Variation in nitrogen and mineral composition in populations of prairie grass (Bromus unioloidesH.B.K.)

Abstract

Abstract Twelve lines of prairie grass (Bromus unioloides H.B.K.), most of them selected for high yield of foliage, were measured for concentrations of 15 major and minor elements in the harvest of foliage taken during spring growth. Significant differences (about twofold) between lines were obtained in the concentrations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, iodine, and silicon, but not for potassium, chlorine, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, and copper. A significance test was not obtained for selenium. There were significant negative regressions of element concentration, on dry weight of foliage harvested, for calcium, magnesium, total nitrogen, and phosphorus. When the 12 populations were compared for total amounts of these elements present in the harvested foliage, they differed significantly only for sodium and phosphorus. The organic anion content, as measured by the total cation minus anion content for the major inorganic elements, was very low in all lines. ...