Nutritional Characteristics of Blue Grama Herbage under the Influence of Added Water And Nitrogen

The effects of water and nitrogen treatments on nutritional characteristics of blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.] herbage were studied at a native shortgrass prairie site in northeastern Colorado. Results indicated greater total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) (g m-2), protein (g m-2), gross energy (GE) (kcal/m -2), and total carbon (g m-2) in herbage from the water and water + nitrogen treatments than from the untreated control or nitrogen treatments. On the other hand, there were greater concentrations (% dry weight) of TNC and nitrogen in the nitrogen treatment than in the other three treatments. The greater yield of TNC, protein, and GE in the water and water + nitrogen treatments was mainly a result of greater aboveground-live biomass production than in the control or nitrogen treatments. TNC/N and C/N ratios of herbage from these treatments were calculated and are discussed in light of their importance in nutrition of grass forage for livestock production.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