4.03%, and fat content 3.79%. In conclusion, the research showed that milking in the morning has higher milk production than milking in the afternoon, while milk quality in the afternoon milking is higher than in the morning milking.

Industrial effluents with heavy metals adversely affect the growth and development of crops when it is used for irrigation. So this study was carried out to assess the effect of tannery effluent on seed germination and growth performance of selected varieties (BHQPY545 and Malkesa-2) of Maize using different effluent treatments. The treatments were made by mixing measured amount of tannery effluent in distilled water i.e. 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The experiment was carried out in Completely Randomized Design with five effluent treatments, each replicated three times. The effluent is dark bluish green in colour with high biological oxygen demand(182mg/kg) along with much higher concentrations of total suspended solids (13,100 mg/kg) and total dissolved solids (3000 mg/kg) but concentration of some metals were found under normal range recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization and United Nations Environmental Protection Agency. Tannery effluent was tested for its effect on maize in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The result showed that a maximum reduction 26.67% and 33.33% in germination percentage, 81.69% and 75.69% in radicle length and 64.79% and 75% in plumule length was observed in BHQPY545 and Malkesa-2 respectively at 100% tannery effluent treatments. Vegetative growth parameters like shoot length, root length and number of leaves per plant were reduced with increasing levels of effluent treatments. Yield parameters of plant were also reduced due to increase in level of effluent treatments. Generally the effects of tannery effluent on germination and growth performance showed that effluent was not fit for irrigation due to higher concentration of organic and in organic matter and heavy metal contents. It is concluded that tannery effluent can't be used for irrigation purpose unless properly treated and diluted.

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Corn crop is categorized as C4 plant that may be used as alternative feed substitution of forage grass with high nutritional content. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of NPK fertilizer addition to productivity and nutrient content of corn crop in dry land. This study was performed from March to May 2019 (by the end of rainy season) in Tanete Riaja, Barru. This study employed completely randomized design with 4 treatments namely, A1: No fertilizer addition, A2=100 kg ha−1, A3=200 kg ha−1, A4=300 kg ha−1 and 3 replications. The corn crops used in this study was corn hybrid (Bisi-18) that were harvested at the age of 2 months. The result of this study showed that the use of NPK fertilizer improves the growth and productivity of corn crop, particularly the production and nutritional quality. The highest increase of production and growth occured in A3.