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Review Of The Invasive Forage Grass, Guinea Grass (Megathyrsus Maximus): Ecology And Potential Impacts In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions, Pushpa Soti, Vanessa Thomas

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Several introduced African grasses are known to present recurring patterns of invasiveness and cause a severe impact on the diversity and functioning of ecosystems worldwide. Megathyrsus maximus (Guinea grass), a forage grass species native to South Africa, is reported to be highly invasive and pose a serious threat to native biodiversity in the introduced range. Despite the severe ecological threats posed by M. maximus worldwide, there is a dearth of information on the ecological and agroecological impact of M. maximus when growing in unintended areas. In this review, we present general information on M. maximus, its distribution and ecological …

The Cleaned Approach For Flagging And Addressing Environmental Issues, A. Notenbaert, B. Paul, R. Van Der Hoek, J. Mukiri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While livestock presents an important livelihood strategy for many smallholders, it is also held responsible for important environmental impacts. In this paper, we used an online survey to identify the perceptions of global livestock experts on environmental impacts of livestock and how these might be tackled. We then explored how the CLEANED environmental ex-ante assessment tool (Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for improved Nutrition, a secured Environment and sustainable Development = CLEANED) responds to this and how it can be used to influence decision making towards more environmentally-friendly livestock production.

According to the survey, there was general agreement between researchers, development …

Sowing Date Affects Dry Matter Yield Of Fodder Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) Crops And Farm Profitability, Edith N. Khaembah, John M. De Ruiter, S. Maley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a high yielding and high energy supplementary ruminant feed. Including the crop in a pasture system means loss in production and additional costs during crop establishment, but economic benefits may be recovered with increased seasonal productivity and feed quality. In this study, the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator was used to estimate herbage production of a typical dairy farm in the Canterbury region of New Zealand based on using a ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture (“Pasture only”) or pasture in combination with fodder beet …

Identifying Available Resources And Agricultural Practices Useful In Soil Fertility Management To Support Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Cultivation On Smallholder Farms In Mozambique, Rafaela Feola Conz, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Abdul Naico, Maria Isabel Andrade, Johan Six

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Orange-fleshed sweet potato is an important source of macro-and micronutrients for humans, particularly in resource-poor rural communities. However, sweet potato cultivation removes large amounts of nutrients from the soil. Hence, soil fertility replenishment is vital to secure long-term food production. The lack of access to fertilizers hinders the ability of farmers to supply and replenish soil nutrients, intensifying food insecurity. This study aimed at identifying locally available organic residues and agricultural practices with potential application in soil fertility management to prevent soil degradation in southern Mozambique. We conducted a survey to gather information on the farmers’ demographics and farming systems …

Sahiwal Breed In Pastoral Production Systems In Kenya: Future Roles And Existing Gaps In Knowledge And Supportive Technical Logistics; A Review, Samson I. Mwangi, E. D. Ilatsia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sahiwal genetic resources is an integral part of the ASALs economy of Kenya. Sahiwal is the largest single dual purpose cattle breed kept by the pastoral communities in the ASALs where livestock products are the main drivers of food and nutrition security, and a source of income to support other household obligations. It was introduced in Kenya to upgrade the low performing small east African Zebu because of its superior productive and reproductive performance. The promising results of this upgrading programme led to the breed gaining preference over the local Zebu among the Maasai pastoralists. Despite the impressive results from …

Potential Of Croton Megalocarpus Nut As An Alternative Protein Supplement For Feeding Of Ruminants In The Tropics, E. K. Njoroge, C. C. Wambui, C. B. Wasike

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Croton megalocarous is a tree native to the arid and semi-arid rangelands of East Africa that produces nuts reported to contain high crude protein (CP). However, they are often neglected as a potential feed due to lack of information on how best to utilize them. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of four forms of croton namely whole nut (WN), peeled nut (PN), De-husked nut (DhN) and Defatted seed (DfS). DM of all forms was above 89%, ash content was highest in WN (5.9%) and least in PN (2.2%). Crude …

Herbage And Livestock Responses For N-Fertilized And Grass-Legume Grazing Systems, D. M. Jaramillo, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., L. M. D. Queiroz, L. Garcia, E. R. S. Santos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage legumes provide an alternative N source in grazing systems. The objective was to evaluate plant and animal responses in N-fertilized or grass-legume-based systems under continuous stocking during winter and summer, from 2016-2019. The three treatments consisted of year-round forage systems including winter and summer forage components. The first system (Grass+N) included N-fertilized (112 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) ‘Argentine’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures during the summer, overseeded with a mixture (56 kg ha^-1 of each) of ‘FL 401’ cereal rye (Secale cereale) and ‘RAM’ oat (Avena sativa) during winter with …

