A modified method for assessment of the morphological stage of development as a predictor of alfalfa herbage chemical composition and nutritive value

Božičković, Aleksa; Grubic, G.; Verbič, J.; Žnidaršič, Tomaž; Djordjević, N.; Stojanović, Bojan

doi:10.1017/s0021859613000129

Cited by 6 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Stage of maturity at the time of harvest is considered to be one of the most important factors affecting forage chemical composition of lucerne (Hakl et al ., ; Božičković et al ., ). Within a dense stand, the competition for light between plants produces a decrease in leaf and stem N concentration (Lemaire et al ., ), which is consistent with reduced CP concentration of plant parts and increased MSL from bud to flower stage in the present experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Differences in the crude protein fractions of lucerne leaves and stems under different stand structures

Hakl

Fuksa

Konečná

et al. 2015

Grass and Forage Science

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Protein degradability in forage legumes is of global importance because utilization efficiency of forage has economic and environmental consequences. However, there are no published studies on the effect of legume stand structure on differences in crude protein (CP) fractions. The main objective of the present research was therefore to investigate differences in CP fractions in leaves and stems of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) during the growing season. Stand traits were measured over 2 years, and forage was sampled at the early bud and early flower stages in the first, second and third cuts. Stems had significantly higher concentrations (in g kg−1 CP) of non‐protein (fraction A: 430 g kg−1 CP) and indigestible nitrogen (fraction C: 92 g kg−1 CP) than leaves and had lower relative content of true protein (fraction B: 478 g kg−1 CP). In the total forage (stems and leaves combined), about 80% of the variation in CP fractions was explained by year, cut and maturity. Year was the most important factor, particularly for the B fractions. Cut was the second‐most important factor; its main effect was that the relative abundance of fraction A declined from 394 g kg−1 CP in the first cut to 293 in g kg−1 CP the third cut. Maturity increased the amounts of indigestible fraction C and protein fractions B1 and B3. This was associated with the leaf weight ratio, which had an inverse relationship with maximal stem length and dry matter yield. Variation partitioning showed that 75% of CP fraction variability associated with cut, maturity and year could be explained by the evaluated stand traits. This research has highlighted the need to consider plant morphological traits when legume CP fractions are evaluated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Differences in the crude protein fractions of lucerne leaves and stems under different stand structures

Hakl

Fuksa

Konečná

et al. 2015

Grass and Forage Science

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“…According to Božičković et al (2013), there were no statistically significant differences between MSW and MSFW when calculated on the same sample, while correlation between these two values was very strong ( r > 0.99). Also, Božičković et al (2013) suggested that for prediction of MSFW on the basis of measured MSW, the equation developed from the first three growth cycles, Eq. [4], should be used:

{MSFW}_{predicted} = 0.9808 \times MSW

…”

mentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Our previous investigation (Božičković et al, 2013) showed that it is possible to obtain an accurate MSW value without drying. The difference of the new approach from the original methodology is that the fresh weight was used to obtain the mean stage of development.…”

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confidence: 99%

Testing of a Modified Methodology for Determination of Mean Stage of Development in Alfalfa

et al. 2016

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For all crop species, an accurate, quick, and simple method for determination of mean development stage of plants has a key role for scientific and practical use. The investigation was performed to validate a modified methodology for determination of mean stage of development in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The modified methodology, mean stage by fresh weight (MSFW), assumes that mean stage by weight (MSW) could be determined by fresh, and not only by dry weight, as was required by the original methodology. A total of 198 alfalfa samples were collected in 2010 and 2011. Sampling completely covered three growth cycles: spring growth and first and second regrowths. The correlation (r) between MSW and MSFW was >0.99. In 92% of samples, absolute deviation between MSW and MSFW was <0.15 on a scale between 0 and 9. The equation for prediction of MSFW based on measured MSW, MSFWpredicted = 0.9808 × MSW, was developed with the data from the first year (n = 141) and tested with second‐year samples (n = 57). Prediction error, expressed by root mean squared deviation (RMSD), was 0.045, while components of mean squared deviation (MSD), such as squared bias (SB), nonunity slope (NU), and lack of correlation (LC), were 8.12 × 10−4, 5.45 × 10−4, and 6.67 × 10−4, respectively. Values close to zero in all three MSD components show that validation line had a ≈ 0, b ≈ 1, and r2 ≈ 1. As a simpler methodology, MSFW gives an opportunity to be more applicable in practice with all of the benefits of the MSW methodology.

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“…The detailed sampling procedure was given by Božičković et al (2012;2013). During 2010, on the same alfalfa field a total of 141 fresh samples were collected.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of all that, the adequate evaluation of optimal moment for cutting can be conducted only with the data about chemical composition and nutritive value of alfalfa. For that estimation, different methods can be utilized: mean stage of development (Kalu and Fick, 1981;Božičković et al, 2013) and method according to Hintz and Albrecht (1991). It is also possible to use the Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).…”

Section: Growth Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in alfalfa cell wall structure during vegetation

et al. 2014

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The investigation was done on 141 samples of one alfalfa cultivar, collected from the same location during the first three growth cycles: spring growth, the first and the second regrowth. Within each growth cycle, sampling was done during the whole growing period, commencing when plant height was below 150 mm and continuing until plants were bearing ripe seeds. On all collected samples the following cell wall characteristics were determined: neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP), acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP). Cellulose and hemicellulose were detected on the base of the mentioned chemical parameters. Significantly lower (p<0.01) content of aNDF, ADF, ADL, ADICP and cellulose is found in the second regrowth, while there were no significant differences between the other two growth cycles. Except in NDICP and ADICP, the increase in all accompanying components of the cell wall was observed, and expressed in average daily changes. There was no consistent trend in NDICP and ADICP. During the spring growth from late bud to full-bloom stage the 'plateau' was observed. The plateau was represented as almost constant content of aNDF, ADF, ADL and cellulose. The correlations between all components of the cell wall were shown. The equation aNDF = 36.713 + 1.181 × ADF is recommended for conversion of ADF into aNDF in alfalfa.

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A modified method for assessment of the morphological stage of development as a predictor of alfalfa herbage chemical composition and nutritive value

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

Differences in the crude protein fractions of lucerne leaves and stems under different stand structures

Differences in the crude protein fractions of lucerne leaves and stems under different stand structures

Testing of a Modified Methodology for Determination of Mean Stage of Development in Alfalfa

Changes in alfalfa cell wall structure during vegetation

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