Plant Sciences Commons^™

Short-Term Nitrogen Fertilization Affects Microbial Community Composition And Nitrogen Mineralization Function In An Agricultural Soil, Yang Ouyang, Jeanette M. Norton

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Soil extracellular enzymes play a significant role in the N mineralization process. However, few studies have documented the linkage between enzyme activity and the microbial community that performs the function. This study examined the effects of inorganic and organic N fertilization on soil microbial communities and their N mineralization functions over 4 years. Soils were collected from silage corn field plots with four contrasting N treatments: control (no additional N), ammonium sulfate (AS; 100 and 200 kg of N ha⁻¹), and compost (200 kg of N ha⁻¹). Illumina amplicon sequencing was used to comprehensively assess the …

Modelling The Effect Of Maize Silage And Winter Oat Forage Crop On Cow-Calf Systems In Argentina, Horacio Berger, Claudio F. Machado, Carolina Zabala, Catalina Fernandez Rosso, Julio C. Burges

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Cow-calf systems in the flooding Pampa - Argentina, are facing increasing competition with cropping systems for resources and land. In this context, to be more competitive livestock systems require system intensification, which demands an improvement on the feedbase. Forage crops and feeding silage have been used widely on dairy and beef cattle finishing systems. The purpose of the study was to assess with a model the level of intensification that can be achieved in cow calf systems and its economic effects by incorporating maize silage and winter grazing oat crops.

Plant Traits Relevant For Multi-Functionality Of Grassland Swards For Free-Range Chicken Husbandry, Laura Breitsameter, Matthias Gauly, Nicole Wrage-Mönnig, Johannes Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The sward of the outdoor run serves multiple important functions in free-range chicken husbandry systems. Vegetation ground cover is crucial for soil conservation. Moreover, by providing a foraging enrichment it is relevant for animal welfare (Shimmura et al. 2008). Scientific knowledge of the plant-animal interactions of swards in outdoor chicken runs is only just emerging. An understanding of these will help to improve swards both in view of the conservation of an intact vegetation cover, and for fostering animal welfare.

In the present field study, we investigated: (1) the growth of a number of grassland plant species under conditions …

Relationship Between Grazing Jaw Movements And Time Per Bite In Cattle: Effect Of Sward Structure And Grazing Methods, Jean C. Mezzalira, Lidiane Fonseca, Olivier J. F. Bonnet, Carlos C. Mezzalira, Lenilson Da Fonseca Rosa, Luan C. Pagani, Teresa C. M. Genro, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The time per bite is the result of the interaction between mouth morphology, animal behaviour and sward structure (Laca et al. 1994). The time per bite increases with bite mass (Laca et al. 1994), but it has a constant component that is the time required to open and close the jaws, namely, the time required for one jaw movement (Hirata et al. 2010, Newman et al. 1994). In this experiment we tested the hypothesis that the time per jaw movement will remain constant independently of sward structure and grazing method.

The Proportion Of The Ungrazed Area Of The Pasture (Pup) Determines When Forage Intake And Diet Quality Decline In Grazing Systems, Marcelo A. Benvenutti, Daniel R. Pavetti, Carlos A. Cangiano, Dennis P. Poppi, Iain J. Gordon, Jérôme Bindelle, Lucas Zakidalsky, Deli Chen

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Grazing management has to deal with the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of pastures. In this context it is desirable to have a grazing management strategy that can be applied in a wide range of pasture conditions to control daily forage intake, diet quality and thus, animal performance. Sward height has been extensively studied and has been found not to be universally applicable to control the animal response as its relationship with intake changes with sward structure (Prache and Peyraud, 2001; Sollenberger and Burns, 2001) . Selective grazing is a universal phenomenon where, independently of pasture condition, cattle prefer the more …

Intake Rate And Nutritive Value Of Elephant Grass Cv. Napier Subjected To Strategies Of Rotational Stocking Management, Eliana V. Geremia, Lilian E. T. Pereira, Adenilson J. Paiva, Thiago M. Santos, Laiz P. Oliveira, Laiz P. De Oliveira

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Several research papers on forage tropical grass species have demonstrated that grazing management interferes with sward structure that, in turn, alters patterns of ingestive and foraging behaviour of the grazing animals. For that reason it has been used as explicative variable for adjustments in intake characteristics like bite mass, bite rate, intake rate and nutritive value of the consumed herbage (Fonseca et al. 2012). Tall tufted growing plants like elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cv. Napier show a continuous pattern of growth characterised by stem elongation during their vegetative state (Da Silva and Carvalho 2005), causing swards to …

Nutritive Value And Cattle Preferences In An Old Boer Lovegrass Stand Treated With Biosolids In Cananea, Sonora, México, Salomón M. Moreno, Martha R. Martin, Fernando Ibarra, Roque Martínez, Agustín Cabral Martell, Francisco B. Denogean, Rafael Retes

