Leaf blade nutritional quality of rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) as affected by leaf age and length

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Agnusdei ◽  
O. N. Di Marco ◽  
F. R. Nenning ◽  
M. S. Aello
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Leaf Age ◽  
Leaf Length ◽  
Leaf Lifespan ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Final Length ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Leaf Appearance

A greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effect of leaf age and length on neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and in vitro NDF digestibility (NDFD) during a vegetative regrowth of Chloris gayana. Dense micro swards were grown in two plots under non-limiting conditions of water, phosphorus and nitrogen. Plants were harvested at seven consecutive leaf appearance intervals. Leaf blades were dissected from individual tillers and separated into five age categories (from early growing to pre-senescence). Leaf blade and sheath length were measured and leaves of the same category were bulked for NDF and NDFD analysis. The leaf lifespan (LLS) was determined in 15 marked tillers per plot. Linear and curvilinear functions were used to describe the relationships between NDF and NDFD with leaf age and length. The NDF concentration increased until half of LLS, concomitantly with leaf expansion, and remained stable thereafter. However, NDFD declined curvilinearly through the complete LLS. The final length of consecutively formed leaves increased through regrowth, this change being associated with an increase in NDF and a decline in NDFD. Results were consistent with previous findings for temperate species and highlight the importance of leaf length, in addition to leaf age, to determine leaf blade digestibility.

scholarly journals Influence of seed rate and NPK fertilizer on yield and quality of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana L. kunth.)

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
Fathi I. A. Brima ◽  
◽  
Awad Abusuwar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Crude Fiber ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Seed Rate ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Npk Fertilizer ◽  
Npk Fertilization

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2007 at the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan, to investigate the effect of seed rate and NPK fertilization on yield and quality of Rhodes grass forage (Chloris gayana L. Kunth) cv. Finecut. The treatment consisted of three seed rates (SDR1, SDR2 and SDR3) namely 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha and three NPK fertilizer levels (F0, F1 and F2) namely 0, 120 and 240 kg/ha respectively. NPK fertilizer components were N17 P17 K17. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial CRBD with four replications. The results showed that seed rate significantly increased forage fresh and dry yield. NPK fertilization significantly increased forage fresh and dry yield. Neither seed rate nor NPK fertilization were significantly affected crude protein and fiber content of leaves and stems of Rhodes grass, but the increase in seed rate and fertilizer levels slightly increased crude protein and decreased fiber percentage. Seed rate ×NPK fertilization interaction showed significant effect on crude protein and crude fiber contents. The highest protein percentage obtained under SDR2 (10kg/ha) with highest NPK fertilization level F2 (240 kg/ha), and lowest value obtained under SDR1(5kg/ha) with NPK fertilization F1(120kg/ha) and SDR1(5kg/ha) under control of fertilizer treatment (F0). Regarding crude fiber, highest value obtained under SDR2(10 kg/ha) with NPK fertilization F1 (120kg/ha) and SDR3 (15 kg/ha) under control treatments of fertilization (F0).

scholarly journals Forage yield, chemical composition and morphogenesis of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã under regrowth periods

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e133911801
Author(s):  
Newton de Lucena Costa ◽  
Antônio Neri Azevedo Rodrigues ◽  
João Avelar Magalhães ◽  
Amaury Burlamaqui Bendahan ◽  
Braz Henrique Nunes Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Brachiaria Brizantha ◽  
Leaf Lifespan ◽  
Blade Length ◽  
Leaf Appearance ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

With the objective to evaluate the effects of regrowth period (14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days) on green dry matter yield (GDMY), chemical composition and morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã, was carried out an experiment under greenhouse with natural conditions of light and temperature. GDMY yields and regrowth, leaf blade length, and leaf lifespan rate increased consistently (P<.05) with regrowth period, however the nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium contents decreased as regrowth period, while calcium contents were not affected by regrowth period. Maximum GDMY, leaf appearance and elongation rate, and leaf blade length were obtained with regrowth periods at 38.2; 41.1; 31.3 and 38.9 days, respectively. These data suggest that cutting at 35 to 42 regrowth days were optimal for obtain maximum yields and regrowth of rich forage and pasture persistence.

