Forage Resource Management and Integration
| Energy Requirments for Plant Growth How Plants Manufacture Food Factors Affecting a Plant's Response to Grazing Management for Sustainability Integrating Forage Resources Literature Cited |
The process of photosynthesis is the means by which plants manufacture food. Plants assimilate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, take up water and nutrients from the ground and, in the presence of sunlight, produce carbohydrates (CHOs) and oxygen, which the plant will then use for respiration, growth, reproduction and storage. A plant will first use the food (CHOs) it produces for respiration, followed by growth, then reproduction and finally storage. Plants are unique organisms because they are self perpetuating as depicted by the following formulas:
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As you can see, the products of photosynthesis are the inputs of respiration and vice versa. It is important to remember that plants cannot photosynthesize unless they have green, leafy materials (solar panels) above the ground to absorb the sunlight. This is not to imply, however, that plants should not be grazed if they are to reach their full growth potential. In fact, grazing is beneficial to most grasses if applied properly. Grazing by livestock removes older plant growth and stimulates tillering, allowing for increased new growth, which is more photosynthetically efficient. With proper frequency, intensity and season of grazing, most forages are indefinitely sustainable.
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