Dicotyledons enhance the nutritional value of high-altitude grasslands

High-altitude grasslands rich in dicotyledons have a higher nutritional value, particularly towards the end of the growing season. Under extensive management, they produce more biomass (4.4 to 7.6 T DM/ha) than when dicotyledons are absent (3.1 to 7.6 T DM/ha). Under intensive management, biomass is lower in grasslands rich in dicotyledons (4.2 to 8.0 T DM/ha) compared with others (5.5 to 10.1 T DM/ha). The energy value is higher at the end of the season in those rich in dicotyledons (57.5 g PVO0.75/kg compared with 49.1 g), with this difference being more pronounced under intensive management. The protein content is also higher in these grasslands. Data from two high-altitude permanent grasslands subjected to selective weed control.