Chemical composition of sixty-four species of range pasture grass grown on a Victoria clay loam soil
1945
Fraps, G.S. | Fudge, J.F.
Protein, phosphoric acid, and lime were determined in 336 samples of 64 important species of grasses grown on a Victoria clay loam at San Antonio, Texas, collected on six dates covering a period of over a year. Crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, water, and ash were determined in 222 of the samples. Considerable differences in chemical composition were found among the various species of grasses. These differences were found not only among different genera but also among different species of the same genus. Percentages of protein and phosphoric acid were generally relatively high in Cynodon and Paspalum species and relatively low in Andropogon, Hilaria, and Eragrostis species. Advancing maturity greatly decreased the percentages of protein and phosphoric acid inall species, so that many were deficient for beef cattle in phosphoric acid and protein. The relative decreases differed considerably with differences in genera and species. The relative decrease due to maturity was least in short grasses commonly found in the subhumid section of the state and greatest in tall grasses ordinarily found in the humid section. Species of grasses of importance to the native pastures of the humid section of the state averaged lower in protein and phosphoric acid and a much larger proportion of the samples were deficient in these constituents than is the case in species of importance to the ranges of the subhumid section. Species ordinarily found on improved pastures of the humid section may be as good as or better than those of the subhumid section.
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