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Elevated Co2 And Extreme Climatic Events Modify Nitrogen Content And Ruminal Protein Digestion Of Temperate Grassland, V. Niderkorn, C. Picon-Cochard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was aimed at analyzing changes in nitrogen (N) content and in vitro protein rumen digestion of an upland grassland exposed to climate changes in controlled conditions. Monoliths of grassland were inserted in 12 macrocosms in which climatic conditions for the 2050s were simulated (i.e., +2.3°C and 33 mm less precipitation compared to the current climatic conditions). Six of them were subjected to ambient CO₂ (390 ppm) while the other six were subjected to elevated CO₂ (520 ppm). After four months, an extreme climatic event (ECE) consisting of four weeks of reducted precipitation (-50%) followed by two …

Effects Of Climate Variability On Wild Edible Plant Products: A Coping Strategy Applied By Pastoralists Of Northern Kenya, A. W. Kagunyu, J. W. Wanjohi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Drought which is a manifestation of climate variability has become a perennial problem in Kenya with chronic vulnerability being concentrated in Arid and Semi-Arid lands (ASALs). Traditionally, pastoralists have used wild edible plant products namely; fruits, vegetables and seeds as a coping strategy while faced by climate related calamities. However, recent studies have shown that pastoralists’ traditional coping strategies have become weak as a result of recurrent droughts. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the effects of climate variability on wild edible plant products. This study applied; household interviews (n=400), focus group discussions and key informant interviews …

Drought Mitigation In Bundelkahand Grassland Ecosystem For Improving Livelihood Of Farming Community-A Case Study, N. S. Pasricha, P. K. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bundelkhand grassland ecosystem (23º20´ and 26°20´N latitude and 78°20´ and 81°40´E longitude) is an undulating rain fed region (annual rain fall, 768-1087 mm) spread over an area of 7.08 m ha in central India in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This region has to support 16 million human and 8.5 million animal populations. Area is prone to surface run off losses, severe soil erosion and increasingly more drought events, leading to only mono-cropping. Lively-hood of the people, which is mainly the live-stock rearing and marginal agriculture, is at stake. In-situ conservation of rain water, forage management, …

Mark-Recapture Study And Habitat Assessment For The Northern Metalmark Butterfly, Calephelis Borealis (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), Weston J. Henry, Kristian S. Omland, Henry Frye, Wagner L. David

EEB Articles

Background: The northern metalmark (Calephelis borealis), is an exceedingly local, globally rare butterfly that is declining across the Midwestern and Northeastern USA. The principal stressors driving colony losses include afforestation and invasive plants that crowd out its larval hostplant (Packera ovata) and nectar resources.

Aims/Methods: To better understand its declines and guide restoration efforts, we 1) performed a mark-recapture study in Connecticut to document population trends where we were actively managing vegetation; 2) conducted a range-wide survey for evidence of phylogeographic structure, using cytochrome oxidase (CO1); 3) investigated abundance determinants of its larval foodplant, Packera ovata …

Auxin/Cytokinin Antagonistic Control Of The Shoot/Root Growth Ratio And Its Relevance For Adaptation To Drought And Nutrient Deficiency Stresses, Jasmina Kurepa, Jan A. Smalle

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The hormones auxin and cytokinin regulate numerous aspects of plant development and often act as an antagonistic hormone pair. One of the more striking examples of the auxin/cytokinin antagonism involves regulation of the shoot/root growth ratio in which cytokinin promotes shoot and inhibits root growth, whereas auxin does the opposite. Control of the shoot/root growth ratio is essential for the survival of terrestrial plants because it allows growth adaptations to water and mineral nutrient availability in the soil. Because a decrease in shoot growth combined with an increase in root growth leads to survival under drought stress and nutrient limiting …

Considering Natural Baselines When Calculating Livestock Impacts Point To A Negligible Role Of Grass-Fed Livestock Systems In Climate Change, P. Manzano, S. R. White

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of baselines is common in a variety of academic disciplines, including environmental science, but they are subjected to relativity depending on the geographical or historical reference considered. Such considerations are illustrated by how invasive species are evaluated or what reference baselines are considered in biodiversity assessments.

