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Continuous Cropping Alters Multiple Biotic And Abiotic Indicators Of Soil Health, Pervaiz Ahmad, Javed Iqbal, Qingming Zhang, Dima Chen, Hui Wei, Muhammad Saleem

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The continuous cropping (CC) of major agricultural, horticultural, and industrial crops is an established practice worldwide, though it has significant soil health-related concerns. However, a combined review of the effects of CC on soil health indicators, in particular omics ones, remains missing. The CC may negatively impact multiple biotic and abiotic indicators of soil health, fertility, and crop yield. It could potentially alter the soil biotic indicators, which include but are not limited to the composition, abundance, diversity, and functioning of soil micro- and macro-organisms, microbial networks, enzyme activities, and soil food web interactions. Moreover, it could also alter various …

Coal Char Affects Soil Ph To Reduce Ammonia Volatilization From Sandy Loam Soil, Dinesh Panday, Maysoon M. Mikha, Bijesh Maharjan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization loss adversely affects N availability in soil-plant systems, reduces crop yield, and negatively impacts environment. Char (coal combus- tion residue), which contains up to 293 g kg−1 total C by weight, has been shown to reduce NH3 volatilization due to its considerably high surface area and cation exchange capacity. The NH3 loss can be greatly affected by a shift in soil pH or urea hydrolysis. A 21-d laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of char on soil pH, N transformations, and subsequent NH3 volatilization in sandy loam soil. Two char rates (0 and 13.4 Mg …

Adjusting Corn Nitrogen Management By Including A Mineralizable-Nitrogen Test With The Preplant And Presidedress Nitrate Tests, Jason Clark, Fabián G. Fernández, Kristen S. Veum, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Daniel E. Kaiser, Newell R. Kitchen, C. A.M. Laboski, Emerson Nafziger, Carl J. Rosen, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The anaerobic potentially mineralizable N (PMN) test combined with the preplant (PPNT) and presidedress (PSNT) nitrate tests may improve corn (Zea mays L.) N fertilization predictions. Forty-nine corn N response experiments (mostly corn following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]) were conducted in the U.S. Midwest from 2014–2016 to evaluate the ability of the PPNT and PSNT to predict corn relative yield (RY) and N fertilizer over- and under-application rates when adjusted by PMN. Before planting and N fertilization, PPNT (0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm) and PMN (0–30 cm) samples were obtained. In-season soil samples were obtained at the …

Relating Four-Day Soil Respiration To Corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs Across 49 U.S. Midwest Fields, G. M. Bean, Newell R. Kitchen, Kristen S. Veum, James J. Camberato, Richard Ferguson, Fabian G. Fernandez, David W. Franzen, Carrie A.M. Laboski, Emerson Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, Matt Yost

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Soil microbes drive biological functions thatmediate chemical and physical processes necessary for plants to sustain growth. Laboratory soil respiration has been proposed as one universal soil health indicator representing these functions, potentially informing crop and soil management decisions. Research is needed to test the premise that soil respiration is helpful for profitable in-season nitrogen (N) rate management decisions in corn (Zea mays L.). The objective of this research was two-fold: (i) determine if the amount of N applied at the time of planting effected soil respiration, and (ii) evaluate the relationship of soil respiration to corn yield response to …

Food Accessibility Related To The Double Your Dollar Program, Julia Carlson, Heather Friedrich, Mechelle Bailey, Curt Rom

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The Double Your Dollar (DYD) Program is a program that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) participants match dollars to spend at local farmers markets. The DYD’s goal is to incentivize healthy eating among individuals of low income and promote spending at farmers markets. Food insecurity affects over 60,000 individuals in Washington and Benton counties in Arkansas. The aim of this study was to assess how the DYD program impacted users’ food accessibility and how the program could be improved for the future. A survey was used to address basic demographics, type, …

Case Studies Which Demonstrate The Financial Viability Of Precision Dairy Farming, Ian Yule, Hayden Lawrence, Craige Mackenzie, Carolyn Hedley, Miles Grafton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A number of case studies are used to demonstrate the financial viability of precision farming methods for intensively managed pastures. Precision farming has sometimes been criticized as being technology-led where the management goals and desired outcomes are sometimes poorly defined. Case studies presented in this paper demonstrate a strong management approach where appropriate technologies are selected to contribute to the financial success of the farm. The first case study farm has increased milk production by 70% in four years, increased pasture production by 43%, reduced fertilizer costs to 43% of previous levels and has successfully predicted annual production to within …

