Altering the stocking rate in a rotational grazing system, time of year, and plant species affected the non-structural carbohydrate storage in Florida stargrass pastures. Pastures with high stocking rates had lower levels of total carbohydrates, indicating that regrowth from more severe grazing reduced the amount of carbohydrates stored in these plants. Late season regrowth was limited for all tropical grasses because non-structural carbohydrate storage decreased later in the grazing season, probably as a result of the changing environmental conditions in the fall. Tropical grasses differed in the location of carbohydrate storage, while most carbohydrates were stored in the root/crown area in stargrasses and bahiagrass, Transcala digitgrass stored most of its carbohydrates in the stubble regions of the plant, which made this plant less tolerant of grazing.
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