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The Potential For Seed Production Of Tropical Pasture Species In Zambia, J Kulich

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One of the major constraints for forage development in Zambia is the shortage of seeds of the desired species. It has been necessary to import seed using scarce foreign exchange. A three-year study was conducted at the National Irrigation Research Station, Mazabuka, Zambia, to identify potential seed yields for seven tropical forage legumes and three forage grasses. The promising species were established in replicated pure stands. Basal (PK) fertilisers were applied, including nitrogen for the grasses. Seed was harvested by hand each time a seed crop matured. The weight of clean dry seed was recorded and the seed was assessed …

Evaluation Of Orchardgrass And Alfalfa For Its Nutritive Value And Voluntary Intake By Neutral Detergent Analysis, T Ishiguri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A series of trials has been carried out over a ten-year period to determine the ad lib. intake and digestibility of clipped orchardgrass and alfalfa fed at several growth stages to wethers. Forage and feces were fractionated into cell wall (CW) and cell content (CC) with neutral detergent solution, moreover the digestibility and the digestible amount of CW, CC were determined. The changing amount of digestible dry matter (D DM) in grass and legume related to the amount of digestible CC and indigestible CW, whereas digestible CW was observed to have little relation.

orchardgrass varied little between the first cut …

Lamb Performance On Extended Season Grazing Of Brassica Pekinensis X B. Rapa, D W. Koch, F C. Ernst Jr, N R. Leonard, R R. Hedberg, J R. Mitchell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brassica pekinensis X B. rapa var. tyfon was evaluated for its potential for extending the grazing season and utilization for finishing lambs. Tyfon was seeded without tillage in mid-July and grazing was initiated in each of two years about 70 days after seeding with lambs which had previously grazed clover-grass. A similar group was placed on a balanced ration of hay and grain. Tyfon maintained high quality throughout the grazing period, which was 45 days in 1983 and 68 days in 1984. Lambs gained an average 214 and 249 g day-1 in 1983 and 1984, respectively, on tyfon, while lambs …

Effect Of Cutting Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) And Wheat (Triticum Oestivum L.) On The Yield Of Grain And Straw With Special Reference To The Nutritive Value Of The Green Forage Cut, M S. Nowar, S Y. Sherif, G A. Abdel-Rahman, S N. Abdel-Baki, K M. El-Gindi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

It was intended to study the possibility of cutting green barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) before obtaining grains. The grains of the two crops were sown in broadcasting. Half of the cultivated area of both crops were cut manually at 30 cm plant height, while the others were left as controls. Two digestibility trials using 3 fistulated castrated Ossimi rams were carried on the green forage cut of barley and wheat. The obtained results are summarized as follow:

1. The values of in vitro disappearance, in vivo digestion coefficients (except EE), nutritive value (SV, …

Feeding Value In Grain And Straw Of Paddy Rice At The Different Stage, K Taji, S Kumai, R Fukumi, E Horiuchu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Experiments were carried out to estimate the feeding value and the rate of undigested excretion of starch in grain and ammoniated straw (AS) of paddy at the dough and the ripe stage. The plant material used was Matsuyama Mii, a late variety. Materials and experimental animals for the digestion trial were rough rice and AS, and sheep, respectively. In chemical composition, each content of crude fat (CF) and crude ash (CA) of the ripe rough rice (RRR) was higher than that of the dough rough rice (DRR), and moreover, each content of CF and CA of AS at the dough …

Development Of The Practical Use Of Water Hyacinth As The Water Purification And The Feed Of Animals, M Shimizu, K Kabata, N Ashikari, I Goto, T Sawada

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. The global prolific growth of water hyacinth (Eichhomia crassipes) and effect of its vigorous reproduction on the environment is an increasing serious world-wide problem challenging an environmental menace. But Fortunatly, it contains much protein and essential amino acid. From above mentioned characteristics the plants are probably the most promising species for feed of animals and nutrient removal from eutrophic water. But unfortunately, the plants are so succulent that the practical use has not been realized. From such circumstances, we want to solve the hard problems by cutting down production expenses for the practical utilization of the plants. …

Cattle Performance On Tall Fescue Cultivars Varying In Forage Quality And Levels Of Endophyte Infestation, R C. Buckner, R W. Hemken, J A. Boling, P B. Burrus Jr, L P. Bush, J A. Jackson Jr, M R. Siegel, G D. Lacefield