Remediating Soil For Successful Vegetation Establishment Along Nebraska Highways, Shad Mills, Martha Mamo, Walt Schacht, Humberto Blanco-Canqui

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Vegetation along roadsides is important to prevent soil erosion, provide habitat, and filter water running off the road. Vegetation close to the pavement along highways in Nebraska does not readily establish and persist. It is thought that the sodium and bulk density are the driving factors behind the lack of vegetation. After a construction project the shoulder is seeded into the compacted soil, and during winter salts can accumulate in the soil because of deicing agents being used. The purpose of our study was to determine if the sodium and bulk density are the driving factors of the vegetation cover. …

Opportunities For Improving Livestock Production With E-Management Systems, Dave L. Swain, Rebecca N. Handcock, Greg J. Bishop-Hurley, Don Menzies

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is increased interest in hardware and software that can support e-Management for grassland-based livestock industries. Managers of grazing livestock were early adopters of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies automatically monitoring individual animal performance. Recent developments of remote sensing, automated individual recording and management, location based systems, improved data transfer and technologies that can be used in more extensive grazing systems are providing new opportunities for the development of e-Management systems. There is a need for better data integration and systems that can provide the best available information to enable better decision-making. For greater industry adoption of more integrated e-Management …

Growth Of Bali Bulls Fattened With Forage Tree Legumes In Eastern Indonesia: Leucaena Leucocephala In Sumbawa, Tanda Panjaitan, Muhammad Fauzan, H. Dahlanuddin, Michael J. Halliday, H. Max Shelton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The contribution of West Nusa Tenggara Province to domestic beef supply in Indonesia is relatively small, however, beef cattle are very important for the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the region.

Bali cattle (Boss javanicus) are the predominant breed as they are adapted to harsh nutritional conditions, are highly fertile and have low calf mortality (Toelihere 2003). While genetically capable of achieving a growth rate of 0.85 kg/d (Mastika 2003), Panjaitan (2012) identified poor nutrition as a severe limitation to animal growth in traditional village systems. Improving feed quality and supply is vital to increasing growth rates and …

Effect Of High Se And Co Alfalfa Forage On Animal Production, Xiao-Lei Jie, Xiao Guo, Hua-Feng Hu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Total and available selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) concentrations are low in Chinese soils, especially those found in mainly in temperate humid sub-humid conditions in the northeast to the southwest band across China (Tan et al. 2002). The levels of Se and Co are marginally deficit in the brown soil of the Yellow River region which causes lower production level and quality in forage and crop plants. Application of Se and Co fertilizers to arable lands is essential to produce high Se and Co forages. Henan is a Province where produce high-quality grass forages are used to support dairy …

Performance, Carcass Characteristics And Meat Quality Of Grazing Lambs Finished On Tropical Grasses, Cesar H. E. C. Poli, Samuel Carnesella, Fernando M. Souza, Concepta Mcmanus, Zélia M. S. Castilhos, Liris Kindlein, Jaime U. Tarouco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brazil is a country of continental size, and more than seven million ha are occupied with tropical pasture. Worldwide animal production from tropical pastures is also very significant where Cynodon, Panicum and Paspalum are important genus. These grasses are widely used in the production of cattle, and are growing in importance for sheep production, but their potential for producing quality lamb is not fully known.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of two tropical grasses for finishing lambs in autumn to reduce the seasonality of production of lamb for meat.

Variation Of Rumen Bacterial Diversity In Steers After The Beginning Of Grazing, Miwa Nakano, Satoshi Haga, Masanori Tohno, Kazuhiro Matoba, Ryuichi Uegaki, Hiroshi Ishizaki

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Holstein heifers before or after puberty often are herded on public pastures in Japan. The herbage intake and rumen fermentation of grazing heifers that are not adapted for fresh herbage decreases due to a change of feed from stall-fed dried forage to fresh herbage. This limits their performance during the first several weeks on pasture. Thus, the feeding program such as supplementation before and after the beginning of grazing is important. An increase in ammonia concentration and a decline in fibre degradation in the rumen of a heifer (both of which occur simultaneously with low herbage intake and rumen fermentation) …

Fatty Acid Metabolism On Pasture- And Feedlot-Finished Cattle, Cuk T. Noviandi, Robert E. Ward, Jong-Su Eun, Dale R. Zobell, Rusty D. Stott, Blair L. Waldron, Mike D. Peel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Feeding high-grain diets to finishing beef cattle results in high proportions of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the beef, which is considered to confer negative impacts on human health. In contrast, pasture-finished cattle produce lower proportion of SFA, greater n-3 and less n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and higher conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) compared to high grain-finished beef (Noviandi et al. 2012). Increased n-3 PUFA, especially C18:3 n-3, can reduce the risk of heart disease, hypertension, inflammation, and mammary cancer, and lower cholesterol concentration in blood (De Deckere et al. 1998; Tapiero et al. 2002).

