The Investigation Of Flowering Control In Late/Rare Flowering Lolium Perenne,
2023
Teagasc, Ireland
The Investigation Of Flowering Control In Late/Rare Flowering Lolium Perenne, S. Byrne, I. S. Donnison, L. J. Mur, E. Guiney
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Flowering in Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) results in reduced digestibility and its inhibition would enhance forage quality. Flowering regulation has been well studied in Arabidopsis thaliana (Simpson and Dean, 2002) and orthologs of Arabidopsis flowering genes underlying heading date Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) have been identified in rice (Yano, M et al., 2000). However it is not clear yet how universally applicable such studies are to Lolium. The project goals are to characterise the gene expression profiles of late/rare flowering L. perenne plants to determine factors affecting flowering and to map the genes involved in the flowering process. Initial …
Eating Biodiversity: Investigating The Links Between Grassland Biodiversity And Quality Food Production,
2023
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, UK
Eating Biodiversity: Investigating The Links Between Grassland Biodiversity And Quality Food Production, A. Hopkins, H. Buller, C. Morris, J. D. Wood
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Modern food production systems are generally detrimental to biodiversity, and the widespread loss of species-diverse grassland as a consequence of intensive farming methods is well documented. Since the 1980s, a range of policy measures and financial incentives for farmers have been introduced in Europe to halt (and in some cases, reverse) this trend, primarily to meet environmental objectives of species and habitat conservation and landscape protection. Biodiversity, where associated with agricultural production, has largely been regarded as a positive 'externality' to the process of food production; a ‘product’ which benefits wider society without necessarily conferring an agricultural benefit to the …
Do Species And Functional Diversity Indices Reflect Changes In Grazing Regimes And Climatic Conditions In Northeastern Spain?,
2023
Forestry and Technology Centre of Catalonia, Spain
Do Species And Functional Diversity Indices Reflect Changes In Grazing Regimes And Climatic Conditions In Northeastern Spain?, F. De Bello, J. Leps, M. T. Sebastià
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Understanding the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity in various ecosystems enables the development of management practices that prevent degradation (Canals & Sebastia, 2000). Each diversity index reflects some compositional properties and could be influenced differently by stress and disturbance factors (Magurran, 2004). In this study, we aim to reveal 1) which management practices and environmental factors affect biodiversity in rangelands of northeastern Spain and 2) the relationship between species diversity and functional diversity (SD and FD).
The Biodiversity Value Of ‘Improved’ And ‘Unimproved’ Saline Agricultural Land And Adjacent Remnant Vegetation In South Australia,
2023
South Australian Research and Development Institute, Australia
The Biodiversity Value Of ‘Improved’ And ‘Unimproved’ Saline Agricultural Land And Adjacent Remnant Vegetation In South Australia, M. L. Hebart, N. J. Edwards, E. A. Abraham, A. D. Craig
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Since European settlement of the Upper South-east of South Australia, the distribution and abundance of much of the native flora and fauna of the region has been affected by clearing of native vegetation and drainage of wetlands to facilitate agricultural production. Only 8.3% of the original vegetation and less than 7% of the original swamps now remain in the region and much of what is left exists as small isolated remnants (Croft & Carpenter, 1996). Furthermore, as a consequence of the demise of large areas of agriculturally productive lucerne in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the rise of saline …
Soil, Plant And Livestock Interactions In Australian Tropical Savannas,
2023
CSIRO, Australia
Soil, Plant And Livestock Interactions In Australian Tropical Savannas, L. P. Hunt, T. Z. Dawes-Gromadzki
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
This paper considers the various soil, plant and livestock interactions occurring in Australia’s wet-dry savanna rangelands. These regions are relatively intact compared to most of the world’s rangelands. However there is increasing pressure for more intensive use of the landscape, especially from pastoralism. This potentially threatens landscape health, function and productivity through reduced soil health and a loss of digestible perennial plants, especially given the low soil fertility and highly variable rainfall characteristic of these regions. There is an obvious need for understanding these impacts to devise sustainable management practices that promote soil health and viable perennial plant communities, and …
