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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #173735
Title: EFFECTS OF SIMULATED RAINFALL ON NITROGEN PARTITIONING AND RUMEN DEGRADABLE PROTEIN IN WILTING BERMUDAGRASS FORAGES

Author
item OGDEN, ROBIN
item COBLENTZ, WAYNE
item SCARBROUGH, DEAN
item TURNER, JOHN
item HUMPHRY, J
item COFFEY, KEN
item DANIEL, TOMMY
item Sauer, Thomas - Tom
item JENNINGS, JOHN
item KELLOGG, D

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2004
Publication Date: 11/4/2004
Citation: Ogden, R.K., Coblentz, W.K., Scarbrough, D.A., Turner, J.E., Humphry, J.B., Coffey, K.P., Daniel, T.C., Sauer, T.J., Jennings, J.A., Kellog, D.W. 2004. Effects of Simulated Rainfall on Nitrogen Partitioning and Rumen Degradable Protein in Wilting Bermudagrass Forages [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of simulated rainfall on rumen degradable protein for wilting bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hays. Rainfall was applied with a rainfall simulator at a constant rate of 76 mm/h in graded amounts totaling 0, 12, 25, 38, 51, 64, or 76 mm. Bermudagrass forage was desiccated to 761, 400, or 130 g/kg of moisture in the field prior to applying the simulated rainfall and was allowed to air dry on top of grass stubble or were oven-dried under forced air at 50°C. For bermudagrass receiving simulated rainfall immediately after mowing (761 g/kg moisture), CP exhibited an interaction of rainfall amount and drying method (P = 0.022); however, the overall range was not excessive (15.0 to 17.3%). Degradable intake protein was affected (P = 0.0001) only by drying method, with oven-dried estimates being greater than air-dried estimates (57.4 vs. 50.9% of CP). For bermudagrass wilted to 400 g/kg moisture, CP was not affected by main effects or their interaction. Degradable intake protein was affected (P = 0.042) only by drying method, with oven-dried estimates being greater than air-dried estimates (56.7% vs. 54.6% of CP). For dry bermudagrass (130 g/kg of moisture), CP increased linearly (P = 0.003) and quadratically (P = 0.041) with rainfall amount, and degradable intake protein increased slightly with linear (P = 0.002) and quartic (P = 0.019) effects.