Investigations into the chemical composition and nutritive value of certain forage plants at medium altitudes in the tropics I. Seasonal variation in the chemical composition of the grassesBothriochloa insculpta, Chloris gayanaandBrachiaria dictyoneura, under rotational light grazing, with a note on the persistence of the grasses

Abstract

Seasonal variations in the contents of organic and inorganic constituents of three East African grasses,Bothriochloa insculpta, Chloris gayanaandBrachiaria dictyoneuraare reported.Protein content is closely associated with rainfall and the stage of growth of the grasses. Protein content of from 15 to 20% is maintained for a short time only, at the beginning of the rainy season. During the dry season the values fall to 4–5%.Even in the vegetative phase the fibre contents are relatively high, 23% being the lowest figure recorded.A common feature of the grasses is a high content of silica, which may amount to more than 10% of the dry matter.The phosphorus content of the grasses is low, ranging from 0·65% P2O5in young grass during the rainy season to 0·13% during the dry season.