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An Investigation On Food Habits Of Persian Gazelle In Cheshmeh Gol Reproduction Station Of Khorasan Province, Iran, I. Mohammdi-Abiz, Kamal Naseri, Mansour Mesdaghi, H. Yazdandad

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Persian gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) is one of the most important wild species in Iran. This species prefers plain and low hill habitats which are dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia sieberi). However, due to extensive hunting and habitat destruction, the populations of gazelle were declined and this valuable species was recorded as threatened species in 2006. To rehabilitate the habitats of gazelle and improve their productivity, Cheshmeh-Gol captive reproduction station with an area of 50 hectares was established. To provide more reliable information on diet requirements of gazelle, direct observation and cafeteria feeding on captive animals were employed. …

Natural Regeneration Of Severely Degraded Terrestrial Arid Ecosystems Needs More Than Just Removing The Cause Of The Degradation, M. Louhaichi, M. Gamoun, N. Al Hashash, F. Al-Ameer, D. Alrashedi, A. Redha, F. Alkandari, A. Niane

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangelands cover over 75% of Kuwait’s total land area. Most of these rangelands are severely degraded because of overgrazing, poor anthropic utilization, and mismanagement. Restoring natural rangelands is a way to increase forage productivity, enhance biodiversity, and achieve sustainable development. When degradation has not reached the point of irreversibility, natural restoration through resting is one of the best low-cost restoration techniques. This study evaluated the effect of natural restoration on vegetation cover and species richness in the desert rangelands of Kuwait. The studied rangeland was a completely fenced area of 1 km2. The percent of vegetation was measured using the …

Belowground Productivity In Patches Of Heterogeneous Grass Swards After Nearly Two Decades Of Low-Intensity Cattle Grazing, M. Komainda, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In low-input grassland, patch-grazing leads to tall and short patches that provide different growth conditions for the grass sward. Since belowground biomass and the associated turnover represent the main carbon input to soil in grassland, we investigated within-pasture variation of above- and belowground net primary production in relation to patches over one year of production in a long-term grazing experiment during the year 2022. The analysis of above- and belowground net primary production showed an effect of patch types, partly in interaction with the month, indicating a strong variation due to climatic conditions. In those few cases where differences existed …

Activity Budget And Foraging Patterns Of Nubian Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis Camelopardalis) In Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya, Consolata G. Gitau, J. S. Mbau, R. K. Ngugi, A. B. Muneza, E. Ngumbi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

How animals decide to spend their time has a key impact on their survival and reproduction. These behavioral decisions are shaped by ecological and environmental factors, such as seasonal changes. Foraging patterns show how an animal chooses to forage in its environment as influenced by resource availability, competition, and predation risk. Giraffe activity budget has been investigated in populations across Africa and found to be influenced by body size, diet composition, and sex. The activity budget and foraging patterns of Nubian giraffes vary considerably between ecosystems. The Nubian giraffe, a subspecies of the Northern giraffe species (Giraffa Camelopardalis) …

Ecosystem Services Provided By Overseeding Aeschynomene Into Bahiagrass Pastures In South Florida, J. Garzon, João M. B. Vendramini, Maria L. S. Silveira, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., H. L. Liao, Lynn E. Sollenberger, H. M. S. Da Silva, V. C. Gomes, H. M. R. Oliveira, A. Erhunmwunse

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana L.) is a warm-season annual legume commonly overseeded into warm-season perennial grass pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. Although aeschynomene usually increases forage production and nutritive value, there is limited information about the ecosystem services provided by this legume. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effects of overseeding aeschynomene into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) pastures on nutrient dynamics and microbial N-cycling gene abundances. The studies were conducted in Ona, FL, from April to March 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Treatments were the split-plot arrangement of two forage systems treatments (overseeding aeschynomene into bahiagrass or …

Sustainable Intensification Of Livestock Systems Using Forage Legumes In The Anthropocene, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., D. M. Jaramillo, E. R. S. Santos, L. Garcia, L. M. D. Queiroz, K. R. Trumpp

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sustainable intensification of livestock systems implies greater efficiency in resource utilization resulting in greater output of products and other ecosystem services per unit of resource input. Strategies to improve resource use efficiency include diversification of plant and ruminant species with complementary resource use. Forages that have root systems with contrasting architecture and exploring different soil layers with complementary use of resource acquisition (e.g., nutrients, water) could enhance primary productivity. Belowground interactions with soil microbiota (e.g., mycorrhizae) is key to enhance resource utilization. Forages with complementary canopy characteristics that helps enhancing light interception and utilization could also lead to greater resource …