Annual Ryegrass Pasture For Dairy Cows Receiving Total Mixed Ration, M. Civiero, L. H. Schaitz, C. P. Ferris, Henrique M. N. Ribeiro-Filho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The inclusion of herbage in the diet of medium yielding dairy cows offered a total mixed ration (TMR) may be beneficial. This study, which involved mid lactation dairy cows, examined the effect of partial replacement of a TMR with annual temperate pasture. Treatments were ad libitum TMR (TMR₁₀₀), 75% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ‘Maximus’) (TMR₇₅), and 50% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (TMR₅₀). Twelve multiparous Holstein and F1 Jersey × Holstein cows were divided into six homogeneous groups, taking account of milk production (26.6 ± 4.5 kg/day), days in milk …

A Guava-Based Hortipasture System For Mitigating Climate Change And Sustaining Fodder & Fruit Supply In Semi-Arid Regions Of India, Kamini Gautam, Sunil Kumar, Amit Kumar Singh, Avijit Ghosh, Manjanagouda S. S., R. V. Kumar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Hortipasture systems have huge potential to mitigate climate change via sequestering carbon along with sustaining fodder and fruit supply especially in semi-arid regions. Therefore to evaluate climate change mitigation, fruit and fodder production potential of 10 year old rainfed based Hortipasture system (Psidium guajava (Guava) + Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes hamata) established at Central Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (Bundelkhand region, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India), carbon stock of tree and under storey pasture components was quantified along with fruit and forage production. The experimental site is drought prone semi arid region characterized by poor …

Free-Enterprise Farming On Grasslands In Central Nsw, Australia, Des Green, Stuart Green, Ted Wolfe, Jo Richardson, Rob Eccles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A pathway is described in developing and improving the pastures on family-owned sheep and beef properties at sites near Blayney in central NSW. Initially, the twin approach of sowing perennial grasses, predominantly phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) plus the recommended addition of superphosphate fertiliser, was closely followed but within a decade ill-thrift in pastures and livestock occurred. Once the core problem of soil acidity was recognised, steps were taken to overcome this constraint with applications of lime. However, an additional modification involving the application of gypsum with lime had to be sorted out …

Fodder Crop Adoption Through Push-Pull Technology (Ppt) For Fall Armyworm (Faw) Control In Cereals Cropping Systems, Michael N. Njunie, E. N. Muthiani, A. Mzingirwa, N. F. Pole, B. M. Muli, A. O. Esilaba

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is an urgent need to increase grain yields and animal products due to increasing human population in Africa. Push-pull technology (PPT) is a conservation agriculture intercrop technology which protects and enhances natural resources productivity and ecosystem services in mixed farming systems. The technology involves growing of a cereal crop with a repellent intercrop, Desmodium genus (silverleaf, D. uncinatum and greenleaf, D. intortum) with grass such as Pennisetum purpureum or Brachiaria spp. planted as a border around the cereal-legume intercrop. The plants accompanying the cereal crop are typically valuable high quality fodder thus integrating crop-livestock production. The PPT was …

Evaluation Of The Chemical And Biological Characteristics Of Sake Lees, S. Katsumata, S. Yamanaka, M. Yamauchi, H. Hirooka, H. Kumagai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sake lees (SLs), produced from brewing Japanese Sake and known to be rich in yeast, is expected to be an alternative of feed protein sources for ruminants. Previous studies showed that yeast improved the digestibility of fibers in ruminants. However, the nutrient composition and the numbers of live and dead yeast in the SLs, have large diversity because of the different brewing materials and processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and biological characteristics of SLs with diverse brewing processes and storing periods (0-23 weeks). Seven types of SLs (SLs 1-7) were collected from two breweries. …

Interindividual Differences And Their Consistency In Grazing Cattle Behavior Across Seasons, H. Anzai, M. Shitajikkoku, K. Hani, N. Yamada, M. Hirata