Morphological, environmental and management factors affecting nutritive value of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum)

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Insua ◽  
M. G. Agnusdei ◽  
S. A. Utsumi ◽  
G. D. Berone
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Leaf Age ◽  
Tube Length ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Lolium Arundinaceum ◽  
Leaf Stage ◽  
Leaf Appearance

The aim of this study was to quantify the relative importance of leaf age and leaf length on the dynamics of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and 24-h in vitro digestibility of NDF (NDFD) and dry matter (DMD) of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb) Darbysh.). Mini-swards were conditioned and used to conduct two experiments, the first with 4-cm plant stubble height in spring–summer 2009 and autumn–winter 2011, and the second with 4-cm or 10-cm plant stubble height in spring–summer 2011. Plants were harvested at consecutive leaf-appearance intervals to measure nutritive value up to the four-leaf stage. In parallel, leaf morphogenetic traits (appearance, elongation and lifespan) and sheath length of the successive leaves produced on marked tillers were measured. Leaf NDF contents remained stable with increasing leaf age and length but showed a marked variation across seasons. Leaf NDFD and DMD showed a consistent decrease with increasing leaf age and length, and irrespective of growing season or residual pasture height. The negative effect of leaf age and length on digestibility was related to variations in sheath tube length and associated differences in leaf appearance and elongation rates. These findings highlight the relevance of monitoring the sheath tube length as a complementary measure to leaf stage for further management of the NDFD and DMD of grass forages. Although the focus of this study was tall fescue swards, the same morphogenetic implications on forage nutritive value could apply to other temperate and tropical grass species; however, the testing of this hypothesis warrants carefully controlled investigations.

EFFECTS OF PHYTO-OESTROGENS ON PROGESTERONE SYNTHESIS BY ISOLATED BOVINE GRANULOSA CELLS

1981 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
ORA KAPLANSKI ◽  
MORDECHAI SHEMESH ◽  
A. BERMAN
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Biochanin A ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Progesterone Synthesis ◽  
Biphasic Effect ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
High Concentrations

The effects of phyto-oestrogens on progesterone synthesis by isolated bovine granulosa cells in vitro were assessed. Various concentrations (0·037–3700 nmol/l) of biochanin A, genistein or oestradiol were added to cultures of bovine granulosa cells and the consequent changes in progesterone synthesis were measured. The effects of alkali-soluble extracts of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and fodder beet (Beta vulgaris, var.) were also examined. Another series of experiments tested the effects of genistein and oestradiol on the increase of progesterone synthesis brought about by the addition of LH to the culture medium. It was found that biochanin A and genistein increased progesterone synthesis by 40–50% when added in concentrations of 3·5 and 185 nmol/l respectively. At higher concentrations progesterone synthesis declined and was significantly (P < 0·05) inhibited at concentrations of phyto-oestrogens greater than 176 nmol/l for biochanin A and 1850 nmol/l for genistein. Oestradiol showed similar effects: maximum stimulation of progesterone secretion occurred in the presence of 0·184 nmol/l; inhibition was found with concentrations of greater than 1·84 nmol/l. Extracts of Rhodes grass but not of fodder beet also showed biphasic effects. Both genistein and oestradiol in high concentrations (3700 and 3671 nmol/l respectively) inhibited the increase in progesterone synthesis provoked by LH. The data indicated that phyto-oestrogens, like oestradiol, have a dose-related, biphasic effect on steroidogenesis in the isolated bovine granulosa cell system.

In vitro digestibility and neutral detergent fibre and lignin contents of plant parts of nine forage species

1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. WILMAN ◽  
P. REZVANI MOGHADDAM
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Fibre Content ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Chloris Gayana

