Partitioning of Major Elements Concentrations in Grasses into Four Cell Fractions Based on Enzymatic Solubility

To investigate availability of major elements to animals, N, P, K, Ca and Mg of plant dry matter were partitioned into 4 cell fractions based on enzyme solubility. When the elemental concentration of forage was compared, Dactylis glomerata was higher in K (1.69%), Festuca aru11dinacea in N (2.35%), K (1.68%) and Mg (Q.341 %) and Lolimum perenne in N (2.54%), P (0.224%) and Ca (0.457%). When compared between plant parts, concentrations of all elements.were higher in leaf than in stem, especially P, Ca and Mg. As a result of partitioning, more than 85% of P, K and Mg resided in lhe water­soluble cell fraction. A large proportion of N was detected in the actinase soluble fraction, and a considerable proportion of Ca in the cellulase soluble fraction. The proportion of elements in each cell fraction did 1101 differ significantly between leaf and stem.