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Interindividual differences and their consistency in behavior were investigated for cattle (Bos taurus) grazing a bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) dominated pasture as a herd of about 30 breeding cows with their calves. Behavior of the cows was monitored directly by observers and also using GPS and accelerometer data loggers attached to focal cows for a period of 1–5 days every month during the grazing seasons (from May to October) in 2018 and 2019. The data were converted into behavioral variables (e.g. time spent grazing, ruminating and resting, time spent in particular …

Grass Species Density And Biomass Of South African Communal Property Association Farms Differing In Soil Properties, K. E. Ravhuhali, B. Moyo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Attempts to monitor and mitigate rangeland deterioration in Communal Property Associations projects require some understanding of the knowledge of species composition and distribution. The study was conducted to compare the herbaceous in three selected CPAs projects (Mashung Matlala - Sandy loam, Mawela - clay loam, and Bela-Bela - clay) in South Africa. Mawela and Mashung Matlala CPAs were overgrazed. For species density, basal strike, and biomass, three transects (500m), which served as replicates, were established at two camps of each of the selected CPAs. Variation in herbaceous vegetation parameters was explored through SAS software. Clay soil type had better (P …

Assessment Of Bacterial Inoculant Delivery Methods For Cereal Crops, Yen Ning Chai, Stephanie Futrell, Daniel P. Schachtman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Despite growing evidence that plant growth-promoting bacteria can be used to improve crop vigor, a comparison of the different methods of delivery to determine which is optimal has not been published. An optimal inoculation method ensures that the inoculant colonizes the host plant so that its potential for plant growth-promotion is fully evaluated. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of three seed coating methods, seedling priming, and soil drench for delivering three bacterial inoculants to the sorghum rhizosphere and root endosphere. The methods were compared across multiple time points under axenic conditions and colonization efficiency was …

Assessing Feed Gaps On Smallholder Livestock Farms In Limpopo: Production System And Coping Strategies, S. A. Lamega, M. Komainda, M. P. Hoffmann, J. J. Odhiambo, K. K. Ayisi, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Smallholder farms in southern Africa are predominantly mixed crop-livestock systems and often characterized by low productivity. Therefore, providing sufficient forage becomes a challenge that results first in feed gaps, i.e. the difference between the demand for and supply of forage, and secondly, in nutrient mining of the soil due to the overuse of the resources. However, the availability of forage follows potentially seasonal patterns. Hence, a key entry point for any intervention strategies for improvement is an assessment of forage quantity and quality throughout the year. Against this background, we investigated six locations, smallholders’ cattle production systems and their adaptation …

Renewal Of Archival Legacy Soil Data: A Case Study Of The Busia Area, Kenya, Joshua O. Minai, Darrell G. Schulze, Zamir Libohova

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Much older soils information, collectively known as legacy soils data lies idle in libraries or in the personal collections of retired soil scientists. The probability is very high for this legacy data to be lost or destroyed. We demonstrate the stepwise process of bringing legacy soils data “back to life” using the Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the Busia Area (quarter degree sheet No. 101) in western Kenya as an example. The first step, site identification, involves meeting and deliberating with key institutions to identify a setting for the study. The second step, data archeology, involves locating and cataloging legacy soil …

Forage Quality Of Cereal–Common Vetch At Different Age And Proportions, J. L. Zaragoza-Ramirez, P. A. Martinez-Hernandez, Ma. De L. Reyes-Medel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cereal plant age at harvesting and the proportion of vetch in the harvested forage from cereal-common vetch mixtures might influence total forage quality. The objectives were to determine forage of a forage mixture cereal-vetch, from cereal harvested at two development stages and vetch at different proportion. Cereals were oats and triticale, cultivars: Chihuahua, Bicentenario and Siglo XXI, the last two were triticale; cereal development stages at harvest were: 50% flowering and hard grain. Vetch was harvested at two development stages: 100% flowering and pod formation, while vetch proportions in the forage mix were: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0. Forage …

Forage Production And Grazing Behaviour Of Beef Cattle In Agrosilvopastoral Systems In Brazil During The Dry Season, M. Pereira, P. Zawada, J. Werner, M. M. Macedo, R. G. Almeida, U. Dickhoefer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We aimed at evaluating the microclimate, canopy structure, and grazing behaviour of cattle on Brachiaria sp. pastures within continuous pasture (CON), integrated crop-livestock (ICL), and crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems in Brazilian dry season. Forage accumulation was monthly assessed in four paddocks per system from May to August 2019. To characterize the microclimate, air temperature and relative humidity were measured every hour and temperature-humidity index calculated. Grazing behaviour of 12 Nellore heifers per system (mean bodyweight 355 standard deviation±32.6 kg) was recorded by chewing sensors on nine continuous days (1 d adaptation + 8 d measurement) of three 15-d periods. Four animals …

