Nutritional Characteristics of Blue Grama Herbage under the Influence of Added Water And Nitrogen

Abstract

The effects of water and nitrogen treatments on nutritional characteristics of blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.] herbage were studied at a native shortgrass prairie site in northeastern Colorado. Results indicated greater total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) (g m-2), protein (g m-2), gross energy (GE) (kcal/m -2), and total carbon (g m-2) in herbage from the water and water + nitrogen treatments than from the untreated control or nitrogen treatments. On the other hand, there were greater concentrations (% dry weight) of TNC and nitrogen in the nitrogen treatment than in the other three treatments. The greater yield of TNC, protein, and GE in the water and water + nitrogen treatments was mainly a result of greater aboveground-live biomass production than in the control or nitrogen treatments. TNC/N and C/N ratios of herbage from these treatments were calculated and are discussed in light of their importance in nutrition of grass forage for livestock production.