Biomass yield, nutritive value and accumulation of minerals in Trifolium subterraneum L. as affected by fungal endophytes

AbstractTemperate grass and legume yield and quality are markedly reduced during hot, dry summer months in the southern USA; therefore, browse species could add feed options for small ruminants during this season. Our objective was to compare total biomass yield and forage nutritive value of two browse species, leguminous bristly locust (Robinia hispida) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), as well as a leguminous shrub known as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneate), during summer months (June, July, August and September). Plants were sampled monthly during growing-seasons in 2012 and 2013 to determine biomass yield (foliar, shoot, and total above ground) and foliar nutritive value [crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and condensed tannins (CT)]. There was a species × harvest time interaction for foliar biomass yield (P = 0.0125). This interaction was likely due to low yield in June for bristly locust compared with sericea lespedeza and smooth sumac, but in all other months (July, August, and September) yields were similar for each species. Bristly locust had the highest CP (16.9%), followed by sericea lespedeza (14.8%), and smooth sumac (12.3%). Acid detergent fiber and ADL were similar between bristly locust (ADF 38.5%; ADL 24.1%) and sericea lespedeza (ADF 38.4%; ADL 23.1%), but was lower for smooth sumac (ADF 22.1%, ADL 6.3%; P < 0.05). Condensed tannins, an anti-nutritive yet anti-parasitic phenolic compounds, were highest in smooth sumac, intermediate in bristly locust, and lowest in sericea lespedeza. Plant foliar percentage (ratio of foliar to shoot mass), was highest in smooth sumac (55.1%), followed by sericea lespedeza (47.7%), and bristly locust (42.6%). Overall, smooth sumac had the highest foliar biomass and lowest ADF and ADL; however, this species had the lowest CP and highest CT. Consequently, average foliar biomass yield of all three browse species in our study far exceeded forage yield from dominant forage species [tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and bermudagrass (Cyanodon dactylon)] in this region and may provide high-yielding, low input, anti-parasitic fodder for small ruminants during this period in the Southeastern U.S.

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Seed yield and nutritive value of dry, mature subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea00190 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 169 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Y. J. Ru ◽

J. A. Fortune

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Mineral Content ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Zinc Content ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Crude Fibre ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Wide Range

The nutritive value of 26 cultivars of dry, mature subterranean clover was evaluated at Shenton Park, Perth, Western Australia. The cultivars were divided into 3 maturity groups according to flowering time and each cultivar was sown in blocks comprising 4 replicates. The plots were grazed by sheep at 2-week intervals during the growing season. Dry mature plant material and soil were sampled in summer to examine the effect of grazing and cultivar on seed yield and nutritive value of feed residues. Cultivars heavily grazed in spring had a low herbage mass. There was no difference in seed yield and seed weight between heavily and lightly grazed cultivars. Dry matter digestibility and mineral content of dry residues was inconsistent for the 2 grazing treatments. The dry matter digestibility of dry, mature subterranean clover ranged from 40 to 56%, with a wide range of crude fibre, nitrogen and mineral content for the 26 cultivars. While most minerals in the dry residues were above the requirement for sheep, 7 cultivars had a zinc content less than the maintenance requirement for sheep. There was an imbalance for all cultivars in calcium: phosphorus with a range of 4–10: 1. Concurrent estimates on the yield and composition of seed indicated that seed can be resource of minerals for grazing animals in summer. Most cultivars had a seed yield over 100 g/m2 with that of 9 cultivars being over 130 g/m2. Seed was rich in nitrogen, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc and copper, and poor in sodium, calcium and manganese. However, there were no cultivars with an appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus. The imbalance in nitrogen and sulfur was a result of high nitrogen content with the ratio ranging from 19: 1 to 29: 1.

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Plant factors influencing the nutritive value of some temperate annual pasture species

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9730404 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 13 (63) ◽

pp. 404 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

JG McIvor ◽

DF Smith

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Matter Content ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Hordeum Leporinum ◽

Brome Grass

Changes in herbage production, dry matter content, nitrogen content and in vitro digestibility of two sown species-subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) - and five common volunteer species-capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), musky crowfoot (Erodium moschatum), barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), ripgut brome grass (Bromus rigidus) and soft brome grass (Bromus mollis)-were measured throughout their growth cycle. The volunteer species compared favourably with the sown species for these measurements and should be capable of providing nutritious grazing for animals.

