Abstract
The research was undertaken to determine the effect of the biostimulant Kelpak SL, derived from brown seaweed species Ecklonia maxima (kelp), on structural and nonstructural carbohydrates, as well as lignin content in orchard grass and Braun’s festulolium. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. It was set up at the experimental facility of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, in late April 2009. The following factors were examined: an application of the plant growth regulator Kelpak SL applied at the rate of 2 dm3·ha-1 vs an untreated control (0 dm3·ha-1), pure sown grass species and cultivars grown in monoculture: Dactylis glomerata, cv. Amila and Tukan, as well as Festulolium braunii cv. Felopa and Agula. This study revealed that an application of Kelpak significantly reduced cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents of the grasses but significantly increased non-structural carbohydrates, regardless of the remaining factors. Non-structural carbohydrates were the highest in Kelpak-treated Festulolium braunii (on average, 232.7 g·kg-1).
Highlights
Grassland provides the cheapest and whole feed [Jankowska-Huflejt, Wróbel 2008], and structural and non-structural carbohydrates, as well as lignin content are, among others, one of criteria of assessing food value
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the biostimulant Kelpak SL on structural and non-structural carbohydrates as well as lignin content in orchard grass and Braun’s festulolium
Forage grass species are highly variable in relation to lignin content as well as structural and nonstructural carbohydrates due to an effect of biological, ecological and anthropogenic factors, cultural practices in particular
Summary
Grassland provides the cheapest and whole feed [Jankowska-Huflejt, Wróbel 2008], and structural and non-structural carbohydrates, as well as lignin content are, among others, one of criteria of assessing food value. Structural carbohydrates and lignin reduce feed digestibility [Chaves et al 2002] and energy value whereas non-structural carbohydrates improve the nutritional value and flavour of plants and they determine feed utilisation direction and production technology. Sustainable agriculture has been increasingly interested in an application of seaweed extracts which may be used as biostimulants and liquid fertilisers because they contain plant hormones (auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins) [Durand et al 2003, Strik et al 2004], macroelements (e.g.: Ca, K, P) and microelements (Fe, Cu, Zn, B, Mn, Co and Mo) [Khan et al 2009, Craigie 2011].
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