Publication Date
1997
Description
This study reports on the nutrient content and digestibility of five cool-season grasses common in the Mixed-Prairie Ecoregion of Saskatchewan, Canada: (1) green needlegrass (Stipa viridula Trin.); (2) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata Trin & Rupr.); (3) western porcupinegrass (Stipa curtiseta (Hitchc.) Backworth); (4) northern wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.); and (5) western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.). Plant material was collected monthly and analyzed for invitro organic matter digestibility ( IVOMD), crude protein (CP), P, Ca, ADF and NDF. All species showed similar intra-seasonal pattern in the various parameters studied and no species x month interactions were found. Differences among species in digestibility and nutrient content were found mainly during the growing season (May-Sept.). In particular, western wheatgrass showed higher IVOMD, CP and P and lower ADF and NDF during that period than the other species. The data suggest the need for supplemental protein and P when grazed during the fall, winter and early spring.
Citation
Abouguendia, Zoheir, "Nutrient Content of Saskatchewan Native Range Plants" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 18.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session21/18
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Nutrient Content of Saskatchewan Native Range Plants
This study reports on the nutrient content and digestibility of five cool-season grasses common in the Mixed-Prairie Ecoregion of Saskatchewan, Canada: (1) green needlegrass (Stipa viridula Trin.); (2) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata Trin & Rupr.); (3) western porcupinegrass (Stipa curtiseta (Hitchc.) Backworth); (4) northern wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.); and (5) western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.). Plant material was collected monthly and analyzed for invitro organic matter digestibility ( IVOMD), crude protein (CP), P, Ca, ADF and NDF. All species showed similar intra-seasonal pattern in the various parameters studied and no species x month interactions were found. Differences among species in digestibility and nutrient content were found mainly during the growing season (May-Sept.). In particular, western wheatgrass showed higher IVOMD, CP and P and lower ADF and NDF during that period than the other species. The data suggest the need for supplemental protein and P when grazed during the fall, winter and early spring.