Grazing Cover Crops For Soil Health In An Integrated Crop-Livestock System, Forrest E. Davis, J. Brett Rushing

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

. Optimizing soil health requires building an environment that creates conditions which allow for best function of the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the soil to thrive as an organism and an ecosystem. Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) use a systems approach to provide improvements to soil health parameters. In the fall of 2021, a randomized complete block study was conducted at the Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station (CPBES) in Newton, Mississippi and at the Prairie Research Unit (PRU) in Prairie, Mississippi to observe the soil health effects of grazing cereal rye cover crops in a soybean production system. Three …

Short-Term Soil Organic Matter And Carbon Responses To Contrasting Grazing Intensities In Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems, Erick R. Da Silva Santos, Jose C. B. Dubeux, B. G. C. Homem, Cheryl L. Mackowiak, Lynn E. Sollenberger, D. Wright

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Combining integrated crop-livestock systems under no-till management may improve soil organic matter (SOM) build up and improve soil C sequestration. Grazing cover crops appears as a possibility to combine crops and livestock in a farm system. Further SOM and soil C increase can be achieved by adding perennial grasses into crop rotations. However, the effect of grazing intensity in such systems are not fully understood. This 2-yr study investigated short-term effects of cropping system [winter cover crops-summer cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and winter cover crops-summer bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) rotations], grazing intensity (no grazing, heavy, moderate, and light …

Productive Grasslands – The Role Of Adapted Species To Increase Ecosystems Resilience, M. B. Chiavegato, A. F. Mammana, C. Y. Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Producers are interested in diversifying grazing systems with native warm-season grasses. Climate variations may result in extreme weather events. For instance, recent studies show strong evidence pointing to an increasing frequency of flooding in the central US, due to changes in both seasonal rainfall and temperature across this region. In a constantly changing climate, adapted species play a crucial role in increasing ecosystems resilience and resistance to extreme weather events. Native grasses may be well adapted to the future changes on climatic conditions, with wide ecological amplitude and resistance under different conditions. Use of adapted warm season grasses, associated with …

Identification And Characteristics Of Phosphate-Solubilizing Endophytic Bacteria From Root Nodules Of Lespedeza Daurica, K. Y. Yang, C. Huang, P. Gao, Y. P. Liang, Y. P. Han, X. Zhao

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Endophytic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from root nodules could promote stress resistance, nodulation and nitrogen fixation. In this study, nodule endophytic bacteria of Lespedeza daurica were isolated by plate streaking, the bacteria with phosphate-solubilizing abilities were selected and the phosphate-solubilizing abilities were determined. The results showed that 88 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated and among which 11 strains possessed phosphate-solubilizing abilities. The organic phosphorus solubility of TG41, TG43, TG47 and TG68 were 0.73~0.86 μg·mL^-1 ; the inorganic phosphorus solubility of TG47 and TG68 were 72.97 and 1.29 μg·mL^-1 , respectively. The four strains were identified as effective phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. TG41 …

Biodiversity—The Birds And The Bees And Healthy Grasslands, D. Borrenpohl, Pat D. Keyser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Losses in biodiversity abound in modern agroecosystems, and biodiversity loss hampers ecosystem function and primary productivity comparable to abiotic stress. One of the most endangered ecosystems in the world is North American tallgrass prairie, and native birds and pollinators that historically depended on tallgrass prairie are in precipitous decline. Fortunately, native warm-season grasses that dominated tallgrass prairie present a valuable opportunity for summer forage to beef producers in the Eastern United States—a time when coolseason grasses endure a lack in productivity called the “summer slump.” Tallgrass prairie was sustained by periodic disturbance from grazing and fire, and combining fire and …

Using Functional Ecology To Predict Restoration Success In Managed Grasslands, J. Bergman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plants have developed remarkable functional variation over evolutionary time to cope with different environmental conditions. As a result, functional variation – measurable as functional traits above and below ground – can be found within but also among grassland communities today. The functional space covered by a community is thereby restricted by environmental factors while each single species within the community inhabits a specific niche with a certain breadth along different environmental gradients. Data from field sampling in European grasslands have shown, that species intraspecific functional variation can cover considerable amounts of possible functional spaces, hence holding the potential to establish …

