Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T04:04:19.661Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of interval between harvests and nitrogen application on the digestibility and digestible yield and nitrogen content and yield of four ryegrass varieties in the first harvest year

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Wilman ,
D. Droushiotis ,
A. Koocheki ,
A. B. Lwoga  and
J. S. Shim
D. Wilman
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
D. Droushiotis
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
A. Koocheki
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
A. B. Lwoga
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
J. S. Shim
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The effect of six intervals between harvests and three levels of N application on digestibility, digestible yield and nitrogen content and yield was studied in four ryegrass(Lolium) varieties during a 30-week period in the first harvest year in a field experiment.

Digestibility was higher with a 3-week than with a longer interval between harvests. Yield of digestible organic matter was increased by extending the interval from 3 to 6 weeks, but was slightly reduced by extending from 6 to 10 weeks.

Increase in the level of applied N increased the degree of curvature downwards in the response to extending the interval in both yield of digestible organic matter and yield of N, supporting the view that N use should be accompanied by shortened intervals between harvests.

Digestibility varied by up to 15 units D-value from one time of the year to another with a constant interval between harvests. The highest values were in the spring. Autumn values were low in spite of a relatively high proportion of green leaf.

During the period immediately following the main period of stem development, doubling the interval from 4 to 8 or from 5 to 10 weeks reduced digestibility by 10 units and reduced digestible yield by 22%.

In the absence of applied N, the N yield of S. 321 was 31% greater than the average of S. 22, S. 23 and S. 24. However, the apparent recovery of applied N in S. 321 was much lower than in the other varieties.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 86 , Issue 2 , April 1976 , pp. 393 - 399
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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

Agricultural Research Council (1965). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock. No. 2. Ruminants. Agricultural Research Council, London. Pp. 264.Google Scholar
Dent, J. W. & Aldrich, D. T. A. (1968). Systematic testing of quality in grass varieties. 2. The effect of cutting dates, season and environment. Journal of the British Grassland Society 23, 13–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faithfull, N. T. (1971). Automated simultaneous determination of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium on the same herbage digest solution. Laboratory Practice 20, 41–4.Google Scholar
Holliday, R. & Wilman, D. (1965). The effect of fertilizer nitrogen and frequency of defoliation on yield of grassland herbage. Journal of the British Grassland Society 20, 32–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minderhoud, J. W., Van Burg, P. F. J., Deinum, B., Dirven, J. G. P. & T'Hart, M. L. (1974). Effects of high levels of nitrogen fertilization and adequate utilization on grassland productivity and cattle performance, with special reference to permanent pastures in the temperate regions. Proceedings Xllth International Grassland Congress, Moscow. (In the Press.)Google Scholar
Ojuederie, B. M. (1974). Effects of nitrogenous fertilizer on grass growth. Ph.D. thesis. University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Phipps, R. H. (1975). The effects on dairy cows of grazing pasture containing high levels of nitratenitrogen. Journal of the British Grassland Society 30, 45–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prine, G. M. & Burton, G. W. (1956). The effect of nitrogen rate and clipping frequency upon the yield, protein content and certain morphological characteristics of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.). Agronomy Journal 48, 296–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raymond, W. F.(1969). The nutritive value of forage crops. Advances in Agronomy 21, 1–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinclair, K. B. & Jones, D. I. H. (1963). Nitrate poisoning in ruminants. Report of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station for 1962, 97–101.Google Scholar
Tilley, J. M. A. & Terry, R. A. (1963). A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. Journal of the British Grassland Society 18, 104–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilman, D. (1970). The effect of nitrogenous fertilizer on the rate of growth of Italian ryegrass. 3. Growth up to ten weeks: nitrogen content and yield. Journal of the British Grassland Society 25, 242–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilman, D., Droushiotis, D., Koocheki, A., Lwoga, A. B. & Shim, J. S. (1976). The effect of interval between harvests and nitrogen application on the proportion and yield of crop fractions in four ryegrass varieties in the first harvest year. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge, 86, 189–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar