Digital Commons Network^™

Can You Have Your Cake And Eat It Too? Impact Of Grazing Cover Crops On Soil Properties, M. E. Drewnoski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Does grazing of cover crops negate the soil health benefits of cover crops (CC)? A review of the literature was conducted to understand the soil impacts of grazing CC compared to a non-grazed CC control. Grazing CC did increase soil compaction in 50% of cases, but this increase was below the threshold that would be expected to impact root growth in most cases. It does appear that grazing under wet soils or high stocking rates can compact soil. Grazing did not affect wet aggregate stability in 83% of the studies. Soil carbon concentration was unaffected in 70% of the studies …

Nutrient Cycling And Crop Responses On Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., E. R. S. Santos, J. E. Portuguez-Acuna, L. M. D. Queiroz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can bring numerous benefits to crops or livestock systems, such as increase soil C sequestration, farm profitability, and provisioning of ecosystem services. In a changing world, production systems need to become more resilient and sustainable. Specialized agriculture is characterized by a high level of inputs and outputs, and oftentimes specialize in a single crop to simplify management. However, such operational systems stray away from sustainable standards. Furthermore, specialized cropping systems may face problems such as persistence of pests and diseases, loss of biodiversity, stagnant yields, development of herbicide-resistant weeds, soil erosion and consequently loss of soil …

Strategic Integration Of Grasslands Within The Agricultural Landscape: Optimizing Benefits For The Producer And Society, A. J. Duff, J. G. Franco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We provide a case study assessment, centered in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with the inclusion of grasslands within dairy production systems. This farmscape design approach can be applied at farm, watershed, and regional scales, and has the potential to significantly improve the resilience of our agricultural lands. Ruminant livestock are uniquely adapted to utilize perennial forages, and the strategic integration of grasslands within the agricultural landscape can improve producer return on investment while generating ecosystem services that benefit the production system and society.

Forage Brassica Use In New Zealand And Australia Farming Systems, A. Dumbleton, H. G. Judson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage brassica, genus Brassica, are annual feed crops grown on farming enterprises throughout New Zealand and Australia. These crops provide a source of high-yielding, high-quality feed, which is particularly useful to complement pasture production during periods when pasture growth is reduced. There are six forage brassica species and subspecies of agricultural importance including bulb turnip, swede, kale, forage rape, leafy turnip, and raphanobrassica. All of these, as well as interspecific crosses and individual cultivars, offer a range of characteristics to fit various environmental and livestock production challenges. Consumption of forage brassica crops in ruminant animals may reduce methane emissions …

Evaluation Of Mulberry Leaf Meal Feeding On The Growth And Hematological Profile Of Cross Bred Heifers, Rohit Bishist, Irfana Quadiri, Krishan Lal Gautam, Kamal Kishore

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Mulberry (Morus alba) is a multipurpose fodder tree with a high voluntary intake. Mulberry foliage is characterized by high digestibility and excellent level of protein which makes it comparable to commercial concentrates for dairy cattle. o evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of mulberry leaf meal as a concentrate replacement (20%) in the crossbred heifers ration the present investigation was carried out at dairy farm Dr YSPUHF Nauni Solan. In the study, a total of 12 cross bred heifers (1-2 yr) were divided into two equal groups of 6 animals each, on the basis of body weight. The …

Fruit Forage Integrated Systems For Diversification And Other Ecosystem Services, S. Ahmad, N. H. Mir, S. S. Bhat

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The interspaces (alleyways) in fruit orchards are generally not utilized for cultivation of perennial forage crops by a majority of farmers. These alleyways are often occupied by weeds or kept bare or clean with repeated tillage. The weeds may act as alternate/collateral hosts, thereby harboring pests and pathogens that may harm the fruit trees. In addition to this, the frequent tillage may subject the soil to erosion losses. Intercropping of perennial forage grasses and/or legumes with fruit crops is thus beneficial for not only providing high quality forage but also for providing various ecosystem services.Owing to an ever burgeoning population, …

