EFFECTS OF 25 YEARS OF N, P AND K FERTILIZATION ON YIELD, PERSISTENCE AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF A TIMOTHY SWARD

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 501-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. BÉLANGER ◽  
J. E. RICHARDS ◽  
R. B. WALTON

The effects of over 25 yr of levels of applied N, P and K on forage DM yield, crude protein content, in vitro digestibility (IVD), botanical composition and persistence of a timothy (Phleum pratense L.) sward were assessed in a long-term field experiment on an acidic Riverbank L. Ammonium nitrate (0, 90, 180, 270 kg N ha−1), superphosphate (0, 15, 29, 44 kg P ha−1) and muriate of potash (0, 47, 94, 141 kg K ha−1) were applied annually in all possible combinations to a timothy sward since 1960. In the first 3 yr of the experiment, only N and K were required for maximum yield and persistence of timothy. The requirement for applied P, however, increased with time; in the last 3 yr (1985–1987) of the trial, the highest level of applied P resulted in profitable forage DM yield increases. After 25 yr, the productivity of the timothy sward was dependent upon a balanced application of all three macronutrients; absence of any one nutrient resulted in little or no response to applications of the other nutrients. The long-term persistence of timothy was solely dependent on K fertilization. The proportion of bentgrass and bluegrass species declined with increasing levels of applied K while that of timothy increased. The change in botanical composition due to applied N and K significantly affected IVD and crude protein content.Key words: N, P, K, fertilization, yield, persistence, timothy

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. McELROY ◽  
B. R. CHRISTIE

The in vitro digestibility (IVD) of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) declines with advance in maturity. Forage quality reductions resulting from late harvesting could be minimized by developing cultivars with reduced IVD decline during maturation. This study examines variation for IVD decline among timothy genotypes. Clones originating from a single population were grown in simulated swards (100 plants m−2) at two Ontario locations in 1980 and 1981. Harvests were made every 5–6 d from early heading to late anthesis. Relative IVD declines were determined by regressing genotype performance on the population mean over several harvests. Considerable variation was found for relative IVD decline, but this parameter was not associated with IVD at early heading. Genotypes were identified which showed high IVD at heading and a 20% reduction in digestibility decline from heading to late anthesis. Changes in IVD were not associated with changes in the leaf content of forage. It is concluded that selection for reduced IVD decline, in addition to high digestibility at heading, might result in a 2–3% unit increase at anthesis.Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., in vitro digestibility, IVD, IVD decline


1967 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Smoliak ◽  
L. M. Bezeau

Five native grasses and one sedge of the Stipa-Bouteloua prairie, three introduced grasses collected at five stages of growth, and four shrubby species collected at three stages of growth were analyzed for proximate chemical constituents.The amounts of phosphorus and digestible and crude protein of all species decreased with maturity, while the cellulose increased. Introduced grasses generally contained more crude protein than native grasses. Shrubby species were higher in crude protein and phosphorus than native grasses. No consistent trend was observed in relative total ash and calcium content at progressive stages of development. The estimated nutritive value index was high for all grasses and low for two Artemisia species. The seasonal declines in crude protein and phosphorus suggest that protein and phosphorus supplements are desirable for range cattle during the fall, winter, and early spring.


1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Clements

In a highly variable breeding population of P. tuberosa, marked responses were obtained to three generations of selection for high and low crude protein concentration (percentage nitrogen x 6.25) in whole tillers at heading. Total response was similar in each direction, and realized heritability estimates were h2 = 0.25 and h2 = 0.20 in the high and low directions respectively. The responses were accompanied by positively correlated changes in in vitro digestibility and in characters commonly used as indicators of nutritive value of herbage. However, there were large negatively correlated changes in seedling vigour, relative growth rates, and other morphological and physiological characters. The implications of the results for pasture plant breeding are discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
R. E. McQueen

