The distribution of trace elements in cocksfoot (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>) at flowering

Abstract

Abstract Comparison of the contents of 24 trace and major elements in the various parts of cocksfoot at the flowering stage shows marked diversity in the distribution of the elements. The different plant parts contribute very different amounts of different elements. The stem, which accounts for 54% of the dry matter, generally contributes most, although on a dry matter basis there is seldom concentration in the stem. Concentration occurs mainly in the leaves and the spikelets which respectively contribute 9 per cent and 20 per cent of the dry matter. The spikelets contain nearly half of the Ni, Zn and Si. Calcium is relatively most abundant in the leaf: only Ni, Se and P do not show concentration in this organ. The contributions of elements by the sheath seldom differ much from its dry matter contribution of 17 per cent. Considerable differences also occur between the same organs from different nodes: the rachis leaf contains 8 times as much Zn as the lowest leaves. The possible significance to animal nutrition of the distribution in different plant parts is pointed out.