Litter Mass, Deposition Rate, and Chemical Composition in Bahiagrass Pastures Managed at Different Intensities

• Published in: Crop science Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 1299 - 1304
• Main Authors: Dubeux, J.C.B. Jr, Sollenberger, L.E, Vendramini, J.M.B, Stewart, R.L. Jr, Interrante, S.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison Crop Science Society of America 01.05.2006; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical composition; chemical constituents of plants; Chemicals; Crop residues; dry matter accumulation; forage crops; forage grasses; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; grazing intensity; Growing season; Height; Litter; Nutrients; Organic matter; Paspalum notatum; Pasture; Pasture management; pasture plants; Pastures; plant litter; seasonal variation; Soil science; Soils; stocking rate; Sward; Florida; United States; North America; America; USA, Florida, Pensacola; Nitrogen fertilization; Monocotyledones; Litter; Gramineae; Pasture; Paspalum notatum; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Chemical composition; Fodder crop; Stocking rate; Deposition
• ISSN: 0011-183X; 1435-0653
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2005.08-0262

Plant litter is an important pathway of nutrient return to the soil in grazed swards, but the effects of pasture management on litter mass and composition are not well understood. This research evaluated the effect of management intensity, defined in terms of N fertilization and stocking rate (SR), on litter mass, deposition rate, and chemical composition in continuously stocked 'Pensacola' bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pastures growing on Pomona and Smyrna sands. Treatments were three management intensities: Low (40 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and 1.3 animal units [AU, one AU = 500 kg live weight] ha-1 SR), Moderate (120 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and 2.7 AU ha-1 SR), and High (360 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and 4.0 AU ha-1 SR). Greater management intensity resulted in less litter mass on the pasture early in the growing season and more litter mass later in the season. Rate of litter deposition was generally greatest for High and ranged between 23 and 40 kg organic matter (OM) ha-1 d-1 compared with 13 to 30 kg OM ha-1 d-1 for Low and Moderate management intensities. Increasing management intensity from Low to High resulted in greater litter N (14.1 vs. 22.9 g kg-1) and P (0.8 vs. 1.3 g kg-1) concentrations and lesser C:N (40 vs. 22), C:P (649 vs. 433), and lignin:N (5.8 vs. 4.4) ratios. More intensive pasture management was associated with greater litter deposition rate and litter quality than less intensive management, suggesting a larger nutrient contribution from litter in intensively managed swards.