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Abstract
Kudzu (Pueraria montana), a vigorous, perennial warm-season invasive legume is widely spread in the southeastern United States and has the potential to be used as feed by ruminants during its growing season from May until first frost (usually in October). The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritive value of kudzu during a drought-prone growing season. Five samples of apical leaves and stems were harvested once a week from random locations within a 43-year-old kudzu infestation grown on a Cecil clay loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) at the Clemson University Experimental Forest (Clemson, S.C.). We report the effects of plant part, sampling date, mean air temperature (MAT), and precipitation on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) of the kudzu. Dry matter and CP were significantly greater in the apical leaf than in the stem; CP had a significant mean air temperature by plant part interaction. A significant temperature by plant part interaction also existed for Mg. Magnesium was greater in leaf than in the stem at the beginning of the growing season until the end of October, when small differences in Mg concentrations between stem and leaf were observed. Stem and leaf Ca concentrations were not significantly different. Calcium concentrations did vary across the dates (P = 0.002). A significant temperature by plant part interaction existed for Mg concentrations (P = 0.003), Ca to P ratio (P < 0.0001), P concentrations (P = 0.0007), S (P < 0.0001), Zn (P = 0.0053), Mn (P = 0.0014), and Cu (P = 0.006). Overall, kudzu's nutritive value as feed for ruminants during the growing season is highly variable; however, chemical composition was very comparable to other common forages. More frequent and intensive droughts predicted as a result of climate change may limit forage choices; however, kudzu maintains its forage potential for feeding both domestic and wild animals during drought-prone growing season.
Acknowledgments
The following people and organizations have contributed to this study: the Kudzu Coalition of Spartanburg, SC, the Clemson University Experimental Forest, and Kathy Moore, director of the Clemson University Agricultural Service Laboratory. Financial support for this project was provided by the Clemson University Undergraduate “Research, Mentored Discovery, and Creative Activity” Initiative. This article is Technical Contribution No. 5686 of the Clemson University Experiment Station.