Nitrogen fertilization is known to have a limited effect on the digestibility of grasses. In a previous paper, however, we reported that N deficiency increased the proportion of leaves in the shoot biomass, and hence, indirectly increased the digestibility of timothy (Phleum pratense L). This was mitigated by the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of leaves or stems or both early in the regrowth. The objective of this study was to determine the direct effect of N deficiency on three parameters of nutritive value of leaves and stems of timothy cv. Champ. The evolution of leaf and stem in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWD), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of field-grown timothy fertilized with four rates of N was studied during a spring and summer regrowth cycle by sampling at weekly intervals. The rate of decline in leaf nutritive value in spring was greater than that in summer, and was less than the rate of decline in stem nutritive value during spring. Nitrogen deficiency consistently increased the NDF concentration of leaves but had a lesser effect on the NDF concentration of stems. Nitrogen deficiency decreased leaf IVCWD when the leaf-to-weight ratio (LWR) was high early in the spring and summer regrowth cycles. At the end of regrowth when LWR values were low, leaf IVCWD was greatest when no N was applied. As a result, the negative effect of N deficiency on the leaf IVTD during the early part of the spring and summer regrowth cycles diminished as the regrowth cycles progressed. Nitrogen deficiency had a limited effect on stem IVCWD. We concluded that the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of the timothy shoot biomass can be attributed primarily to its effect on the NDF concentration and cell wall digestibility of leaves. Key words: Phleum pratense L., grasses, digestibility, cell wall, nitrogen


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. BUXTON ◽  
G. C. MARTEN ◽  
J. S. HORNSTEIN

When normally harvested for hay, the basal portion of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems is low in forage quality. This study was conducted to determine whether genetic variation for in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) and crude protein (CP) concentration of stems of perennial Medicago spp. could be identified and whether morphological and chemical traits were associated with variation in these characteristics of stems. The lower six nodes and internodes of stems and total herbage from 64 Plant Introduction (PI) accessions and five cultivars of field-grown plants were harvested twice when most plants were at the early seed-pod stage of maturity. Several morphological and growth traits were measured, and both stems and total herbage were evaluated for IVDDM and CP concentration. Covariant analysis was used to adjust in IVDDM and CP concentration of stems for differences in plant maturity. Significant variation for IVDDM and CP concentration in stems existed among the cultivars and among the accessions. Some accessions had significantly higher stem IVDDM or CP concentration than control cultivars. The M. sativa accession, PI 440496, had the fourth highest stem IVDDM and third highest stem CP, with concentrations of 374 and 79 g kg−1, respectively. The number of ridges on stems (stem shape) was significantly correlated with stem IVDDM and CP concentration with average correlation coefficients of 0.30 and 0.35, respectively. Cell-wall concentration and lignin concentration per unit cell wall of stems were both negatively correlated with stem IVDDM and CP concentration. Selection for improved nutritive value of stems may have potential for improving the nutritive value of alfalfa herbage.Key words: Alfalfa, forage quality, crude protein, in vitro digestibility, Medicago sativa L.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1101-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
A. Brégard ◽  
R. Michaud ◽  
G. F. Tremblay

Populations and half-sib families of timothy (Phleum pratense L.), contrasting in forage N concentration, were studied in two experiments conducted in growth rooms with varying N applications. They differed in leaf and stem in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of DM and in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWD), and in stem neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration; this confirms the presence of genetic variability for leaf and stem nutritive value in timothy under both limiting and non-limiting N conditions. Key words: Digestibility, grasses, Phleum pratense, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Bélanger ◽  
Gaëtan F Tremblay ◽  
Danielle Mongrain

