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Herbage Nitrogen, Fiber, and In Vitro Disappearance of Three Great Plains Grasses during Establishment
Author(s) -
Lee A. E.,
Muir J. P.,
Lambert B. D.,
Reilley J. L.,
Whitney T. R.
Publication year - 2011
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/cropsci2010.08.0453
Subject(s) - loam , biology , grazing , organic matter , agronomy , growing season , fertilizer , rumen , zoology , botany , ecology , soil water , food science , fermentation
Native warm‐season grasses have the potential to provide summer grazing because of their adaptation and persistence. Little nutritive value information is available, however, on the effects of maturity and soil amendments for native North American warm‐season grasses during establishment. Multiflower false rhodesgrass ( Chloris pluriflora E. Fourn.), pink pappusgrass ( Pappophorum bicolor E. Fourn.), and plains bristlegrass [ Setaria vulpiseta (Lam.) Roem. & Schult.] were harvested monthly during the first 2 yr after establishment on a Windthorst sandy loam soil and fertilized with 0 or 67 kg N and P ha −1 yr −1 Spring application of fertilizer resulted in early season herbage N concentrations 58 to 79% greater ( p ≤ 0.10) than unfertilized herbage and maintained N concentrations ( p ≤ 0.10) above the 11.2 g kg −1 considered minimum for cattle maintenance through September for most entries. Multiflower false rhodesgrass had the least ( p ≤ 0.10) fiber and greatest N and in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD). During Year 1 and early in Year 2, IVOMD was sometimes greater ( p ≤ 0.10) when goat rumen liquid was used compared to steer liquid. This relationship was nullified or even reversed as plants matured in Year 2, indicating that donor species of rumen liquid should be considered when interpreting IVOMD results for native warm‐season grasses.