Silica content, leaf softness and
digestibility in tall fescue (Festuca
arundinacea Schreb.)
Hypotheses:
• Softer leaves = less trichomes on the leaf margins
• Positive correlation: number of trichomes on the leaf margins ~ silica content
• Negative correlation: digestibility ~ silica content
Methods
Coarse vs. Soft
Clones
•Trichome number
•Silica content
•Digestibility
90
90
Results
80
June
August
September
60
70
DOM (% DM)
70
60
50
50
DOM (% DM)
80
June
August
September
0
2
4
6
8
Trichome number (/mm)
(a)
10
12
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Si content (% DM)
(b)
1.2
1.4