Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:50:25.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The assessment of herbage legume varieties: III. Annual variation in chemical composition of eight varieties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

W. Ellis Davies ,
T. A. Thomas  and
Norman R. Young
W. Ellis Davies
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth
T. A. Thomas
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth
Norman R. Young
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The primary growth of eight varieties from three species—white clover (3), red clover (4) and lucerne (1)—was sampled at fortnightly intervals during 2 years and the percentage N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVD) were determined.

Differences between species, date of sampling and years were highly significant for all constituents. Clover was significantly different from lucerne for all constituents except P, and white from red clover with the exception of Ca. There was a steady decrease in N, P, K, Na and IVD with advance of date of cutting but no marked trend in Ca and Mg. Some constituents changed considerably from first to second year, decreasingin the case of Ca, and increasing for N, P andNa; the remainder K, Mg, and IVD changed only 4–8%.

The varieties did not give the same relative results in the 2 years for P, K and Ca content, but there was no interaction for N, Na, Mg, IVD content. Species differences accounted for mostof these interactions.

Percentage composition is discussed in relation to the needs of cattle and it is concluded that these herbage legumes provided sufficient Ca, Mg, N, K, and Na (white clover, and the firsttwo cuts of S. 123 red clover and lucerne only) for milk production and growth. The level of P fell below the quoted needs of a 20 kg/day milking cow but was adequate for growth.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , October 1968 , pp. 233 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural, Research Council (1965). The nutrient requirements of farm livestock. No. 2, Ruminants Technical Revieivs, pp. 1–264. London: A.R.C.Google Scholar
Davies, R. O., Morgan, T. B. & Davies, W. E. (1953). The yields and composition of lucerne, grass and clover under different systems of management. I. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 8, 149–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, W. E., Apgeeffith, G. & Ellington, A. (1966). The assessment of herbage legume varieties. II. In vitro digestibility, water soluble carbohydrate, crude protein and mineral content of primary growth of clover and lucerne. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 66, 351–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doll, E. C., Miller, H. F. & Todd, J. R. (1963). Effect of phosphorus fertilization and liming on yield and chemical composition of corn, wheat and red clover. Bull. Ky agric. Exp. Stn no. 682, p. 23.Google Scholar
Gervais, P., Dionne, J. L. & Richardson, W. S. (1962). Productivity and chemical composition of alfalfa as influenced by varying levels of phosphorus and potassium applications. Can. J. Pl. Sci. 42, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kivimae, A. (1959). Chemical composition and digestibility of some grassland crops with particular reference to changes caused by growth, season and diurnal variation. Ada Agric. Scand. 5, 1–142.Google Scholar
Riper, G. E. van & Smith, D. (1959). Changes in the chemical composition of the herbage of alfalfa, medium red clover, ladino clover and bromegrass with advance in maturity. Res. Rep. agric. Exp. Stn Univ. Wisc. 4, 1–25.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. (1966). Statistical Methods, 5th edn, pp. 413–20. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Thomas, B., Thompson, A., Oyentuga, V. A. & Armstrong, R. H. (1952). The ash constituents of some herbage plants at different stages of maturity. Emp. J. exp. Agric. 20, 10–22.Google Scholar
Whitehead, D. C. (1966a). Nutrient minerals in grassland herbage. Commonwealth Bureau of Pastures and Field Crops, Memo Publ. no. 1.Google Scholar
Whitehead, D. C. (1966b). Data on the mineral composition of grassland herbage from the Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, and the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth. Rep. Qrassld Res. Inst. 4, 1–55.Google Scholar
Woodman, H. E., Evans, R. E. & Norman, D. B. (1934). Nutritive value of lucerne. II. Investigations into the influence of systematic cutting at three different stages on the yield composition and nutritive value of lucerne. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 24, 283–311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar