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Forage Quality Responses of an Aeschynomene‐Limpograss Association to Grazing Management 1
Author(s) -
Sollenberger L. E.,
Quesenberry K. H.,
Moore J. E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1987.00021962007900010017x
Subject(s) - grazing , forage , biology , agronomy , legume , zoology
Low crude protein concentration (CP) in limpograss [ Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb.] forage may limit the performance of grazing animals. Aeschynomene ( Aeschynomene americana L.) is a legume that has potential with limpograss. Effects of grazing management on aeschynomene, limpograss, and total canopy forage quality were measured on a sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic UItic Haplaquod in 1983 and 1984. Experimental variables were (i) limpograss stubble height when aeschynomene was seeded, (ii) legume seedling growth stage when early season grazing of limpograss ended, and (iii) aeschynomene height when summer grazing was initiated. After initiation of summer grazing, all pastures were grazed rotationally every 5 weeks. Aeschynomene leaf had CP and in vitro digestible organic matter concentrations (IVDOM) of approximately 250 g kg −1 DM and 700 g kg −1 OM, respectively. Legume leaf quality was minimally affected by grazing management, but stem quality and leaf/stem ratio decreased as initiation of grazing was delayed. Limpograss CP was generally less than 40 g kg −1 DM. Depending on year and grazing treatment, 8 to 23% aeschynomene was required in herbage accumulated for the CP of herbage consumed to be 70 g kg −1 DM or higher. When limpograss was grazed for 2 weeks after aeschynomene seedlings exserted two true leaves, grass competition to the establishing legume was reduced, percentage legume in the sward was increased, and CP in herbage consumed was maximized. The IVDOM of total herbage accumulated decreased linearly as initiation of grazing was delayed. Seasonal consumption of DOM was greater in treatments where grazing was initiated at 0.20 instead of 0.60 or 0.80 m, despite OM accumulation being greater for the taller initiation heights. Peak legume production occurred in late summer when limpograss quality was low, and these data suggest that incorporation of aeschynomene into grass swards may improve animal performance during this period.