Using Si-rich materials for increasing fodder grass quality and quantity

Improvement of forage quality is one of the essential issues to enhance livestock productivity. Bahiagrass is a popular fodder plant used as pasture species and for hay production, but it lacks the nutritional quality. In greenhouse experiment, the effect of silicon (Si) (calcium silicate and amorphous silicon dioxide) and nitrogen (ammonium nitrate) supplementation on bahiagrass growth and protein content was evaluated. Both types of fertilizers significantly increased the biomass and crude protein content in leaves of bahiagrass. Higher effect was obtained when Si was applied together with nitrogen. The increases were 78 to 100% for biomass and 57 to 59% for crude protein content. Considering that improved plant Si nutrition mitigates the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, the Si involvement into fertilizer management strategy in fodder crops could be efficient for maintaining productivity and quality.