Productivity, Botanical Composition, and Nutritive Value of Swards Including Forage Chicory

Abstract

Pure stands of 'Grasslands Puna' chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) are productive and responsive to N fertilization in the eastern USA.We conducted a field experiment for 3 yr to investigate productivity and nutritive value of swards including chicory, orchard grass (Dactylis g/omerata L.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus comicu/atus L.) as a func· tion of clipping frequency (3-and 6-wk intervals). Each treatment was replicated three times on an upland site of Dekalb series soil (loamy-skeletal, mixed, subactive, mesic Typic Dystrochrept). Modest rates of N, P, and K were applied annually. Herbage mass, botanical composition, in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD), and crude protein (CP) were determined. Cumulative herbage yield was not influenced by initial sward composition with chicory, chicoryorchardgrass, and chicory-orchardgrass-trefoil averaging 6.8 Mg ha-• during a growing season. Clipping frequency influenced yield with canopies clipped at 6-wk intervals producing 26% more herbage than those clipped at 3-wk intervals. Growth rates of canopies clipped at 6-wk intervals averaged 51 kg ha-• d-1 early in the growing season, suggesting that swards including chicory would be responsive to nutrient inputs and where rapid herbage regrowth and nutrient use by the growing crop are needed. Chicory declined in swards with time, regardless of initial sward composition or clipping frequency. Fluctuations in IVOMD and CP were related to changes in sward composition arising from the interaction of time and clipping frequency. Including orchardgrass and trefoil retarded invasion of less desirable species and so provided a means to control overall sward productivity and herbage composition.

Influence of Rhizosphere Ionic Strength on Mineral Composition, Dry Matter Yield and Nutritive Value of Forage Chicory

“…In vitro organic matter disappearance was increased by the 12 IS treatment (Table 4). However, all values are indicative of high quality forage and surpass IVOMD concentrations reported for chicory growing under field conditions by Belesky et al. (1999).…”

“…(2000). Crude protein content across all IS treatments exceeded the requirement for sheep, beef and dairy cattle at all stages of production (National Research Council 1985, 1989, 1996) and also exceeded concentrations found in field‐grown chicory by Belesky et al. (1999).…”

“…2001). ‘Grassland Puna’ chicory responds to mineral fertilizer in terms of higher nutritive value, growth and mineral content (Belesky et al. 1999, 2001, Collins and McCoy 1997, Clark et al.…”

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

“…Chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.) can supplement mid‐ and late‐season forage production in eastern North America (Jung et al. 1996, Belesky et al. 1999, Kunelius and MacRae 1999) and most likely other regions with similar growing conditions.…”

Models Analyses for Allelopathic Effects of Chicory at Equivalent Coupling of Nitrogen Supply and pH Level on F. arundinacea, T. repens and M. sativa

“…Four thousand years ago, chicory roots were used as a substitute for coffee in ancient Egypt [18], [19]. Chicory has a higher content of sodium, zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium and sulphur compared to ryegrass and lucerne [20], [21]. Thus, chicory supplementation in a grass mixture can supply protein, minerals and vitamins to livestock [22].…”