Nitrogen fertilisation …

Development Of Feeding System Based On Azolla (Azolla Pinnata) And Sheanut Cake (Vitellaria Paradoxa) For Nellore Sheep Reared In Different Production Systems, K. Sarjan Rao, Y. Ravindra Reddy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since protein sources such as ground nut cake and soya bean are too expensive to feed as supplements to livestock in India, steps have been taken to reduce cost by utilizing alternative feedstuffs to replace the traditional sources in ration formulation (Parashuramului et al. 2013). Azolla which is a free-floating nitrogen fixing water fern has a potential to be used as a protein supplement for ruminants (Ahirwar and Leela, 2012). Sheanut cake (Vitellaria paradoxa) which is produced after extraction of fats use in cosmetics and as a cocoa butter substitute in chocolate making, is also a rich …

Forage Allowance And Cow Genotype, Tools To Increase Animal Production In Native Pastures, Pablo Soca, Mariana Carriquiry, Martín Do Carmo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In eight plots (four per block) the effects of two FA per two cow genotypes were tested from August 2007 to March 2010, on a Campos grassland (major species were Axonopus affinis, Oxalis sp., Cyperus sp., Cynodon dactylon, Eryngium nudicaule, Gaudinia fragilis, Chevreulia sarmentosa, Stipa setigera, Paspalum notatum and Coelorhachis selloana) in Uruguay (32º 20` S, 54º 26` W). Forage allowance varied seasonally, in HIGH (5, 3, 4 and 4 kg DM/kg LW) and LOW (3, 3, 2 and 2 kg DM/kg LW) during autumn, winter, spring and summer; respectively. Continuous stocking method was …

Cultivar Influences Milk Production Of Grazing Dairy Cows, Mary Mcevoy, Michael O’Donovan, Emer Kennedy, John Paul Murphy, Luc Delaby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass is considered one of the most important forage grass species used in temperate ruminant animal production systems. Maximizing milk production from grazed grass is a major objective of pastoral-based dairy systems. While DM yield is an important trait, it fails to define the ultimate value of a grass cultivar, which is its potential to improve animal performance from a pasture sward (Reed 1994). The majority of cultivar evaluation trials are conducted under cutting, so therefore inferior cultivars from an animal production perspective may not be identified until commercialisation when animals graze a pasture sward. Reed (1978) reported that …

Efficient Beef Production From Temperate Grasslands In North-Western Europe, Edward G. O’Riordan, Paul Crosson, Mark Mcgee, Padraig O’Kiely

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ireland’s cool temperate maritime climate is conducive to grass growth and, as a result, ruminant livestock systems have evolved that maximise both grazed pastures and conserved grassland forage as winter feed. Most Irish pastures are permanent, capable of achieving high herbage production (Keating and O’Kiely 2000) and, accordingly, supporting intensive livestock production systems. Most male progeny from the 1.1 million Irish dairy herd are reared as steers, typically slaughtered at 24-26 months of age. Approximately 85% of dairy calves available for beef production are spring-born, usually in February/March (AIMS 2011). The progeny of Holstein-Friesian (Ho/Fr) sires account for 0.5-0.6 of …

Dietary Effect Of Substituting Panicum Maximum With Tithonia Diversifolia Forage On Performance Of Yankasa Sheep, Adebowale N. Fajemisin, Timayin Salihu, Akinyemi Fadiyimu, Adebayo Alokan, Olusola Agbede

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ruminant livestock production in Nigeria is based predominantly on native grassland (especially Panicum maximum); the nutritive value of the natural pasture varies drastically according to season (Ademosun.1992). Changes in nutritional status of these native plants result in very irregular growth and marked fluctuations in seasonal weights of farm animals. Consequently, it becomes imperative to source for alternative feed resources which are more efficient, economical and can be incorporated into ruminant’s diet with a view to reducing feed costs and hence, achieving a greater profit margin for the producer. Tithonia diversifolia is an herbaceous weed of field crops and is …