In order to understand better some of the reasons for differences between forage plant species in digestibility, different parts of nine plant species in either milled or chopped (1 cm lengths) form were examined for in vitro digestibility and in milled form for neutral detergent fibre and lignin. The nine species were: Trifolium repens L., Medicago sativa L., Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., Brassica napus L., Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Chloris gayana Kunth, Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Zea mays L. In each case early harvesting was compared with later harvesting in each of two years. The plants were grown in spring–summer in a heated glasshouse.The forage at the early harvest was, on average, 1–4% units more digestible in vitro than that at the later harvest and generally slightly lower in lignin and neutral detergent fibre content. However, the stems of Z. mays were higher in neutral detergent fibre at the early than at the later harvest.The leaf sheaths of L. perenne and F. arundinacea were more digestible than the leaf blades. L. perenne was more digestible than F. arundinacea in both sheaths and blades. The sheaths and blades of C. gayana and C. ciliaris were less digestible and had a higher neutral detergent fibre content than those of L. perenne and F. arundinacea. The leaf blades, excluding the midribs, and the stems and leaf sheaths of Z. mays were all rather high in digestibility when milled and moderately low in neutral detergent fibre and lignin; the leaf blade midribs of Z. mays were less digestible and higher in neutral detergent fibre than the stems and similar to the stems in lignin content. The leaflets of T. repens had an appreciably lower neutral detergent fibre content than the stolons and petioles and a rather lower lignin content in dry matter and yet were, if anything, less digestible than the stolons and petioles. The stolons of T. repens were much more digestible than the stems of M. sativa and D. intortum. The digestibility of D. intortum was low in all the plant parts examined, leaflets, petioles and stems. In both D. intortum and B. napus, the leaflets or leaf blades were much lower than the stems in neutral detergent fibre and lignin and yet they were no more digestible than the stems when milled.The digestibility of chopped leaflets and leaf blades was similar to that of milled leaflets and leaf blades, but chopping rather than milling reduced the digestibility of stems (particularly of those of Z. mays), petioles, the leaf blade midribs of Z. mays, and, to some extent, leaf sheaths.

The effect of plant structure on the intake of tropical pastures. II.* Differences in sward structure, nutritive value, and bite size of animals grazing Setaria anceps and Chloris gayana at various stages of growth

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
TH Stobbs
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Plant Structure ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Bite Size ◽  
Leaf Density ◽  
Chloris Gayana

Bite size (organic matter content per bite) of cows grazing swards of Chloris gayana (rhodes) and Setaria anceps (setaria) regrown for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks was measured using oesophageal fistulated animals. Sward canopy structure was measured by stratification into five vertical layers, each 15 cm high; for each layer weights of leaf and stem components were estimated. Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of plant fractions and oesophageal fistulae samples were determined. Cows grazing the 4 week regrowths of rhodes grass had a larger bite size (0.32 g OM/bite) than when grazing 2 week regrowths (0.27 g OM/bite) when the availability of herbage and leaf material was lowest. Despite a marked increase in herbage yield as the pastures matured (up to 8427 kg/ha) the mean bite size decreased to a mean of 0.15 g OM/bite at 6 and 8 weeks. The bite size of cows grazing setaria pastures was lower than on the rhodes grass pastures but followed a similar pattern. A high density of leaf within the sward (sward leaf density) as well as a low stem content were considered to be the main factors affecting bite size. Setaria and rhodes grass pastures had both low sward bulk densities (a range of 14–96 kg/ha cm) and low sward leaf bulk densities (a range of 12–43 kg/ha cm) compared with temperate pastures. Basal layers of the sward contained more dense herbage (up to 148 kg/ha cm), but sward leaf density was usually less than 80 kg/ha cm and apparently inaccessible. ___________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 24: 809 (1973).

scholarly journals Effect of altitude and defoliation frequency in the quality and growth of Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 9121-9130
Author(s):  
Miguel Alejandro Escobar Charry ◽  
Edgar Alberto Cardenas Rocha ◽  
Juan Evangelista Carulla Fornaguera
Keyword(s):  
Lower Altitude ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Nutrient Yield ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Kikuyu Grass ◽  
Defoliation Frequency ◽  
Leaf Appearance

