Nutritional components of Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora in Dafeng free-range David's Deer habitat of Jiangsu Province,East China:A comparative analysis

During September 2008 to July 2009,a comparative study was made on the nutritional components of Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora in the Dafeng National David's Deer(Elaphurus davidianus) Reserve of Jiangsu.The samples were collected from the sampling sites along 5 sampling lines,with the crude protein,acid detergent fiber(ADF),and neutral detergent fiber(NDF) analyzed.In the Reserve,the crude protein,ADF,and NDF contents of S.alterniflora were averagely 8.09%,36.34%,and 69.82%,and those of P.australis were averagely 2.84%,45.99%,and 77.78%,respectively,suggesting that S.alterniflora had a higher nutritional value than P.australis,and thus,David's Deer would prefer to S.alterniflora rather than to P.australis.