Effect of N on bahiagrass quality

 When averaged across all harvests in a season,
crude protein content of bahiagrass regrowth forage
increased with increasing rates of N fertilization
(Table 1), but increases were relatively small.
Crude protein increases were most pronounced


20001


1500


1000


500


1987


Forage DM Yield, Ibs/A


Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

S No Fert. M 60 Ib N, March = 120 Ib N March/Sept


1988


Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

I No Fert, E 60 Ib N, March = 120 Ib N, March/Sept


1989


immediately following N application in March and
September and rapidly diminished within 4 to 8
weeks (Figure 2). Short-term increases in crude
protein content of the magnitude observed would be
important in spring grass when cows grazing this
forage are usually nursing young calves and being
rebred.


1987


% Crude Protein


JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC


S No Fert E 60 Ib N, March E 120 Ib N, March/Sept



, f..m, D.^+.,m 1988


 MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

 S No Fert M 60 Ib N, March ED 120 Ib N, March/Sept




% Crude Protein 1989


 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

 SNo Fert. E 60 Ib N, March E 120 Ib N, March/Sept

Figure 1. Effect of N fertilization on dry matter yield of bahia-
 grass by month averaged over eight ranches in
 south Florida.


2

 MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

 I No Fert M 60 Ib N, March l 120 Ib N, March/Sept

Figure 2. Effect of N fertilization on the crude protein content
 of bahiagrass by month averaged over eight ranches
 in south Florida.


3