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Growth and chemical composition of wild oat ( Avena fatua ) under Mediterranean conditions
Author(s) -
ElShatnawi M. K. J.,
Saoub H. M.,
Haddad N. I.
Publication year - 2004
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.1365-2494.2004.00400.x
Subject(s) - avena fatua , mediterranean climate , avena , forage , chemical composition , dry matter , biology , composition (language) , agronomy , zoology , growing season , phosphorus , chemistry , ecology , weed , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Wild oat ( Avena fatua ) is an annual cool‐season species that grows in areas with a Mediterranean climate and has potential as a forage source in Jordan. A field experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 1999–2000 and 2000–2001 under sub‐humid Mediterranean conditions at Samta in the Ajloun Mountains, Jordan. Data on seasonal herbage mass, morphology and chemical composition of wild oat were collected at 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 days after emergence. Plant height increased rapidly beyond 100 days after emergence. The increase in herbage mass of dry matter was gradual and peaked at 140 days after emergence. The lowest concentration of crude fibre was at 60 and 80 days after emergence, with a range of 201–263 g kg −1 DM. Crude fibre concentrations (610–630 g kg −1 DM) peaked at 140 days after emergence (maturity). In contrast to concentrations of crude fibre, concentrations of crude protein decreased gradually with age. The calcium and phosphorus concentrations were sufficient to meet the maintenance requirements of ewes.