AbstractThe change in leaf to stem ratio with advancing maturity is perhaps the greatest contributing factor in forages to decreased nutritive value. However, the relationship between the digestibility of plant parts has not been determined in most forage grasses. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between digestibility of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermisLeyss.) plant parts and that between them and whole plant digestibility. Thirty genotypes grown as solid stands and spaced plants were used for the study. The leaves, stems, panicles, and whole plants were evaluated for digestibility using the acid‐pepsin dry matter disappearance (APDMD) technique. Genotypes were significantly different in leaf, stem, and panicle APDMD in each cutting under the two planting patterns. Significant differences were also found among APDMD of the first cutting (APDMD‐1) of leaves, stems, panicles, and whole plants, respectively, over the two‐year period. The APDMD of leaves, stems, panicles, and whole plants were less variable in the second and third cuttings than in the first cutting. Among the plant parts, the APDMD of leaves correlated best with whole plant APDMD. Furthermore, leaf APDMD also correlated better with stem APDMD than with panicle APDMD. Useful regression equations for the prediction of whole plant APDMD from leaf APDMD were obt
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