The measurement of livestock effects on climate change has, however, disregarded the use of baselines. Current methodology is based exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions by individual animals, without putting them in their ecological context. As a consequence, current analyses of livestock impacts put grass-fed ruminant systems in the spotlight, because of their …

Comparative Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics In Tropical And Subtropical Grassland Ecosystems, N. S. Pasricha, P. K. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland ecosystems play significant role in mitigating the climate change by sequestering atmospheric CO₂. One fifth of the total terrestrial C is stored in the root zone of grasslands as soil organic carbon. However, because of lack of proper management, overgrazing, and conversion to crop lands, these grasslands are becoming a source of CO₂ emissions. It has been observed that in Imperata grasslands of Northeast India, a third of total C captured annually is lost though CO₂ emissions. In the absence of intensified grazing and burning, these grasslands exhibit significantly high capacity to store SOC stocks. …

Climate Change Threats To Semi-Arid Transhumance Grazing Systems: Proposals For Adaptation In Cabo Verde, J. F. Castro, S. Tavares, M. Castro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Global warming has changed the rainfall regime in the Sahelian region, endangering and widespread poverty and chronic famines in Cape Verde, where rural communities' well-being and food security depend on rainy agriculture. Local responses to rainfall new patterns and scarcity have been livestock reduction with significant revenue losses. Together with dry mist occurrences, these environmental constraints demand to define priority actions to adapt and mitigate climate change's direct impacts. According to fifty household inquiries, this work explains the transhumant grazing practices on a semi-arid plateau in Tarrafal (Santiago, Cabo Verde), prospecting adaptation alternatives for sustainability. We related grazing patterns and …

Wild Red Deer Benefit The Conservation Of European Semi-Natural Open Habitats, F. Riesch, Bettina Tonn, Marcus Meißner, Sven Herzog, Niko Balkenhol, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional land use practices have shaped European landscapes for millennia. Agricultural intensification and declining popularity of pastoral farming in the past century have resulted in a tremendous loss of extensively used open landscapes and associated biodiversity. Today, conservation management needs to prevent secondary succession of many open habitats. Large or inaccessible target areas unsuitable for conventional conservation measures might benefit from grazing by wild herbivores, which do not require fencing nor regular welfare monitoring. In a military training area in Germany, we studied the quantitative and qualitative effects of wild red deer in two protected open habitat types (lowland hay …

Causal Factors Of Breeding Success And Frequency In Threatened Grassland Birds On The Ingula Nature Reserve, South Africa, R. B. Colyn, C. Pienaar, H. Smit-Robinson, K. Chetty

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The high-altitude grasslands covering the eastern escarpment of South Africa is one of the country’s most valuable habitats for biodiversity, livestock and water production. The habitat hosts several threatened bird species including endangered species such as the Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) and Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), and vulnerable species such as the Blue Crane (Grus paradisea), Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus), and Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris). Avian research and monitoring have been ongoing within the recently declared Ingula Nature Reserve for more than …

Animal Performance In Signalgrass Monoculture Or In Silvopastoral Systems, I. A. Gomes Da Silva, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., A. C. L. De Melo, Márcio V. Da Cunha, Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, V. X. O. Apolinário, Erinaldo Viana De Freitas, S. B. M. Costa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) can increase overall productivity and long-term income due to the simultaneous production of trees, forage, and livestock. This 2-yr study evaluated animal performance and herbage responses in C4-grass monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were: Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) R. Webster (Signalgrass) + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth (SPS-Mimosa); Signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp (SPS-Gliricidia); and Signalgrass monoculture (SM). Response variables included herbage and livestock responses. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. There was interaction between treatment …

Legume And Nitrogen Fertilization Affect Animal Performance And Enteric Methane Emission Of Nellore Heifers, B. G. C. Homem, I. B. G. Lima, P. P. Spasiani, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., A. Berndt, D. R. Casagrande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Methane emission from livestock operation is an important source of greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming. Forage legume secondary compounds may mitigate methane emissions by reducing methanogenic population in the rumen. This study evaluated animal performance and methane emission from beef cattle grazing either a mixed pasture [Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu (palisadegrass) and Arachis pintoi (forage peanut) cv. BRS Mandobi] or a palisadegrass monoculture with or without nitrogen (N) fertilisation. A 2.5-yr continuous stocking experiment was carried out in southeast Brazil, on a randomized complete block design with three treatments and four replicates. Two Nellore heifers were used …

People-Environment Trade-Offs In Managing Communal Rangelands Of South Africa, J. E. Bennett, S. Lemke, T. Marandure

