Biological and nutritive characteristics of Sonchus arvensis

Perennial sowthistle（Sonchus arvensis）was used to evaluate its biological characteristics, forage yield and nutrient contents. The results showed that sowthistle was root sprout plant and presented leaf cluster from 20 April to 10 May after returning green. Branches of first class grew from rootstem, while branches of second class were developed from leaf axil, and the branch number of the rootstem was usually 8 to 15 (some were 19 to 22).The plant height was 98.1 cm after blooming, the highest ones reached 120 cm. Its bearing stage was around 120 days. Hay yields of branching stage, budding stage and blooming stage were 1 165.0 kg/hm2, 2 912.6 kg/hm2 and 3 699.8 kg/hm2 respectively. The dry matter based contents of crude protein and crude fat were 21.99% to 36.42% and 20.40% to 30.45% respectively. The contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were 21.99% to 36.42% and 20.40% to 30.45%. Contents of calcium and phosphorus were 1.95% to 2.45% and 0.15% to 0.28% respectively.