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Effect Of Converting Chaparral To Grassland On Soil Fertility In A Mediterranean-Type Climate, M B. Jones, R L. Koenigs, C E. Vaughn, A H. Murphy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the region of Mediterranean-type climate in California, brush is converted to grassland to reduce fire hazards, increase feed for herbivores, and increase water yields. There is little information on how this change of cover type affects soil fertility over a long period. Research was initiated to measure the long-term effect of converting brush to grass on the availability of nutrients in the soil. In 1956 chaparral growing on Los Gatos soil (fine-loamy, mixed mesic family of typic argixerolls) was crushed, burned, and seeded to grasses and clovers, and half the area was fenced to exclude herbivores. Sprouting brush either …

Resource Allocation For Animal-Grassland Systems, G W. Thomas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The production of animal products from grasslands is dependent upon an adequate resource base-particularly the availabil­ity ofland, water, and energy. In addition, range and pasture production systems must be designed to adjust to climatic varia­tions and to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Several new developments will have a significant impact on the future allocation of resources for animal agriculture: (1) in­creased competition for land and water, which is leading to transfers from agricultural to nonagricultural uses; (2) increasing costs and decreasing availability of "cultural energy" (particularly fossil fuels); (3) more pressure to divert grains and feed con­centrates from animals to direct …

Multiple Use Of Grassland Resources (Grasslands To Provide Natural Resource Conservation And A Quality Environment For Mankind), P J. Edwards

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The grasslands of the world ( and communities closely akin to them, such as shrub and savanna types) provide not only a very effective mantle for protection of the soil, but also the main source of feed for herbivores. They also cater to many other needs of mankind. Increasing population results in competition between types of grassland use for specific sites. Sound planning is necessary to resolve this conflict in the way most beneficial to mankind. In order to plan logically it is necessary to make an inventory of the resources, to consider the various uses to which grasslands can …

Nitrogen Relationships In Grassland Ecosystems, A Lazenby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Some recent findings affecting nitrogen (N) cycling in grassland ecosystems are discussed, and an indication is given of major problems requiring research and development. The importance of modern techniques is stressed to enable further quantification of the pathways and processes of the nutrient in grassland; such data are needed both to improve understanding and to enable more efficient use of N in practice. A brief description of the N in soil organic matter is followed by an account of symbiotic N fixation by legumes, including estimated levels and rates of fixation and factors affecting the process. Data are presented on …

Contribution Of Forages To Worldwide Food Production: Now And In The Future, E F. Henzell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbivorous livestock provided during the 1970s an estimated minimum 7%-17% of the total dietary protein in Asia and Africa compared with about 30 % in Latin America and just over 30 % in the developed countries. Cattle accounted for approx­imately 70% of the world's domestic animals (calculated in units weighted for size), buffaloes for 10%, and sheep and goats for 11 % . About 69 % of these animal units were in the developing countries, but productivity was higher in the developed coun­tries. Forages, defined broadly to include all edible plant materials except grains and concentrates, provided more than 90% …

Potential Productivity Of Temperate And Tropical Grassland Systems, G O. Mott

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasses of temperate regions of the world belong primarily to the subfamily Festucoideae, whereas tropical regions are populated by tribes of the Panicoideae subfamily. Temperate grasses have a C3 biochemical pathway of photosynthesis in con­trast to tropical grasses, which have a C4 photosynthetic mechan-ism. Both tropical and temperate legumes are C3 plants. Com­patible mixtures of legumes and grasses have long been successful in many temperate regions, but combining C4 grasses and C3 legumes as mixtures in the tropics has been only moderately successful. Maximum net primary productions of temperate and tropical grasslands are in the order of 25 and 80 …

Use Of Genetic Resources For Improvement Of Forage Species, J R. Harlan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of genetic resources of forage species poses some special problems because of the number of species involved, the in­adequacy of our knowledge about them, the fact that they are often used in combination and should be evaluated in terms of livestock product, and so on. Collections should be as comprehensive as possible at the outset of improvement programs; other­wise, there may be much use of inferior material and much waste of time and effort. Most of the forage species in use come from (1) Europe (excluding Mediterranean zones), (2) Mediterranean Basin and Near East, (3) African savannas (mostly …

