GROWTH, FORAGE YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS OF RYEGRASS (Lolium multiflorum, L.) AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN FERTILIZER FORMS AND APPLICATION TIME

Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm, Sers-
Elliyan Agricultural Research Station, Menoufia Governorate, during two successive
seasons (1998/99 and 1999/2000) to study growth characters, fresh and dry forage
yield and its components of ryegrass as influenced by different forms and time of
nitrogen fertilizer application. The results could be summarized as follows:
Ammonium sulphate was more efficient in enhancing plant height, number of
tillers/plant, leaf area/plant, stem diameter, fresh and dry forage yield, crude protein,
crude fiber and ash yield of ryegrass than urea. The application of nitrogen fertilizer as
four splits, '14 three weeks after sowing + ';' before the 2^nd, 3'd and 4th cuts significantly
increased growth characters, fresh and dry forage yield and forage quality [crude
protein, crude fiber and ash yields 1 of ryegrass.
The interaction between nitrogen forms and time of nitrogen application had
insignificant effect on growth characters (plant height, number of tillers/ plant, leaf
area/plant, and stem diameter), fresh and dry forage yield, except the fresh yield at
the 1 st cut of the 1 st season and dry forage yield at the 2^nd cut of the first season and
at 1 st cut of 2^nd season were significant. Also, forage quality (crude protein, crude fiber
and ash yield) was insignificant in both season.