Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Pasture Production Of Annual, Hybrid And Perennial Ryegrasses In Cool And Warm Temperature Climates, D E. Hume, M J. Hickey

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Pasture production and persistence of 8 ryegrass species-cultivars were evaluated under 2 grazing frequencies (infrequent and frequent) in a cool temperate climate (Southland) and a warm temperate climate (Manawatu) in New Zealand. All pastures were sown with white clover (Trifolirim repe11s) and rotationally grazed with sheep for 3 years. The 8 ryegrass lines were divided botanically into cultivars of annual ryegrass (Lo/ium muftljlorum), hybrid ryegrass (L. boucl1eanu111) (most of the parentage derived from L. multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (L. pere,me). Infrequent grazing resulted in higher yields and particularly higher ryegrass yields, but lower ryegrass tiller numbers at the cool site. …

Climate, Land Use And Plant Life Form Distribution In A Semi-Arid Savanna, Christina Skarpe

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Number of plant species, total vegetation cover and the abundance of different life forms are compared over a rainfall gradient between savanna woodland and semi-desert. The effects of different land use intensities are superimposed on the differences in rainfall regimes. The outcome is discussed in the light of present global change scenarios,

Vegetation Response To Climate: A 35 Year Study At Bibury, Gloucestershire, A J. Willis, R Hunt, J P. Grime, S R. Band, N Dunnett

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Important information on the climate-responsiveness of plant species has been gleaned from an unlikely source. The annually recorded control {unsprayed) plots from a 35-year field e, experiment assessing the effects of spraying herbicide and a plant growth regulator onto the vegetation of roadside verges near Bibury, Gloucestershire, have provided an opportunity to examine the detailed effects of year-to year variations in climate on the yields of different ·species and functional types within the vegetation. The results confirm the usefulness of plant functional types and genome size as predictors of plant community response to climatic change.

The Integrated Screening Programme: Patterns Of Ecological Specialization In British Species, K Thompson, J P. Grime, R Colasanti

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Integrated Screening Programme (ISP), a major part of the UCPB research programme during the period 1987-1994, applies standardised procedures for the ecological, physiological and biochemical characterisation of plant species, populations or cultivars. The objectives are: (1) to establish the range of variation in selected plant attributes; (2) to recognise recurring patterns of ecological and evolutionary specialisation; (3) to devise a functional classification of plants relevant to the analysis of communities and ecosystems and the management of vegetation .. To date, the programme has been confined largely to the herbaceous species from central northern Britain. Later, and in particular as …

Interaction Of Climate Management As Controls On Species Composition, S H. Hillier, F Sutton, J P. Grime, R Colasanti

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A new technique for the manipulation of temperature near the soil surface without the aid of cloches or screens has been developed at UCPE. This system is being used to manipulate the length of the growing season in an experiment in which the critical interaction between growth and the timing of two important meadow management activities - cutting and grazing - is being investigated. The technique has also been used to expose synthesised meadow communities to an artificially induced mild winter. Temperature manipulations of this kind offer a new approach to understanding the role which climate plays as a mechanism …

Simulating The Impact Of Global Warming On Regional Pasture Production Environment, P J. Vickery, M J. Hill, E P. Furnival

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Global warming scenarios predict increases in temperatures, evaporation and summer rainfall in the northern two-thirds of Australia. Pasture production models can be combined with spatial climate data in a geographic information system to predict net primary production from pastures. We used a pasture-sheep production model for a phalaris-white clover pasture together with interpolated climatic data to predict the outcome of increases in temperature, evaporation and summer rainfall for net primary production (NPP) from pastures in northern NSW. NPP was predicted to rise in winter due to elevated temperatures, to decline slightly In spring due to increased evaporation, and to change …

Changing The Climate Of A Limestone Dale, S M. Buckland, J P. Grime, J R. Tippets, A Jackson, K Thompson, J G. Hodgson, P C. Thorpe, C W. Macgillivray