Do Different Breeds Of Dairy Cow Differ In Their Ability To Digest Perennial Ryegrass?, Marion Beecher, Frank Buckley, Tommy M. Boland, Craig Thackaberry, Daniel Enriquez-Hidalgo, Michael O’Donovan, Eva Lewis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazed grass is the cheapest feed source available for ruminant production systems in temperate climates (Finnernan et al. 2010) accounting for 70% and 90% of the diet of dairy cows in Ireland and New Zealand, respectively. Successful operation of grass-based dairy systems is based on achieving large intakes of high quality grass and efficiently converting it into high value milk solids (Prendiville et al. 2010). Prendiville et al. (2009) identified production efficiency differences between Holstein Friesian (HF) and Jersey (J) cows. They found that J had higher milk solids output per 100 kg bodyweight than HF. The …

Developing And Implementing Animal Welfare Assessments On Extensive And Intensive Grassland Systems: An Overview, Nguyen Xuan Trach, Bob Kilgour

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While several definitions of animal welfare exist, in this paper we use the concept of the Five Freedoms. The Five Freedoms are freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom from fear and distress; freedom to perform normal behavior. While the idea of the Five Freedoms has limitations, it is still a widely-used conceptualization of animal welfare and we use it here to discuss the welfare of cattle in intensive and extensive management systems in Vietnam and Australia. Compared to extensive pasture systems, intensive management systems do result in heightened animal welfare …

The Evolving Beef Industry And Its Sustainability In Western China, J. P. Wu, Z. M. Lei, L. P. Zhang, X. R. Wang, S. G. Zhao, C. Q. Zhang, G. H. Sun, S. G. Li

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The beef industry in China has started to develop since the 1980s. Since then, its production system has been evolving significantly from subsistence production towards business operation in farmer households. As demands continue to grow, China will become the largest beef consumption country in the world by the year of 2025. The beef production in China’s western agriculture regions is gaining significant role in the beef industry of China. Utilization of corn stover and other agriculture aftermath is seen as the competitive advantage of development of the beef industry. Over the last 30 years the beef production efficiency has been …

The Place Of Crossbred Lambs In Australian Lamb Production, David L. Hopkins, Suzanne I. Mortimer, Jessica S. Richards

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Australian sheep industry, particularly the lamb meat sector has undergone a major change in focus, such that consumer requirements are a paramount determinant for production and processing developments. This change has been facilitated by the use of cross breeding production systems where the benefits of heterosis are captured and the implementation of a performance recording system amongst initially, breeders of terminal sires. This sector of the industry has strongly embraced genetic selection using objectively measured traits and this is one of the contributors to the superior growth rate of crossbred progeny over pure bred progeny. A crossbreeding system does …

Developing A Diet Authentication System From The Composition Of Meat In Ruminants, F. J. Monahan, A. P. Moloney, O. Schmidt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

As consumer interest in the link between diet and human health and in the ethics of food production increases assurances about the background origin of food are sought. In the case of animal-derived foods, such as meat, the animal’s diet is an intrinsic component of the food’s production and of its subsequent nutritional quality. Thus, there is a need to develop ways of validating the authenticity of the animal diet. Among the approaches to authenticate the background diet of ruminants is the measurement of components in meat (muscle and adipose tissue) and other tissues that are directly influenced by the …

Effect Of Harvest Stage On Forage Yield And Nutritional Value Of Winter And Spring Triticale Genotypes, Abidi Sourour, Ben Youssef Salah, Jlidi Refka

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Triticale grain is the first human made cereal created by 1875. It grows in most climates on acidic soils and in extreme temperature conditions. Moreover, the low value of triticale flour makes it a cereal mainly for animal feed as grain or forage (Varughese et al. 1987). It is well suited for dual purpose use (forage + grain + fodder or fodder, Ben Youssef et al. 2000) and as green forage, silage or hay (Delogu et al. 2001). In Tunisia, triticale was introduced by INRAT but its utilization has not been fully developed in Tunisia. The maximum …

