| Abstract: | In order to reveal the effects of different altitudes on the nutritional quality of wild forage in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, this study used Elymus nutans as the tested plants to evaluate the changes of nutrient contents and the correlation between the nutrient contents and altitudes. Four sampling sites were set up at altitudes of 2562, 2660, 2775 and 2905 m with the vertical distance among each sampling point was about 100 m. The results showed that the crude protein, ash and phosphorus contents of Elymus nutans decreased significantly with an increase in altitudes. The crude protein contents decreased by 1.87 ％ with each 100 m increase in altitudes. The variation rule of crude protein contents with altitudes in the simulated curve was "y= –0.0187x+63.244 (R2=0.9557)". The crude ash contents decreased by 1.77％ with each 100 m increase in altitudes. The variation rule of crude ash contents with altitudes in the simulated curve was "y= –0.0177x+56.144 (R2=0.978)". Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) showed an overall increasing trend with the increase of altitudes, but the most obvious increase was at 2775 m. The contents of crude fat and Ca did not change regularly with altitudes. |