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A fungal endophyte, Acremonium coenophialum, and alkaloids of tall fescue may prevent the realization of improved performance of animals consuming cultivars bred for superior forage quality. Beef and dairy cattle performance was studied using tall fescue cultivars varying in forage quality, in potential to produce alkaloids, and in levels of A. coenophialum infestaion. Comparative performance of growing beef and mid-lactation Holstein cattle was evaluated using forage from a seed lot of Kentucky 31 with ca. 75% endophyte infestation and from another seed lot without infestation and Kenhy and G 1-320 cultivars with improved forage quality and low levels of …

Productivity Of Morphologically Different Sown Tropical Grass Pastures Grown Under Similar Conditions, B G. Robbins, J J. Bushell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A reduction in animal production as sown grass pastures age has been identified as a serious problem on clay soils in south-east Queenland. To determine if this decline in productivity varied between sown grasses or mainly depended on some aspect of soilfertility, such as soil available nitrogen (N), a three year experiment was conducted at Gayndah (730 mm average annual rainfall). In this replicated grazing trial, six morphologically different grass pastures (native grasses (Heteropo­gon/Bothriochloa); angleton grass (Dichanthium aristatum); creeping bluegrass (Bothriochloainsculpta); purple pigeon grass ( Setaria porphyran tha); green panic (Panicum maximum) …

Composition And Nutritive Value Of Diets Selected By Sheep And Goats On Four Pasture Types, E C. Prigge, D B. Mpiri, W B. Bryan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Esophageally fistulated sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) were compared in relation to the composition and nutritive value of ingesta collected by grazing four pasture types. The pasture types are described as Improved Pasture, Unimproved Pasture, Unimproved Pasture with Low Scrub and High Scrub. The scrub consisted mainly of hawthorne (Crataegus sp.) and blackberry (Rubus sp.). Samples of herbage and esophageal extrusa were visually separated into four forage classes (legumes, grass, forbs/browse and dead material). A significant (P < .01) animal species x type of pasture interaction was evident in regard to the preference for the various forage classes. The goats consumed much larger proportions of browse than the sheep on the pastures containing scrub. Few differences were evident between goats and sheep in nutritive value of the ingesta within pasture type.

The Effect Of Silage Quality And Level Of Concentrate On The Dry Matter Intake And Milk Production Of British Friesian Heifers, R H. Phipps, J A. Bines, J Thomas, A Cooper, R J. Wilkins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Trials have shown that both silage quality and level of concentrate are major factors influencing dry matter (DM) intake and milk production with adult dairy cows but there are few data relating to heifers.Seventy-two British Friesian heifers were divided into two groups during weeks 3-12 of lactation and received ad Iibitum either good quality (G) or poor quality (P) grass silage. The in vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter was 68 and 60 for silages G and P, respectively. In addition, the heifers in each group consumed concentrate at either a low (4.3 kg DM/day), medium (6.4 kg …

Intake Of Grassland - Hay By Dairy Cows And Its Potential Meet Requirements Of Maintenance And Milk Production, J P. Dulphy, C Beranger, D Micol

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There have been few recent studies on the use of grass-hays by dairy cows, probably as a result of the importance given to studies on silage. Therefore 9 grass-hays, harvested in good conditions, were prepared and fed to dairy cows. With a CP content of 133 g/kg DM and an O.M. digestibility of 64.4%, the intake of these hays was 2.07 % of live weight (12.65 kgDM/animal/day). Their energy supply was sufficient to cover the maintenance needs of the cows, and a mean theoretical daily production of 8.1 kg of milk. The real production was 20.1 kg, and the difference …

An Expert Nirs Forage System, John S. Shenk, M O. Westerhaus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become an accepted technique to analyze the nutritive value of forage and feedstuffs. Recent advancements have been made in developing universal calibration equations that can be transferred from instrument to instrument. This advancement has made it possible to use NIRS as the analytical component of expert system software in conjunction with livestock feeding models. The software is flexible to provide information for research, extension, and industry applications. The incorporation of NIRS into an expert system promises to make possible new advancements in efficiency of livestock production.