Forage Accumulation And Quality Of Three Contrasting Ecotypes Of Tall Fescue (Schedonorus Arundinaceus) Managed Under Frequent Defoliation, J. Mattera, O. Scheneiter, I. Cattoni, E. Pacente, P. Barletta, O. Bertín

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the past, tall fescue ecotypes were compared under intermediate management defoliation frequency, but now has station, Argentina (-33 ° 56 'S, -60 ° 33' W) in autumn 2016, on a typical Argiudoll soil. The treatments were cultivars representing three ecotypes of tall fescue: (i) - Mediterranean (cv. Flecha), (ii) - Intermediate (cv. Royal Q 100) and (iii) - Continental (cv. Lujan INTA). Each plot consisted of 7 rows 6.0 m long, 0.2 m apart (8.4m² plot size) arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The first cut was done at the end of September when …

Benefits Of Cover Cropping Systems In Walnut Orchards As Sustainable Agricultural Practice, Ana Medic, Consuelo B. Baez Vega

CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change

In recent years walnut orchards implemented cover crops in between rows to improve soil’s quality, lessen soil’s erosion, increase organic matter, manage nutrient movement and availability, enhance water retention, and expand microbe, insect, and flora diversity. Commonly selected cover crops in California are from families Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae. Considerations should be made when choosing a particular cover crop mixture to enhance multiple benefits and improve sustainable practices in orchard settings. An experiment was conducted in a walnut orchard to compare functionality and benefits of three systems multi-crop, monocrop, and no vegetation cover crop system. The following components were evaluated: …

Farmers’ Perceptions On Different Forage Types In Southern Highlands Of Tanzania, B. Nzogela, S. W. Mwendia, A. J. Mwilawa, J. Kizima, J. Bwire, A. O. Notenbaert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Feed and forages take the bulk of inputs required in livestock production. Inadequate forages in quality and quantity in sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for low livestock productivity. Addressing livestock feed requirements presents quick wins in livestock productivity compared to breeding and health. In a Climate Smart Dairy project implemented in Tanzania, we demontrated several forage options to farmers including, two cultivars of Pennisetum purpureum, two Urochloa hybrids, Chrloris gayana and Tripsacum andersonii (control). Where applicable, the grasses were intercropped with either one of the following forage legume, Desmodium intortum, Lablab purpureus or Stylosanthes guiyanensis. Fourteen forage treaments …

Examining The Impact Of Patch Burning On Livestock Grazing Patterns In Edwards Plateau, Texas, W. G. Gao, J. P. A. Angerer, X. B. W. Wu, D. T. Tolleson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Production of sheep, goat, and cattle are major agricultural enterprises on West Texas rangelands, especially in the Edwards Plateau. In this region, the use of fire as a management tool was suppressed until recently. Although previous studies have been conducted to evaluate cattle use of burned versus unburned patches, there has been a lack of studies where combinations of livestock species grazing together on patch burned areas have been evaluated. The objective of this study is to examine grazing patterns of cattle, sheep and goats, both spatially and temporally, on areas where patch burning has been implemented. The study site …

Evaluation Of Morphogenesis And Yield Of Three Pennisetum Purpureum Varieties In South-West, Nigeria, Victoria O. A. Ojo, T. A. Adeyemi, D. K. Oyaniran, G. A. Akinade, Olufemi S. Onifade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This experiment, conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria evaluated the morphogenesis of three varieties of Pennisetum purpureum used in this study, which were the local, purple, and FI variety at different stages of growth. The plants were established through vegetative plant parts (stems) sourced from a previously established plot and planted using 1 m × 1 m spacing on plots measuring 4 m × 5 m. The plants were fertilized with split doses of poultry manure at 4 t/ha (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design. Data on …

Effects Of Stages Of Growth On Dry Matter Yield And Nutrient Composition Of Red Clover In The Year Of Establishment In Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, T. T. Akpensuen, J. T. Amodu, O. A. T. Namo, R. J. Tanko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment was conducted in Jos, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of stages of growth on dry matter yield and nutrient composition of Red clover (Trifolium pratense var. AberClaret) in the year of establishment. The treatments were five (5) stages of growth (5, 9, 13, 17 and 21) weeks after sowing (WAS). The five stages of growth were replicated five times in a Latin Square Design. The land was divided into twenty five plots of 3 m X 3 m each. The spacing between each plot was 1m along the rows and columns. Growth components and DM yield were …