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology based at Sheffield University is manipulating the weather artificially at a field site near Buxton, Derbyshire. This experiment is enabling us to study the way in which certain plants, both in the existing vegetation and among potential invaders, may behave in the future. As well as future climate scenarios, a range of land-use conditions are recreated in the experiment. Seeds of species with different geographical distributions have been sown in and their fate is being closely followed. The experiment began in 1990 and will run until at least 1997, by which time it should …

Climate Change And Grasslands: A Life-Zone And Biota Perspective, Steven Archer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grasslands experiencing climatic and atmospheric change may be altered with respect to: (1) geographic extent and location of local/ regional boundaries; (2) productivity, organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling; and (3) the relative abundance of constituent life forms (woody v. herbaceous), growth forms (tall vs. shorl-statured grasses), and/or photosynthetic physiologies (C3 v. C4). Classification models based on vegetation-climate correlations predict an increase in the global acreage of grassland and savanna at the expense of boceal forest and dry tropical forest. However, extrapolation of these relationships to climates with atmospheric CO2 concentrations without present-day analogues is suspect. Dynamic models of plant …

A Search For Persistent Perennial Legumes For Temperate Australia, M J. Hill, C Mulcahy, G Rapp

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Problems with persistence of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in extensive pastures of the high rainfall zone in eastern Australia necessitate the use of a wider range of perennial legumes. A range of species have been evaluated in nurseries and in regional on-farm trials on the northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Caucasian clover and I.oms spp. have proven most successful so far. Caucasian clover has been more productive than white clover at 2 sites in spring 1991 and autumn 1992, Hexaploid Caucasian clover has been subjected to the first of 3 cycles of recurrent selection for seedling vigour. …

Effect Of Manipulative Management Options On A Degraded Pasture Within The Astrebla Spp. Grazing Lands Of Western Queensland, J J. Bushell, J A. Reynolds, D C. Cowan, D G. Phelps, J A. Milson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A reduction in Aslrebla spp., and an increase in less palatable and less desirable forbs (Malvastmm americanum Psoralea cinerea), was identified as a problem in some paddocks of the Astrebla grazing lands of central western Queensland's clay soils. To determine possible rehabilitation for these pastures and assist the recovery of Astrebla spp,, a 2-year experiment was conducted near Muttaburra, Queensland (460 mm average annual rainfall), Six main treatments (nil, tine ripping, herbicide, slashing, fire, and a pioneering grass) were combined in a 6x2x2 split piot structure with grazed/not grazed and with additional Astrebla lappacea seed sown/not sown. Interim …

Will It Rain? Managing El Nino Risks With The Australian Rainman Computer Package, N M. Clarkson, J F. Clewett, D T. Owens, D G. Abrecht

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The AUSTRALIAN RAINMAN computer package helps the management of climatic risks associated with the ENSO (El Niño/ Southern Oscillation) phenomenon in the southern Pacific region. The package uses historical rainfall and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) records to provide a suite of analyses including user-defined seasonal forecasts. Examples are given of ENSO effects on precipitation in Australia and some other countries including Canada. The SOI has a multiplier effect on rain-dependent processes such as plant growth and stream flow, and its use provides valuable support for many agricultural and pastoral decisions. AUSTRALIAN RAINMAN is commercially available in Australia.

Supplementary Files For: "Interactive Modeling Of Bear Lake Elevations In A Future Climate", Benjamin D. Shaw, Scout Jarman, Brennan Bean, Kevin R. Moon, Wei Zhang, Nathan Butler, Tommy Bolton, April Knight, Emeline Haroldsen, Abby Funk, Rebecca Higbee

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The water level, or elevation, of Bear Lake has a significant impact on agriculture, power, infrastructure, and recreation for communities around the lake. Climatological variables, such as precipitation, temperature, and snowfall, all have an impact on the elevation of Bear Lake. As the climate changes due to greenhouse gas emissions, the typical behaviors of these climate variables change, leading to new behaviors in Bear Lake elevation. Because of the importance of Bear Lake, it is vital to be able to model and understand how Bear Lake's elevation may change in the face of different climate scenarios and to gain further …

