Information on nutritive values of each plant part in each phenological stage could help range managers choose suitable grazing times to achieve higher animal performance without detriment to vegetation. Thus, nutritive value of different plant parts of four species in three phenological stages (vegetative, flowering and seed production) from two sites was investigated. Species included: Sanguisorba minor, Onobrychis transcaspica, Onobrychis radiata and Astragalus brevidens. Forage quality was evaluated based on crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents. A completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of species and phenological stage was analyzed with five replicates. The results of chemical analysis indicated that there were significant differences among different phenological stages of various species in terms of their properties. As the plant ages increased, CP, ME and DMD decreased and ADF increased. Significant differences were obtained between forage quality of diverse species (p<0.01). There were significant differences between CP contents among forbs species (P < 0.01). High ADF percentages were obtained in Astragalus brevidens (47.59%). Low ADF contents were in Sanguisorba minor (36.9%). Astragalus brevidens exhibited the lowest DMD (50.7%). Metabolizable energy ranged from 6.61 for Astragalus brevidens to 7.87 MJ/kg for Sanguisorba minor.

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Comparison of nutritional values of important range species in semi warm steppe rangeland of khouzestan

Phenological stage effects on forage quality of four forbs species

. Information on forage quality in phenological stage could help range managers to choose suitable grazing method to achieve higher animal performance without detriment to vegetation. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) is a non-native perennial grass that was introduced to the Iran in 2008. This plant is a multi use species that could be considered from different viewpoints. Thus, its forage quality in three phenological stages (vegetative, flowering and maturity) was investigated. Samples of each stage were collected and analyzed for 7 quality traits such as Crude Protein (CP), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Metabolizable Energy (ME), Digestible Energy (DE), Ash content (Ash) and Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN). Data were statically analyzed using One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean comparisons were done by Duncan method. The results indicate that there was a significant difference among phenological stages for all the traits (p<0.01). As the plant age increased, the quality values including CP (from 8.89% to 5.25%), DMD (34.79% to 31.63%), ME (3.91 to 3.38 MJ/Kg), Ash (6.7% to 5.5 %,), DE (1.71 to 1.64 Mcals/Kg) and TDN (23.07% to 20.79%) were decreased while ADF was increased (from 63.72% to 65.7%). This led to the reduction of Vetiver grass forage quality. Because of lower values of CP, ME and DMD (except vegetative stage) and higher values of ADF, it was suggested that this species had no prominent place in the ruminants' diet. However, it played important roles in soil conservation and it may be complementary to the native vegetation because it is available at different times of the year considering its phenology and growth season.

http://www.rangeland.ir/article_510004_1545d130b14c4147d13099af2a762a7b.pdf

Investigation of forage quality of vetiveria zizanioides in semi-steppe region of maravehtappeh, golestan province, iran

هديكچ  آرب درو  قيقد  زاين  يبآ  ناهايگ  زا  هياپ  يا  نيرت  ناكرا  يحارط  هايگ و كاخ ،بآ يسدنهم  هب رامش  يم  همانرب نيودت تهج .دور دمآراك تيريدم و بسانم يرايبآ  يم يرورض يهايگ بيرض نييعت ،بآ عبانم  يغاب و يعارز ناهايگ زا يرايسب يارب .دشاب عسوت ،هيلوا) دشر هلحرم راهچ رد يهايگ بيرض .تسا هدش هئارا وئاف نامزاس طسوت (يياهتنا و ينايم ،ه  هك هعلاطم نيا زا فده رد عقاو اسف هاگشناد رد 140  هلاسكي هجنوي هنوگ يهايگ بيرض نييعت ،دش ماجنا زاريش يقرش بونج يرتموليك  Medicago

Comparison of nutritional values of important range species in semi warm steppe rangeland of khouzestan

Citations

Phenological stage effects on forage quality of four forbs species

Investigation of forage quality of vetiveria zizanioides in semi-steppe region of maravehtappeh, golestan province, iran

Determination of crop coefficient (Kc) in Medicago polymorpha species, using weighing micro lysimeter

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