Research For Selection Criteria For Grass Quality, Based Upon Animal References, M Gillet, J Scehovic, M Lila

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In an effort to find selection criteria for intake and digestibility, based on correlations with the same characters measured on animals, we have compared 4 to 6 grasses of similar heading dates for intake, palatability, digestibility by sheep, intake by goats and many laboratory tests. 1979 results were published for Lexington Congress. Results of 1980 and 1981 springs bear them out in several points :

- palatability was a very precise and stable test

- palatability, digestibility and goat intake were stable and correlated with each other

- soluble phenols were able to predict palatability and part of digestibility

-sheep …

The Effect Of The Species, Stage Of Maturity And Level Of Intake Of Grass On The Efficiency Of Microbial Protein Synthesis In The Rumen Of Cattle, F J. Hart, Jane Leibholz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was undertaken because there is a paucity of information in the literature on the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen of cattle when grass is fed as the sole diet. There is also little experimental data available on the factors which affect the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. The work involved feeding six rumen fistulated Friesian steers with three species of grass which were harvested at various tages of maturity. In addition each maturity of forage was fed at three 15levels of orp5 nic matter ( OM) intake.

as sampled at the omasum and microbial protein …

Plant Reproductive Strategies Shift In Response To Restoration Using Beaver Dam Analogs, Laurel F. Martinez

Biology ETDs

As riparian communities become increasingly degraded, restoration treatments are being implemented in streams to recover ecosystem functions. In the Jemez Mountains, beaver dam analogs (BDAs) are used to restore degraded streams by connecting the floodplain and increasing the extent of anoxic soil conditions. These environmental disturbances are expected to alter how riparian plants recruit, particularly their allocation to seed-based and vegetative regeneration strategies. We investigated whether BDAs and associated changes in soil water filled pore space (WFPS) affected riparian plant recruitment. We investigated the number of flowering stems as a proxy for seed-based regeneration and rhizome length and mass as …

Anatomical And Palynological Studies On Turkish Primula Taxa (Primulaceae) And Their Taxonomic And Phylogenetic Significance, Deni̇z Ulukuş, Esengül Özkaymakoğlu, Rebecca Stubbs, Hüseyi̇n Baykal, Kami̇l Coşkunçelebi̇, Osman Tugay, Barbara Keller, Elena Conti, Ferhat Celep

Turkish Journal of Botany

Anatomical (scape, pedicel, leaf lamina, and leaf midrib) and pollen morphological features of 11 taxa belonging to the genus Primula subgen. Primula (P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, P. vulgaris subsp. rubra, and P.megaseifolia, P. meyeri,P. elatior subsp. pallasii, P. pseudoelatior, P. veris subsp. columnae, P. veris subsp. macrocalyx) and subgen. Aleurita (P. longipes, P. algida and P. auriculata) were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy to shed light on the existing taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. The anatomical and palynological features of the majority of the taxa studied were revealed for the first time in this study. In anatomical studies, the …

Greenhouse Evaluation Of Great Plains Native Grasses And Forbs Tolerance To Postemergence Herbicides Used For Roadside Weed Control, Rachel C. Woody-Pumford, Matthew B. Bertucci, Mike D. Richardson, Dirk Philipp, Hannah E. Wright-Smith

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

To combat the decline in North American grasslands and prairies, innovative strategies to establish new native grass and forb plantings must be considered. Integrated vegetation management entails the use of many practices to cultivate desirable vegetation along roadsides, including mowing, applying herbicides, burning, and replanting. Currently, only a limited selection of postemergence herbicides are available to improve native plant establishment along roadsides. A greenhouse herbicide screen that included four postemergence herbicides registered for use on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and rights-of-way was conducted to test their safety for use on four native grasses (big bluestem, buffalograss, sideoats grama, and …

Novel Tools And Datamining Techniques To Visualize And Interpret Historical Sugarcane Datasets, Zachary A. Taylor

LSU Master's Theses

Heritable genetic variation is an essential raw ingredient of variety development programs. This variation is acted upon via selection by identifying elite progeny that can be utilized agronomically or exploited as parents. Sugarcane breeders are tasked with creating optimal genetic variation through crossing. Prior knowledge of pedigree and parental performance allows breeders to discern which crosses to prioritize, since the time to make crossing decisions and the space to evaluate tens and thousands of progenies are both limited resources in sugarcane variety development programs. In this project, we have updated and validated the U.S. sugarcane pedigree …