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Communal rangelands in South Africa support a range of ecosystem services including water provision, carbon sequestration and livestock production for different stakeholders. Delivering these in a sustainable and socially appropriate manner necessarily requires trade-offs to be made between the different environmental and social outcomes required. We draw on empirical fieldwork and a two-day participatory stakeholder workshop to report on the early stages of a project evaluating these trade-offs in communal rangelands of the uMzimvubu catchment in Eastern Cape Province. Our findings suggest that trade-offs will be necessary at a variety of different levels within this system. For example, a key …

Unravelling Causes Of Poor Crop Response To Applied N And P Fertilizers On African Soils, Gudeta W. Sileshi, Job Kihara, Lulseged Tamene, Bernard Vanlauwe, Elijah Phiri, Bashir Jama

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A number of studies across sub-Saharan Africa have recently reported poor crop responses and low agronomic use efficiencies of applied nitrogen (AEN), phosphorus (AEP) and potassium (AEK). However, the conditions under which non-responsiveness occurs, its underlying causes and its probability of occurrence on different soil types are not well understood. Using data from 542 sites and 14 soil types in 23 African countries, we provide novel insights into the linkage between lack of response to applied N, P and K, the mineralogy of soils and their resilience to erosion. We estimated mean responses as well as the probabilities (φ) of …

Investigation Of The Methylome Pattern Changes In Phytophthora Sojae Infected Soybean (Glycine Max), Shyaron Poudel

Student Theses and Dissertations

Phytophthora stem and root rot (PSR), a soybean disease causes annual losses of up to $250 million in the United States alone. Using the Rps (resistant to Phytophthora sojae) gene in soybean is the main management technique. However, Rps genes are only effective until 8-15 years in the field. Therefore, further understanding of the Rps gene regulation and immune response in soybean is desperately needed. In this study, first, three commercial DNA methylation detection kits were examined on soybean (cultivar Williams 82,which carries Rps1k) DNA samples. All three kits provided libraries with excellent quality and coverage. Secondly, the differential DNA …

Unraveling The Anti-Inflammatory And Cardioprotective Mechanism Of Prenylated Stilbenoids From Peanut Hairy Root Cultures In Vitro And In Vivo, Md Rokib Hasan

Student Theses and Dissertations

Stilbenoids are a non-flavonoid class of polyphenols that are important for their potential medicinal applications. Resveratrol, ione of the most well-studied compounds of this group, has various medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and many other properties. Prenylated stilbenoids which include arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 are produced as a defense response to biotic and abiotic stresses in peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Prenylation has been shown to enhance the biological activities of polyphenolic compounds and thus arachidins may have higher anti-inflammatory activity than resveratrol in addition to many other potential health applications. However, the molecular mechanism of the arachidins as an anti-inflammatory and …

Identification And Characterization Of Active Ingredient Eugenol From Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove Oil) Through Hplc And Its Phytochemical Analysis, Ambreen Kanwal, Saba Irshad, Nimra Akmal, Nayab Batool Rizwi

Journal of Bioresource Management

Clove, Syzygium aromaticum, is one of the most valuable, ancient and premium essential oil which has been used as source of spice in agro-food industry and therapeutics for centuries. The aim of the present study was to analyze biological activities of clove oil as well as characterization of its active component Eugenol to make it worthwhile for different food and pharmaceutical formulations. Clove oil extraction was performed by Soxhlet method. Its phytochemical analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids, saponnins, and tannins while proteins and leucoanthocyanins were absent in it. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay was performed which …

How Does N Fertilization Or Forage Legumes Affect Forage And Animal Production?, B. G. C. Homem, I. B. G. Lima, P. P. Spasiani, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., R. M. Boddey, D. R. Casagrande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock grazing in tropical climates is characterized by low productivity. Forage and animal production can be improved by applying nitrogen (N) fertiliser or using forage legumes. This 2.5-yr study assessed the canopy structure and productivity of beef cattle grazing either a mixed pasture of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu (palisadegrass) and Arachis pintoi (forage peanut) cv. BRS Mandobi or a Marandu palisade grass monoculture with or without N fertilisation. The experiment was carried out in Southeast Brazil, where the canopy structure (herbage mass) and animal productivity (stocking rate and liveweight gain per ha) were compared for three types of pastures: 1) …

