Classification & Growth Characteristics Flashcards
What is forage?
Edible parts of plants, other than
separated grain, that provide feed for animals or
can be harvested for feeding
What is herbage?
Leaves, stems, roots, and seeds of non-
woody species
What are cultivated forages?
Plants that are seeded and/or grown using agricultural practices such as tillage, irrigation, and fertilization to produce herbage for consumption (can be grazed or packaged and fed as hay or silage) by domestic animals
What is the importance of cultivated forages?
Comprise the majority of nutrients fed to domestic livestock including cattle, sheep, and horses
What are cereal grasses?
Annuals, high seed production; up to ½ yield as seed
– Examples: Corn, sorghums, millets, wheat, oats, rye
What are forage grasses?
Mostly perennials; less than 10% as seed
– Examples: Smooth brome, orchardgrass, tall fescue
What are grass-like plants?
Sedges and rushes
Dominant species in mountain meadows
Legumes
Plants capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen
Hebaceous Dicots
also know as forbs
Legumes: Alfalfa, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil
Non-legumes: Brassicas (turnips, rape, kale), forage chicory
Very few non-legumes are cultivated for forage
Dicots
Broadleaf plants, leaves have net veins, showy flowers
Monocots
All are herbaceous
Narrow leaves with parallel veins, generally have inconspicuous flowers
Woody Dicots
Also know as browse
More important when grazing native rangeland (Willows, four-wing saltbush, antelope bitterbrush)
What are annuals?
Plants that grow from seed and complete their life cycle within a single year or growing season.
What are perennials?
Plants that survive from year to year without reseeding.
What are biennials?
Plants that complete their life cycle in 2 years.
Photosynthetic pathway
What are characteristics of cool-season plants?
C3
- Optimum growth occurs at lower temperatures (range from 60 to 85oF with optimum near 70oF)
- Can still grow slowly at 35oF
- Growth can be maximized at moderate light levels, can become light saturated
- Water use efficiency is lower (lbs H2O/lb dry matter increase)
- Tend to be less drought tolerant
Photosynthetic pathway
What are characteristics of warm-season plants?
C4
- Optimum growth occurs at higher temperatures (range from 85 to 104oF with optimum near 90oF)
- Little growth occurs below 60oF
- Require higher light levels for optimum growth, do not become light saturated
- Water use efficiency is higher
- Tend to be more drought tolerant
What are the types of annuals?
- Winter annuals - Planted in the late summer or early fall, overwinter in a vegetative state, and complete life cycle by early summer.
- Summer annuals - Cool-season species planted in the early spring and complete life cycle by mid summer or warm-season species planted in late spring or early summer and complete life cycle by late summer/early fall.
What are the types of perennials?
- Short-lived - Survive for 3 to 5 years
- Moderately long-lived - Survive 5 to 10 years
- Long-lived - Survive longer than 10 years