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Use of normalised difference vegetation index, nitrogen concentration, and total nitrogen content of whole maize plant and plant fractions to estimate yield and nutritive value of hybrid forage maize

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp10244 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 374 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. R. Islam ◽

S. C. (Yani) Garcia ◽

D. Henry

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Biomass Yield ◽

Maize Plant ◽

Forage Maize ◽

Leaf Stage ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index

This study was conducted to investigate the potentials of normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), nitrogen (N) concentration (%), and N content (g/plant) of whole maize plant to estimate yield and nutritive value of hybrid forage maize. Hybrid forage maize was grown with two rates of pre-sowing fertiliser N (0, 135 kg/ha) and three rates of post-sowing fertiliser N (0, 79, 158 kg N/ha) applied at the six-leaf stage. Data on the NDVI and N (% and g/plant) of maize were collected at 2-, 3-, 6-, 8-, 12-, 16-, 18-leaf stages and at harvest. Metabolisable energy (ME) content of the whole maize plant at harvest was estimated from in vitro digestibility. Simple, polynomial, and multiple regression analyses were conducted and only the best-fit models were selected. The 8-leaf stage was found to be the most effective stage for use of the NDVI in predicting biomass yield (R2 = 0.81), grain yield (R2 = 0.72), and N (%) (R2 = 0.92) of forage maize. Nitrogen (%) at the 8-leaf stage was also best related to biomass yield (R2 = 0.88). Multiple regressions at the 3-leaf stage increased the coefficient of determination for both biomass yield and grain yield (R2 = 0.77) over the relationships obtained from N (%) of the whole plant at 2- or 3-leaf stage. The NDVI and N (%) of the whole plant at 8-leaf stage were the best predictors of yield, but failed to predict ME content of the hybrid forage maize. Multiple regression models at the 3-leaf stage were almost as effective as the NDVI and N (%) of whole maize plant at the 8-leaf stage in predicting biomass and grain yield of forage maize.

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Effect of the ratio of maize cob and husk to napier Pakchong 1 silage on nutritive value and in vitro gas production of rumen fluid of Thai native cattle

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an15692 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 1603 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Yammuen-art ◽

P. Somrak ◽

C. Phatsara

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Biomass Yield ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Gas Production ◽

Average Weight ◽

In Vitro Gas Production ◽

Native Cattle ◽

Maize Cob

The present study evaluated the chemical composition and in vitro ruminal digestibility of napier Pakchong 1 silage combined with maize cob and husk in different ratios. The napier Pakchong 1 grass was harvested at 45 days of maturity. The napier Pakchong 1 grass was ensiled with maize cob and husk at ratios of 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15. Three rumen fistulated Thai native cattle (White Lamphun cattle) with an average weight of 154 ± 4.7 kg were used to determine ruminal digestibility by in vitro gas-production technique. Gas production was recorded after incubating for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The microbial biomass yield was determined after incubating for 24 h. DM, NDF and ADF of maize cob and husk mixed with napier Pakchong 1 silage declined by increasing the proportion of napier Pakchong 1 grass, while gas production after 4–10 h of incubating maize cob and husk mixed with napier Pakchong 1 grass increased by increasing the proportion of napier Pakchong 1 grass. The metabolisable energy, organic matter digestibility and microbial biomass yield did not differ among the different ratios. The results of the study suggested a recommended ratio of maize cob and husk to napier Pakchong 1 grass of 1:10. The ensiling fermentation increased the proportion of protein in the roughage, which lead to increased in vitro gas production of roughage.

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Nutritive value and the nitrogen dynamics of Trifolium subterraneum and Phalaris aquatica under warmer, high CO2 conditions

New Phytologist ◽

10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00101.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 150 (2) ◽

pp. 385-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

J. M. Lilley ◽

T. P. Bolger ◽

M. B. Peoples ◽

R. M. Gifford

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Nitrogen Dynamics ◽

High Co2 ◽

Phalaris Aquatica

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Variation in salinity tolerance, early shoot mass and shoot ion concentrations within Lotus tenuis: towards a perennial pasture legume for saline land

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp09318 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

pp. 379 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

N. L. Teakle ◽

A. Snell ◽

D. Real ◽

E. G. Barrett-Lennard ◽

T. D. Colmer

Keyword(s):

Salt Tolerance ◽

Salinity Tolerance ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Screening Method ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Lotus Tenuis ◽

Pasture Legumes ◽

Shoot Mass

Perennial legumes are needed for productive pastures in saline areas. We evaluated 40 lines of Lotus tenuis for tolerance to salinity at both germination and vegetative growth stages. Salt tolerance during the early vegetative stage was assessed in a sand-tank experiment with NaCl concentrations of 0–450 mm NaCl for 5 weeks. Most L. tenuis lines were more salt tolerant and had at least 50% lower shoot Na+ plus Cl– (% dry mass (DM)) compared with some other common pasture legumes, Medicago sativa, M. polymorpha and Trifolium subterraneum. Within L. tenuis significant variation in salt tolerance was found, with C50 values (concentrations of NaCl that decreased shoot dry matter to 50% of control) ranging from ~100 to 320 mm. Shoot concentrations of Cl–, Na+ and K+ did not always correlate with salt tolerance; some tolerant lines had low shoot Na+ and Cl– (and thus better nutritive value), while others tolerated high shoot Na+ and Cl–. We also found variation within L. tenuis for salt tolerance of seeds, with lines ranging from 0 to 70% germination after recovery from a prior exposure to 800 mm NaCl for 15 days. There was no relationship between salinity tolerance of scarified seeds and subsequent growth of seedlings; therefore, testing of seeds alone would not be an appropriate screening method for salt tolerance in L. tenuis. This study of 40 L. tenuis lines has shown significant genetic variation for salt tolerance within this species, and we have identified key lines with potential to be productive in saltland pasture systems.

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