COMPOSITION OF I'ASTURE GRASS 7 



In view of what has been said above regarding lack of correlation between avail- 

 able phosphorus in the soil and the phosphorus content of the grass growing on it, 

 the wisdom of applying phosphate fertilizers to the soil for the purpose of increas- 

 ing the phosphorus in the herbage, may be questioned. In fact, it is doubtful if 

 economic considerations would warrant such n procedure. 



In those cases where the evidence points to a definite shortage of phosphorus, 

 probably a better plan would be to allow the animals access to a mineral supple- 

 ment such as steamed bone meal, or to feed them small amounts daily of such 

 concentrates as wheat bran, linseed meal, or cottonseed meal, all of which are 

 relatively rich in phosphorus. 



There is an opportunity here for further investigation in order to ascertain the 

 etificacy of such practices under conditions in this state and in New England gener- 

 ally. Similar procedures in other regions of the United States and in certain for- 

 eign countries where the shortage of phosphorus is acute have proved highly 

 beneficial. 



Summary and Conclusions 



A survey of Massachusetts pastures from the standpoint of chemical composi- 

 tion was conducted during the seasons of 1930 and 1932. Approximately one 

 hundred samples of herbage from representative natural upland pastures were 

 collected from various localities in the five western counties of the state. These 

 were analyzed for moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, calcium, and phosphorus. 

 Samples of the surface soil from some of the pastures were also tested for acidity 

 and available phosphorus content. 



In general, the herbage from pastures located on Becket loam and Stockbridge 

 loam, two common soil types in Berkshire County, was superior to that from 

 pastures in the counties farther east. It contained more protein and minerals 

 and less fiber, and the quantity of grazing available was usually greater. 



Judged by results obtained elsewhere and by standards formulated as a result 

 of e.xperience in the important grazing areas of the world, all of the samples meas- 

 ured up quite well in their protein content and were not unduly high in fiber. The 

 amount of calcium ranged from fair to good, but there was quite a decided de- 

 ficiency of phosphorus. This was especially true on the lighter, less drought- 

 resistant soils and in the autum.n samples. 



In general, moisture, protein, and phosphorus decreased from spring to autumn, 

 while fiber and calcium increased. There was a very definite relation between 

 moisture content of the grass and its content of protein and phosphorus. 



The soils studied were onl}' moderately acid, having a pH range of .5.1 to 6.0, 

 most of them above 5.5. For the most part, however, they were low in available 

 phosphorus, which checks with the deficiency of the herbage in this respect, 

 although no definite correlation between the two could be established. 



It is concluded as a result of the study that : 



(a) The moisture supply is the most important single factor in pasture 

 management. In a region such as this, where the rainfall is (juite uniformly dis- 

 tributed over the territory in question, the supply is dependent very largely on 

 soil type. 



(b) Poor quality of herbage is usually linked with scanty grazing. 



(c) There is an opportunity for investigation of the relative seriousness of 

 phosphorus deficiency in our natural pastures and the best means of overcoming it. 



Publication of this document .\pproved by the Commission on .^dministr.\tion .\nd Finance 

 4M-11 '33. No. 9650. 