Effects Of Maturity And Drying Method On The Nutritive Value Of Tropical Grasses In Nicaragua, Rocky Lemus, R. Van Der Hoek, Y. C. Newman, M. Mena, K. A. Albrecht

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Tropical grasses are key components for both grazing and conserved forages in sustainable livestock systems (beef and dairy) in Central America. The objective of the study was to evaluate grasses used in Nicaragua and their nutritive value contribution as preserved forage during the dry season under different drying methods. Five tropical bunch grasses (Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrheniarufa, Urochloabrizantha, Megathyrsus maximus, and Cenchruspurpureus) were sampled across different farms in Nicaragua in 2014 and 2015 using three replications. Forage samples were collected at 2, 4, 6, and 8-wk maturity as well as season long samples. Samples drying …

Simple Guidelines For Deciding When Soil Variability Does – And Doesn’T – Matter For Rangeland Management And Restoration, Jeff E. Herrick, J. Maynard, B. Bestelmeyer, A. Ganguli, J. Glover, K. Johnson, D. Kimiti, J. Neff, G. Peacock, J. Peters, S. Salley, P. Shaver, K. Shepherd, Z. Stewart, R. Van Den Bosch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

“Rangelands in most parts of the world are relatively homogenous and can be managed uniformly at the landscape scale” or “rangelands are extremely diverse and require different approaches even at the landscape scale.” Both statements are made frequently by rangelands scientists and managers. Both are correct. Whether or not it is worthwhile to consider soil variability when planning management and restoration at the landscape scale depends on objectives, location, and the management or restoration strategies under consideration. Together these factors determine whether outcomes are likely to be different at different locations in the landscape, and whether those outcomes can be …

Effects Of Banana Peels On Chicken Weight Gain And Egg Production In The Urban And Peri-Urban Areas Of Aksum City, Ethiopia, H. G. Araya, S. G. Gebrekristos, W. V. Oliver

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

High feed cost of running urban-animal-agriculture and huge city wastes are challenges of the growing towns in modern Ethiopia. Egg production microenterprise is steadily growing due to its low initial investment and ready market in urban and peri-urban areas. However, cost of egg production is high due to the rising cost of corn, the main feed ingredient in poultry rations. Using banana peels, which forms a great proportion of city waste in Ethiopia, is seen as a way of not only reducing the waste, but also as an alternative low-cost feed supplement that could help enhance egg production by small-holder …

Restoring Rangelands For Nutrition And Health For Humans And Livestock, I. Öborn, A. Bargués Tobella, G. Bostedt, A. Hörnell, P. Knutsson, K. Lindvall, D. Mpairwe, S. Mureithi, G. Nyberg, Y. Nyberg, B. Schumann, A. Turinawe, T. Vågen, D. Wakjira, L. Winowiecki, E. Wredle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Drylands cover 40% of the global land area and host 2 billion people, of which 90% live in low- or middleincome countries. Drylands often face severe land degradation, low agricultural productivity, rapid population growth, widespread poverty, and poor health. Governance structures and institutions are often eroded. Livestock-based livelihoods, largely depending on seasonal migration are common. Pastoralist communities and their land are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, while there are also changes in land tenure, insecurity/conflicts and rapid infrastructure development. Drylands Transform is an interdisciplinary research project revolving around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project aim is to contribute …

Effect Of Seeding Rates On Productivity And Quality Of Alfalfa In Northern Area Of Korea, Jong Geun Kim, C. Liu, S. N. Wei, Y. F. Li, E. C. Jeong, H. J. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa cultivation in South Korea is not common. There are many reasons, but low productivity has been extremely limited. Although alfalfa growth was poor due to boron deficiency in the soil, the problem has recently been solved. Nevertheless, the cultivation of alfalfa is not expanding. About 200,000 tonnes of alfalfa hay are imported every year. Therefore, this study was conducted to find a way to replace imported hay by expanding alfalfa cultivation in Korea. Alfalfa (P5444) was sown in northern part of South Korea (Pyeongchang). Alfalfa was sown in September 2018 with different seeding rates (20, 30 and 40 kg/ha) …