Frequency of defoliation and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on Andropogon gayanus Kunth. II. Macroelement concentrations

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in a semi‐arid region located in the State of Zulia, western part of Venezuela (10°32'N and 71°42'W, and 600 mm average annual rainfall), to evaluate ash and macroelement concentrations of Andropogon gayanus Kunth as affected by two frequencies of defoliation (every 42 and 63 days) and fertilization with three levels of nitrogen (N) (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha^‐1‐year^‐1) and two levels of phosphorus (P) (0 and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^‐1#lbyear^‐1) in a factorial array using a split‐split‐plot experimental design with frequencies in the main plots, N in the sub‐plots, P in the sub‐sub‐plots, and two replications. Soil was a sandy‐loam Andisol with pH 5.5. Average soil calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and P contents were 0.6, 0.3, 0.1, and 0.17 meq#lb100 g^‐1 soil and 6 ppm, respectively. Data from six and four cuttings for the frequencies of 42 and 63 days were analyzed over the total duration of the study (252 days) as well as separately for periods with “high”; (168 days, 384 mm) and “low”; rainfall (84 days, 69 mm). In the overall analysis, forage ash content was increased (P≤0.05) by increasing the cutting interval, whereas macroelement concentrations were not affected (P>0.05). Mean Ca, P, Mg, and Na were: 0.20, 0.11, 0.10, and 0.029 with over 90% of the samples inadequate for grazing ruminants. Only mean K content (1.2%) was considered adequate. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence (P>0.05) macromineral composition. Applied P fertilizer increased (P<0.05) forage P concentration from 0.09 to 0.12% and reduced (P≤0.05) the Ca:P ratio, but within the normal range. Most macroelement concentrations in A. gayamts are extremely low, indicating the need for mineral supplementation to prevent deficiencies in ruminants consuming this species.