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Boer lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula var. conferta) is an introduced species planted to increase productivity on deteriorated rangelands in northern Mexico. Forage production with Boer lovegrass achieves an increase of two to three fold when compared to native grasses, however, as stands became old, pasture productivity and forage quality declines due to a reduction in available nutrients causing a reduction in grazing capacity and beef production. Previous studies have shown that biosolids enhance seedling establishment, plant growth and increases forage production in the species, but no data is available to measure changes in forage quality and animal performance. This …

Volatile Plant Secondary Metabolites In Eremophila Glabra And Their Influence On Animal Foraging Preference, Stewart M. Jones, Jason Emms, Charles Price

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

One response to global climate change effects on Australia is to investigate the use in sustainable farming systems of native plants, which have evolved to cope in their harsh environment (Monjardino 2009). The Enrich^TM project has screened many Australian native plants for their potential use as methane reducers in ruminants, as anthelmintics, and as nutrition sources systems (Revell 2010). Eremophila glabra is one plant that shows promise in this regard, but first the foraging animal must want to eat it. This decision is assisted by the animal's assessment of the emitted volatile plant secondary metabolites (PSM) (Provenza 2007).

In …

Grazing Behaviour Of Dorper Sheep And Farmed Goats And Their Implications For Natural Resource Management In Western Nsw, Yohannes Alemseged, Ronald B. Hacker, Ian D. Toole, Warren J. Smith, Cathy M. Waters, Gavin J. Melville

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The introduction of exotic herbivores into the semi-arid and arid zones of Australia resulted in dramatic change in the native vegetation (e.g. Noble and Tongway 1986; Friedel et al. 1990). Overgrazing and trampling reduced ground cover and changed species composition from dominance by perennial grasses and shrubs to dominance by annual species over extensive areas (e.g. Gunn 1986), or assisted the encroachment of woody species (Wilcox and Cunningham 1994).

It is particularly in this context that the recent introduction of new sheep breeds, reputedly hardier than traditional Merinos, and the increasing trend to farming or …

Change Of Behavior Of Bos Grunniens In The Alpine Rangeland In The Eastern Tibetan Plateau, Nobumi Hasegawa, Rende Song, Guomei Li, Xumin Cao, Masahiro Tasumi, Sachiko Idota, Akira Fukuda

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Over 6 million yaks (Bos grunniens) are grazed in the alpine rangelands of the eastern Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province, China. Degradation of rangelands has been caused by increased numbers of domestic animals following the rise of the human population. In our previous study in northern and southern sites of Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province from 2003 to 2006, behavior of yaks and chemical composition of the faeces (Hasegawa et al. 2006; Hasegawa et al. 2008) and vegetation (Li et al. 2006; Song et al. 2006) were investigated and compared between the two sites, …

Microhistological Analysis Of Cows' Diet During A Severe Drought In The Semi Arid Region Of North Patagonia (Argentina), E. Schmale, L. I. Lindström, M. G. Klich

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The continuous use of the livestock fields of the Middle Valley of Río Negro, North Patagonia, Argentina, combined with adverse weather conditions that occur periodically, have contributed to the degradation of rangelands. The historical annual average rainfall regime in the Valle Medio of Río Negro is 303 mm but between 2002 and 2011, the average deficit was 33%. According to the Rural Society of Choele Choel, due to the decreased forage on offer, the existence of cattle in 2011 dropped to 85,000 animals, representing 50% of the normal amount for the area. During these critical times of drought, when grasslands …

Effect Of Grazing Frequency By Dairy Cows On Herb Based Pastures, Soledad Navarrete, Peter D. Kemp, Penny Back, Sarah J. Pain, Julia M. Lee

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Herbage production and quality of perennial ryegrass pastures is often limited over the summer months (Powell et al. 2007). Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and narrow-leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) are perennial herbs that accumulate high herbage masses during late spring and summer (Powell et al 2007; Li and Kemp 2005). These perennial herbs are being used by farmers to supplement dairy cows over summer. However, there have been many cases of poor plant persistence with current management practices. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of two grazing frequencies (GF; 2 weeks and 4 …

Livestock Selective Behaviour In Natural Grasslands Challenges The Concept Of Plant Preference In The Elaboration Of A Successful Diet, Olivier J. F. Bonnet, Ian M. Cezimbra, Marcelo Ritzel Tischler, Julio C. R. Azambuja, Michel Meuret, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Conciliating livestock production and conservation of grassland biodiversity is now an imperative. We propose that a way to reach that goal is to take advantage of the natural tendency of herbivores to exploit environmental heterogeneity. However, it would go against the well-rooted concept that mammalian herbivores have invariable preference for some plants. Preference was defined as being “what the animal selects when given the minimum of physical constraints” (Parsons et al. 1994). But after decades of studies, the concept of preference remains particularly inefficient in predicting observed patterns of selection by herbivores (e.g. Newman et al. 1992; Parsons …

