Influence of soil pH and fertilization on the dry matter production, chemical composition and digestibility of perennial grasses: I: Anthephora pubescens Nees.

Abstract

Reports the results of a study conducted to investigate the influence of soil pH and fertilization on the dry matter production, chemical composition and organic matter digestibility of Anthephora pubescens evaluated in pots; The influence of soil pH and fertilization (N, P and Zn) on the dry matter (DM) production, chemical composition (crude protein, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn content) and organic matter (OM) digestibility of Anthephora pubescens Nees was evaluated in pots. The highest DM production was obtained in the neutral soil medium (pH 6,5 in H₂O) and alkaline (pH 7,5 in H₂O) soil mediums adversely affected DM yield, crude protein (CP), Zn content and OM digestibility of A. pubescens. Fertilization invariably increased DM production.

Keywords: anthephora pubescens; botany; chemical composition; crude protein; digestibility; dm yield; dry matter production; fertilization; Grasses; k; organic matter; perennial grass; Perennial grasses; ph; phytomass; soil culture; Soil pH; yield; zn

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.