Effects of Plant Shredding on Nutrient Content of Four South Texas Deer Browse Species

Abstract

The nutrient content [crude protein (CP), P, Ca, K, and Mg] of the regrowth of shredded and current growth of nonshredded (control) plants was measured for 4 important deer browse species in south Texas. Plants were shredded in February, April, and July of 1980. Plants shredded in February and their controls were sampled for nutrient analyses at 2, 6, and 9 months after shredding. Plants sinredded in April and July and their controls were sampled for analyses 2 months after shredding. Two months after shredding, regrowth from plants shredded in February, April, and July generally had higher CP and P than current growth from nonshredded plants. Few differences were detected in CP and P at 6 and 9 months after shredding. These results indicate that CP and P levels could be increased in initial regrowth from plants shredded at various dates during the growing season. Levels of Ca, K, and Mg did not differ between shredded and current growth, or they were slightly lower in the regrowth.