SEASONAL PATTERNS OF DIGESTIBLE ORGANIC MATTER AND PROTEIN PRODUCTION FROM GRASSES IN THE NORTH PENNINES

The seasonal pattern of digestible organic matter (DOM) and crude-protein production of Lolium perenne, Cynosurus cristatus, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca ovina and Agrostis stolonifera cut to 3 cm at 6-week intervals was studied at five sites ranging from 49 to 303 m above sea level in north-west Lancashire for the years 1969–70. DOM production declined from 482 g/m² on the lowest site to 220 g/m² on the highest; similarly protein production declined from 142 g/m² to 73 g/m². Small but significant differences in the percentage of crude protein occurred only ia 1970, whereas DOM as a percentage of DM in the various species differed considerably between sites in both years. The significance of the results and the seasonal fluctuations in production are discussed.