Managing Vegetation In Grasslands Habitats To Meet Livestock Or Wildlife Objectives, B. Sleugh, S. Flynn, D. C. Cummings, W. Hatler, D. Hillger, C. Hart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sustainably stewarding grassland systems involves applying various practices to manipulate forage interactions with other plants, the environment, and grazing animals to meet resource manager objectives. These interactions can result in invasion or encroachment and increased abundance of weeds which hinder attainment of management objectives. Weeds influence the structure and function of pasture ecosystems whether forages are grown in improved pastures, rangeland, or grassland communities. They degrade pasture quality and reduce livestock performance by interfering with forage establishment, yield, and quality by competing for resources. Weeds reduce the feed value of forage, decrease pasture carrying capacity, and can be toxic or …

Long-Term Changes In Dry Matter Yield In Variety Trials Of Forage Species In Sweden, Magnus A. Halling

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Using results from official variety testing in Sweden, long-term changes (1964-2018) in total annual dry matter (DM) yield for pure stands of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and timothy (Phleum pratense) were analysed and compared for two Swedish trial site areas: a central area (59.6-61.5°N) and a southern area (55.5-57.0°N). All trials were managed using a standard protocol, with only minor changes over time. On average for all varieties of timothy in the trials, there was an increase of 91.6 kg ha^-1 in total DM yield in the first harvest year, probably due to genetically improved …

Kentucky’S Comprehensive Outreach Program For Horse Pasture Management And Education, Krista Lea, S. Ray Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The University of Kentucky (UK) Horse Pasture Evaluation Program began in 2005 to improve pasture quality and quantity on Kentucky horse farms. This on-farm program collects detailed data of pasture species composition, tests for tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) toxicity, and provides farm managers with comprehensive recommendations for management. Species composition is determined using the occupancy method. In 2019, the UK Horse Pasture Health Score Card was developed to provide useful, survey-level information on pastures and allow evaluators to cover far more acres in less time, requiring fewer resources. The objective of this research was to compare accuracy …

Increasing Precipitation Decreases Water Use Efficiency Of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) In A Semiarid Region, H. Ni, H. K. Chu, X. F. Lai, J. Q. Deng, Yuying Shen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plays an important role within the integrated farming systems in Northwestern Loess Plateau of China, because of its traits on a high productivity, prolonged growing season, and excellent nutritive value. However, water use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial indicator for forage production under different water conditions in the semiarid regions. To explore the responses of alfalfa growth and water use to precipitation variability, we set precipitation shelters to manipulate precipitation scenario as 30% precipitation increased (P+30), normal precipitation (CK), and 30% precipitation decreased (P-30) with the measurement of dry matter yield and soil water content. …

Improving Pasture Productivity And Persistence By Renovating Or Rejuvenating, A. Omokanye, D. Westerlund, G. Hernandez-Ramirez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forages make up a large part of the feed requirements of beef cattle, and grazing remains the most economical form of feed delivery. However, several years after pasture establishment, forage productivity and longevity usually decline. Maintaining productive forage stands in the long term becomes a major challenge that beef producers face. A 3-yr on-farm study was conducted to determine the comparative effects of several pasture rejuvenation methods, such as spraying of herbicides to control weeds and brush, Spray herbicide + direct seed in spring (RSS), forage seeding methods, fertilizer application (FERT), and pasture rest as well as aeration/spiking in fall …

Improving Forage Production Quantity And Quality Using Native Legume Species In Semi-Arid Agrosilvopastoral System, M. Louhaichi, S. Slim, M. Gamoun, S. Hassan, J. Kailene, I. Hamdaoui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agrosilvopastoral systems provide a range of livelihood services, either directly through forage production or indirectly by the beneficial effects on soil conservation, nutrient cycling, pollutant filtering, and biodiversity enhancement. Hence, improved silvopastoral systems have ample scope to rehabilitate degraded pastures to sustain livestock production, which remains a strong pillar for the livelihoods of the agrosilvopastoral communities. To evaluate the impact of Hedysarum coronarium L. (sulla) reseeding on pasture productivity, plant cover and plant density in semi-arid silvopastoral systems, an experiment was carried out in Sbaihia Site, Zaghouan Governorate, Tunisia during 2018-2019 growing season. The experiment was laid out under a …

Improvement Of Feeding Value Of Quinoa Stalk With White Rot Fungi Treatment, M. Hanada, T. Egi, S. Muyila, J. Njiolomba, Y. Tokura

