Land Condition in the Tropical Tall Grass Pasture Lands. 2. Effects on Herbage Quality and Nutrient Uptake.

Abstract

Herbage quality (in vitro digestibility, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations) of plucked samples, and above ground nutrient uptakes (nitrogen and phosphorus) were compared on plots differing in land condition at 10 sites in northern Australia. Over all sites there was a significant increase in digestibility and nitrogen concentration, and a significant decrease in phosphorus concentration, as land condition declined. Both nitrogen and phosphorus uptake decreased as land condition declined. The results indicate that diet quality may be higher from land in poor condition. However, the large decrease in pasture productivity associated with declining land condition may more than offset this apparent improvement in feed quality.