History Of Endophytic Toxicosis And Novel Variety Solutions, J. H. Bouton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Associations of Epichloe endophytes with tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb). Darbush.] and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) form the basis for the known science and ecology of mutualistic, fungal endophytes, and especially their impact on livestock. In the USA, millions of acres are endophyte infected today due mainly to planting ‘Kentucky 31’ to reduce soil erosion. Health problems emerged later among animals grazing the grass. These toxicity symptoms were listed under the general term ‘Fescue Toxicosis’. Research demonstrated that ergot alkaloids produced by the mutualism were mainly responsible. Developing endophyte-free versions of major varieties reduced host grass persistence …

Comparison Of Two Low-Input Cow/Calf Production Systems On Temperate Grassland, W. B. Bryan, Mata Padrino, E. Felton, E. C. Prigge, V. W. Temu, O. J. Gekara

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two systems of grass farming were compared in an eight-year experiment in West Virginia, USA. The grassland consisted primarily of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerara L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and red (Trifolium pretense L.) and white clover (T. repens L.). The objective was to compare two systems of beef cow calf production. The experiment was a randomized complete block with two replicated treatments. The grassland of treatment 1 (system 1) was overseeded with legumes, grazing started 1 wk earlier and continued 1 wk later than treatment 2 (system 2) and …

Grazing Cover Crops In The Eastern Us: Performance Of Sheep, Goats, And Cattle Grazing Brassica Cover Crops, K. Cassida

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing annual forage crops has attained new interest with the increase in use of cover crops. Grazing annual forages grown as cover crops not only allows livestock producers to extend the grazing season but also gives row crop growers a way to recoup the cost of planting cover crops through grazing leases. Species in the Brassicaceae family (turnip, rape, kale, radish, and hybrids) have wide adaptability across the eastern US, excellent forage yield potential, and extremely high nutritional value. Brassicas are sometimes described as “high-moisture concentrates.” Their low effective fiber content drives the common recommendation to grow them with annual …

Extended Season Grazing On Two Ranches At Opposite Ends Of The Americas, Brett Chedzoy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dormant season feeding of stored forages accounts for the majority of beef cattle production expenses across the world (Geiser and Boetel 2017). Additionally, most beef cattle production and particularly cow-calf operations are relegated to less accessible and productive landscapes, which reduces access to and increases costs for stored feeds. A comparison of two cow-calf operations owned and operated by the same family in the Province of Cordoba, Argentina and State of New York, USA are offered as case studies of creative solutions to these challenges. In Argentina, appropriate stocking for year-long grazing is the key to surviving the winter dormant …

The Partial Replacement Of Perennial Ryegrass Silage With Ensiled Biorefined Perennial Ryegrass Press Cake, And Its Impact On Productivity Of Late Lactation Dairy Cows, H. Costigan, B. Lahart, M. Kennedy, T. Rumley, L. Shalloo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Although necessary to maintain milk production in late lactation when grass is scarce, dependency on imported concentrate has negative environmental credentials; diversifying native feeds i.e., perennial ryegrass, using biorefinery, to produce high quality by-products may be a solution (Sanders et al., 2020). To validate these suggestions, a study was undertaken on dairy cows during the winter period; 60% of a perennial ryegrass silage diet was replaced with perennial ryegrass (PRG) press cake in treatment cows (GSPC; n=20), while a perennial ryegrass silage diet was offered to control cows (GS; n=20). Cows substituted with press cake produced 9.1 and 10.5 % …

A Novel Technique To Label Cover Crop Biomass Using Stable Isotopes, L. M. D. Queiroz, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Lynn E. Sollenberger, M. Wallau, D. R. S. Loures, M. A. Bernardini, I. L. Bretas, S. F. Novo, K. R. Trumpp, K. T. Oduor, J. D. Pereira Neto, M. Ruiz-Moreno

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stable isotopes can be used as tracers for carbon and nitrogen pathways being a great tool to track nutrients in integrated systems. The objective of this experiment was to understand the partitioning of 15N and 13C within cover crop plants when they were labeled with stable isotopes, using chambers under field conditions. Cover crops were planted at the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center-Marianna, located in Marianna, FL. Treatments were four cover crops, in which one was considered a typical cover crop system and the other three consisted of an integrated crop-livestock system with or without the …