This study aimed at determining the nutritional efficiency of Kikuyu grass, when it is cultivated at different altitudes and defoliated with a different number of leaves per tiller. Four farms, with Kikuyu crops (Cenchrus clandestinus), were selected, two in an average altitude of 2,552 m.a.s.l. and two in average altitude of 2,914 m.a.s.l. In each farm, there were established eight plots of 4 m2 each (four treatments, two replicates). For 10 months, the pastures were defoliated when they presented 4, 5, 6, and 7 leaves per tiller (treatments) at 5 cm above ground when 90% of the tillers reached the number of leaves corresponding to each treatment. Data were analyzed as serial experiments using a completely randomized block (farms) design with an analysis of variance. The leaf appearance interval was higher for the highest altitude (8 vs. 10 days) but vary among treatments at a lower altitude (P<0.05). Pastures at higher altitudes were shorter (8.9 vs. 13.5 cm), but its height varied among treatments depending on the altitude (P<0.001). The quality of the pastures was similar, except for the ones with seven leaves per tiller at 2,552 m.a.s.l. that had less protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility (P<0.01). The nutrient yield was higher for the pastures cultivated at 2,552 m.a.s.l. (P<0.001), and, at this altitude, pastures defoliated with five leaves had the largest nutrient yield. The Kikuyu cultivated at higher altitudes grows slowly and yield fewer nutrients independently of the number of leaves per tiller.

scholarly journals Herbage quality in Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth). 1. The effect of heading date on intra-variety variation in yield and digestibility in vitro.

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-311
Author(s):  
J.G. Boonman
Keyword(s):  
Heading Date ◽  
Dead Leaf ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Progressive Decline ◽  
Herbage Quality ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Chloris Gayana Kunth ◽  
Heading Stage

350 selected plants of Rhodes grass cv. Mbarara (early-heading), Masaba (medium-heading) and Pokot (late-heading) were examined for both seed and herbage yield characters, the latter at the stage of initial heading. Within each of these cv. a large variation occurred between individual spaced plants in seed and herbage yield, leaf:stem ratio and OM digestibility in vitro (D-vitro). However, this variation was secondary, as it was largely accounted for by a wide variation in heading date, ranging over more than or equal to 8 wk within a cv. There was a progressive decline in yield characters with every wk of delayed heading. Early-heading plants produced yields of pure germinating seed more than double those of late plants. At the initial-heading stage these plants also had a higher herbage yield, leaf:stem ratio and D-vitro, but a lower content of stem and dead leaf. D-vitro was on average 7.6 units higher in early plants than in plants heading 8 wk later, but the extremes varied as much as 17 units between some early and late. D-vitro of leaf, stem and whole-sward samples fell by 0.07, 0.12 and 0.14 units, resp., with every day of delayed heading. Leaf digestibility and DM content were higher than those of stems. At the initial-heading stage whole-sward digestibility and leaf:stem ratio were higher in Mbarara than in Masaba and Pokot, because Mbarara plants were on the whole earlier in heading. Of those plants, however, which had a common heading date in each of the 3 cv. i.e. which were sampled at the initial-heading stage and on the same day, digestibility and leaf:stem ratios of Masaba plants were above those of Mbarara and, in particular, those of Pokot. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Herbage quality in Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth). 2. Intra-variety variation in yield and digestibility of plants of similar heading date.

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-343
Author(s):  
J.G. Boonman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Heading Date ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Herbage Quality ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Chloris Gayana Kunth

20 clones of similar heading date and selected from within Rhodes grass cv. Masaba were assessed at 3, 6 and 9 wk of regrowth. Lengthening the period of regrowth increased yield of DM and yield of DOM, but decreased digestibility in vitro of leaf, stem and whole-sward samples and leaf:stem ratios. Clonal effects were also significant for these characters except for leaf digestibility and leaf:stem ratio. No significant clone X regrowth period interactions were observed. Stem and leaf digestibility fell by 0.20 and 0.17 units daily, resp., while leaf:stem ratio dropped to 1.1 at 9 wk regrowth which coincided with initial heading. At this stage whole sward digestibility had fallen to 53, at a rate of 0.22/day. Leaf digestibility was always higher than that of stem. Clones differed significantly in digestibility showing a 5-unit range which had no relation to leaf:stem ratios. The 7 clones best in digestibility were among the 9 lowest in herbage yield. The ranking for yield of DOM did not differ from that for yield of DM, which showed a range of 1.38-2.45 t/ha. It is concluded that potential genetic gain in digestibility and leaf:stem ratio is offset by a corresponding decline in herbage yield. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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