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Major Differences Between The Plant Families Used As Forages

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18 views2 pages

Major Differences Between The Plant Families Used As Forages

Uploaded by

nhizza dawn Daligdig
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Describe the major differences between the plant

families used as forages.


The major plant families that are used as forages are: grass (Poaceae
previously known as Gramineae), legumes (Fabaceae previously known as
Leguminosae), forbs, shrubs, brassicas, and some trees.
Seventy-five percent of forages are grasses. Of the 10,000 grass species,
about 40 are commonly used as forage. Grasses are usually herbaceous,
which indicates that they produce a seed, do not develop woody tissue, and
die down at the end of a growing season. They are annual or perennial. They
are monocotyledonous which means one leaf sprouts from the seed, and they
often have jointed, slender, sheathing (wrapping) leaves. Grasses can be
large, like bamboo or corn, or small like annual bluegrass. Grass plants
develop fruit called grain which feeds much of the world. Though the grain is
valued by humans, grasses have green leaves and stems not digestible for
humans that are the main food source for animals. Some grain is fed to
livestock but the leaves and stems are the mainstay of animal feed. Grasses
also can be used for building materials, medicines, and biomass fuels.
Grasses are very widespread, adapting to many locations.
Legumes make up the second most common plant family used as forage. Of
12,000 legume species worldwide, about 40 are commonly used for forage.
The area where legumes may grow is more restricted than that of grasses,
and legumes often require more care or management to survive and be
productive. However, legumes are important because they participate in a
symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobium. These
bacteria reduce (change) atmospheric nitrogen to a form available to the
plant. Legumes, therefore, do not require as much nitrogen fertilizer, a costly
item for producers to provide. They are often planted with grasses to provide
nitrogen to the soil and to provide more protein, as legumes are higher in
cellular protein than grasses. Legumes are dicotyledons, which means that
two leaves emerge from the soil. Legumes can be annual, perennial, or
biennial. They produce a pod as their fruit which is indicated by the name
"legume". Legume means: a monocarpellary (one-chambered) fruit containing
a single row of seeds which dehisces (splits) along both seams (ribs, sutures).
There are thousands of legume species in the world but less than 40 are used
commonly for forage. The legume family includes clovers, medics, and
trefoils.
Forbs are herbaceous (not woody), broadleaf plants that are not grass-like.
Grass-like plants include sedges (Cyperaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae).
Forbs are herbs other than grasses. Examples include: comfrey, small burnet,
and chicory. Sunflowers are becoming more popular as a forage forb.

Shrubs are low, several-stemmed, woody plants such as: tumbleweed


(kochia), blackberry, and wild rose.
Mustards (Brassica) have been used to supplement livestock feed for over
600 years. Brassicas are biennials, producing a vegetable the first year and
seed in the second but are usually used as annuals in forage-livestock
systems. Some producers used to harvest the crop and feed it to the animals.
Now, it is more common to see animals grazing the crop which does take a bit
of practice on the animal's part. Some of the brassicas are used for their
leaves and some for their root portions. The major examples include turnip
roots; swedes which include common or oil-bearing rapes: and cabbages
which include kales. (A cross between Chinese cabbage and Stubble Turnip
has produced Tyfon.) Rape and turnips have regrowth potential. Brassicas are
nutritious with high protein and energy capacity. Often these crops tolerate
cold temperatures well and are used to extend the foraging season. In some
areas they can be grown year round and do not demand a lot of cultivation.
They do require much moisture but are intolerant of poor drainage. They are
tolerant of several soil types.
Trees are known as woody, with one main stem and branches. But trees can
also be shrubs or herbs with a tree-like formation (arborsecent). Leaves of
some trees are foraged by livestock and wildlife. The acacia tree is often
grazed by giraffes.

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