Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands
Interest in management of native warm-season grasses for multiple uses is growing in southeastern USA. Forage quality response of early-succession mixed stands of big bluestem (BB, Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (IG, Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (SG, Schizachyrium scoparium) to harves...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/3/2/266 |
| _version_ | 1819294656090865664 |
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| author | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin |
| author_facet | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin |
| author_sort | Vitalis W. Temu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Interest in management of native warm-season grasses for multiple uses is growing in southeastern USA. Forage quality response of early-succession mixed stands of big bluestem (BB, Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (IG, Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (SG, Schizachyrium scoparium) to harvest intervals (30-, 40-, 60-, 90 or 120-d) and durations (one or two years) were assessed in crop-field buffers. Over three years, phased harvestings were initiated in May, on sets of randomized plots, ≥90 cm apart, in five replications (blocks) to produce one-, two-, and three-year-old stands, by the third year. Whole-plot regrowths were machine-harvested after collecting species (IG and LB) sample tillers for leafiness estimates. Species-specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR) were greater for early-season harvests and shorter intervals. In a similar pattern, whole-plot crude protein concentrations were greatest for the 30-d (74 g·kg−1 DM) and the least (40 g·kg−1 DM) for the 120-d interval. Corresponding neutral detergent fiber (NDF) values were the lowest (620 g·kg−1 DM) and highest (710 g·kg−1 DM), respectively. In vitro dry matter and NDF digestibility were greater for early-season harvests at shorter intervals (63 and 720 g·kg−1 DM). With strategic harvesting, similar stands may produce quality hay for beef cattle weight gain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:29:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e1903b7b09e49a98f9cc762126b9e65 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:29:47Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e1903b7b09e49a98f9cc762126b9e652022-12-21T17:15:26ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472014-05-013226628310.3390/plants3020266plants3020266Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed StandsVitalis W. Temu0Brian J. Rude1Brian S. Baldwin2Agricultural Research Station, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USAAnimal and Dairy Science Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USAPlant and Soil Sciences Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USAInterest in management of native warm-season grasses for multiple uses is growing in southeastern USA. Forage quality response of early-succession mixed stands of big bluestem (BB, Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (IG, Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (SG, Schizachyrium scoparium) to harvest intervals (30-, 40-, 60-, 90 or 120-d) and durations (one or two years) were assessed in crop-field buffers. Over three years, phased harvestings were initiated in May, on sets of randomized plots, ≥90 cm apart, in five replications (blocks) to produce one-, two-, and three-year-old stands, by the third year. Whole-plot regrowths were machine-harvested after collecting species (IG and LB) sample tillers for leafiness estimates. Species-specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR) were greater for early-season harvests and shorter intervals. In a similar pattern, whole-plot crude protein concentrations were greatest for the 30-d (74 g·kg−1 DM) and the least (40 g·kg−1 DM) for the 120-d interval. Corresponding neutral detergent fiber (NDF) values were the lowest (620 g·kg−1 DM) and highest (710 g·kg−1 DM), respectively. In vitro dry matter and NDF digestibility were greater for early-season harvests at shorter intervals (63 and 720 g·kg−1 DM). With strategic harvesting, similar stands may produce quality hay for beef cattle weight gain.http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/3/2/266native grasswarm-seasonbluestemdigestibilitycompositioncrude proteindefoliationforage qualitymixed standharvest interval |
| spellingShingle | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands Plants native grass warm-season bluestem digestibility composition crude protein defoliation forage quality mixed stand harvest interval |
| title | Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_full | Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_fullStr | Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_short | Nutritive Value Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_sort | nutritive value response of native warm season forage grasses to harvest intervals and durations in mixed stands |
| topic | native grass warm-season bluestem digestibility composition crude protein defoliation forage quality mixed stand harvest interval |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/3/2/266 |
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