Integrating Belowground Recovery Into Tropical Forest Restoration Design And Monitoring, Lauren Toro, Leland K. Werden, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Kelly M. Andersen, Sarah Batterman, Matilde M. Bragadini, Pooja Choksi, Rebecca J. Cole, Liza S. Comita, Daniela Cusack, Daisy H. Dent, Lee H. Dietterich, Joshua B. Fisher, Katrin Fleischer, Lucia Fuchslueger, Nohemi Huanca-Nunez, Janey R. Lienau, Lindsay A. Mcculloch, Ember M. Morrissey, Jennifer S. Powers, Mareli Sánchez-Juliá, Oscar Valverde-Barrantes, Anita Weissflog, Michelle Y. Wong

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing recognition that tropical forest restoration is key for sequestering carbon and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Soils, roots, and soil biota are central to ecosystem function and services, but belowground recovery is largely overlooked in restoration monitoring frameworks. Here, we outline current understanding of the links between above- and belowground recovery in tropical forests by examining how belowground properties before and after intervention influence recovery; by evaluating whether aboveground recovery can serve as a proxy for belowground dynamics; and by proposing a blueprint for monitoring dynamic soil physical (bulk density, aggregate stability), chemical (organic matter or carbon, pH), and …

Niche Conservatism And Sympatric Parallel Evolution May Help To Maintain Eight Nascent Tree Taxa Along A Sharp Elevation Gradient, Elizabeth A. Stacy, Rebecca Ostertag

Life Sciences Faculty Research

1. Patterns of niche partitioning among closely related taxa, such as those in incipient adaptive radiations, can provide clues into how niches are created, partitioned, and integrated over ecological and evolutionary time scales. Hawaiian Metrosideros is a ~3-MYO adaptive radiation of trees that dominates the Hawaiian Islands in continuous stands within islands and allows examination of niche partitioning at the early stages of adaptive radiation.
2. We monitored growth and survivorship over 2 years of seedlings derived from open-pollinated fruits of eight Metrosideros taxa distributed along the elevation gradient of Koʻolau Volcano, Oʻahu, under four combinations of light and phosphorus. We included …

Bigapp: A User-Friendly Genomic Tool Kit Identified Quantitative Trait Loci For Creeping Rootedness In Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.), Alexander M. Sandercock, Michael D. Peel, Cristiane H. Taniguti, Josué Chinchilla-Vargas, Shufen Chen, Manoj Sapkota, Meng Lin, Dongyan Zhao, Arlyn J. Ackerman, Bhoja R. Basnet, Craig T. Beil, Moira J. Sheehan

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a globally vital forage crop valued for its perennial growth and multiple annual harvests. A breeding effort is underway to improve the crop for productivity and persistence against biotic and abiotic stresses using “creeping rootedness,” a trait where plants exhibit horizontal root growth, similar to rhizomes, with increased vegetative ground surface area. In this study, we genotyped a breeding population of 648 alfalfa lines segregating for creeping rootedness using the 3K DArTag marker panel to identify trait-associated genomic loci and evaluate the feasibility of genomic prediction to accelerate breeding cycles. Using genome-wide association studies …

Genome-Wide Characterization Of Vdac Gene Family In Soybean (Glycine Max L.) And In Silico Expression Profiling In Response To Drought And Salt Stress, Muhammad Muneeb Ullah, Muqadas Aleem, Mudassar Muhammad Iqbal, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is grown worldwide to obtain edible oil, livestock feed, and biodiesel. However, drought and salt stress are becoming serious challenges to global soybean cultivation as they retard the growth of soybean plants and cause significant yield losses. Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) proteins are well-known for their role in drought and salt tolerance in crop plants. In this study, we identified 111 putative VDAC genes randomly distributed in genomes of 14 plant species, including cultivated soybean (Glycine max) and wild soybean (Glycine soja). The comparative phylogenetic studies classified these genes into six different clades and found the …

Transgenerational Imprints Of Sequential Herbivory Onsoybean Physiology And Fitness Traits, Insha Shaft, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sequential herbivory leads to a multitude of effects on plants, influencing processes like growth, physiology, defense, and fitness. However, whether the sequential herbivore attack can elicit any transgenerational consequences is poorly examined. In this study, we show evidence of transgenerational impacts of sequential herbivory by two chewing herbivores, fall armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda , FAW) and soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens , SL) on soybean (Glycine max ) progeny. Seeds from the parents subjected to different herbivore sequences (SL-FAW: initial attack by SL followed by FAW and FAW-SL: FAW followed by SL) were used for the transgenerational experiment. Our main hypothesis was that …

