Relationship between Carbohydrate, Nitrogen Contents, and Regrowth of Tall Fescue Tillers

Abstract

Nitrogen and water-soluble carbohydrate contents of Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb) tillers were determined on a regrowth following clipping to a 25cm stubble. There was a sharp decline in water-soluble carbohydrates of tillers as a result of clipping and N fertilization. Dry matter N content increased during the same time. The reduced carbohydrate content for clipped tillers lasted for some 10 days following clipping. After the initial decrease, water-soluble carbohydrate content in tillers increased for the next 80 days. The negative correlation between tiller N and carbohydrate content suggested that initial tiller regrowth was obtained partially from carbohydrate reserves in addition to current photosynthate production. N application immediately following clipping is at a time of low carbohydrate content and could well cause stand reduction.

Interspecies Variation of Forage Nutritive Value and Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Perennial Cool‐Season Grasses

“…Both forage NDF and ADF were negatively correlated with concentrations of most NSC components. Bahrani et al (1983) reported that N concentration of tall fescue (Kentucky 31) tiller bases 10 d following clipping (around early October in Athens, GA) was linearly and negatively correlated with water‐soluble carbohydrate concentration. In our study, forage CP content was positively correlated with total NSC concentration across the 13 cool‐season grass entries of five species at preheading.…”

Forage growth and nutrient cycle of aspen forest communities in Alberta's lower foothills subregion

“…Forage production on the continuously clipped treatment was 40-65% lower compared to the control when the same plots were clipped in May of the next growing season. Severe defoliation often affects the ability of plants to regrow by reducing carbohydrate reserves (Menke and Trilica 1981, Bahrani et al 1983, Richards and Caldwell 1985. Severe defoliation coupled with winter respiration affected the ability of the plants to regrow the next growing season reducing total forage production.…”