Seasonal and Diurnal Changes in Starch Content and Sugar Profiles of Bermudagrass in the Piedmont Region of the United States

Kagan, Isabelle A.; Kirch, B.; Thatcher, Craig D.; Teutsch, Christopher D.; Elvinger, François; Shepherd, D.M.; Pleasant, Scott

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2011.08.010

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The effect of sampling day on NFC can be explained by the increase in starch concentration that occurs with advanced plant maturity, starting at 1.3% on d 0 and increasing to 3.8% on d 112 (SEM = 0.4). Similar results were observed by Kagan et al (2011). Depending on the hybrid under consideration, concentration of NFC and/or WSC may differ.…”

Section: Forage Properties Grazing Management and Animal Performancesupporting

confidence: 82%

The effect of bermudagrass hybrid on forage characteristics, animal performance, and grazing behavior of beef steers1,2

Scaglia

Boland

2014

Journal of Animal Science

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Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) is a major feed source for ruminants across the southeastern United States. In 4 consecutive yr, 3 different bermudagrass hybrids, Alicia, Jiggs, and Tifton-85, were evaluated under a low stocking rate as forage and hay sources. The nutritive value, in situ DM digestibility, and performance and grazing behavior of beef steers under similar management were evaluated. Sampling day had an effect (P < 0.05) on all forage variables. Percentages of CP and TDN decreased while concentration of ADF, NDF, lignin, and nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) increased as grazing season advanced. Alicia had lower nutritive value, showing greater lignin (5.3%) and indigestible fraction (44.9%) compared to Jiggs (4.9 and 35.6%, respectively) and Tifton-85 (4.5 and 40.1%, respectively). Tifton-85 contained the lowest concentration of NFC (11.8%). Steers grazing Jiggs and Tifton-85 had greater ADG (0.51 and 0.55 kg, respectively) and BW gain per hectare (258 and 279 kg, respectively) than those on Alicia (0.36 kg and 184 kg/ha, respectively); results that are probably explained by the lower nutritive value characteristics of the latter. Most grazing behavior variables were affected (P < 0.05) by time of the day (TOD) and grazing period. Two major grazing events were observed at dawn and dusk. Grazing time (32 min) was lowest (P = 0.003) while standing (140 min) and lying (98 min) time were greater (P = 0.001 and 0.04, respectively) from 1100 to 1559 h, probably as an effect of temperature and humidity at that time of the day. During summer, the temperature humidity index (THI) is above 72 (mild heat load) for the entire season and above 79 (severe heat load) during most of the daylight hours from June to August. Heat load likely affected animal performance and grazing behavior; however, some characteristics associated with these bermudagrass hybrids, especially with Alicia, such as its percentages of lignin and indigestible fraction may also partially explain the poor animal performance. In the conditions of the study, environmental variables (temperature and humidity), as well as the type of bermudagrass hybrid, affected animal performance and grazing behavior of recently weaned beef steers.

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Section: Forage Properties Grazing Management and Animal Performancesupporting

confidence: 82%

The effect of bermudagrass hybrid on forage characteristics, animal performance, and grazing behavior of beef steers1,2

Scaglia

Boland

2014

Journal of Animal Science

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“…Although some did not achieve significance, these trends suggest that the response of carbon reserves to drought stress is not always consistent for different species or organs within a day. A similar result was reported by Kagan et al (2011) for bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). In addition, NSC concentration showed a significant diurnal fluctuation (see Table S1 available as Supplementary Data at Tree Physiology Online).…”

Section: Drought Effects On Carbohydrate Reservessupporting

confidence: 89%

“…However, defining appropriate periods is difficult because NSC fluctuation is affected by phenology and by the time of the growing season. Carbohydrate concentrations of plants also fluctuate during the day (Kagan et al 2011) because plants deplete their carbohydrates to maintain dark respiration at night. After overnight burning, the levels of carbohydrate drop to a minimum in the predawn hours (Sulpice et al 2009, Stitt andZeeman 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbohydrate dynamics of three dominant species in a Chinese savanna under precipitation exclusion

