Calcium Enrichment Improves Nutritional Value of Rhodesgrass Hay

Rhodesgrass ( Chloris gayana Kunth.) hay is an important feed for livestock, and its nutritional value is often constrained by its low mineral content, leading to poor health and productivity in dairy cattle. This study explores the potential of calcium (Ca) fertilization and postharvest enrichment (PHE) for improving the nutritive value of rhodesgrass hay. The experiment was arranged in a factorial design with two seed coating treatments (coated with 2 g CaSO 4 kg −1 seed and noncoated), nine CaSO 4 basal or foliar application treatments, and three PHE treatments, using three replications in a randomized complete block design. The combined basal (2 t ha −1 ) and foliar (1%) CaSO 4 application increased dry matter (8.5%−8.6%) and metabolizable energy (20.5%−21.6%). The combined basal (2 t ha −1 ), foliar (1%), and PHE treatments (1%) increased crude protein (16%−16.3%), Ca (74.2%−75.7%), and sulfur (84.2%−108.7%) concentration of rhodesgrass hay. The basal application of 2 t ha −1 reduced the neutral detergent fiber (1.3%−1.7%) and acid detergent fiber (4.5%). Seed coating had a nonsignificant effect on studied traits. Similarly, the foliar and PHE treatments did not affect the traits when applied as sole methods. The Ca application through basal (2 t ha −1 ), foliar (1%), and PHE treatment (1%) improved the nutritional value of rhodesgrass hay.