Effect Of Rainfall Reduction And Competition On The Phenology Of The Mediterranean Forage Perennial Legume Bituminaria Bituminosa Var. Albomarginata Cv. Lanza, Jesus Fernandez-Habas, Daniel Real, Tom Vanwalleghem, Jose Ramon Leal-Murillo, Jesus Fernandez-Rebollo

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirt.) is a Mediterranean drought-tolerant species that shows potential as a forage perennial legume for Mediterranean livestock systems. This three-year study investigated the phenology of the newly developed variety of tedera (Lanza) in response to an annual 24% rainfall reduction and competition compared to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in a typical Mediterranean environment of the Iberian Peninsula. Tedera showed early phenology for the reproductive stages from inflorescence emergence to ripening compared to alfalfa, with a long flowering period from early April to mid-May, overlapping with mature fruits. In general, tedera responded to a …

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

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

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

Catching A Fever: A Comparison Of Vachellia Xanthophloea Populations In The Limpopo And Luvuvhu River Floodplains Of The Makuleke Contractual Park, Kianie B. David

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study investigates patterns of stand structure regeneration, growth characteristics, and coarse woody debris (CWD) patterns in Vachellia xanthophloea (fever tree) stands within the Makuleke Contractual Park (MCP), a semi-arid savanna system in northern Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Fieldwork was conducted across two stand types: a monospecific fever tree stand in Rietbok Vlei and a mixed-species stand in the Western Nhlangaluwe Floodplain where fever tree is established with Faidherbia albida (ana tree). Data were collected from 20 total 1/4-acre (1,011 m²) circular plots between both stands in 2024 and 2025, including seedling root collar diameter (RCD), …

Conservation Management Effects On Soil And Agronomic Properties In A Furrow-Irrigated Corn System In East-Central Arkansas, Jeferson P. Pimentel, Christopher G. Henry, Kris R. Brye, Benjamin R. Runkle, Amanda J. Ashworth, Edgar Mersiovsky, Kevin C. Thompson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cover crops can improve soil physical properties and help to sustain agricultural crop yields. A 6-year study conducted from 2017 to 2022 examined the effects of conservation soil management practices in a furrow-irrigated continuous corn (Zea mays L.) system on a silt-loam soil (Typic Albaqualf) in the Lower Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas. This study compared the effects of conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), and no-tillage with cover crops (CC) in selected soil physical and chemical properties (i.e., soil bulk density (D b), porosity (& fnof;t), field capacity (Theta FC), Permanent wilting point (Theta PWP), Plant available water …

Primary Investigation Of Rice-Fish Co-Culture: Investigating The Feasibility Of Raising Fish In Flooded Rice Paddies In The Southern Usa, Yulin Jia, Aaron K. Jackson, Bartholomew Green, S. Adam Fuller, Heather Box, Laduska Sells, Candis Ray, Paxton Harper, Brennan Smith

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

With limited land and water resources available it has become critical to maximize output for agricultural products while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Ricefish co-culture can be used to maximize limited land and water resources for production of rice and fish concurrently and reduce the need of chemical inputs. While rice-fish co-culture has been practiced in Asia for centuries, very few studies have examined the feasibility and economic impact of rice fish co-culture in the U.S.A. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.A. from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi …

Increasing Flora Diversity In Grassland Swards, R J. Haggar, D Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Europe's farmers are being encouraged to take land out of agriculture in order to reduce surplus cereal production. There is therefore, increasing scope for creating new species-rich swards, although guidelines for this purpose are lacking. Several reasons are advanced for encouraging species diver­sity and conservation, including recreational, ethical, education and resource utilisation. As leisure time increases, so public interest in conservation matters increases. Scientifically, there is a need to preserve genetic diversity and to understand the com­plex plant and animal relationship leading to a rich and varied community. This paper describes two experiments aimed at achieving a . highly diverse …

Multiple Of The Intermountain Region, Forest Service, United States Department Of Agriculture, J S. Tixier, A H. Winward

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Initial custodians of the National Forests of the United States were primarily concerned about protecting what were perceived as deteriorating timber stands and watersheds. Con­siderable progress was made in correcting these problems in the first half of this Century. As the population of the United States grew, more people became interested in management of all resources on these public lands. Forest Officers gradually became stewards managing a broad array of lands and resources for which there were often conflicting interests and uses. A primary use of National Forests in the Western United States has been livestock grazing. Here, animals are …