Shade-induced Grass-Tetany- Prone Chemical Changes in Agropyron desertorum and cinereus

Mayland, H.F. and Grunes, D.L. (1974) Shade-induced Grass-Tetany- Prone Chemical Changes in Agropyron desertorum and cinereus. Journal of Range Management. 27(3):198-201.

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Abstract

Grass tetany, a magnesium (Mg) deficiency in grazing ruminants, often
occurs simultaneously with periods of reduced solar radiation levels. The objective of
this study was to determine if reduced radiation levels produce a chemical composition
in grass indicative of a tetany-prone forage. Two grass species were exposed to three
radiation levels (8, 25, and 100% of actual) by shading with burlap cloth. The vegetatively
growing forage was harvested at weekly intervals over a 5-week period during
early spring.

Shaded forage had higher concentrations of Mg than did unshaded forage. However,
shaded forage compared to forage grown in full sunlight would likely result in less Mg
being available to the animal. The hypothesized inverse relationship between radiation
and the incidence of grass tetany in Idaho, Nevada, and Utah is supported by field
observations.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0278
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Grass forage > Chemistry Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:51
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2017 21:49
Item ID:	253
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/253