Performance Of Medicago Varia Cv. Gannong No.1 And Onobrychis Viciaefolia Cv. Gansu In The Mixed Agricultural And Pastoral Zone Of Western China, X. R. Wang, J. P. Wu, Z. M. Lei, Y. Liu, T. Liu, B. J. Chen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Western China is mostly covered with natural grasslands, particularly in mountainous and alpine areas. Here agriculture and grazing pastures with livestock are widely integrated. Overgrazing and forage shortages are prominent problems for animal production. Cold weather and long drought periods can also lead to serious feed shortages, especially of high quality protein forages (Liu et al. 2010). Planting perennial forages with high nutritive value is an important way of increasing forage supply and relieving grassland degradation. Medicago varia L. cv. Gannong No.1 (Medicago) and Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop. cv. Gansu (sainfoin) are examples of perennial legumes with high …

Meat And Milk Production On Irrigated Birdsfoot Trefoil Pastures In The Mountain West Usa, Jennifer W. Macadam, Sara R. Hunt, Silvana Martini, Rachael Christensen, Jong-Su Eun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Irrigated birdsfoot trefoil (BFT; Lotus corniculatus L.) is a productive, persistent perennial legume in the Mountain West region of the United States of America (USA) (MacAdam and Griggs 2006). It does not cause bloat, even when grazed in pure stands, because it contains a relatively small amount (2-4% of dry matter (DM)) of condensed tannins (Mueller-Harvey 2006; Waghorn 2008). Birdsfoot trefoil tannins bind excess plant proteins at rumen pH (~ pH 6.2) sufficiently to prevent bloat and then release these proteins into the abomasum at gastric pH (~ pH 2.5). This allows plant proteins to be digested to amino acids …

Influence Of Grazing Exclusion On Vegetation And Productivity Of Kyrgyz Pastures, N. V. Kilyazova, М. I. Аdenov, К. A. Samsaliev, А. Каrybekov, B. Jeangros

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of grazing exclusion on the vegetation and productivity of: (1) pastures near villages that are grazed intensively through-out the year; and (2) pastures, which are used in summer and are less intensively grazed through the remainder of the year. The potential of degraded pastures to recover, when protected from overgrazing, was also evaluated. Six pastures (3 located in or near villages and 3 used for summer grazing) were selected with local community representatives in 3 pilot regions of Kyrgyzstan (the Lahol and Теrеk regions of Naryn oblast and the Оrgochor …

Establishment Techniques To Increase The Production Of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum) Over-Sown Into An Irrigated Kikuyu (Pennisetum Clandestinum) Pasture, Joseph C. Fitzgerald, Mark N. Callow

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Irrigated mixed pastures of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) over-sown with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in the cool-season (May-October) can produce large amounts of biomass in a sub-tropical environment (Botha et al. 2008). However, appropriate pasture management practices are required to suppress the aggressive growth of kikuyu prior to autumn, in order to facilitate establishment of ryegrass seedlings.

The present study evaluated ryegrass establishment techniques on the dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and forage quality of a mixed sward containing kikuyu.

Trifolium Vesiculosum: Exploring Its Potential In The Uruguay Lowlands Rice Region, Walter Ayala, Ethel Barrios, Gerónimo Cardozo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Trifolium vesiculosum, commonly known as arrowleaf clover, is a winter-growing annual legume native to Europe (Duke, 1981), with high persistence and low risk of bloat. Several reports show a wide annual production range between 1.9 and 9.8 t DM/ha/year (Gomes and Reis 1999; Evans and Mills 2008). It shows a high nutritional value (Tekeli et al. 2005) that declines with increasing maturity. Grazing management should consider the need for seed production to ensure natural re-seeding in subsequent years. Recently, INIA Uruguay released the T. vesiculosum cultivar Sagit (Glencoe EC1), characterized by intermediate growth habit and flowering period.

The …

The Functionality Of Legume-Grass Swards In A Long-Term Pasture: Productivity And Stability, Žydrė Kadžiulienė, Lina Šarūnaitė, Leonas Kadžiulis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Combinations of various plant species or functional groups can enhance sward structure, the function and stability of an ecosystem, supplement forage production and mitigate negative environmental impacts. Climatic variation, rising temperatures, changing precipitation and other extreme climatic events may lead to changes in plant diversity (Soussana and Lüscher 2007). At the same time it is very important to optimise functional diversity by combining species with different properties that are well adapted to the local environments (Huyghe et al. 2012). Successful selection and management of legumes influences the herbage production, nutritional quality and sustainability of grazing systems. Therefore, their role …