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Redistribution of nitrogen in grass and leguminous fodder plants during wilting and ensilage
Author(s) -
CJ Brady
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740110509
Subject(s) - wilting , agronomy , fodder , trifolium repens , nitrogen , silage , trifolium subterraneum , biology , medicago sativa , lolium perenne , chemistry , poaceae , pasture , organic chemistry
Short rotation ryegrass ( Lolium sp.) and white clover ( Trifolium repens ) have been examined in some detail for the changes which take place in soluble non‐protein‐nitrogen fractions during wilting and ensilage. Similar studies have been made on subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum ) and lucerne ( Medicago sativa ) undergoing ensilage. A comparison was made of different methods of estimating α‐amino‐nitrogen and peptide nitrogen in extracts of plants. Results obtained show, with all species examined, that under conditions of ensilage and slow wilting, there is a marked increase in non‐protein nitrogen. Both wilting and ensilage result in a rapid increase in free α‐amino‐nitrogen concentration, but during ensilage an unaccounted fraction also increases sharply, and may account in the silage for up to 25% of the total nitrogen. Changes in the concentration of other fractions depended upon the particular conditions prevailing.