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STUDIES ON THE MAGNESIUM STATUS OF GRASSLAND HERBAGE AND ITS POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE IN ANIMAL HEALTH
Author(s) -
Griffiths T. W.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1959.tb01016.x
Subject(s) - magnesium , fertilizer , agronomy , potash , yield (engineering) , pasture , potassium , chemistry , calcium , grassland , zoology , environmental science , biology , metallurgy , materials science , organic chemistry
Various forms of magnesium compounds were applied to grassland managed under modern intensive conditions and the effects on yield and composition of the herbage were measured. Magnesium limestone increased both yield and magnesium content. Commercial magnesite (MgO) increased the magnesium content rapidly and also gave a small increase in yield. An annual dressing of magnesium sulphate had little effect on magnesium content and tended to depress yield after two years. A marked seasonal effect exists in pasture magnesium content. Increasing the magnesium content had little effect on its distribution within the plant, but it tended to depress calcium and potash. The results are discussed with special reference to recent research on the magnesium metabolism in dairy cattle.