Forage Quality: Assessing The Plant-Animal Complex, D J. Minson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

At the VI International Grassland Congress held at Pennsylvania State College in 1952, the late Dr. C.P. McMeekan re­viewed the many problems associated with the plant-animal complex. Great stress was placed on the need to measure forage in­take accurately as a prerequisite to an under-standing of the plant-animal complex. Progress in the development of more accurate :methods of estimating the forage intake of grazing animals is reviewed, in­cluding the introduction of different methods of administering chromic oxide, the esophageal fistula for obtaining samples of selectively grazed material, the in-vitro technique for estimating the digestibility of the forage eaten, and the …

Competitive, Adaptive, And Evolutionary Process In Grassland Ecosystems, B D. Patil

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the tropics, grasslands or grazing lands are found where the forest vegetation climax has been subjected to fire, grazing, felling, or other disturbances. Grazing lands in the tropics form various ecosystems under the major climatic types. Delineation of such ecosystems is possible through remnants of the climax vegetation of undisturbed or least-disturbed areas. Several subecosystems exist as seral stages under each ecosystem, the floristic composition of which is a reflection of the edaphic and soil­moisture-fertility conditions. Biological production in terms of energy for grazing animals varies among these ecosystems and subecosystems. Reconstruction of the adaptable competitive flora with woody …

Growth And Development Of Two Echinochloa Millet Species In A Warm Temperate Climate, D K. Muldoon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Most summer forage crops fall into either the sorghum or the millet species group. Included in the millet group are two species, Echinochloa utilis and Echinochloa frumentacea, commonly known as Japanese barnyard millet and Indian barnyard millet, respectively. These species have a negligible HCN potential and higher nutritive value than Sorghum species. However, they generally flower early, yield less than forage sorghum , and lack vigor in regrowth. In this study the pattern of growth and development of two Echinochloa millets was examined as part of a larger program of improving the production of these forage species. E. utilis …

Test Adaptation And Evaluation Trials Of Forage Plants In Major Ecological Regions Of Ethiopia And Kenya, K M. Ibrahim, A Orodho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Kenyan and Ethiopian natural grazing Ian.cl. support more than 20% of the cattle population of the African continent. Many of the natural pastures of these countries are severely overgrazed, as unfavorable grazing conditions prevail for over half the year. Objectives of adaptation trials were to evaluate and identify introduced or indigenous forage and fodder species or ecotypes having genetic potential for high production of digestible dry matter for direct pasture and range improvement and for future use in breeding programs. Over 4,000 indigenous and 3,000 introduced ecotypes were evaluated for 24 vegetative characters in six ecological regions between 1971 and …

Neutral Detergent Fiber And Protein Levels In Diploid And Tetraploid Ryegrass Forage, L R. Nelson, F M. Rouquette Jr

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nutritive value of 18 ryegrass (Lolium multifloriumLam.) cultivars was studied at Overton, Te1

0.42-mm screen. Plots were harvested four times during each of the first 2 years and five times in the third year. In 1977-1978 and 1978-1979, NDF and protein analyses were run on samples from 2 replications. All forage samples were analyzed for pro­tein via the micro-Kjeldahl technique. Percentages of NDF were obtained via Van Soest extraction procedures. A seasonal increase in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content and a decrease in protein percentage was observed. Differences in NDF were observed among cultivars and were most apparent during …

Forage Quality Of Barley Straw As Influenced By Genotype, D W. Meyer, D O. Erickson, A E. Foster

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cereal straw is an untapped carbohydrate source for ruminant animal feeds, but little information is available on genotypic differences in the feeding value of barleys (Hordeum vulgare L.) commonly grown in the northern Great Plains of the U.S.A. Our objective was to determine if barley genotypes differ in straw forage quality and if straw-quality parameters are associated with agronomic characters. Straw from 37 and 31 barley genotypes was sampled in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Straw from 10 barley genotypes grown at four locations was sampled in 1979. Standard laboratory procedures were used to determine the quality parameters measured. Correlations …

