Influence of Nitrogen on Productivity and Nutritive Value of Forage Chicory

Abstract

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is highly productive and responsive to N fertilization under midsummer conditions in the eastern USA. We conducted a field experiment for 3 yr on a Ramsey soil (loamy, siliceous, subactive, mesic Lithic Dystrudept) in southern West Virginia to determine if fertilizer N influenced forage chicory nutritive value and NO3–N concentration. Each N rate (0, 80, 160, 240, or 480 kg N ha−1) was replicated three times in a randomized block design. Swards were clipped at 6‐wk intervals during the growing season. Swards were virtually pure chicory in the first year (1994) regardless of N rate. By the third year (1996), chicory ranged from about 40% (0 N) to less than 5% (480 kg N ha−1) of swards. Botanical composition changes in the sward influenced dry matter (DM) response to N rate and herbage nutritive value. Dry matter production increased with N rate in 1994, but was not affected by N in 1996 when chicory was not a major sward component. More than 70% of total annual DM production in 1994 occurred after the first harvest, but by 1996 was less than 50%, reflecting productivity patterns typical of cool‐season swards. Nitrate concentrations in herbage were greatest (3.5 g kg−1) in 1995, a relatively dry year, and least (2.3 g kg−1) in 1996, when there was less chicory in the sward. Crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) values indicated high forage quality throughout the course of the experiment.

Dry‐Matter Production, Allocation and Nutritive Value of Forage Chicory Cultivars as a Function of Nitrogen

“…1999). Early accumulation and gradual decline in NO 3 observed for Forage Feast, Lacerta and Grasslands Puna grown in glasshouse agrees with observations on field‐grown Grasslands Puna (Belesky and Ruckle 2000). Repeated defoliation altered shoot : root DM allocation, but did not appear to cause an increase in NO 3 as suggested by Vuylsteker et al.…”

“…The results suggest that N could improve the likelihood of chicory establishment where leaf number is considered a criterion for success (Sanderson and Elwinger 2000). Under field conditions, plant density as well as leaf appearance should be taken into consideration for stand persistence when high rates of N are applied (see Belesky and Ruckle 2000). The leaf appearance rate of Lacerta, prior to N application averaged 0.21 leaves plant −1 day −1 or about 10 leaves in a 50‐day growth interval.…”

Growth and chemical composition of chicory and performance of lambs grazing chicory relative to grass–clover mixtures

“…The observed CP content of chicory from both experiments was consistent and higher than that reported by Elgersma et al (2014) but in the lower range of values reported by others (Belesky et al, 2000;Labreveux et al, 2006;Kidane, 2010). The reasons could be that, at least, in other experiments the crop was adequately fertilized and it is also reported that the crop responds to (nitrogen) fertilization (Collins & McCoy, 1997;Belesky et al, 2000) with increased CP and DM yield.…”

“…The reasons could be that, at least, in other experiments the crop was adequately fertilized and it is also reported that the crop responds to (nitrogen) fertilization (Collins & McCoy, 1997;Belesky et al, 2000) with increased CP and DM yield. Furthermore, the botanical composition of chicory in our trial was about 52%, on DM basis, whilst the rest was accounted for by annual weeds which could have diluted the CP content of the chicory sward.…”

Yield and Persistence of Forage and Root-type Chicory Cultivars

“…In New Zealand, up to 33% of Puna chicory plants died in the first year of grazing (10). West Virginia research demonstrated that the chicory component of mixed species pastures decreased from 80 to 20% of sward dry matter after 3 years of cutting management (3) and that high N fertilization rates (> 400 lb/acre) hastened stand decline (4). Nitrogen was applied at 150 lb/acre (in three applications of 50 lb/acre each) in the current study, thus N fertilization may not have contributed to stand decline.…”