Gis And Genetic Diversity- Case Studies In Stylosanthes, P G. Jones, M C. Sawkins, B L. Maass, P C. Kerridge

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

We present a new technique for mapping the potential occurrence of wild germplasm based in climate data and show its application to six important Stylosanthes species. The method can be used to develop hypotheses as to the distribution for purposes of collection and/or in situ conservation. It can also be used to investigate genetic diversity with a species. We present some first results based in isozyme data from S. guianensis.

Barriers/Drivers Of Diverse Perennial Systems: Policy Recommendations, M. L. Krome, A. S. Finan, J. Obudzinski, N. Serrano

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Despite growing documentation of perennial- and grass-based systems’ importance in addressing many ecological, infrastructural, farmer profitability, and climate concerns, these systems do not predominate on most United States farm and ranch lands. To better understand what impedes their wider adoption, we undertook four focus groups of diverse current and potential farmers using perennial systems. We were especially interested in how these farmers access, or don’t, insurance, credit, and federal programs, identifying patterns among farmers embracing more sustainable practices. Our virtual focus groups comprised 16 farmers in ten states, transecting climate zones and representing both rural and urban production systems and …

Potential For Forecasting Uk Summer Grass Growth From The North Atlantic Oscillation, P. S. Kettlewell, J. Easey, P. D. Hollins, T. Martyn, D. B. Stephenson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern which is well-known to influence the UK winter climate (Wilby et al., 1997). Recently, it has been shown that the winter NAO also affects summer rainfall in the UK (Kettlewell et al., 2003). Since water supply is an important limitation to summer grass growth in many parts of the UK, the winter NAO may influence summer growth. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the winter NAO and summer grass growth using data from reference plots at North …

The Effect Of Soil Type And Climate On Modelled Greenhouse Gas Emissions Derived From Pasture Based Milk Production Systems, Dan K. Lovett, L. Shalloo, P. Dillon, Frank O'Mara

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The ability of spring calving dairy farmers to exploit herbage production can be limited by soil type and climatic conditions. Previous work, using the Moorepark Dairy System Model (MDSM) (Shalloo et al., 2004) demonstrated differences in terms of biological and production efficiency for two contrasting sites. This study models whole farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Lovett et al., in press) from two dairy systems, the Moorepark Standard System (MSS, Co. Cork) and the Kilmaley Standard System (KSS,Co. Clare), classified as lower and high rainfall (1025 and 1614 mm yr) and free draining versus poor draining respectively.

Environmental Clustering Of New Zealand Dairy Herds, J. R. Bryant, N. López-Villalobos, J. E. Pryce, C. W. Holmes

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Previous studies have found that milk yield (a proxy for feeding level) and temperature-humidity index (THI) are important factors in explaining genotype x environment (G x E) interactions, indicating differences between the abilities of genotypes to forage or consume concentrates effectively or to cope with thermal stress (Ravagnolo and Misztal, 2000; Zwald et al., 2003). The objective of this study was to quantify and cluster (CL) herd environments within New Zealand (NZ) based on production levels, a summer heat load index (HLI) and geographical location.

Prediction Of Cultivation Areas For The Commercial And An Early Flowering Wild Accession Of Salvia Hispanica L. In The United States, Mohammad Hassani, Thomas Piechota, Hagop S. Atamian

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Salvia hispanica L., commonly known as chia, is a plant-based alternative to seafood and is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid, protein, fiber, and antioxidants. In the Northern Hemisphere, chia flowering is triggered by the fall equinox (12-h light and dark, early October) and the seeds mature after approximately three months. Chia is sensitive to frost and end of season moisture which limits its cultivation to small areas in regions with temperate climate. The U.S. chia import has increased considerably over the years; however, chia is not widely cultivated in the United States. This study used the historical U.S. temperature …

Grazing Land Contributions To Carbon Sequestration, Ronald F. Follett, G. E. Schuman

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Grazing management can be used to increase soil organic carbon sequestration.