Development Of Gama Medic {Medicago Rugosa Desr.) As An Annual Leguminous Species For Dryland Farming Systems In Southern Australia, E J. Crawford

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Annual medics (Medicago spp.) are the basic legume for nitrogen fixation in the alkaline soils of southern Australia. Not all in­dividual species are well adapted to all soil types, one difficult soil being the highly alkaline clay loam where annual rainfall is less than 500 mm. The first gama medic (M. rugosa) cultivar, Paragosa, was well adapted to the clay-loam soil type but proved to be susceptible to germination after summer thunderstorms, and seedlings died in the following drought. Many gama medic accessions were then grown in an attempt to select a genotype capable of maintaining seedcoat impermeability during …

Evolution Of Selection Techniques In Breeding For Bloat-Safe Alfalfa, B P. Goplen, R E. Howarth, G L. Lees, W Majak, J P. Fay, K J. Cheng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This report summarizes the Canadian breeding program to develop a bloat-safe alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). This program has experienced an evolution of selection methods in attempting to identify bloat-safe alfalfa genotypes. In chronological order, the methods involved selection for fraction I (18S) protein, soluble proteins, foam volume, tannins (flavolans), saponins, initial rate of digestion (IRD), sonication, purified enzymes, gas production, and leaching. Although soluble herbage protein is correlated with the occurrence of pasture bloat, we have experienced slow progress in a selection program to reduce soluble-protein concentration in alfalfa. We have found that foam volume is not correlated with …

Value Of White Sweet Lupin In Production Of Protein Fodder And Feeding Of Animals, O Saric, I Ramosevac

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential of white sweet lupin (Lupinus albus L.) as a grain or forage feed for livestock was investigated in a series of ex­periments. Grain yield of lupin was greater than or equal to that of soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) in most evaluations. The quality of lupin seed compared favorably with that of soybean meal and fishmeal. Lupin is capable of producing large amounts of forage in a short period, making it a good prospect for forage production in regions that have a short growing season.

White Clover: An Olde Crop With A Promising Future, P B. Gibson, W E. Knight, G W. Barnett, W A. Cope, J D. Miller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a widely adapted, important forage legume for grazing in the U.S. The palatability and quality of the forage, the wide adaptation of the plants to growth in different climates and under various grazing conditions and the role it plays in supplying nitrogen to pastures make white clover our finest pasture legume. The use of adapted white clover cultivars should result in large economic gains to the livestock industry in the U.S .A. Beef and dairy farmers would profit from reduced need for nitrogen fertilizer, an extended grazing season, increased forage pro­duction and quality, better …

Performance And Variability Of Agronomic Characters In Populations Of Stylosanthes Guianensis (Aubl.) Sw., P S. Martins, N A. Vello

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stylosanthes guianens-is (Aubl.) Sw. shows wide variations in morphological and physiological characteristics, and basic infor­mation on genetic variability is needed for future breeding programs. The objectives of this paper were to evaluate 25 native Brazilian populations of S. guianensis for forage characteristics · • ;10,d • to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for these characters. The experiment was conducted in a duplicated 5 x 5 balanced lattice design with plots that contained 4 individuals spaced on 2-m centers. The following characters were evaluated after the beginning of flowering period: days to flowering (DF), mean diameter (MD), basal area (BA), growth …

Hedysarum Mongolicum Turcz.: An Important Protein Resource Legume On Dry Sandy Land, Li Min, A W. Hovin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In searching for plants that can both increase the protein production and improve the sandy-soil conservation of the grassland in the arid, windy regions of North China, so far, from among many native plants, we have identified Hedysarum mongolicum Turcz. as the best species to fulfill our dual purposes. We investigated its distribution, planted its native seeds in the Maowusu desert, and studied it under its native and cultivated growing conditions from 1957 to 1964. Chinese farmers call this perennial subbrush legume of the sweetvetcb genus "Yang Cai," meaning "sheep like to eat." It can thrive in the stable or …

Adaptation And Utilization Of Three Legume In China, Huang Wenhui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

China is a vast territory with extremely varied climates, soil, and topography, and it is very rich in pasture grass resources. The main legumes for forage are Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), yellow alfalfa (Medicago folcata L.) and shadawang (Astragalis adsurgent Pall.)