Effect Of Soil Nitrogen And Water Content On The Establishment Of A Lolium Perenne L. And Trifolium Repens L. Pasture, M. F. Alonso, Oscar A. Balocchi, I. Calvache, O. Martínez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate change has decreased rainfall in Southern Chile affecting the productivity of the grasslands that sustain the dairy and beef cattle industries. These grasslands are mainly mixtures of Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. Thus, we study the response on the establishment of a mixture of these two species to three levels of soil water content and two levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. The trial was carried out in containers sowed in a complete randomized block´s design. Soil moisture measurements were taken daily. N fertilizations was applied at the establishment and every 60 days. Leaf appearance rate was measured …

Impact Of Level Of Use On Plant Vigor And Weight Of Festuca Humilior And Calamagrostis Vicunarum, T. Edson, L. Aguirre, E. R. Flores

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Tussock grasslands of Festuca humilior and Calamagrostis vicunarum cover a significant extension of the central Andes of Peru, constituting a plant association highly appreciated by cattle ranchers. The objective of this research was to estimate the cumulative impact of the level of use of the key grasses Festuca humilior and Calamagrostis vicunarum on plant height, vigor, and weight. This study was conducted in a humid grassland of regular condition located at 4186 masl in the Puna ecoregion. The variables evaluated were: plant height, basal and canopy diameter and plant weight. The experiment lasted two years in which individual plants from …

Grazing Stubbles And Dry Pasture, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Dry pastures in Western Australia provide good early feed after senescence but rapidly become unable to maintain stock. Stubbles are the major feed source for sheep during the summer-autumn period.

While there is often up to three tonnes of dry plant material per hectare available, sheep grazing stubbles eat only about 6% of it. With increased harvesting efficiency and better weed control, stubble paddocks now generally contain less grain and fewer weeds than in the past.

Improving Yield And Profit In Smallholder Oil Palm Fields Through Better Agronomy, Hendra Sugianto

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Oil palm accounts for 40% of global vegetable oil production and Indonesia contributed 59% of the total production, with total planted area nearly 15 M ha in 2020. About 40% of the planted area is managed and owned by smallholders, and two thirds of them are independent, they are not bounded to a large plantation. Current efforts to increase yield of independent smallholder (ISH) fields focus on replanting programs promoting use of certified planting material, with little attention to improve management practices, in particular, plant nutrition. Here we investigated the degree to which poor nutrition can explain large yield gaps …

Effects Of Fertigation Versus Palletized Fertilizer On Height And Caliper Growth In Oaks, Zachary M. Davis

LSU Master's Theses

The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns led to an increase in revenue and production for green industry products in early 2020. In Study 1. an evaluation of fertigation (liquid feed, quick release) and controlled release fertilizers (CRFs, slow release) were applied to container-grown (7 gallon) live oak (Quercus virginiana) and Nutall oak (Quercus nuttallii) trees (100% Liquid feed, 0% CRF, 67% Liquid feed, 33% CRF, 33% Liquid feed, 67% CRF, 100% Liquid feed, 0% CRF). Live oak trees fertilized with CRFs had increased stem calipers (>30%). Nuttall stem caliper and height were significantly increased by …

Effects Of Rootstock And Location On Open Field ‘Bhn 589’ And ‘Nebraska Wedding’ Grafted Tomato Yield, Raihanah H. Shonerd, Ashley A. Thompson, Samuel E. Wortman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is popular, particularly in high tunnels, because grafted plants can mitigate soilborne disease incidence in highly infested soils and increase water and nutrient use efficiency and crop yield and quality. However, these potential benefits are not as well documented in open field production systems with less disease pressure. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of tomato grafting on fruit yield, number, and size across 2 years (2018 and 2019) and three diverse open-field production environments in Nebraska (Lincoln, North Platte, and Dwight). At each location, a scion from one …

Irrigation Increases On-Farm Soybean Yields In Water-Limited Environments Without A Trade-Off In Seed Protein Concentration, Walter D. Carciochi, Patricio Grassini, Seth Naeve, James E. Specht, Mitiku Mamo, Ron Seymour, Aaron Nygren, Nathan Mueller, Sarah Sivits, Christopher A. Proctor, Jenny Rees, Todd Whitney, N. Cafaro La Menza

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Context or problem: A trade-off between seed protein concentration (SPC) and yield has been reported for soybean. Therefore, assessing management practices that can nullify this trade-off is relevant to avoid further declines in SPC in the future as yield continues to increase. While the positive effect of irrigation on yield is well documented, only a few studies have assessed the impact of irrigation on SPC, showing conflicting results.

