57  The effect of growing season and fertilization on ADF and NDF levels in three species of warm-season grass

• Published in: Journal of equine veterinary science Vol. 100; p. 103520
• Main Authors: Miller, R.M., Urso, P.M., Suagee-Bedore, J.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.05.2021
• Subjects: ADF; Digestibility; NDF; NDF; ADF; Digestibility
• ISSN: 0737-0806; 1542-7412
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103520

ADF and NDF reduce nutrient digestibility in horses, however the effects of climate, time of day, and fertilization on these fibers have not been adequately studied in our region of east Texas. Therefore, the focus of this research was to analyze the NDF and ADF content of 3 varieties of warm season grasses: Jiggs Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.)], Tifton 85 Bermudagrass [Tifton 68 bermudagrass X PI 290884], and Pensacola Bahiagrass [Paspalum notatum Flüggé var. saurae Parodi], in response to season, time of day, and fertilization. Plots were set up in a grid design to prevent cross-contamination. Half of the plots were fertilized at a rate of 105.23 kg/acre (FERT) and half were unfertilized (CON). Samples were collected at 6AM and 6PM on, or as close to the first of the month as possible, from May through September, which encompassed the entire growing season for these grasses. ADF and NDF were analyzed using an ANKOM 200 Fiber Analyzer (ANKOM Technology, Macedon, New York) according to the manufacturer's instructions. All data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED function of SAS (v. 9.4 SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). For Bahia, %NDF was greater in CON than FERT (P = 0.01) and AM than PM (P = 0.02), across all months. For Jiggs bermudagrass, %NDF was not different between treatments (P > 0.4) and was greater in AM than PM (P = 0.03), across all months. For Tifton 85 bermudagrass, %NDF was not different between treatments and time points (P > 0.7), across all months. For Bahia, %ADF was not different between treatments (P = 0.31) or between time points (P = 0.13), across all months. For Jiggs bermudagrass, %ADF was greater in CON than FERT (P = 0.001) but was not different between time points (P > 0.1), across all months. For Tifton 85 bermudagrass, %ADF was not different between treatments and time points (P > 0.3), across all months. ADF and NDF varied across months for all 3 species (Table 1). ADF was lowest for Bahia and Tifton 85, and NDF was lowest in all 3 species at the beginning of the growing season regardless of time of day or treatment. This indicates that month had a greater impact on ADF and NDF content than time of day or fertilization.