2. Grazing land soils contain large amounts of carbon with depth, and can store it for centuries.

3. Policies to encourage terrestrial carbon sequestration through conservation and good management of grazing lands are critical for many countries and the world.

Assessment Of Causality Between Climate Variables And Production For Whole Crop Maize Using Structural Equation Modeling, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, H. Jo, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

This study aimed to assess the causality of different climate variables on the production of whole crop maize silage (Zea mays L.; WCM) in the central inland region of the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the effect of these climate variables was also determined by looking at direct and indirect pathways during the stages before and after silking. The WCM metadata (n = 640) were collected from the Rural Development Administration’s reports of new variety adaptability from 1985‒2011 (27 years). The climate data was collected based on year and location from the Korean Meteorology Administration’s weather information system. Causality, in …

Gis-Based Forage Species Adaptation Mapping, David B. Hannaway, C. Daly, W. Gibson, G. Taylor, J. P. Bolte, I. Sriprisan, T. Griggs

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Selecting forage crops adapted to the climatic and edaphic conditions of specific locations is essential for economic sustainability and environmental protection. Yet, currently, proper selection is difficult due to the absence of advanced selection tools. Significant improvements are being made in the process through Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping. Climate and soil GIS layers are being matched with forage characteristics through rules describing species tolerances. Better matching will reduce economic risks and environmental hazards associated with sub-optimal crop selection and subsequent performance. Once developed, these forage crop selection strategies and tools can be adapted for use with other crops. A …

Modelling Grazing And Burning In Communal Rangelands To Help Understand Trade-Offs Between Production, Carbon, And Water, H. J. Hawkins, M. Moradzadeh, M. L. Vermeire, Farai Chikomba, L. Wu

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Rangelands cover more than 80% of South Africa’s land area, providing critical ecosystem services, livelihoods and cultural values related to livestock. Communally owned rangelands are often overgrazed and subject to runaway fires but lack of data limits our understanding of how these threats impact production. In this transdisciplinary project, we use models to test hypotheses and predict future scenarios as a planning tool for resource-poor communal farmers. We think that moderate grazing and fire regimes will increase overall production and carbon sequestration with uncertain trade-offs for water and nutrient cycling. To test this, we trained two process-based biogeochemical models (DAYCENT …

Modeling Forage Yield Losses For Crop Insurance In Eastern Canada, I. Duchesne‐Ortiz, Gilles Bélanger, L. Martel, Guy Allard

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Reconstructing Carbon Dynamics Of Alpine And Temperate Zone Lakes Using Stable Isotopic Analysis, Rebecca M. Doyle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Lake sediments integrate signals from the catchment, atmosphere and water column, offering a unique window through which to view changes in the carbon cycle. Carbon dynamics in lakes are changing due to nitrogen loading and anthropogenic climate warming (ACW), threatening the water quality of lakes. This thesis identifies how the carbon dynamics of lakes have responded to anthropogenically-driven forcings by comparing pre- and post- AD 1850 records preserved in lake sediments. First, the carbon dynamics of Barry Lake (Ontario, Canada), a low-elevation temperate lake, are investigated. Effective moisture (the net of water inputs and evaporation) is reconstructed using the carbon …

Landscape-Scale Patterns Of Fire And Drought On The High Plains, Usa, Paulette L. Ford, Charles Jackson, Matthew Reeves, Benjamin Bird, David Turner

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

We examine 31 years (1982-2012) of temperature, precipitation and natural wildfire occurrence data for Federal and Tribal lands to determine landscape-scale patterns of drought and fire on the southern and central High Plains of the western United States. The High Plains states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming have been in the midst of ongoing extreme drought, experiencing below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures for the past several years. Climate change is predicted to have multiple effects on fire regimes. Longer periods of drought conditions, coupled with hot, dry and windy weather, provide …

