Publication Date
1997
Description
Perennial grasses are well adapted to the northern U.S.A. and Canada, but the potassium (K) content of grass forage is a major concern in regard to dairy cattle nutrition. Our goal was to identify factors influencing potassium content of grasses, so that a grass management strategy for controlling potassium content could be formulated. Separate experiments were conducted with several perennial coolseason grass species and varieties. Nitrogen fertilization and harvest management also were evaluated. Aside from the obvious positive effect on K concentration caused by commercial K fertilizer or by animal manure application, K concentration was influenced by grass species, grass maturity, time of season and N fertilization. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was consistently high in K content, while timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) were up to 10 g kg-1 lower in K concentration. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) remained high in K content until inflorescence emergence and then declined. Grass regrowth was consistently lower in K content than primary spring growth.
Citation
Cherney, J H. and Cherney, D.J R., "Potassium Accumulation in Perennial Cool-Season Grass Forage" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session17/13
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Potassium Accumulation in Perennial Cool-Season Grass Forage
Perennial grasses are well adapted to the northern U.S.A. and Canada, but the potassium (K) content of grass forage is a major concern in regard to dairy cattle nutrition. Our goal was to identify factors influencing potassium content of grasses, so that a grass management strategy for controlling potassium content could be formulated. Separate experiments were conducted with several perennial coolseason grass species and varieties. Nitrogen fertilization and harvest management also were evaluated. Aside from the obvious positive effect on K concentration caused by commercial K fertilizer or by animal manure application, K concentration was influenced by grass species, grass maturity, time of season and N fertilization. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was consistently high in K content, while timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) were up to 10 g kg-1 lower in K concentration. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) remained high in K content until inflorescence emergence and then declined. Grass regrowth was consistently lower in K content than primary spring growth.
