Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Oat Forage1,2

Nonstructural carbohydrate content and type depends on the plant species, plant part, stage of development, and environmental conditions such as root and shoot temperatures during growth as well as light intensity and duration, plant nutrient availability, and water status (4,5). In fact, GFS (conce...

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Published inThe Journal of nutrition Vol. 136; no. 7S; p. 2111S
Main Authors Chatterton, N Jerry, Watts, Kathryn A, Jensen, Kevin B, Harrison, Philip A, W Howard Horton
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bethesda American Institute of Nutrition 01.07.2006
Subjects
Carbohydrates
Grasses
Horses
Maturity
Oats
Planting
Tissues
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Summary:Nonstructural carbohydrate content and type depends on the plant species, plant part, stage of development, and environmental conditions such as root and shoot temperatures during growth as well as light intensity and duration, plant nutrient availability, and water status (4,5). In fact, GFS (concentrations up to 15% dry weight) is the only carbohydrate fraction that always declines with plant maturity. 2 Because ambient temperatures at or just before harvest have been shown to influence tructan content in - 100 cool-season grasses when grown in controlled environments (10), the fructan contents of oat forage may also be related to seasonal changes in air temperatures. 3 Starch is present in vegetative tissues (up to 10% dry weight) and generally increases with maturity. 4 Fructan and starch are the major NSC components in harvested oat hay; however, concentrations of GFS may be high during the joint and boot stages of growth. 5 Environmental conditions may be as important as plant maturity in determining NSC content of oat hay.
ISSN:0022-3166
1541-6100