Premium
Influence of Cutting Frequency, Species, and Nitrogen Fertilization on Forage Nutritional Value 1
Author(s) -
Allinson D. W.,
Tesar M. B.,
Thomas J. W.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1969.0011183x000900040036x
Subject(s) - phalaris arundinacea , bromus inermis , biology , forage , agronomy , dactylis glomerata , fodder , medicago sativa , dry matter , agropyron cristatum , growing season , bromus , poaceae , wetland , ecology
The nutritive value of samples of forage taken every 2 weeks throughout the growing season was evaluated by a 6‐hour in vitro rumen fermentation technique, measuring percent dry matter disappearance (% DMD). Species subjected to four cutting systems ranked in the following order: alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.), reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinacea L.), bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss.), and orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.). The overall mean DMD values of all forages cut one, two, three, or four times per season were 13.0, 21.6, 24.9, and 25.4%, respectively. Uncut forage lost nutritive value progressively thronghout the growing season but at a rate characteristic of the species. Morphological condition and moisture content of the forages were not adequate indicators of nutritive value except when the forages were not cut until the end of the growing season. Nitrogen fertilization in the period 1965–1966 did not consistently affect the nutritive value of either common or Siberian reed canarygrass. Common was superior to Siberian reed canarygrass in nutritive value. Considerable year‐to‐year and within season variation was evident for the nutritive value of the reed canarygrass types.