- Author : Drew Ann White
- Publisher :
- Release : 2015
- ISBN :
- Pages : 80 pages
Determining Herbaceous Biomass Production and Nutrient Value at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Texas USA
Download or read book Determining Herbaceous Biomass Production and Nutrient Value at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Texas USA written by Drew Ann White and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited non-profit captive breeding facility for threatened and endangered species, is committed to sustainable habitat management, research and conservation. High stocking rates further stress pasturelands. Objectives were to 1) assess seasonal forage availability and forage nutritional value between cultivated pastures of coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactalon) and native vegetation, and 2) assess seasonal forage availability and nutritional value across various available water holding capacity (AWHC) soil types to promote optimal management of ungulates and pasturelands. Monthly, from June 2013 to May 2014, 80 random points and 8 exclosures were sampled via clippings across 8 soil types and composited by season. Samples ere processed to determine dry matter yield (DN), crude protein (CP), phosphorus (P), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations. Objective 1 found cultivated pastures had greater annual yields (P=0.005); grasses 998 kg/ha and forbs 396 kg/ha compared to native grasses 458 kg/ha and forbs 276 kg/ha. Average annual CP was 12.8% for native and 15.6% for cultivated pastures (P=0.001), Native vs. cultivated pastures interacted with grass and forb ADL concentrations: native forbs had 22.8% and native grasses 28.1%. Results found increased DM productions and increased CP and P concentrations in cultivated pastures suggesting they provide more, higher quality forage than native vegetation pastures. Results from objective two found a three-way interaction (P=0.04) for DM between exclosure and open plots, grass and forbs, and the low medium, and high AWHC soil groups. Increased grass DM yield corresponded to increased AWHC while forb DM yield was greatest in medium C, exclosure plots. Crude protein differed (P=0.015) across season (summer was lowest at 11.59%). A two-way interaction was detected in P between plot type and AWHC soil group. Phosphorus concentrations were lowest in exclosure plots followed by open plots within the medium AWHC soil group. Medium and high AWHC soil groups had 54.74% NDF, compared to 51.98% for the low AWHC soil group. High AWHC soil groups produced greatest grass DM yield, while medium AWHC producted greatest forb DM yield though P was lowest. Results from objective 2 suggest that P supplement may be beneficial. Additionally, decreased summer CP values and high annual percent NDF concentrations advocate summer CP supplement to improve digestibility for ungulates at FRWC.