Abstract
Physical properties of forages may provide a simple method of predicting animal voluntary feed intake. Physical measurements, such as shearing force, may indicate the resistance of the forage to particle breakdown during mastication. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of seeding rate on the physical characteristics and cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems, and to relate these characteristics to shearing strength. Stems of eight alfalfa cultivars (120, Legend, Multiking 1, OAC Minto, Saranac, Vernal, Vertus, WL320) seeded at 6, 12 and 24 kg ha −1 were harvested in the first and second production years and divided into three 16 cm segments: top, middle and bottom, and the force required to shear each segment was measured using a modified Ottawa Texture Measuring System. For both years, shearing force, segment weight and stem diameter measurements generally decreased as seeding rate increased when measured at the middle and bottom shearing segments on the stem, but this was not observed for the top shearing segment. Effect of seeding rate on differences in segment weight and stem diameter among cultivars was variable among years and stem segments. Concentrations of cell wall constituents in stems were not influenced by seeding rate, and these influenced shearing force to a lesser extent than physical characteristics. Shearing force was directly related to the diameter and weight of the stem. Because of the associations between shearing force and diameter and weight, physical characteristics of the stem may influence forage breakdown during mastication independently, and to a greater extent than cell wall chemical constituents. Key words: Alfalfa, seeding rate, shearing force, cell wall chemical constituents, diameter, weight
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Higher seeding rate generally decreased stem shearing force, segment weight and stem diameter in the middle and bottom stem segments of alfalfa.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Medicago sativae1 - Organ / stage
- middle and bottom shearing segments on the steme2
- Treatment
- seeding ratee2
- Outcome
- shearing force, segment weight and stem diametere2
- Direction
- decreasede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e2“shearing force, segment weight and stem diameter measurements generally decreased as seeding rate increased when measured at the middle and bottom shearing segments on the stem”
Claim · model-written summary
In alfalfa, the seeding-rate decrease in shearing force, segment weight and stem diameter was not observed in the top stem segment.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Organ / stage
- top shearing segmente3
- Treatment
- seeding ratee2
- Outcome
- shearing force, segment weight and stem diametere2
- Direction
- not observede3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e2“shearing force, segment weight and stem diameter measurements generally decreased as seeding rate increased”
e3“but this was not observed for the top shearing segment”
Claim · model-written summary
The effect of seeding rate on differences in segment weight and stem diameter among alfalfa cultivars was variable among years and stem segments.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Treatment
- seeding ratee4
- Outcome
- differences in segment weight and stem diameter among cultivarse4
- Qualifier
- among years and stem segmentse4
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e4“Effect of seeding rate on differences in segment weight and stem diameter among cultivars was variable among years and stem segments”
Claim · model-written summary
Cell wall constituent concentrations in alfalfa stems were not influenced by seeding rate.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Treatment
- seeding ratee5
- Outcome
- Concentrations of cell wall constituents in stemse5
- Direction
- not influencede5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e5“Concentrations of cell wall constituents in stems were not influenced by seeding rate”
Claim · model-written summary
Cell wall constituents influenced alfalfa shearing force to a lesser extent than physical stem characteristics.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Outcome
- shearing forcee6
- Direction
- to a lesser extente6
- Comparator
- physical characteristicse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e6“these influenced shearing force to a lesser extent than physical characteristics”
Claim · model-written summary
Shearing force of alfalfa stems was directly related to stem diameter and weight.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Outcome
- Shearing forcee7
- Qualifier
- directly relatede7
- Comparator
- diameter and weight of the steme7
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e7“Shearing force was directly related to the diameter and weight of the stem”
Claim · model-written summary
Physical characteristics of alfalfa stems may influence forage breakdown during mastication independently and to a greater extent than cell wall constituents.
- Taxon
- alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Medicago sativae1
- Outcome
- forage breakdown during masticatione7
- Qualifier
- physical characteristics of the steme7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“cell wall chemical constituents of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems”
e7“physical characteristics of the stem may influence forage breakdown during mastication independently, and to a greater extent than cell wall chemical constituents”
The same questions in other papers
density · growth · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results
2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 14 in the opposite direction
- positive
- no effect
- positive
13 papers more in this group
See all 17 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.