Objective or research question: The objective was to determine if the trade-off between seed yield and SPC persists when irrigation is applied and how management, soil, and weather factors influence the trade-off. …

Assessing The Performance Of Agricultural Systems In The Inland And Coastal Regions Of Northern Portugal Using Indicators: Establishing The Foundation Towards Better Agricultural Practices, Genevieve Gehlken

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural systems in the distinct coastal and inland regions of Northern Portugal. Employing key indicators, including soil erosion, nitrogen surplus, irrigation practices, Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and crop yield, the analysis reveals statistically significant disparities and unique challenges in each region. The coastal areas, marked by higher agricultural GDP, exhibit distinct economic dependencies on agriculture, while the inland regions face challenges related to water scarcity, soil erosion, and rural isolation. The looming threat of climate change adds complexity to these dynamics, further highlighting the need for region-specific, sustainable agricultural practices. In the …

The Truth Behind Avocado Expansion In The Algarve: A Synthesis Of Public, Environmental Associations, And Government Perspectives And Response, Mandy Ausman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Avocado expansion has exponentially increased in the Algarve region of southern Portugal in recent years. The surge in expansion has provoked contention and discrepancy in the media regarding how and if avocado production can persist in the water-scarce region due to worsening drought conditions related to climate change coupled with the fruit’s significant water footprint. This paper aims to synthesize the arguments and response of the public, environmental associations, and government agencies to the expansion of avocado production in the water- scarce region of the Algarve, highlight the region’s current challenges of avocado expansion and water management regulation, and analyze …

Optimizing Crop Productivity And Fertility Practices In Intermediate Wheatgrass, Roberta Bianchin Rebesquini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The intensive management associated with many annual crops often includes recurring tillage, fertilization, and pesticide applications, which contribute to environmental concerns such as water pollution and soil erosion. Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), recognized under the trade name Kernza®, is a perennial grass that can be managed to produce grain and biomass while providing desired environmental benefits such as soil conservation and nutrient cycling. There has been limited research on best management practices and crop productivity for this alternative dual-use crop in Nebraska. A field experiment was conducted beginning in 2021 to assess nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium …

Effects Of Polishing And Cooking On The Phytochemical Properties And Antioxidant Activities Of Selected Philippine Rice Cultivars [Research Note], Rodel M. Bulatao, Charleo S. Zapanta, Maricar B. Castillo, Reniel P. Tubera, Joel R. Salazar

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This paper evaluated the effects of different polishing times and regular cooking on the phytochemical properties and antioxidant activities of black rice Brillante, red rice Minaangan, and white rice NSIC Rc 160. Rice samples were polished for 0, 15, 30, and 45 s, and were cooked using their optimum cooking water ratio. The samples were then characterized for their phytochemical properties [total anthocyanin content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC)] and antioxidant activities [DPPH-radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)]. Pearson’s correlation analysis (PCA) was employed to determine the strength of …

Allelopathy Of Faba Bean Cover Crop To Durum Wheat Under A Semi-Arid Environment, Oussama Oueslati, Arwa Zammali, Raed Hamdi, Ahlem Dhahri, Chaima Melliti, Moncef Ben Hammouda, Robert Kremer

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Problems facing farmers practicing conservation agriculture in the semi-arid zone of Tunisia include appropriate cover crop selection, management of allelopathic effects affecting subsequent crop performance, and influence of seasonal variation on allelopathy expression. Allelopathy expressed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) toward durum wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] was studied using bioassays during three growing seasons. The role of phenols in the expression of such potential was also investigated. Analyses of plant samples at three phenological stages (flowering, fruiting, senescence) revealed that leaves were most inhibitory. Allelopathic potential differed among plant components and phenological stages, with …

Effects Of Measurement Methods And Growing Conditions On Phenotypic Expression Of Photosynthesis In Seven Diverse Rice Genotypes, Megan Reavis, Larry C. Purcell, Andy Pereira, Kusum Naithani

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Light response curves are widely used to quantify phenotypic expression of photosynthesis by measuring a single sample and sequentially altering light intensity within a chamber (sequential method) or by measuring different samples that are each acclimated to a different light level (non-sequential method). Both methods are often conducted in controlled environments to achieve steady-state results, and neither method involves equilibrating the entire plant to the specific light level.