Grazing Impacts On Rangeland Condition In Semi-Arid South-Western Africa,
2023
Neudamm Agricultural College, Namibia
Grazing Impacts On Rangeland Condition In Semi-Arid South-Western Africa, A. Rothauge, G. N. Smit, A. L. Abate
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
The savannah biome, consisting of a dense herbaceous layer and a relatively open woody layer in competitive balance, constitutes 64% of the land surface of Namibia, an arid country in south-western Africa, and is used mainly for extensive cattle and sheep ranching. About half of the savannah area is affected by dense to moderately dense bush-thickening, resulting in a ten-fold decrease in the rangeland’s grass-based carrying capacity and a concomitant loss in meat production of about US$115 million per year (De Klerk, 2004). Bushencroached areas typically have densities > 2 000 bushes/ha with > 90% belonging to a single species. High grazing …
A Decision Support System For Rangeland Management In Degrading Environments,
2023
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, South Africa
A Decision Support System For Rangeland Management In Degrading Environments, R. G. Bennett, F. J. Mitchell
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
The continued viability and productivity of commercial and emerging agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, depends on the accurate assessment and sustainable utilization of available natural resources. Sustainability implies that growth and development must take place, and be maintained over time, within the limits set by natural ecosystems. Utilizing an extensive GIS database, field surveys and remote sensing technology, a land assessment decision support system (LADSS) has been developed in an attempt to define these limits for the Province. This system has been developed to assess the appropriate use of existing resources as well as the suitability of current land …
Marker-Assisted Selection For Fibre Concentration In Smooth Bromegrass,
2023
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Marker-Assisted Selection For Fibre Concentration In Smooth Bromegrass, C. Stendal, M. D. Casler, G. Jung
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
The concentration of neutral detergent fibre is the best single laboratory predictor of voluntary intake potential in forage crops. However, the assay of thousands of plant samples for NDF selection in a breeding program requires a large amount of labour and time, potentially increasing cycle time and reducing the rate of progress. A previous study (Diaby and Casler, 2005) identified 16 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers that were strongly associated with NDF concentration in one or more of four smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) populations. The objective of this study was to validate these associations by implementing marker-assisted …
Modelling The Encroachment Of Farmhouse Culture On Private Village Pastures And Its Environmental Fall-Out In Northern Western Ghats, India,
2023
RANWA, India
Modelling The Encroachment Of Farmhouse Culture On Private Village Pastures And Its Environmental Fall-Out In Northern Western Ghats, India, S. B. Nalavade, K. R. Sahasrabuddhe, A. A. Patwardhan
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Tropical India harbours numerous pasturelands across small landholdings ranging up to few hectares which are covered with grass that is suitable as fodder. These grazing lands are commonly known as ‘Gairan’ in urbanised northern Western Ghats mountain tract in Western India). Such grasslands comprise about 20% of the total area of a village (Jodha, 1986), support livestock and supplement the agro-economy of the village. These pasturelands are being replaced by fenced ‘farmhouses’ of the urban elite, resulting in land use changes that caused drastic qualitative and quantitative changes in terms of area, fodder species composition and livestock they …
Rangeland As A Common Property Resource: Contrasting Insights From Communal Areas Of Central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa,
2023
Coventry University, UK
Rangeland As A Common Property Resource: Contrasting Insights From Communal Areas Of Central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, J. E. Bennett, H. R. Barrett
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
In communal areas of South Africa, grazing systems are held under a variety of different common property regimes. However, the social and ecological realities of these communal grazing systems remain poorly understood, particularly with regard to the use of land allocated for crop production. Little is known about how these arable areas are utilised as a common grazing resource but the wide array of tenure arrangements under which they are held suggests that they facilitate some interesting departures from recognised common property systems. A clearer understanding of how common property regimes function at an integrated level in South Africa will …
