Digital Commons Network^™

Carbon And Nitrogen Stocks In Integrated Crop Livestock, Valdinei T. Paulino, Erika M. L. C. Teixeira, Marcos Siqueira Neto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Soil organic matter (SOM) is recognized as an important characteristic of sustainable agricultural systems in the tropics and temperate regions. It is considered an integrated characteristic of physical, chemical and biological soil conditions and has been used as a soil quality index in different land uses and management practices (Lal 2011). Environmental, social, and financial imbalances have occurred, requiring producers to become more efficient. A system of intercropping grain crops with forages can provide enough forage in the dry season to maintain nutritional quality of livestock and even promote weight gain (Castro Filho et al. 1991). An integrated crop-livestock system …

The Mineral Nutrients Content And The Organic Manure Quality Appraisal For The Stylosanthes Green Manure, Guo-Dao Liu, Dong-Fen Huang, Xi Wen, Chang-Jun Bai, Dao-Geng Yu, Heng-Fu Huan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stylo (Stylosanthes spp.) is a leguminous crop planted widely in the world tropics. In the past the stylo was commonly used as pasture with high quality, and was less used as a green manure. However, stylo is recently used more as a green manure in tropical plantations. As there is little relevant research on the organic manure quality for stylo, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of stylo green manure. Selection of stylo green manure with the highest quality was based on the analysis of nutrients and organic matter content in stylo.

Influence Of Stocking Rate, Grazing Season Length And Dairy Cow Genetic Strain On The Nitrogen Balance Of Grass Based Dairy Production Systems, Deirdre Hennessy, Willie Ryan, Laurence Shalloo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stocking rate (SR), grazing season (GS) length and Holstein-Friesian (HF) strain can have a profound effect on the productivity of grass-based milk production systems. The optimum SR is that which gives the maximum sustainable economic output of product per unit area. Increasing SR increases output per ha, but also requires increased inputs of feed and fertilizer. Increasing the proportion of grazed grass utilized for milk production improves the economic sustainability of the system (Dillon et al. 2008). Nitrogen (N) use efficiency is one of the key drivers of environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production systems. Achieving the optimum balance …

Urinary Recovery Of Dicyandiamide (Dcd) Pulse-Dosed Into The Rumen Of Non-Lactating Dairy Cows, And The Effects Of Applying Urine With Dcd To Lysimeters On Nitrous Oxide And Nitrate Leaching In Ireland, Patrick J. O’Connor, Eva Lewis, Helen Slattery, Deirdre Hennessy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Urine excreted by dairy cows is a source of nitrogen (N) to the sward. The N content of urine is high, up to 1000 kg N/ha and is usually in excess of sward requirements. Surplus N is usually lost through a number of pathways including nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Dicyandiamide (DCD), a nitrification inhibitor, has been shown to reduce NO₃^- leaching and N₂O emissions when applied as a fine particle suspension (FPS) to grazed paddocks. The objectives of the study were to: (1) quantify the recovery of DCD in …

Improving The Phosphorus Efficiency Of Temperate Australian Pastures, Richard J. Simpson, Graeme A. Sandral, Richard A. Culvenor, Megan H. Ryan, Hans Lambers, Phillip G. H. Nichols, Richard C. Hayes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Phosphorus (P) is a key input necessary for high production in many temperate, grass-legume pasture systems in Australia because the pastures are situated on P-deficient and moderate to highly P-sorbing soils. A consequence of P-sorption in these soils is that much more P must be applied as fertiliser than will be exported in animal products. The P balance efficiency (PBE=100*P_export/Pi_nputs) of grazing enterprises (e.g. wool, meat, milk and live animal export) is about 10-30% and compares poorly with some other agricultural enterprises (e.g. 45-54% for grain production; McLaughlin et al. 1992; Weaver and …

Leaching Of Nitrate From A Grassland Field, Abdulfatah F. Aboufayed

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agricultural activities are the major cause of non-point pollution. Mechanization of agriculture, artificial fertilizer use and overall intensification of farming has played a major role in the increased incidence of pollution by agricultural activities. Carton et al. (2006) reported the effects of agricultural practices on nitrate leaching from an intensively managed dairy farm and showed that mean concentrations of nitrate nitrogen in the groundwater beneath the farm during the two monitoring years exceeded the maximum admissible concentration (MAC) for drinking water. While average nitrate nitrogen concentration in soil water were less than MAC, there was a trend for increased nitrogen …

