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Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization upon the Yield and Digestibility of Aftermath Timothy Forages Fed to Dairy Heifers^{1, 2,}

Department of Animal Science, University of Maine, Orono

ABSTRACT

Effects of using four levels of nitrogen fertilization 0, 50, 100, and 200 lb per acre, on the yield and nutritive value of aftermath Climax timothy forage were studied. Digestion trials were conducted with pregnant Guernsey heifers with the chromic oxide indicator technique. Nitrogen fertilization caused marked increases in yield and protein content of these forages. Changes in nutrient digestion included a significant increase in protein digestibility (P < .01) with each increase in nitrogen fertilization, and significant decreases in crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract digestibility (P < .01), when comparing the 0–100 lb of nitrogen treatments and the 0–200 lb of nitrogen treatments.

Acre yields of digestible protein increased with each nitrogen treatment from 69 to 200 lb to 307 and to 390 lb. Similar yields of total digestible nutrients were 528, 1,337, 1,487, and 1,528 lb per acre, respectively. Percentage increases in acre yields of digestible nutrients in response to nitrogen fertilization were: digestible protein 0–50 lb of nitrogen 189.9% increase, 50–100 lb of nitrogen 53.5% increase, and 100–200 lb of nitrogen 27.0% increase; digestible energy 0–50 lb of nitrogen 156.5% increase, 50–100 lb of nitrogen 13.0% increase, and 100–200 lb of nitrogen 1.3% increase; total digestible nutrients 0–50 lb of nitrogen 153.2% increase, 50–100 lb of nitrogen 9.9% increase, and 100–200 lb of nitrogen 2.8% increase.

¹ This study was part of a Northeast Regional Project (NE-24 Forage Evaluation), a cooperative study involving agricultural experiment stations in the northeast region and supported in part by regional funds.

² This study was financed in part by the generous support from the Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation and the American Cyanamid Company.

³ Present address: Department of Animal Industries, University of Connecticut.