Jin

Liu

et al. 2018

Tree Physiology

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The potential impact of drought on the carbon balance in plants has gained great attention. Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) dynamics have been suggested as an important trait reflecting carbon balance under drought conditions. However, NSC dynamics under drought and the response mechanisms of NSC to drought remain unclear, especially in water-limited savanna ecosystems. A precipitation exclusion experiment was performed to simulate different drought intensities in a savanna ecosystem in Yuanjiang valley in southwestern China. Growth, total NSC concentration and diurnal change of NSC were determined for the leaves and non-photosynthetic organs of three dominant species (Lannea coromandelica, Polyalthia cerasoides and Heteropogon contortus) throughout the growing season. Drought significantly reduced the growth of all the three species. Total NSC concentration averaged ~8.1%, varying with species, organ and sampling period, and did not significantly decrease under drought stress. By contrast, the diurnal change of NSC in these three species increased under drought stress. These results indicate that these three dominant species did not undergo carbon limitation. Thus, relative change in NSC is a more sensitive and effective indicator than carbon reserves in evaluation of plant carbon balance. These findings provide new insights for the understanding of carbon balance and the mechanisms of carbon starvation.

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“…Warm-season grasses, which are grasses with higher optimal growth temperatures and often a C4 photosynthetic pathway, generally have lower levels of NSC than cool-season forages, and no fructan, a simple carbohydrate thought to play a role in laminitis ( Kagan et al, 2011 ). Staniar et al (2010) found teff hay ( Eragrostis tef ) presented adequate nutrition and low carbohydrate levels for horses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Staniar et al (2010) found teff hay ( Eragrostis tef ) presented adequate nutrition and low carbohydrate levels for horses. Kagan et al (2011) measured carbohydrate levels of bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) at different stages of maturity, and at different times of day, and found it to have suitably low carbohydrate levels to be considered safe for horses prone to laminitis. While these studies on introduced forage species have provided alternatives to high-carbohydrate cool-season forages for horses, no studies have examined the use of native warm-season grasses (NWSG) in equine forage systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating digestibility and toxicity of native warm-season grasses for equines

Ghajar

McKenzie

Fike

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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Introduced cool-season grasses are dominant in Virginia’s grasslands, but their high digestible energy and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) levels pose a risk for horses prone to obesity and laminitis. Native warm-season grasses (NWSGs) have lower digestible energy and NSC levels that may be more suitable for horses susceptible to laminitis. Although NWSGs have desirable characteristics, they are novel forages for horses. Little is known about NWSG intake or potential toxicity to horses or how grazing by horses may affect NWSG swards. The overall objectives of this research were to 1) assess voluntary intake, toxicological response, and apparent digestibility of NWSG hays fed to horses; and 2) evaluate the characteristics of three NWSG species under equine grazing. For the first objective, a hay feeding trial using indiangrass (IG) (Sorghastrum nutans) and big bluestem (BB) (Andropogon gerardii) was conducted with nine Thoroughbred geldings in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Voluntary dry matter intake of IG and BB hays by horses were 1.3% and 1.1% of BW/d, lower than orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), an introduced cool-season grass, at 1.7% of BW/d (P = 0.0020). Biomarkers for hepatotoxicity remained within acceptable ranges for all treatments. Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) did not differ among hays, ranging from 39% to 43%. NSC levels ranged from 4.4% to 5.4%, below maximum recommended concentrations for horses susceptible to laminitis. For the second objective, a grazing trial was conducted comparing IG, BB, and eastern gamagrass (EG) (Tripsacum dactyloides) yields, forage losses, changes in vegetative composition, and effects on equine bodyweight. Nine, 0.1-ha plots were seeded with one of the three native grass treatments, and each plot was grazed by one Thoroughbred gelding in two grazing bouts, one in July and another in September 2019. IG had the greatest available forage, at 4,340 kg/ha, compared with 3,590 kg/ha from BB (P < 0.0001). EG plots established poorly, and had only 650 kg/ha available forage during the experiment. Grazing reduced standing cover of native grasses in IG and BB treatments by about 30%. Horses lost 0.5–1.5 kg BW/d on all treatments. Findings suggest IG and BB merit further consideration as forages for horses susceptible to obesity and pasture-associated laminitis.

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Seasonal and Diurnal Changes in Starch Content and Sugar Profiles of Bermudagrass in the Piedmont Region of the United States

Cited by 13 publications

References 21 publications

The effect of bermudagrass hybrid on forage characteristics, animal performance, and grazing behavior of beef steers1,2

The effect of bermudagrass hybrid on forage characteristics, animal performance, and grazing behavior of beef steers1,2

Carbohydrate dynamics of three dominant species in a Chinese savanna under precipitation exclusion

Evaluating digestibility and toxicity of native warm-season grasses for equines

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