A comparison of carotene, protein, calcium, and phosphorus content of buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides, and blue grama, Bouteloua gracilis

Langham, W.; McMillen, W.N.; Walker, L.

A comparison of carotene, protein, calcium, and phosphorus content of buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides, and blue grama, Bouteloua gracilis

1943

Langham, W. | McMillen, W.N. | Walker, L.

The moisture, carotene, crude protein, crude ash, calcium, and phosphorus content of buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) have been determined at intervals during the period from May, 1939, to November, 1941. Moisture, crude protein, carotene, and phosphorus were high in both grasses during the early stages but decreased rapidly as the plants approached maturity. Calcium was quite variable in both varieties throughout the growing season. The average of analyses of all samples taken after frost showed buffalo grass to be much higher in crude protein, crude ash, calcium, and phosphorus than was blue grama. This has been interpreted as indicating that buffalo grass makes better winter pasture and suffers less loss of nutrient material as a result of wintering or leaching than does blue grama. The chemical composition of buffalo grass seems to be affected less by previous clipping than that of blue grama. As a factor in pasture management for the Southern Great Plains area, the effect of frequency or intensity of grazing on chemical composition may be insignificant in comparison with the effect of the variability of weather conditions and grazing on total yield of grass.

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