The Effect of Time of Cutting on the Mineral Content of a Single–species Sward

Abstract

Herbage samples are often taken for analysis in advisory problems concerning suspected mineral deficiencies in livestock. The adequacy of single samples is here assessed on two dissimilar sites. For this purpose S23 ryegrass was cut at similar stages of growth throughout the growing season and analyses carried out to determine the variation in the levels of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, copper, cobalt and manganese resulting from different cutting dates. In many cases significant differences occurred between the levels of a particular element at different times during the year. These differences were large enough in some cases to influence advice based on a single result if taken in isolation.

Semi‐natural grassland biomass for combustion: influence of botanical composition, harvest date and site conditions on fuel composition

“…Sites DCG1, DCG2 and IHM, having the highest plant Ca concentrations, all had a soil pH of 7·2 or higher. Plant Mg concentrations were likewise closely related to plant‐available soil Mg, consistent with the results by Baker and Reid (1977) and Thomas (1967).…”