Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
Research on forage feeding value other than in vivo assessment can be roughly divided into three kinds of approach. The first aims to predict feeding value using a set of enzymatic or physical methods. A second approach is based on phenological stages of species. These approaches are mainly used for pure stands of improved grasses or legumes. However, for native grassland, a complex type of vegetation, a third approach, based on botanical records, has been proposed to rank grassland communities for their feeding value. The aim of this work concerns the third approach. We tested whether leaf traits (e.g. specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf life span (LLS)), assessed under non-limiting plant growth conditions, ranked the species in the same order as did chemical components and digestibility.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Are Leaf Traits Suitable for Assessing the Feeding Value of Native Grass Species?
Research on forage feeding value other than in vivo assessment can be roughly divided into three kinds of approach. The first aims to predict feeding value using a set of enzymatic or physical methods. A second approach is based on phenological stages of species. These approaches are mainly used for pure stands of improved grasses or legumes. However, for native grassland, a complex type of vegetation, a third approach, based on botanical records, has been proposed to rank grassland communities for their feeding value. The aim of this work concerns the third approach. We tested whether leaf traits (e.g. specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf life span (LLS)), assessed under non-limiting plant growth conditions, ranked the species in the same order as did chemical components and digestibility.