Methods: Here, we compare sequential and non-sequential methods in controlled (greenhouse), semi-controlled (plant grown in growth chamber and acclimated to field conditions 2-3 days before measurements), and field environments. We selected …

Shortening Harvest Interval, Reaping Benefits? A Study On Harvest Practices In Oil Palm Smallholder Farming Systems In Indonesia, Rosanne E. De Vos, Lisa Nurfalah, Fatima A. Tenorio, Ya Li Lim, Juan Pablo Monzon, Christopher R. Donough, Hendra Sugianto, Asri A. Dwiyahreni, Nurul L. Winarni, Nadia Mulani, Gilang Ramadhan, Muhammad Ali Imran, Antonius P. Tito, Pandu Sulistiawan, Muhammad Khoirul, Rana Farrasati, Iput Pradiko, Patricio Grassini, Maja Slingerland

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

CONTEXT: Smallholders are responsible for a large share of global palm oil production. Yet, in Indonesia, the main palm oil producing country, smallholders’ yields remain low. Better management practices, including short harvest interval (HI, the number of days between two harvest rounds), could help to raise smallholder yields. However, at present, HI is long in smallholder fields and the drivers underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: We explored agronomic, socio-economic, and institutional factors that underlie harvesting practices in independent oil palm smallholder farming systems in Indonesia to assess scope for sustainable intensification through shorter HI and reduced …

Comparison Between The Electrical Conductivity Method And Radicle Emergence Test As A Rapid Test Of Sorghum Seed Vigor, Nugraheni, Bambang Pujiasmanto, Samanhudi, Amalia Tetrani Sakya

Jurnal Kultivasi

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) belongs to multipurpose crops. All parts of sorghum can be used both as main products and derivative products; some derivative products produced from the sorghum plant consist of sugar, bioethanol, biomass, handicraft raw materials and starch. This study aims to determine the time required for testing the vigor and viability of sorghum seeds using the electrical conductivity and radicle emergence methods. The study was conducted in two experimental stages using a completely randomized design. The first experiment consisted of two factors: the number of sorghum seeds (40, 70 and 100 grains) and the volume of …

Effectiveness Of Modified Nitrogen Fertilizer On Soil Chemical Properties And Rice Plant Growth In The Textile Industrial Area, Rija Sudirja, Santi Rosniawaty, Sri Muji Rahayu, Budy Frasetya Taufik Qurrohman

Jurnal Kultivasi

The imbalance of nutrients and heavy metal contamination is a challenge in increasing plant growth surround the textile industry area. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the dosage of Biologically Agent N Organo Mineral Fertilizer (Biomix-N) as a fertilizer and an ameliorant in paddy soil contaminated with textile liquid waste. This study used a randomized block design of eight treatments with four replications. Parameters observed were soil chemical properties after application of Biomix-N (Na-ex, total N, EC, Cd, and pH), rice plant growth (plant height and tiller number), Cd concentration in the plant, and relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE). …

Targeted Sequencing Of The Panicum Miliaceum Gene Space And Genotyping Of Variant Sites From Population Genetics Studies, Combined In A Single Assay, As A Tool For Broomcorn Millet Assisted Breeding, Gabriele Magris, Serena Foria, Silvano Ciani, Dipak K. Santra, Ombretta Polenghi, Virna Cerne, Michele Morgante, Gabriele Di Gaspero

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a prehistorical cereal, today cultivated as a minor crop with low yields but with a renewed interest for its high water use effciency and gluten-free grains. To reverse the downward trend in broomcorn millet cultivation, the crop needs genetic improvement and creation of novel genetic variation to increase productivity. In order to facilitate genomics-assisted breeding, we designed a reduced representation genome-sequencing assay that investigates 1.8% of the nuclear DNA in a targeted and reproducible way, with an intensity of genomic sampling that is a direct function of local recombination rate. We used this …

Effectiveness Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Increasing Growth And Yield Of Maize Overlaid On Oil Palm Aged 4 Years, Cucu Suherman, Sri Desi Nurliawati, Mira Ariyanti, Intan Ratna Dewi, Mochamad Arief Soleh

Jurnal Kultivasi

The intercropping system in oil palm plantations is an effort to optimize land, especially at the immature stages (IS), which have a large open space between the trees, so it can be used for cultivating annual crops such as maize. Oil palm trees are generally planted on marginal lands, such as Inceptisol, which generally lacks in phosphor (P). These problems can be reduced by applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to elevate P. This experiment was to determine the dosage and effectiveness of AMF that can improve the growth and yield of maize intercropped with a 4-year-old oil palm. The experiment …