The Nutritional Value of Increased Levels of Protein Resulting From Nitrogen Fertilization of Barley

Abstract

Samples of barley having low, medium, and high protein contents were obtained from field fertilizer experiments conducted during 1957 and 1958. The nutritive values of these grains were compared in a feeding trial employing rats as the test animal, and by a semi-quantitative chromatographic estimation of 13 amino acids in the grains. For the feeding experiment all diets were supplemented with minerals and vitamins. Each grain sample was fed with and without added lysine. Animal growth and food efficiency improved with increase in protein levels and with addition of lysine. The 13 amino acids determined accounted for approximately two-thirds and four-fifths of the total protein in the 1957 and 1958 grains respectively. Possible causes of these differences are discussed. The analytical data revealed that percentages of 9 essential amino acids in barley protein were approximately double the amounts reported by other analytical procedures. Compared to previously reported data, there were some noteworthy variations for individual amino acids. There may be practical applications of the procedure used for amino acid determinations in evaluating the protein quality of feed grains. The availability of such a technique could be very helpful to plant breeders concerned with the production of feed grain varieties. The feeding experiment established the nutritive importance for rats, and presumably for swine, of grain protein increases resulting from nitrogen fertilization.

Influence of Variety, Nitrogen Fertilization, Location and Year of Growth on the Nutritive Value of Wheat as Determined by Rat Growth

“…Weight gain and efficiency of food conversion in rats are influenced by the protein content of dietary grain (1,4,6). Nitrogen fertilization may increase the protein content of barley and this additional protein has beJn found (4) t; increase rate of gain Jnd efficiency of food'utilization by rats.…”

“…Nitrogen fertilization may increase the protein content of barley and this additional protein has beJn found (4) t; increase rate of gain Jnd efficiency of food'utilization by rats.…”

The amino acid content of some barley varieties grown in New Zealand

“…1960), and ion-exchange chromatography (Pion, Belsunce, and Fauconneau 1963;Eggum 1964;Pomeranz, Finney, and Hosenay 1966;McGeown and Maguire 1967;Tkachuk and Irvine 1969). The variety of barley analysed has not always been stated, but the amino acid analyses of the following varieties (and country where grown) has been published: Newal (U.S.A.) (McElroy et al 1949 (McBeath et at. 1960).…”

“…1949), paper chromatography (McBeath et at. 1960), and ion-exchange chromatography (Pion, Belsunce, and Fauconneau 1963;Eggum 1964;Pomeranz, Finney, and Hosenay 1966;McGeown and Maguire 1967;Tkachuk and Irvine 1969).…”

Effects of Fertilizers, Species, and Maturity on Yields, Economic Returns, and Nutritive Value of Grasses and Legumes Grown on a Gray Wooded Soil

“…Bentley et al (i956) found that rabbits fed on the forage from fertilized plots, both at Breton and on other sulfur-deficient soils, made faster gains than those fed on forage from unfertilized plots. Fertilizers were shown to improve the yield and nutritive value of wheat and barley (McBeath et al 1960) grown on Gray Wooded soils.…”