Grazing And Animal Welfare Of Dairy Cows In Europe, What Do We Know?, A. Van Den Pol-Van Dasselaar, D. Hennessy, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing systems are important components of the landscape in almost all European countries. Grazing is inherently close to the nature of herbivores, but no longer applied everywhere in Europe. This paper discusses the extent of dairy cow grazing in Europe and the effect of grazing on animal welfare. The study builds on results of surveys from the European Grassland Federation (EGF) Working Group “Grazing” (WGG) in the period 2010–2022 and a focus group meeting in 2022. Data on the extent of grazing of dairy cows in Europe are provided. Europe can be divided into six distinctive regions with respect to …

Isoflavones In Legumes As Functional Forages And Feeds In Ruminant Grazing Systems, B. E. Davis, Michael D. Flythe, T. A. Hamilton, D. G. Ely, L. H. Anderson, J. R. Weinert-Nelson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Legumes are often utilized in livestock grazing systems to improve diet quality, diversity, and consequently animal performance. In addition to their nutritional utility, legumes contain phytoestrogenic isoflavones that have selective antimicrobial activity in the rumen and once absorbed can cause arterial vasodilation. These added bioactive functions of isoflavones suggest that legumes could be strategically utilized in grazing systems as functional forages to improve ruminant performance and health. The objective of this presentation will be to discuss past and current research on the application of isoflavones via legumes as an antimicrobial for growth promotion and as a mitigation strategy for fescue …

Cool-Season Annual Legumes And Forbs For Grazing And Cover Crop Systems, S. L. Dillard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Annual forage legumes and non-leguminous forbs can be used to interseed into perennial forage grasses or as a short-term grazing option between row crop rotations. Diversification of cropping systems by increasing number or type of cover crops in crop rotation plays an important role in improving land-use efficiency and in promoting sustainable agriculture. Legumes and other broadleaf forages provide increased forage digestibility and crude protein as a result of their greater leaf-to-stem ratio. In the Southeast U.S, few novel cultivars have been released in the last 20 years, resulting in the reliance on only a few forage cultivars and species. …

Animal And Forage Performance Of Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems, S. L. Dillard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing of cool-season cover crops has been shown to be a viable tool for extending the grazing season while mitigating environmental risks associated with row-crop farming systems. Grazing cover crops is not novel, but most recent information available on this practice focuses on soil health as opposed to forage production and animal performance. Research has shown that forage quality of cool-season annual cover crops is sufficient to maintain an average daily gain of at least 1 kg/d and as high as 1.5 kg/d. Forage species selection plays an important role in the success of an integrated crop-livestock system. Grasses typically …

Use Of Agroforestry Tree Leaf Meal Mixtures As Alternative Feed Additives For Improving Production Potential Of Kadaknath Poultry Birds In Himalayan Region Of Jammu And Kashmir, India, Mandeep Singh Azad, Ishtiyak Ahmad Mir, Helen I. Ajayi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of locally available agroforestry tree leaves in hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir, India on the production potential of Kadaknath poultry birds. Kadaknath birds are the only black-colored meat breed in India. Data was collected on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain, fecal egg counts, and overall body score in 240 Kadaknath birds during an experimental period of 105 days (15 weeks).Results from this experiment showed the use of agroforestry tree leaves as a leaf meal mixture with guava (Psidium guajava L.), neem (Azadirachta indica L.),jamun ( …

Swath Grazing: Feeding “Hay” Without The Production Expenses, V. Baron, A. C. Dick, A. Omaha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Swath grazing is a practice for overwintering beef cows on small grain forage left in the field to graze through snow, but annual variation occurs. The objective is to review 18 years of research at Lacombe, Alberta (AB) to describe how production attributes are related to cost mitigation and cow performance. Five trials compared swath grazing management options to pen-fed controls to determine feasibility. Associated studies monitored forage quality, soil fertility requirements and planting date impacts on yield. Mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, maximum and minimum values (n=18) for forage yield, pasture days, carrying capacity and percent utilization were …

