Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Oat Forage1,2

• Published in: The 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
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda American Institute of Nutrition 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Carbohydrates; Grasses; Horses; Maturity; Oats; Planting; Tissues
• ISSN: 0022-3166

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.