Andean Pastures In The Fourth Region Of Chile: Marginal Lands And Vital Spaces For A Transhumance System,
2023
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, France
Andean Pastures In The Fourth Region Of Chile: Marginal Lands And Vital Spaces For A Transhumance System, T. S. Koné, R. Osorio, J. -M. Fotsing
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
In the fourth region of Chile, the high Andean pastures between Chile and Argentina are the summer destination for transhumant shepherds and sustain a part of the regional livestock. Since 2000, Chile has prohibited the passage of livestock to Argentina for animal health reasons in spite of official registers indicating that 60 to 75% of the summer transhumance livestock had an Argentine destination. Under those conditions it is questionable whether the Andean Chilean grasslands can absorb the increased pastoral demand without suffering damage. The objective is to provide elements of an answer to this question regarding the distribution and availability …
Australian Pasture Systems: The Perennial Compromise,
2023
The University of Western Australia, Australia
Australian Pasture Systems: The Perennial Compromise, L. W. Bell, M. A. Ewing
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Dryland salinity, soil acidification and weed herbicide resistance challenge traditional agricultural production systems in south Australia. The pasture component of such systems rely on annuals like Trifolium subterraneum and Medicago spp. Replacing annual with perennial pastures allows some redress of the sustainability challenges, but few well-adapted species are available (Ewing & Dolling 2003). A range of perennial species are under evaluation to supplement current options. Some of these new perennial pastures may need modified production systems that allow full expression of their productive potential, especially when integrated with annual crops including cereals, pulses and oil seeds. Integrated systems rely on …
Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso,
2023
INERA Farako-Bâ, Burkina Faso
Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso, E. Botoni-Liehoun, P. Daget
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Grazing impact on plant diversity is dominated by two contradictory views. In some studies, it has been found to lead to an increase in diversity and in other studies to a decrease associated with dominance of a few species (Nösberger et al., 1998, Hiernaux, 1998). In an Isoberlinia doka forest ecosystem, considered as the climax vegetation in the South Sudanien area of Burkina Faso, a study was carried out to assess the impact of grazing on the diversity of herbaceous species. The Isoberlinia doka forest is one type of South Sudanien savanna. The woody stratum is open and allowed …
Optimization Of The Pasture Resource In Boundary Environments As A Basis For Regional Nature Management,
2023
Institute of Geography SB RAS, Russia
Optimization Of The Pasture Resource In Boundary Environments As A Basis For Regional Nature Management, M. V. Rogova
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
In spite of the globalization processes encompassing all spheres of human life and activity, land remains the main resource and provides the feeding source for population and the fodder base for livestock rearing. On the other hand, the activity of local communities can have important global consequences. The study area that includes Lake Baikal’s western shore (East Siberia) and the lake’s largest island exemplifies the traditional type of nature management, namely, grazing management which was originated by an indigenous population within the context of suitable natural climatic conditions. This investigation furnished an opportunity to make an assessment of the status …
Effects Of Landscape Structure On Plants Species Richness In Small Grassland Remnants In Two Different Landscapes,
2023
Stockholm University, Sweden
Effects Of Landscape Structure On Plants Species Richness In Small Grassland Remnants In Two Different Landscapes, S. A. O. Cousins, O. Eriksson
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
There is an increasing interest in using the landscape as the operational scale in many ecological studies. Current species richness in the landscape may be explained by past land use, and habitats may harbour species favoured by an environment that no longer exists. In this study we have included both a landscape scale and a temporal scale. The objective was to explain species pattern and the effect of isolation, habitat size and surrounding land use, and past land use change, on small grassland remnants in rural landscapes.
