HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kidambi, S. P. Articles by Keeling, J. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kidambi, S. P. Articles by Keeling, J. W. Agricola Articles by Kidambi, S. P. Articles by Keeling, J. W.

Mineral Concentrations in Forage Sorghum Grown under Two Harvest Management Systems

Dep. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078

A. G. Matches^* and T. P. Karnezos

Dep. of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Entomology, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX 79409-2122

J. W. Keeling

Texas A&M Univ., TAES, Lubbock, TX 79401

^* Corresponding author.

Little information is available on the mineral concentrations of forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] leaves and stems. Our objective was to determine whether commercially available forage sorghum could be expected to supply the minimum mineral requirements for beef cattle when harvested as simulated grazing of pastures (SP) or as hay. In 1987 and 1988, 10 forage sorghum entries were grown near Lubbock, TX, in replicated plantings on a fine, mixed thermic Aridic Paleustolls with supplemental furrow irrigation. There were three SP harvests in 1987 and four in 1988. The hay treatments were harvested twice in 1987 and three times in 1988. Entries and managements were different (P 0.05) in mineral concentrations, as was the management x entry interaction for Mg, K, Na, Cu, and the K/(Ca + Mg) ratio. Generally, for both management systems, leaves had numerically higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, and Mn than stems, while the reverse was true for K, Na, and the K/(Ca + Mg) ratio. Copper and Zn concentrations were not consistent for either harvest schedule or leaves and stems. Minerals found most likely to be limiting for beef cattle (Bos taurus) were P and Zn, but P would generally be adequate if cattle had daily access to leafy growth. Calcium tended to be low and the K/(Ca + Mg) ratio high in stems of the hay harvests. The levels of the other minerals appeared to meet the minimum requirements for beef cattle for most of the growing season. Overall, the 10 entries of forage sorghum appeared similar in meeting mineral requirements of beef cattle.

Received for publication May 26, 1992.