Soil Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria Of The Okavango Floodplains, Botswana, Tabo Mubyana-John, Lawrence Tarupiwa, Wellington R. L. Masamba, Susan Ringrose

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Phosphorus although abundant is among the most limiting macro plant nutrients in some soils. Deficiencies are often seen as purpling of leaves due to unavailability of PO₄ in soil solution. In soil solution PO₄ solubility is pH dependent; at pH < 6, it is often bound to Fe or Al, while at pH > 7 it forms insoluble complexes with Ca, Mg, K or Na making it unavailable to plants (Brady 2002). Soil organic P requires mineralisation then solubilisation by the enzyme phosphatase before being available. Botswana soils due to the low rainfall (< 450 mm/yr) are characterised by high pH and salt pans scattered all over the semi-arid and arid landscape. Cultivation of most of these soils often results in P deficient crops (Leuschner and Manthe 1996). However, in grassland areas of the Okavango, very few grasses show P deficiency. Studies from other areas indicate that some grasses habour PO₄ solubilizing bacteria in their rhizosphere that help them in their P sequencing quest (Duponnois et al. …

Should Native Pastures Be Fertilised?, Jo I. Powells, Doug J. Alcock, Luke C. Pope, Denys Garden

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Considerable research has been conducted in recent years demonstrating the ongoing benefits of phosphorus (P) fertiliser in achieving and maintaining higher levels of production from native pastures (Graham 2006; Garden et al. 2003; Lodge et al. 2003; Michalk et al. 2003). However Garden et al. (2003), Hill et al. (2004) and Dorrough et al. (2008) all question the sustainability of this practice by highlighting changes in species composition of these pastures with regard to increasing the introduced annual grass and broadleaf weed components at the expense of the native grasses and forbs but in …

Humic Products–Potential Or Presumption For Agriculture. Do Humic Products Have A Place In Australian Grazing Enterprises?, Kim L. Billingham

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Australian soils are inherently low in organic matter. Agricultural practices have compounded this problem. As farmers look for more sustainable farming methods a commercial niche has opened for a range of alternative products including the humic products. More than 200 humic products are manufactured and sold by Australian companies (Billingham 2012). Many more can be purchased via overseas websites.

The term ‘humic products’ denotes a range of materials derived from lignites (brown coals), peats, lignins, composts and other organic wastes. Most are manufactured by alkali and acid extraction of the source material. Humic products are usually sold as soil amendments …

Efficient Use Of Phosphorus In Temperate Grassland Systems, Richard J. Simpson, Alan E. Richardson, Shirley N. Nichols, James R. Crush

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Phosphorus (P) fertilisers are important for high production in many grassland systems. However, there are increasing environmental, economic and strategic issues associated with using P, which is a non-renewable and “effectively finite” global resource. We review the P balance of temperate pastures to identify the factors that contribute to inefficient P use and discuss ways to improve P use efficiency. The most immediate gains can be made by ensuring that pastures are not over-fertilised. Plants with low critical P requirements, particularly as a result of better root foraging, will be important. Root traits such as fine roots (root diameter), branching, …

Nitrogen Management In Grasslands And Forage-Based Production Systems–Role Of Biological Nitrification Inhibition (Bni), Guntur V. Subbarao, Idupulapati M. Rao, K. Nakahara, Y. Ando, K. L. Sahrawat, T. Tesfamariam, J. C. Lata, S. Boudsocq, J. W. Miles, Manabu Ishitani, M. Peters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen (N), being the most critical and essential nutrient for plant growth, largely determines the productivity in both extensive- and intensive- grassland systems. Nitrification and denitrification processes in the soil are the primary drivers generating reactive-N: NO₃^-, N₂O, and NO, and is largely responsible for N-loss and degradation of grasslands. Suppressing nitrification can thus facilitate the retention of soil-N to sustain long-term productivity of grasslands and forage-based production systems. Certain plants can suppress soil nitrification by releasing inhibitors from roots, a phenomenon termed ‘biological nitrification inhibition’ (BNI). Recent methodological developments (e.g. bioluminescence assay …