Preliminary Results: Complementary C4:C3 Grazing Systems, M. Berry, P. Keyser, S. Jagadamma, H. Nauman, K. Coffey, C. Nieman, P. Owens, A. Ashworth, E. Bisangwa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native warm-season grasses (NWSG) can produce high quality forage and high rates of gain for beef cattle. However, little data is available on how NWSG affect the productivity of cow-calf operations on a farm scale. Therefore, we implemented an experiment at three sites, Booneville, AR, Linneus, MO and Louisville, TN, with cow-calf pairs (mature cows over ≥ 3 years old, spring calving). We evaluated two forage systems that mix either a drought or drought/flood tolerant native C₄ species [big bluestem (BB) blend or eastern gamagrass (EG)] with a cool-season perennial, tall fescue (TF), and compared them to the most …

Fodder Scenario And Hortipastoral Opportunities To Enhance Fodder Production In India, Nagaratna Biradar, C. Lakshmi Devi, Vinod Kumar, Narendra S. Kulkarni, G. K. Kumar Anil, S. S. Guledagudda, A. Bheemappa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Food grain production and livestock production are closely related in India as crop-residue forms the major source of fodder for livestock. It’s thus assumed that increase in food grain production has positive effect on availability of dry matter to the livestock. Using land use classification, crop production (2015 to 2020) and livestock census (2019) data, dry matter (DM) availability for livestock for 28 states of India was estimated. Hortipastoral opportunities by estimating area available under orchards in southern India were done to assess the possibility of introducing fodder crops in orchards. Some of the fodder crops were introduced in orchards …

Productivity And Variability Of Pastures And Cover Crops In Lowland Rice-Pasture Rotations In Uruguay, Walter Ayala, J. Terra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Emerging Role Of Non-Coding Rnas (Ncrnas) In Plant Growth, Development, And Stress Response Signaling, Amit Yadav, Jyotirmaya Mathan, Arvind Kumar Dubey, Anuradha Singh

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Plant species utilize a variety of regulatory mechanisms to ensure sustainable productivity. Within this intricate framework, numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in plant biology, surpassing the essential functions of RNA molecules as messengers, ribosomal, and transfer RNAs. ncRNAs represent an emerging class of regulators, operating directly in the form of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). These ncRNAs exert control at various levels, including transcription, posttranscription, translation, and epigenetic. Furthermore, they interact with each other, contributing to a variety of biological processes and mechanisms associated with stress resilience. …

Can The Impact Of Gravel Roads On Organic Layer Thickness Explain The Distribution Of Populus Tremuloides Along Road Networks In The Boreal Forest Of Eastern Canada?, Mathilde Marchais, Dominique Arseneault, Yves Bergeron

Aspen Bibliography

Roads are known to alter environmental conditions and the composition of road edge plant communities, particularly when exogenous materials are used as road surfacing. In this study, we evaluate the impact of gravel roads on the organic layer thickness (OLT) and aspen distribution in a boreal forest landscape of Eastern Canada. The OLT and aspen distribution were compared at different distances from the roads (0 m, 10 m, and >10 m) to determine whether a reduction in the OLT along the roads could explain the distribution of aspen along the road network, and in particular the role of the roads …

Adverse Consequences Of Herbicide Residues On Legumes In Dryland Agriculture, Ronald J. Yates, Emma J. Steel, Tom Edwards, Robert J. Harrison, Belinda F. Hackney, John Gregory Howieson

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Context or problem

Selective herbicides control weeds in cereal cropsand break down over time, allowing safe planting of legumes in the following years. However due to climatic inconsistencies and changing farming practices, this is not always the case, and residues can inhibit formation of legume/rhizobia symbioses.