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of white rot fungi treatment on feeding value of quinoa stalk. In trial 1, quinoa stalk was inoculated with Pleurotus osteratus (PO) or Pleurotus citrinopileatus (PC) at 25 °C for 90 days, and chemical composition and hardness of the stalk were measured. In trial 2, quinoa stalk was inoculated with PO, and incubated at 10 and 25 °C for 60, 90 and 120 days. After incubation, the chemical composition and hardness of the stalk were measured. In trial 1, acid detergent lignin (ADL) content in the stalk decreased in both treatments, and …

Impact Of Abnormal Climate Events On The Production Of Italian Ryegrass As A Season In The Republic Of Korea, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, H. Jo, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to assess the impact of abnormal climate events on the production of Italian ryegrass (IRG), such as autumn low-temperature, severe winter cold and spring droughts in the central inland, southern inland and southern coastal regions. Seasonal climatic variables, including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, and sunshine duration, were used to set the abnormal climate events using principal component analysis, and the abnormal climate events were distinguished from normal using Euclidean-distance cluster analysis. Furthermore, to estimate the impact caused by abnormal climate events, the dry matter yield (DMY) of IRG between abnormal and normal climate events was …

Green Canopy Cover Percentage As A Method For Quantifying Andropogon Virginicus (Broomsedge) Reduction Through Fertilizer Applications In A Cool Season Hay Production System, Jordyn A. Bush, Jimmy C. Henning, Christopher D. Teutsch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Remote sensing has been used to measure green canopy cover for a variety of agronomic purposes. This study explores the use of digital imagery as a method to quantify warm and cool season grasses in a hay production system. Due to alternate growth periods, cool and warm season grasses show greener color in different seasons. These seasonal color shifts provide an opportunity to measure their respective percentages when growing together in a system. This study was conducted in a hay field that was originally dominated by cool season grasses including tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Kentucky bluegrass ( …

Global Assessment Of Grassland Carrying Capacities And Relative Stocking Densities Of Livestock, J. Piipponen, M. Jalava, J. De Leeuw, A. Rizayeva, C. Godde, M. Herrero, M. Kummu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Although many suggest that future diets should include more plant-based proteins, animal-sourced foods are unlikely to completely disappear from our diet. Grasslands yield a notable part of the world’s animal protein production, but thus far, there is no global insight into the relationship between current livestock stocking densities and the availability of grassland forage resources. This inhibits acting upon concerns over the negative effects of overgrazing in some areas and utilising the potential for increasing production in others. Previous research has examined the potential of sustainable grazing but lacks generic and observation-based methods needed to fully understand the opportunities and …

Genetic Diversity Among And Within Accessions Of A Lablab (Lablab Purpureus) Collection Maintained In The Ilri Forage Genebank, M. S. Muktar, A. M. Sartie, A. T. Negawo, E. Habte, C. S. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lablab (Lablab purpureus L.) is an important annual multi-purpose legume used as a vegetable for human consumption, as forage for livestock, and as green manure and a cover crop to improve soil fertility. It has a high feed value with good digestibility and high crude protein content. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) forage genebank holds a diverse set of 340 lablab accessions collected from different regions of the world. A total of 1,843 plants from 142 lablab accessions (1 to 29 plants per accession genotyped individually) were genotyped by the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method of the DArTseq platform. The …

A Versatile Contribution Of Both Aminopeptidases N And Abc Transporters To Bt Cry1ac Toxicity In The Diamondback Moth, Dan Sun, Liuhong Zhu, Le Guo, Shaoli Wang, Qingjun Wu, Neil Crickmore, Xuguo Zhou, Alejandra Bravo, Mario Soberón, Zhaojiang Guo, Youjun Zhang

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Biopesticides and transgenic crops based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins are extensively used to control insect pests, but the rapid evolution of insect resistance seriously threatens their effectiveness. Bt resistance is often polygenic and complex. Mutations that confer resistance occur in midgut proteins that act as cell surface receptors for the toxin, and it is thought they facilitate its assembly as a membrane-damaging pore. However, the mechanistic details of the action of Bt toxins remain controversial.

RESULTS: We have examined the contribution of two paralogous ABC transporters and two aminopeptidases N to Bt Cry1Ac toxicity in the diamondback moth, …