Flexible Forage Systems For Variable Water Supplies, Mary-Jane E. Rogers, Alister Lawson, Kevin Kelly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The dairy industry in northern Victoria, Australia is primarily based on the border check irrigation of temperate forage species over the spring to autumn period. Traditionally, dairy cows have grazed the perennial species (white clover and perennial ryegrass) and annual pastures (based on short-lived ryegrasses and subterranean or Persian clover). However, due to a more variable climate – particularly a period where the annual rainfall has been significantly less than the long-term average – the summer irrigation allocations have been substantially lower and more variable than the preceding 20-30 years. Under this climate scenario, dairy farmers are re-evaluating their feed …

Effect Of Low-Use-Rate Zinc Fertilization On Rice Growth And Grain Yield, Maxwell D. Coffin, Nathan A. Slaton

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Low-use-rate Zn fertilization methods have been developed and marketed for rice (Oryza sativa L.) fertilization with limited research validating their efficacy. Our research objectives were to evaluate the effect of Zn-seed treatment rate combined with six Zn-fertilization methods on early season canopy coverage, tissue-Zn concentration at the mid-tillering stage, and rice grain yield. The field experiment was conducted on six silt loams and one clay. Rice seed was treated with 0 or 3.3 g Zn kg(-1) as ZnO and combined with no Zn, granular ZnSO4 applied at 11 kg Zn ha(-1) (GRAN), 1.68 kg Zn ha(-1) as MicroEssentials (MESZ), 1.1 …

A Method For Assessing Multiples Ecosystem Services From Grasslands Based On Vegetation Characteristics. An Example From Norwegian Semi-Natural Grasslands, Simon Taugourdeau, Line Johansen, Sølvi Wehn

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ecosystem services are human benefits provided by ecosystems and related to the characteristics of the vegetation (de Bello et al., 2010).Semi-natural grasslands provide a large set of ecosystem services and are thus important ecosystems in boreal landscapes. The vegetation of semi-natural grasslands differ regarding land use, soil and climate. Consequently, also provision of ecosystem services from semi-natural grasslands will vary among various types of semi-natural grasslands. Here, we propose a method to develop indicators of ecosystem services from semi-natural grassland using the DEXI® software (Bohanec and Raikovic, 1990).

The Value Of Modeling Botanical Composition Change In Grasslands, Karl Behrendt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The integration of grassland dynamics, livestock production and economics is necessary to improve decision making regarding grassland resource development and management. Within a sward, the relative competitive ability of different species and the way management interacts with the environment both play a significant role in determining the competition between species, future states of the grassland sward, ecological impact of the grassland and its potential for livestock production (Kemp and King, 2001). The impact of botanical composition shifts on grassland productivity will depend on the nutritive value and yield potential of the invasive species against those of the resident species. The …

Assessment Of Grasslands And Livestock Production In Kangra Valley Of Himachal Pradesh, S. Radotra, Inder Dev, A. Kanan, Birbal Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Himachal Pradesh 89.96 percent as per 2011 census of population lives in rural areas. The mainstay of the people of Himachal Pradesh is agriculture and has an important place in the economy of the State. Agricultural census shows that 87.95 percent of the total holdings are of small and marginal. Rearing of livestock is an integral component of rural economy (Anonymous, 2014). Livestock depend to a certain extent on fodder and grass grown on common property resources (CPR) as well as on crops and residues. Animal production is an integral part and forms part of the earning of small …

Range Dynamic And Sustainability Of Mediterranean Grassland, Zalmen Henkin, Eugene D. Ungar, Avi Perevolotsky, Yehuda Yehuda, Serge Landau, Marcelo Sternberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Mediterranean grasslands are a highly diverse and complex ecological resource of considerable economic and environmental importance. Herbaceous plant production that determines the carrying capacity of these grasslands for beef cattle husbandry is not only influenced by climatic factors, habitat characteristics, soil fertility and depth, but also by the stocking density and the nature of the grazing system (Gutman et al., 1999). The yearly Mediterranean pasture cycle is characterized by a temperate, winter-spring growing season and a hot, dormant, summer-autumn dry season. Consequently, pasture growth dynamics result in extremely low biomass availability at the beginning of the rainy season and …

Net Herbage Accumulation Rate (Nhar) Of Plantain And Chicory Based Sward Mixes, Sharini Carol Somasiri, Paul R. Kenyon, Peter D. Kemp, Patrick C. H. Morel, Stephen T. Morris

