Clipping Frequency and Fertilization Influence Herbage Yields and Crude Protein Content of 4 Grasses in South Texas

Crude protein content of herbage produced by buffelgrass, blue panicgrass, and Bell rhodesgrass was improved with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and clipping every 4 or 8 weeks, compared to harvests only at the end of the growing season. Within a fertilization level, the 8-week clipping frequency generally increased dry matter production of the grasses over the 4-week clipping frequency or the end-of-season single harvest. Kleberg bluestem herbage generally contained less protein at all phenological stages than that of buffelgrass, blue panicgrass, or Bell rhodesgrass, and dry matter production was not increased by fertilization. Crude protein content of Kleberg bluestem herbage was only slightly increased with the highest level of fertilization, regardless of clipping frequency.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202