ANALYSES OF ACCUMULATION OF CRUDE PROTEIN AND DECREASE IN ITS CONTENTIN THE GROWTH OF CHLORIS-GAYANA KUNTH AND DESMODIUM-INTORTUM (MILL.) URB

This study was conducted to analyze the accumulation of crude protein using equation (A) and to analyze the decrease in crude protein conten t using equation (B) in the growth of Rhodes grass (Rg) and Greenleaf desmodium (Gd). ARCP = 1/W.d(CP)/dt, (A) where W = dry weight of forag e (g/m(2)) (W-1 not equal W-2), CP = amount of crude protein in forage (mg/m(2)), ARCP = accumulation rate of CP per unit W. DCPC = 1/1000.( CP1/W-1 - CP2/W-2) = (1 - W-1/W-2).{1/1000.(CP1/W-1 - <(ARCP)over bar> /RGR(W))}, (B) where DCPC = the decrease in CP content, (1 - W-1/W-2) = forage growth index [FG index], <(RGR(w))over bar>, = mean relative growth rate of forage, <(ARCP)over bar> = mean ARCP, (CP1/W-1 - <(ARCP )over bar>/<(RGR(w))over bar>)/1000 = index for the decrease in the ra tio of CP to W[DRCP index]. Each attribute was given a bar on it to sh ow mean value over the interval of 28 days of regrowth. The following results were obtained: 1. <(ARCP)over bar> over 28 day-growth for Rg w as lower than that for Gd. 2. Larger DCPC in Rg compared with Gd was c aused by higher FG index in Rg. It was suggested that the present meth od gave a macro analysis of the accumulation of crude protein and the decrease in its content in the growth of tropical forages.