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Chemical Composition and In Vitro Digestibility of Vertical Layers of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.)¹

Coastal bermudagrass, fertilized at two levels (224-98-112 and 1,120-98-560 kg N-P-K/ha) was clipped at 6-week intervals and separated into six vertical layers. Each layer was assayed for dry matter (DM), cell wall constituents (CWC), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), aciddetergent lignin (ADL), and in vitro digestibility for three harvests during 1965. One harvest was assayed for crude protein (CP) content. In vitro digestibility increased from basal to top layers. Associated with this increase were lower ADL and ADF and small decreases in CWC. Fertility level did not significantly influence ADL or ADF content of vertical layers, however, lower CWC in the top layers at the high fertility level was observed. Increased in vitro digestibility associated with the high fertility level was considered a result of the greater protein content of the forage. Although "quality" as indicated by chemical composition and in vitro digestibility was greater in the upper layers, the high proportion of dry-matter yield in the lower layers indicates that more total nutrients were present in the basal layers of the sward.

Key Words: Cell wall constituents • Acid-detergent fiber • Acid-detergent lignin • Vertical distribution

² Research Soil Scientists and Chemist, respectively, USDA, Watkinsville, Ga. 30677.

Received for publication March 8, 1969.

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