The Effect Of Alternative Soil Amendments On The Botanical Composition, Basal Cover, Dry Matter Production And Chemical Properties Of Re-Vegetated Mine Land,
2023
University of Pretoria, South Africa
The Effect Of Alternative Soil Amendments On The Botanical Composition, Basal Cover, Dry Matter Production And Chemical Properties Of Re-Vegetated Mine Land, Wayne F. Truter, N. F. G. Rethman
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Coal mining impacts large grassland areas of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. To mitigate such impacts, it is imperative to restore the once productive soils to the best possible condition. The revegetation of mine land presents a particular challenge. Soils being rehabilitated are often acidic and nutrientdeficient, which are major limiting factors in re-vegetation programmes. Conventional methods of liming and inorganic fertilisation have been used to improve the productivity of impacted soils. In the past few years the use of a coal combustion by-product, class F fly ash, and an organic material, such as sewage sludge, have demonstrated the …
Tall Fescue Expressed Sequence Tag And Simple Sequence Repeats: Important Resources For Grass Species,
2023
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Tall Fescue Expressed Sequence Tag And Simple Sequence Repeats: Important Resources For Grass Species, Malay C. Saha, J. C. Zwonitzer, K. Chekhovskiy, M. A. R. Mian
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Expressed sequence tag (EST) databases have been growing exponentially. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) has become one of the most useful molecular marker systems in plant breeding and is widely used in cultivar fingerprinting, genetic diversity assessment, molecular mapping and marker-assisted selection. ESTs are a potential source for SSRs. The EST-SSR markers are of high quality and have versatile applications in molecular breeding (Bughrara et al., 2003; Saha et al., 2004 a, b, c). Here, we present an overview of our efforts to develop SSRs from tall fescue ESTs and their application for the genetic improvement of forage …
A Core Aflp Map Of Aposporic Tetraploid Paspalum Notatum (Bahiagrass),
2023
National University of Rosario, Argentina
A Core Aflp Map Of Aposporic Tetraploid Paspalum Notatum (Bahiagrass), J. P. A. Ortiz, J. Stein, E. J. Martínez, S. C. Pessino, C. L. Quarin
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Paspalum notatum (Bahiagrass) is a perennial rhizomatous species that reproduces by aposporous apomixis. Tetraploid races (2n=4x=40) are widely distributed from Central to South America and constitute one of the most valuable natural forage grasses for the subtropical areas of Paraguay, southern Brazil and north-eastern Argentina. Apospory in the species is controlled by a single locus, which exhibits a distorted segregation ratio. The objectives of this work were to develop a core genetic linkage map of the species by using AFLP markers and characterize the genomic region related to apospory.
Repulsion-Phase Linkage Analysis Of Tetraploid Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis Stolonifera L.),
2023
USDA-ARS
Repulsion-Phase Linkage Analysis Of Tetraploid Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis Stolonifera L.), S. E. Warnke, N. Chakraborty, G. Jung
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Creeping bentgrass is a cool-season grass species primarily used on golf course greens, tees, and fairways because of its tolerance of low mowing heights and recuperative ability. Creeping bentgrass is tetraploid and outcrossing and has been characterized as having bivalent chromosome pairing through cytogenetic analysis (Jones, 1956) and disomic inheritance based on the inheritance of isozyme markers (Warnke et al., 1998). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the extent of repulsion-phase linkages of single dose AFLP type markers in a creeping bentgrass mapping population and to infer chromosome pairing behaviour based on the ratio of coupling to …
Towards A Genetic Map In Creeping Bentgrass Based On Ssrs, Aflps And Rflps,
2023
Michigan State University, USA
Towards A Genetic Map In Creeping Bentgrass Based On Ssrs, Aflps And Rflps, H. Zhao, S. Bughrara
International Grassland Congress Proceedings
Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) (2n=4x=28) is commonly used in golf course, putting green, tees and fairways. In spite of the importance of the species in turfgrass industry, the genetic study of the creeping bentgrass has received relatively little attention. Genetic mapping, as a new tool, helps traditional turfgrass breeding methods through the construction of linkage, identification of quantitative trait loci linked to traits of interest, and application of marker assisted selection program. Molecular markers such as AFLPs, SSRs and RFLPs have been used extensively for the preparation of linkage maps of a number of crop species. The objective …