Handling Time And Bite Mass Mechanisms In Large Herbivores: Contrasts Between Sward Structure And Grazing Methods, Jean C. Mezzalira, Lidiane Fonseca, Carlos C. Mezzalira, Lenilson Da Fonseca Rosa, Luan C. Pagani, Marco A. Ebbing, Teresa C. M. Genro, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho, Carolina Bremm, Ricardo Souza Arruda Filho, Luis H. S. Correia, Carlos A. Cangiano

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Grazing is a time-dependent process where jaw movements of prehension, handling and chewing compete with them (Laca et al. 1994; Ungar et al. 2006). The grazing efficiency is dependent of bite mass and time per bite. Bite mass has been related to sward structure by forage height, structural components (Cangiano et al. 2002). In rotational stocking this effect becomes more pronounced, especially under high grazing down levels. Consequently, there is a progressive reduction in short-term intake rate (Fonseca et al. in press). New management targets should be proposed based on the predominant influence of sward structure …

Management Targets To Maximize Short-Term Herbage Intake Rate, Lidiane Fonseca, Jean C. Mezzalira, Paulo C. Vieira, Lenilson Da Fonseca Rosa, Luan C. Pagani, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Besides grazing, the animals carry a host of other essential activities to their survival, such as rumination, vigilance and idling, and these activities compete with each other in the animal’s daily time (Fonseca et al. 2012). Therefore, any management action that provides an increase in forage intake rate, with a consequent reduction in the time necessary to achieve the daily nutrient requirements, is essential for an animal product-ion success. In this study, four experiments were performed based upon the hypothesis that different sward structures, formed by distinct sward surface heights (SSH) and levels of grazing down influence the short-term …

Dry Matter Intake, Digestibility And Diet Selection By Sheep Grazing On Reseeded And Naturally Regenerating Range Sites At Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan, Sahar Ezzat, Babo Fadlalla

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The aim of this study was to evaluate range quality for sheep from reseeded and naturally regenerating (un-reseeded) range sites at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The study area suffers from over-grazing, excessive tree cutting and frequent cyclic droughts, which have led to a domination of short–lived un-preferred annual plants.

Impacts Of Livestock Preference And Frequency Of Grazing On Production And Nutritive Value Of Pastures In Chile, Oscar A. Balocchi, Ignacio F. López, Juan P. Keim

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Cattle are selective grazers since they only consume some plants or some parts of a plant from the pasture and avoid others. Grazing preference is affected by characteristics of the pasture such as the botanical composition, pasture surface height, herbage mass, phenological stage, digestibility, fibre content, protein and ash content. Three studies were conducted in southern Chile to determine how: 1) grazing preferences of dairy cattle was influenced by pasture mixtures and fertilisation; 2) grazing selectivity was related to tiller features; and 3) grazing leaf-stage influenced pasture quantity and quality. For the first study, fertilised pastures had higher herbage mass, …

Microrna156: A Short Rna With A Major Role In Abiotic Stress Tolerance In Alfalfa, Biruk Ayenew Feyissa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The highly conserved plant microRNA156, miR156, affects various aspects of plant development and stress response by silencing SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. Our understanding of the role of miR156 and its mode of action in alfalfa’s (Medicago sativa L.) response to drought and flooding is still elusive, and thus this study was aimed at filling this gap in knowledge. Physiological parameters, metabolite and transcriptional analyses showed an interplay between miR156/SPL13 and WD40-1/DFR to mitigate drought stress. Low to moderate levels of miR156 overexpression suppressed SPL13 and increased WD40-1 to fine-tune the DIHYDROFLAVONOL-4-REDUCTASE (DFR) level for …

Diet Selection By Goats On Rangeland Of North Kordofan State, Sudan, Mohammed F. M. Fatur, Babo Fadlalla, Abdelaziz K. Gaiballa, Abdelrahman E. Babiker

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This study was conducted at El Demokeya forest, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The objective was to evaluate goat diet botanical composition as an indicator for pasture quality. Bite counts were obtained from seven goats in protected and open rangeland sites. Percent plant cover in the two range sites were 81.9% and 87.5% respectively. Density was 260.9 and 181.9 plants / m² respectively (P < 0.05). At flowering, goat diet contained 10.8% ± 1.12 and 11.8% ± 5.94 CP in protected and open sites respectively. At seed set CP% was 8.1 ± 1.32 and 8.2 ± 3.01 respectively (P …

How Do Plants Respond To Grazing At A Molecular Level?, Gongshe Liu, Xin Huang, Shuangyan Chen

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Grazing is a multiple-component process that includes wounding, defoliation, and saliva depositing. The molecular mechanism for how plants respond to grazing in grassland is a new topic. To address this question, we performed gene expression activities within 2 to 24 hours of grazing and proteomics analysis of rice seedling, examining hundreds of genes and proteins. Some key genes in GeneChips analysis specifically researched were β-amylase, LcSUT1, LcDREB3, and FEH gene. BSA (bovine serum albumin), an important and abundant component in saliva was used to study the saliva-plant interaction in grazing. Combined with corresponding gene and grazing research by …