The decline in productivity of forage grasses with age since establishment has been recognised for several years, but this yield reduction and its consequences on nutritive value have not been studied in timothy (Phleum pratense L.). Our objective was to characterize the dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value during spring growth of an ageing timothy sward grown under non-limiting N conditions. A timothy sward, seeded in 1998, was harvested at four developmental stages (stem elongation, early heading, late heading, and early flowering) during spring growth from 1999 to 2005. The average DM yield observed in production years 5, 6, and 7 was 43% of that measured in the first 4 production years when timothy was harvested at stem elongation or early heading, 52% when harvested at late heading, and 74% when harvested at early flowering. The yield potential of timothy during spring growth decreased with ageing at a rate of 0.66 and 0.91 Mg DM ha-1 yr-1 with harvests at early and late heading, respectively. The nutritive value of timothy harvested at stem elongation was greater in older (production years 5, 6, and 7) than in younger (first 4 production years) swards as indicated by in vitro true digestibility of DM (+ 48 g kg-1 DM), in vitro digestibility of NDF (+ 77 g kg-1 NDF), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration (-62 g kg-1 DM); this difference, explained mostly by the lower DM yield of older swards, disappeared when timothy was harvested later on in the growth cycle. Rates of change in nutritive value observed during the phase of reproductive development in spring growth were, therefore, greater in older than in younger swards. Our results demonstrate clearly the decline in timothy productivity with age and its consequences on nutritive value. Key words: Phleum pratense, harvesting year, stages of development, yield, digestibility


1966 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Grimes ◽  
B. R. Watkin ◽  
J. R. Gallagher

1. In a grazing experiment with sheep, cocksfoot, rye-grass and tall fescue were grown with and without white clover, under ‘short’ and ‘long’ management systems.2. One sheep on each plot was fitted with an oesophageal fistula, from which herbage samples were collected at fortnightly intervals. The botanical composition of samples from the mixed swards was estimated by an optical point quadrat method. Samples were analysed for crude protein and cellulose, and digestibility was estimated in vitro.3. Treatment difference within the mixed swards were not significant in terms of botanical composition. The mean proportions selected were 73% grass, 9% clover and 18% dead matter. The proportion of clover selected did not differ significantly between sample collections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwatosin Bode Omotoso

Abstract Background The use of cocoa pod husk in livestock nutrition is being limited because of its fibrous nature and anti-nutrients, which have detrimental effect(s) on the animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value and effects of replacing urea-treated ensiled cocoa pod husk meal (urea-treated CPHM) with cassava peel in a complete concentrate diet (CCD) on in vitro digestibility and methane (CH4) production. Methods Urea-treated CPHM was prepared by soaking the raw milled pod in 5% urea solution under anaerobic condition for 7 days, and decanted and the filtrates were further ensiled for 28 days, dried, and were replaced with cassava peel meal in CCD at 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15% on part basis. Feed samples (n = 3) were analyzed for chemical composition, and data generated from in vitro study were subjected to statistical analysis in a completely randomized design experiment. Results Results revealed that the treatment significantly reduced the crude fiber, fiber fraction contents, and anti-nutrients and improved the crude protein content of the pod by 71.84%. Dry matter and crude protein of the diets ranged from 89.34–89.71% and 10.52–12.84%, respectively. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) increased with increasing levels of urea-treated CPHM in the diets. With increasing levels of urea-treated CPHM, CH4 production relatively reduced as compared to diet E. Metabolizable energy (5.66 Kcal/g) of diet F was the highest. Therefore, the inclusion of urea-treated CPHM at 15% in CCDs has the potential for improving digestibility and reducing CH4 production in ruminants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitti Wajizah ◽  
Samadi Samadi ◽  
Yunasri Usman ◽  
Elmy Mariana

(The evaluation of  nutritive value and In Vitro digestibility of oil palm fronds through fermentation by using  Aspergillus niger  with  different soluble carbohydrate sources) ABSTRACT. Oil palm frond (OPF) is one of potential sources of alternative feed, but has limited use due to high crude fiber and low crude protein contents. Fermentation is one of the methods widely applied to improve nutritive value of animal feed. The purpose of this research is to increase nutritive value of fermented oil palm fronds by adding different soluble carbohydrate source into fermentation media. The results of the experiments indicated that fermented oil palm fronds by Aspergillus niger had a significant effect (P0,05)  on the content of crude protein, crude fiber, and ash. Generally, fermented oil palm fronds with different soluble carbohydrate was able to increase the content of crude protein of oil palm fronds, but not optimal yet in reducing the crude fiber content of fermented substrate. However, the addition of rice bran on the fermentation medium showed the best results, characterized by increasing crude protein and decreasing crude fiber contents as well as improved dry matter and organic matter digestibility, reflected in high concentration of VFA. 


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