Integrated Farming Systems In The Frame Work Of Bio-Economic Modelling For Sustainable Development Of Small And Marginal Farmers Under Changing Climatic Scenario, U. K. Behera

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In order to meet the multiple objectives of poverty reduction, food security, competitiveness and sustainability several researchers have recommended to adopt integrated farming systems (IFS). IFS is an approach in which different landbased enterprises are integrated within the bio-physical and socio-economic situations taking farmers preference and goal in to consideration. This is a multi-disciplinary approach and very effective for solving the problems of small and marginal farmers (Gangwar, 1993). Under the gradual shrinking of land holding in India and other developing countries, it is necessary to go for IFS to make farming more profitable and sustainable. In agricultural research and …

Declining Water Resources And Environmental Degradation: A Case Of The Thulokhola Watershed In The Nuwakot District Of Nepal, Durga D. Poudel, Timothy W. Duex

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Climate change alters the hydrology of a watershed through changes on precipitation patterns, extreme rain events, increase on temperatures, degradation of forest and soil resources and drought conditions. Drought conditions create stress on agricultural crops, forests, drinking water supply for human and wildlife as well as water supply for industrial uses. Flooding destroys crops, infrastructures, private properties, and results in loss of life. Climate change impacts both the availability as well as the quality of water resources as extreme rain events tend to alter water infrastructures and pollute water sources.

In Nepal, climate change impacts include degradation of resource and …

Fibre Quality In Timothy, Festulolium And Tall Fescue Around First Cut, Magnus A. Halling

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Fibre quality and available energy expressed as iNDF (indigestible neutral detergent fibre) decrease with maturity stage in timothy (Nordheim-Viken and Volden 2009). It is widely accepted that fibre quality also decreases with plant age in other forage grasses. However, climate factors such as temperature and water availability can interact with maturity stage in determining iNDF (Nordheim-Viken and Volden 2009). In the Norfor system, iNDF is an important measure of available energy in forage evaluation for ruminants (Åkerlind et al. 2011). This study examined how fibre quality in different forage grasses was affected by maturity stage and climate.

Pantropical Climate Interactions, Wenju Cai, Lixin Wu, Matthieu Lengaigne, Tim Li, Shayne Mcgregor, Jong-Seong Kug, Jin-Yi Yu, Malte F. Stuecker, Agus Santoso, Xichen Li, Yoo-Geun Ham, Yoshimitsu Chikamoto, Benjamin Ng, Michael J. Mcphaden, Yan Du, Et Al.

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which originates in the Pacific, is the strongest and most well-known mode of tropical climate variability. Its reach is global, and it can force climate variations of the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans by perturbing the global atmospheric circulation. Less appreciated is how the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans affect the Pacific. Especially noteworthy is the multidecadal Atlantic warming that began in the late 1990s, because recent research suggests that it has influenced Indo-Pacific climate, the character of the ENSO cycle, and the hiatus in global surface warming. Discovery of these pantropical interactions provides a …

El Niño-Southern Oscillation Complexity, Axel Timmermann, Soon-Il An, Jong-Seong Kug, Fei-Fei Jin, Wenju Cai, Antonietta Capotondi, Kim Cobb, Matthieu Lengaigne, Michal J. Mcphaden, Malte F. Stuecker, Karl Stein, Andrew T. Wittenberg, Kyung-Sook Yun, Tobias Bayr, Han-Ching Chen, Yoshimitsu Chikamoto, Et Al.

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

El Niño events are characterized by surface warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean and weakening of equatorial trade winds that occur every few years. Such conditions are accompanied by changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation, affecting global climate, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, fisheries and human activities. The alternation of warm El Niño and cold La Niña conditions, referred to as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), represents the strongest year-to-year fluctuation of the global climate system. Here we provide a synopsis of our current understanding of the spatio-temporal complexity of this important climate mode and its influence on the Earth system.