Growth and productive responses of tropical grass Panicum maximum to nitrate and ammonium supply

This study was conducted to investigate growth response parameters and forage yield of Panicum maximum Jacq. plants supplied with nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) as N source in a nutrient solution. Six NO3- and NH4+ combinations were tested at the following proportions: 100-0, 85-15, 70-30, 55-45, 40-60 and 25-75%. Grass shoot (number of tillers and leaves and leaf surface area) and root (length and surface area) growth parameters and dry matter production exhibited highest values in P. maximum plants growing in the nutrient solution supplied with NO3-:NH4+ at the proportions ranging betwee...