Herbage Nitrogen, Fiber, and In Vitro Disappearance of Three Great Plains Grasses during Establishment Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • ABSTRACTNative warmseason 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 warmseason 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 ha1 yr1 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 kg1 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 warmseason grasses.

published proceedings

  • CROP SCIENCE

author list (cited authors)

  • Lee, A. E., Muir, J. P., Lambert, B. D., Reilley, J. L., & Whitney, T. R.

citation count

  • 1

complete list of authors

  • Lee, AE||Muir, JP||Lambert, BD||Reilley, JL||Whitney, TR

publication date

  • May 2011

publisher