EFFECT OF FERTILIZATION ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, NUTRITIVE VALUE, AND SILICA CONTENT OF ROUGH FESCUE, FESTUCA SCABRELLA

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Abstract
An area of native prairie containing 80% Festuca scabrella Torr., was fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus at increasing rates. Samples were collected at the heading stage, one and two years after the fertilizer was applied. A significant inverse correlation (r = 0.68**) existed between percent protein and percent silica in the forage. This and other data indicated that a protein content of 16% would be required to prevent the formation of uroliths in cattle. Phosphorus in the forage was adequate for beef cattle nutrition when phosphorus was applied at 200 kg or more per hectare. The percentage of cellulose was significantly (P <.01) less in the forage from plots fertilized in 1962 than in the forage from plots fertilized in 1961 (residual effect). The percentage of cellulose also decreased significantly (P <.01) with increasing rates of fertilization. Percentage of digestible cellulose and nutritive value index (N.V.I.) were not affected by level or year of fertilization.