ARS | Publication request: ESTIMATING DRY MATTER LOSSES IN RAIN-DAMAGED ORCHARDGRASS AND BERMUDAGRASS HAYS USING SIMULATED RAINFALL AND INTERNAL MARKERS

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: November 14, 2002
Publication Date: November 14, 2004
Citation: Scarbrough, D.A., Coblentz, W.K., Turner, J.E., Daniel, T.C., Sauer, T.J., Skinner, J.V., Coffey, K.P., Kellogg, D.W. 2004. Estimating dry matter losses in rain-damaged orchardgrass and bermudagrass hays using simulated rainfall and internal markers [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate concentrations of fiber components (NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and acid-detergent insoluble ash (ADIA) for their effectiveness as internal markers to accurately predict losses of DM in bermudagrass and orchardgrass hays that were damaged by simulated rainfall. Actual losses of DM determined using gravimetrical techniques increased for both forages in response to simulated rainfall (P<0.023). For both forages, concentrations of NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, and ADIA increased in primarily linear (P<0.030) patterns with simulated rainfall. Recoveries of fiber components were high (>982 g/kg), and did not change in response to artificial rainfall for orchardgrass (P>0.115) or bermudagrass (P>0.063) forages. Linear regressions of predicted losses of DM on actual losses were good (r-squared > 0.727; P<0.031) when any fiber constituent or ADIA was used as an internal marker, but NDF was especially effective (Y = 1.12X - 5.1); r-squared = 0.971; P<0.0001). These data indicate that DM loss can be predicted accurately when fiber constituents are used as internal markers.