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The managed grasslands of New Zealand have a range of forage species comprising grasses and legumes that can be grown and utilised in a wide range of conditions (Saggar et al., 2007). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) are the dominant grass and legume species found in these grasslands (Hodgson et al., 2005; Waghorn and Clark, 2004). Annual pasture production is affected by the soil moisture status, nutrient levels and temperatures (Valantine and Kemp, 2007). Therefore, monthly pasture production can vary from year to year. Net herbage accumulation rate (NHAR) is …

Inventory Of Important Fodder Plants Of Ladakh Himalaya, Suheel Ahmad, J. P. Singh, D. K. Verma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Ladakh, livestock rearing is a major activity in the livelihoods of the population and contributes greatly to income generation in the region and therefore alleviating poverty. In agro-pastoral animal husbandry systems of Leh, Khaltsey, and Nubra blocks and limited areas in Nyoma and Durbok, villagers live in settled communities and practice sedentary agriculture, but they also keep relatively large herds of livestock to augment income and meet dietary and fibre subsistence needs (Ahmed, 2002). Due to prolonged and extreme cold winter, the agriculture season is very short which starts from May and ends by September depending upon different altitudes. …

Seasonal Influence On Botanical Composition Of Plantain, Chicory, White- And Red-Clover Based Herbage Mixes, Sharini Carol Somasiri, Paul R. Kenyon, Peter D. Kemp, Patrick C. H. Morel, Stephen T. Morris

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Use of herb based sward mixes that are productive in different weather conditions could be an effective option to provide feed requirements for finishing lambs year round compared to ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) sward in New Zealand (Kemp et al., 2010). Herbs such as plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and the legumes such as white clover and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) as pure swards are known to improve lamb performance compared to ryegrass/white clover. Therefore, there is scope to have …

Megathermic Spontaneous Grasses In The Mid Valley Ecotone, Rio Negro Of Argentina, Klich María Guadalupe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The vegetation in the ecotone of mid valley in Río Negro (Argentina) varies in community composition and plant cover depending on the annual precipitation regime and on the temperature requirements of the plants species. The megathermic forage grasses are characterized by a C₄ photosynthetic metabolism, their production is concentrated in summer, they are tolerant to drought, efficient in the use of water and nitrogen, they have a high potential for dry matter production and the nutritional quality necessary to meet the demands of cattle. North Patagonia is a semiarid temperate region with hot, dry summers and with forage resources …

Evaluation Of Grasslands Of Mahboobnagar District, Telangana State, M. Shanti, T. Shashikala, R. V. T. Balazzii Naaiik, Ch. Chiranjeevi, R. Susheela, M. Anuradha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Telangana state is gifted with rich livestock resources; 50.3 lakh cattle, 41.9 lakh buffaloes, 128.7 lakh sheep and 46.7 lakh goats ( Livestock census, 2012).The district of Mahboobnagar in this newly formed State is known for its huge cattle, sheep and goat population. The district ranks first in sheep (37, 30,689) and goat (6, 87,066) population among all districts of state, though ranks second and sixth in cattle and buffalo population, respectively (Live stock census, 2012). The most common sources of fodder to feed these livestock are crop residues (68%), forages from common property resources (CPRs) like forests, pastures and …

Study On Population Distribution, Morphological Structure And Physiological-Biochemical Characteristics Of Dactylis Glomerata In Different Geographical Areas Of Tianshan Mountains Of Xinjiang In China, Xianhua Zhang, Jinzhong Zhu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

As one important cool-season grass with high resource value, Dactylis glomerata has many characteristics such as good adaptability, high nutritional value and so on. It is one of the major cultivated species planted in high quality artificial grassland in the world. Xinjiang is one of the major areas have rich germplasm resource of wild Dactylis glomerata, and it is a natural gene pool. In order to protect and make good use of wild plant resources, this study focused on the distribution patterns, distribution regulation, morphological structure and physiological-biochemical characteristics of wild Dactylis glomerata grown in different geographical areas of …

Establishing Baseline Values For Soil Quality Indicators In The Southern Cape Of South Africa, Pieter A. Swanepoel, Philip R. Botha, Chris C. Du Preez, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Commercial dairy farming on pasture is commonly practiced in the southern Cape region of South Africa. In terms of its sustainability, quantification of the impact of dairy-pasture management on soil quality is essential. To comprehend the behaviour of soils in terms of quality, indicators should be assessed to screen the general direction of soil quality within a management system. Development of a soil quality assessment framework necessitates establishment of baseline values for soil quality indicators. The aim of this study was to establish baseline values for soil quality indicators for dairy-pasture soils in the southern Cape. Physical, chemical and biological …