Objective or research question

The objectives were to determine whether: i) exposure to triasulfuron, even at extremely low levels, reduces shoot and root growth and nodulation of five diverse and widely sown legume pasture cultivars in Australian farming systems; and ii) sowing legumes prior to recommended plant-back criteria being met for chlorsulfuron, …

Oystershell Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) Population Growth, Spread, And Phenology On Aspen In Arizona, Usa, Connor D. Crouch, Richard W. Hofstetter, Amanda M. Grady, Nylah N.S. Edwards, Kristen M. Waring

Aspen Bibliography

Oystershell scale (OSS; Lepidosaphes ulmi L.) is an invasive insect that threatens sustainability of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the southwestern United States. OSS invasions have created challenges for land managers tasked with maintaining healthy aspen ecosystems for the ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits they provide. Active management is required to suppress OSS populations and mitigate damage to aspen ecosystems, but before management strategies can be implemented, critical knowledge gaps about OSS biology and ecology must be filled. This study sought to fill these gaps by addressing 3 questions: (i) What is the short-term rate of aspen mortality in …

The Pollen Tube’S Secret To Slick Growth? A Dab Of Pectate Lyase-Like Enzyme, Janlo M. Robil

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pile Burning After Conifer Removal From Aspen Stands Affects Tree Mortality, Regeneration, And Understory Recovery, John-Pascal Berrill, Christa M. Dagley, Yoon G. Kim, J. Morgan Varner

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands throughout the western United States provide valuable ecosystem services but can be lost via succession from aspen to conifer. Forest managers are cutting conifers, but disposal of cut wood can be challenging in remote or sensitive areas. Piling and burning is being tested within aspen stands but ecosystem responses to this treatment are understudied. We assessed aspen tree mortality, tree regeneration, and understory vegetation after forest restoration thinning followed by pile burning in seven aspen-conifer stands around Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, USA. Pile burning was conducted after cut wood had dried (1.5–7.5 …

Using Leaf Spectra To Elucidate The Taxonomy And Ecology Of Living And Dried Plants, Natalia L. Quinteros Casaverde

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Identifying plants and understanding of changes in plant communities are crucial to the conservation and management of nature. The shortwave spectral reflectance of leaves is a promising tool for rapidly identifying species at different taxonomic ranks and predicting important plant functional traits. However, the spectral reflectance of leaves changes in response to biotic and abiotic conditions.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the potential of shortwave spectral reflectance to investigate (Chapter 1) how its variation affects the accuracy of methods used to predict plant taxonomies and what environmental factors most influence biophysically predicted traits, (Chapter 2) what are …

Effects Of Hemiparasites In Grassland Restorations Are Not Universal, Anna Marie Scheidel, Victoria Borowicz

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Root hemiparasites infiltrate the vascular tissue of host roots to acquire water and nutrients, which often reduces host growth. Hemiparasites are postulated to be keystone species in grassland communities if they suppress dominant species and increase plant community biodiversity, and ecosystem engineers if they increase nutrient accessibility for surrounding species. We examined keystone effects by evaluating species richness and evenness in 1 m2 plots in a recent prairie restoration where Castilleja sessiliflora was naturally present or absent, and in a longer-established prairie restoration with or without Pedicularis canadensis. We examined ecosystem engineer effects by determining nitrate and phosphate concentrations …

Oxyfluorfen-Resistant Rice Tolerance And Weed Control When Using Oxyfluorfen, Casey H. Arnold, Jason K. Norsworthy, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton L. Roberts, Nicholas R. Bateman, Chad W. Shelton

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass and weedy rice control, without crop injury, is a challenge for rice producers in the United States. Herbicides not initially labeled for rice, such as oxyfluorfen, are now being evaluated as new tools for weed control. The ROXY® trait allows for the use of oxyfluorfen in rice for weed control preemergence and postemergence. Experiments were initiated in 2021 and 2022 to evaluate (1) the effectiveness of preemergence- and postemergence-applied oxyfluorfen on barnyardgrass and weedy rice, (2) the sensitivity of oxyfluorfen-resistant rice to oxyfluorfen as a function of application timing, and (3) the influence of soil moisture on oxyfluorfen-resistant …