Seasonal Changes of Mineral Content of Southern Forages

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Abstract
Forage samples were collected at 2-wk intervals during the grazing season from bermudagrass, bahiagrass, millet, and mixed oats and ryegrass pastures. Im- mature stands of the summer grasses were maintained by rotational grazing and clip- ping. Corn silage, sorghum silage, and concentrate samples were collected bi- weekly at feeding. Forages and silages were grown on a Providence silt loam soil and fertilized according to results of soil analyses. Sorghum silage was higher in magnesium (.34 versus .21%) and potas- sium (1.47 versus 1.11%) than corn silage. Both silages were low in copper, zinc, and selenium and averaged 5.6, 21.8, and .056 #g/g. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass con- tained less calcium and potassium than millet or oats and ryegrass. Differences existed among the grasses in manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium. Concentra- tions in bermudagrass, bahiagrass, oats