Benefits And Uses Of Nematodes In Grassland Soils, Michael J. Wilson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To most grassland farmers nematodes mean trouble: they are important parasites of both pasture plants and livestock. While there is no doubting the considerable losses caused by nematodes, crop and livestock pests represent a tiny minority of the approximately 26,000 described nematode species. Here I examine the beneficial effects of nematodes within grassland systems and their beneficial uses. Nematodes in grassland soils increase plant available nutrients, move beneficial microbes through the rhizosphere and control insect and mollusc herbivores. We can use nematodes as biological control agents, and also as indicators of soil health/quality. While no single group of organisms can …

Effects Of Different Feed Additives On Methane Emissions From Beef Cattle, P. Giraldo, A. Marín, L. A. Giraldo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The rate of accumulation of methane in the atmosphere from enteric fermentation in cattle has an important impact on the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming. Additionally, methane emission reduces the energy efficiency of substrate fermention in the rumen. Under-standing the effect of the diet on enteric methane emissions could help to identify strategies to reduce emissions of this greenhouse gas. Therefore, the main objective of the present investigation was to determine the effect of nutritional additives such as monensin, fumaric acid, tannins of Acacia decurrens, and glycerol on methane production and other measures of fermentation characteristics using …

In Vitro Screening Of Tropical Forages For Low Methane And High Ammonia Generating Potential In The Rumen, Thakshala Seresinhe, A. N. F. Perera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Goat farming is a livelihood activity which helps ensure food security for small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and rural folk in Sri Lanka. Goats are fed on a diverse range of tree leaves which are their primary food source in rural areas, whereas in peri-urban areas they are fed with other feedstuffs due to limited supply of tree leaves (Seresinhe and Marapana 2011). The poor growth performance of local goats is associated with low digestibility of feeds which may be due to the presence of condensed tannins (CT) present in the feed. Therefore, this study evaluated the suitability of …

Making Decisions To Identify Forage Shrub Species For Versatile Grazing Systems, Jason Emms, Philip E. Vercoe, Steve J. Hughes, Peter Jessop, Hayley C. Norman, Tanya Kilminster, Andrew Kotze, Zoey Durmic, Nathan Phillips, Dean K. Revell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing systems in many parts of the world face large challenges, including a declining natural resource base (e.g. soil fertility), marked fluctuations in feed production across seasons and years, climate change (including the contribution of greenhouse gases from livestock), and market demands for sustainable and ethical production systems. The ‘Enrich’ project was established in Australia (Revell et al. 2008; Bennell et al. 2010) within this broad context of emerging challenges to explore the potential of using Australian native perennial shrub species as part of the feedbase for sheep and cattle in southern Australia. The underlying rationale was …

Adapting Livestock Production Systems To Climate Change In Nepal: Challenges And Opportunities, D. D. Poudel, R. P. Thakur, T. Duex, G. Blakewood, A. Singh, A. Deramus, B. Chapagain, K. Acharya, S. Adhikari, R. B. Gramling, N. Sharma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To assess climate change impacts and identify challenges and opportunities for livestock climate change adaption, we conducted a comprehensive study in the Thulokhola watershed of Nuwakot district in Nepal from June 1, 2011 to January 31, 2013. We established nine community livestock groups (CLGs) consisting of 51 members and trained the CLG members in daily livestock record keeping and monitoring surface water quality. Monthly fecal samples from 50 cattle, 50 goats, and 50 buffaloes were collected for the determination of gastrointestinal parasites. Soil and fodder samples were also collected and analyzed. Group discussions, Participatory Rural Appraisals, and full-fledged household survey …

Adaptation To Climate Change In Mixed Crop-Livestock Farming Systems In Developing Countries, Philip K. Thornton, Mario Herrero

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Globally, crop-livestock systems produce over 90% of the world's milk supply and 80% of the meat from ruminants. Mixed crop-livestock systems are particularly important for livelihoods and food security, as they provide most of the staples consumed by poor people. These systems will be under considerable pressure in the coming decades to help satisfy the burgeoning demand for food from rapidly increasing populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where rural poverty and hunger are already concentrated. At the same time, the impacts of climate change will be increasingly heavily felt. Increases in temperatures and changes in the amounts …