Preliminary Evaluation Of Legume Germ Plasm In The Cerrados Of Brazil, D Thomas, R P. De Andrade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In 1978 an evaluation program was initiated to select legumes that (1) grow and produce seed on acid soils under aluminum and water stress, (2) persist under grazing, and (3) tolerate pests and diseases. The work is being conducted at the Cerrados Agricultural Research Center, near Brasilia, at lat 15°S and altitude 1,000 to 1, 100 m . Annual rainfall is 1,500 mm, mostly distributed in a 6-month wet season, and mean annual temperature is 21°C. Nine hundred legume accessions from thirteen genera have now been established as spaced plants on the 2 major soil types of the region. The …

Grasslands For Our World, F Riveros

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The present-day role of grasslands and fodder is reviewed with respect agriculture, animal production and environmental concerns. The world's grazing lands are a finite resource and, overall, arc being badly managed; in most developing countries action is required now, before it is too late. They will continue to be a major source of animal feed for the foreseeable future; encroachment from cropping will continue locally but, for much of what is now natural pasture, exploitation by the grazing animal .will remain the major means of obtaining an economic return; the task of grassland professionals is to assist the managers of …

The Feeding Value Of Forages, C Demarquilly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The lower productivity of legume based swards and their instability of yield from year to year compared with nitrogen fertilised grass swards continues to be a major constraint on the integration of leguminous nitrogen fixing species into present-day farming systems. Most legume systems have a high biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potential which is rarely attained in the· field due to limiting environmental or management factors. Enhancement of BNF through manipulation of the Rhizobium and plant components of the symbiosis must be viewed as a long-term objective. Optimisation of nitrogen fixation in the short-term may best be achieved through optimisation of …

Nitrogen Fixation, Cycling, And Utilization, P M. Murphy, M T. Sherwood

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The lower productivity of legume based swards and their instability of yield from year to year compared with nitrogen fertilised grass swards continues to be a major constraint on the integration of leguminous nitrogen fixing species into present-day farming systems. Most legume systems have a high biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potential which is rarely attained in the· field due to limiting environmental or management factors. Enhancement of BNF through manipulation of the Rhizobium and plant components of the symbiosis must be viewed as a long-term objective. Optimisation of nitrogen fixation in the short-term may best be achieved through optimisation of …

Development Of Legume-Based Pastures For Livestock Production In Yunnan, Peoples Republic Of China- Preliminary Studies With Trifolium Semiplosum Cv. Safari And Temperate Legume Cultivars, M J. Mathison, M/S T. Wang, Z Y. Yang, M H. Dunning, Y N. Al, Z Z. Ma, H X. Al, L W. Peng, H Yang, D C. Zhang, C G. Zhang, G R. Yang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Aiming to improve livestock production from extensive grassland areas in Yunnan Province south west China, forage cultivar evaluation experiments are in progress as part of the China-Australia Technical Co-operation Programme. Preliminary results are given from introduced temperate legumes sown in 1983 in replicated swards in cultivated and uncultivated grassland. South west monsoon climates sampled range from alpine-temperate to tropical. In alpine sites red clover and annual species e.g. vetches, persian and subterranean clovers were among top dry matter yielders in the first year on cultivated land, Annual clovers failed or were outyielded by white, red clovers and, in one locality, …

Preliminary Fertilizer Requirements For Establishing Legume Based Pastures In The Alpine Zoone Of Yunnan, Jinjing Wang, J R. Bruce-Smith, Jixin Li, Mingliang Wang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Preliminary results of field trials designed to assess the soil fertility status for establishing improved legume based pastures in the alpine zone of Yunnan Province are presented. These trials were undertaken by a joint Chinese-Australian Project which is investigating ways to improve the livestock industry of the Province. The best treatments at one site in the North East yielded about 9000kg of total (grass + legume + weeds) pasture and 7000kg of this was attributable to clover production. At another site in the North West on the Southern Tibetan Plateau summer waterlogging confined the pasture yield to 4000kg DM. Tentative …

