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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379221
Research Project: Quantifying Air and Water Quality Benefits of Improved Poultry Manure Management Practices

Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research

Title: Water soluble carbohydrate accumulation and fluxes in warm-and cool-season forages grown in a silvopastoral system

Author
item Ashworth, Amanda
item NIYIGENA, VALENS - University Of Arkansas
item Nieman, Christine
item ACHARYA, MOHAN - University Of Arkansas
item PHILIPP, DIRK - University Of Arkansas
item MEADORS, LILLIAN - University Of Arkansas
item Adams, Taylor
item Sauer, Thomas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2020
Publication Date: 10/15/2020
Citation: Ashworth, A.J., Niyigena, V., Nieman, C.C., Acharya, M., Philipp, D., Meadors, L., Adams, T.C., Sauer, T.J. 2020. Water soluble carbohydrate accumulation and fluxes in warm-and cool-season forages grown in a silvopastoral system. Abstract. ASA-SSSA-CSSSA, November 8-11, 2020, Virtual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Forage management and environmental conditions affect water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) storage, and, in turn, influence ruminant forage utilization in agroforestry systems. The objective was to determine effects of four dependent variables: forage species {(non-native, C3 [orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)] and native C4 mix [8:1:1 big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Michx. Nash) and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.)]}; fertility (poultry litter and a control); forage sampling date (mid-May, late-May, early-June, mid-June, and late-June); and, hour of day (0800, 1100, 1400, and 1700), on forage WSC accumulation and quality in a silvopasture system from May to July, 2018 and 2019. Overall, concentrations of WSC (g kg DM-1) were greater (P < 0.01) in C3 compared to C4 forages, with poultry litter not impacting WSC accumulation. In relation to sampling date and hour of day, WSC was greatest (P = 0.05) mid-June, with the lowest (P = 0.05) WSC concentration observed at 0800 compared to 1100, 1400, and 1700, regardless of photosynthetic pathway. Therefore, harvesting forage later in the day resulted in greater WSC in both forage groups. There were positive correlations (P = 0.05; R = 0.52) between WSC and forage nutrient concentrations (K, Mn, P), yield, ash, and hour of day. A stepwise regression model indicated acid detergent fiber, ash, and forage P content were best predictors (R2= 0.85, P = 0.05) of forage WSC. These results may be useful in future studies aimed at explaining diurnal cattle grazing preference and optimum forage harvest timing in silvopastoral systems.