Enhancing Growth and Nutritional Component of Hydroponic Mulato II Grass Using Moringa Leaf Extract as a Priming Agent

Abstract

Forage grasses are vital for livestock nutrition and sustainability but face challenges due to climate change and land degradation. This study aimed to improve the germination, growth, and nutritional quality of Mulato II grass using 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 five times. Growth parameters, biomass, and nutritional composition were analyzed statistically at a 5% significance level and post-hoc analysis using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference 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 showed a significant (p=0.0001) difference in ether extract (EE) content (4.54%) with MLE priming for 12 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 optimizes Mulato II grass's growth and nutritional value. It is recommended as a sustainable strategy for improving forage production, with future studies focusing on long-term effects and cost-effective scaling.