Preliminary Studies Of Fertilizer Requirements Of Tropical Legumes In Southern Yunnans Red River Valley, Jinjing Wang, J R. Bruce-Smith, Mingliang Wang, Jixin Li

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

As part of a joint Chinese-Australian Project to promote livestock development, a farm site in the lower Chinese section of Red River Valley was chosen as an area to study techniques suited to meeting these objectives through establishing and utilizing legume based tropical pastures. Preliminary results of fertilizer trials at Daliuhu Farm show that sulphur deficiency is the main nutrient problem retarding the growth of siratro and stylo legumes. The application of as little as 5, but optimally between 10 and 20kg of sulphur as gypsum Sor elemental S seems to adequately meet their growth requirements. The apparent adequate phosphate …

Sulfur Fertilization Of Five Tropical Forages Ii. Digestibility Of Dry Matter And Cell Wall Constituents, J E. Van Eys, S Ginting, H Pulungan, W L. Johnson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Four tropical grasses and one legume were fertilized with O or 60 kg S/ha. Leaves and stems of 6 and 9 weeks old regrowth were harvested seperately from replicated plots and used to study the effect of S fertilization on parameters of in vitro DM and NDF digestion. The overall effect of fertilization was negative and most pronounced for leaves. There were large differences among forages. DM digestibility at 48 h was reduced (P < .05) for fertilized guinea grass and setaria but NDF digestion at 96 h was only lower for guinea grass. DM digestibility of stems was not affected by fertilization but NDF disappearance of napier grass stems was decreased significantly. S fertilization had no effect on lag of NDF digestion but rate of NDF digestion for stems and leaves was reduced (P < .05) by fertilization. The effect was especially large for centro. It is suggested that the negative effects of S fertilization are associated with changes in the structural components of the forages and the source of the rumen inoculum.

Sulfur Fertilization Of Five Tropical Forages I. Dry Matter Production And Chemical Composition, J E. Van Eys, S Ginting, M Rangjuti, W L. Johnson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Four tropical grasses and one legume were grown on an oxic dystropept soil in W. Java, Indonesia. Two levels of S fertilizer were applied (0 and 60 kg S/ha). Forages were harvested at 6 and 9 week intervals during the wet and dry monsoons respectively. Production of leaves and stems was determined separately and samples of a 6- and 9-week regrowth were analyzed for chemical composition. The effect of S fertilization on dry matter (DM) yield was markedly influenced by the effect of season. During the wet season only the production of stems from napier grass was increased (P < .05). During the dry season stem and leaf production of napier grass and centro increased (P < .05) under fertilization but there was a decrease (P < .05) in leaf production of guinea grass. S fertilization increased S content in leaves and stems by 23%. There was a tendency for N to increase and for NDF in leaves to decrease. Only in centro was ADF and lignin of fertilized plants lower (P < .05). Although Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Zn were not affected by fertilization, ash content in leaves of fertilized forages differed (P < .05) from controls.

Development And Evaluation Of Stylosanthes Pastures For Seasonally Dry Areas Of Queensland, Australia, B Walker, P J. Mckeague

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There are 20.8 million hectares of the seasonally dry tropics and subtropics of Queensland to which the Stylosanthes spp. (stylos) are adapted. Only 600 000 hectares have been sown, or are naturalised, to these legumes, mainly to Townsville stylo (S. humilis). However, since 1974 anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) has severely affected Townsville stylo pastures, and newer cultivars of Stylosanthes are being used, viz: Verano (S. hamata), Seca and Fitzroy shrubby stylos (S. scabra) and Graham (S. guianensis var. guianensis). As little was known about the animal production and pasture stability associated with these stylos ( especially shrubby stylos) under …