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Effects of nitrogen fertilization on the nutritional quality of mule deer winter forages

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dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Gary L., author
dc.contributor.authorGlover, Fred A., advisor
dc.contributor.authorWallmo, O. C., committee member
dc.contributor.authorSwope, Harold M., committee member
dc.contributor.authorNagy, Julius G., committee member
dc.contributor.authorBailey, James A., committee member
dc.contributor.authorLehner, Philip, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-07T16:15:45Z
dc.date.available2021-09-07T16:15:45Z
dc.date.issued1972-01
dc.description.abstractWinter mortality resulting from starvation has been a serious problem on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) ranges throughout much of the western United States. Such losses have occurred in Colorado during recent years after snow concentrated animals on areas having inadequate food supplies. Associated with their interest in reducing starvation losses, the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Division began testing fertilizer and 2, 4-D treatments to improve forage conditions on winter feeding sites used by mule deer in Middle Park, Colorado. This study undertook to determine how nitrogen treatments affected the nutritional quality of two forage plants on winter range. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer (33% N) treatments supplying 30, 60, 90, and 120 pounds of elemental nitrogen per acre were applied to three study sites during early November, 1969. An untreated plot on each site served as a control. Bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum Pursh) and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) current annual growth collected from the fertilized plots during May, June, September, and December of 1970 and March, 1971 were analyzed for crude protein, cell-wall constituents, calcium, and phosphorus. Separate analyses were performed on leaf and twig portions of big sagebrush. The in vitro digestibilities of all forage samples were determined in duplicate and big sagebrush leaves were analyzed for volatile-oil content. Nitrogen fertilization failed to increase significantly (P >0.05) the concentration of crude protein in big sagebrush tissues during May and September but increased significantly (P <0.05) the concentration of crude protein in big sagebrush tissues during June, December, and March. Nitrogen fertilization increased significantly (P <0.05) the concentration of crude protein in bluebunch wheatgrass during June. This increase was retained throughout the non-growing season. Nitrogen treatments failed to influence significantly (P >0.05) the concentrations of cell-wall constituents, calcium, phosphorus, or volatile oils in the tissues or the in vitro digestibility of the forages. Concentrations of all measured nutrients in the forages and the digestibilities of the forages varied among study sites and among collection dates.
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/233868
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relationCatalog record number (MMS ID): 991004345969703361
dc.relationSB193.W63
dc.relation.ispartof1950-1979
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subject.lcshForage plants
dc.subject.lcshPlants -- Effect of nitrogen on
dc.subject.lcshMule deer
dc.titleEffects of nitrogen fertilization on the nutritional quality of mule deer winter forages
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineFishery and Wildlife Biology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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