Agricultural Science Commons^™

Evaluating Herbicides For The Control Of Multiflora Rose And Autumn Olive In Eastern Ohio, C. Zoller, D. Kreager, T. G. Wiseman, C. Martin, A. Essman, C. Gelley, C. Little, M. Loux

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Invasive plants cause billions of dollars annually in damage, displace desirable plants, and reduce available land area for livestock grazing. Multiflora rose and autumn olive are two such species prevalent across the Eastern United States. Originally introduced for livestock containment and erosion control, these plants have become widespread, resulting in reduced animal grazing. The Eastern Agricultural Research Station (EARS) is located in Southeast Ohio and is owned by The Ohio State University. Much of the more than 2,000 acres has a history of surface mining and was reclaimed with the planting of multiflora rose and autumn olive. These plants have …

Opening Speech, Ray Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

https://youtu.be/CbRcQzf5z0o?si=ESOHxXF-jFsYMw2A

Biodiversity—The Birds And The Bees And Healthy Grasslands, D. Borrenpohl, Pat D. Keyser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Losses in biodiversity abound in modern agroecosystems, and biodiversity loss hampers ecosystem function and primary productivity comparable to abiotic stress. One of the most endangered ecosystems in the world is North American tallgrass prairie, and native birds and pollinators that historically depended on tallgrass prairie are in precipitous decline. Fortunately, native warm-season grasses that dominated tallgrass prairie present a valuable opportunity for summer forage to beef producers in the Eastern United States—a time when coolseason grasses endure a lack in productivity called the “summer slump.” Tallgrass prairie was sustained by periodic disturbance from grazing and fire, and combining fire and …

The Soil Health Properties Of Native Grasslands, C. Bitler, Pat Keyser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Due to an increased interest in soil health and the role soils can have in carbon sequestration, native grasslands are getting heightened attention. Native grasslands are known for their deep top-soils that develop over time through the accumulation of soil organic matter. The deep and fibrous root systems that make up two-thirds of the biomass of native grasslands are the primary contributors to the soil organic carbon (SOC) content of grassland soils. Increased SOC content has a cascading effect on soil health metrics through increasing water infiltration and water holding capacity, supporting diverse and abundant soil microbial life, and improving …

Using Functional Ecology To Predict Restoration Success In Managed Grasslands, J. Bergman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plants have developed remarkable functional variation over evolutionary time to cope with different environmental conditions. As a result, functional variation – measurable as functional traits above and below ground – can be found within but also among grassland communities today. The functional space covered by a community is thereby restricted by environmental factors while each single species within the community inhabits a specific niche with a certain breadth along different environmental gradients. Data from field sampling in European grasslands have shown, that species intraspecific functional variation can cover considerable amounts of possible functional spaces, hence holding the potential to establish …

Toxic Plants In Grasslands And Their Impact On Livestock, A. C. Barr

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands are critical infrastructure for most cow/calf operations. Quality and abundance of pasture grasses directly influence livestock rate of gain, thereby affecting livestock margins and production costs, which determine the profitability of stocker operations. Successful cattlemen control weeds to preserve healthy pasture but also to prevent plant poisonings that may reduce individual animal performance or cause fatalities. Integrated Toxic Plant Management (ITPM) programs teach ranchers to identify the potentially toxic plants, recognize symptoms of plant poisonings, and use appropriate strategies to control those plants. Toxic plants can produce a range of effects in cattle and other grazing species. Nightshades ( …

Response Of Reproductive Phenology To Soil Water Content Of Stipa Breviflora Under Warming And Nitrogen Application, L. Bai, H. Y. Ren, G. D. Han

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plant phenology is considered as the most direct and sensitive characteristic indicators of plant response to regional climate change. Based on the observation data of phenology and soil water content of Stipa breviflora in an experimental platform of warming and nitrogen application in Inner Mongolia desert steppe from 2009 to 2019. The results showed that warming and nitrogen application significantly advanced the reproductive phenological period (P < 0.001), and the interaction of warming and nitrogen application promoted the advance of reproductive phenological period (P < 0.05).

Conference Agenda, Igc

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Modelling Basal Area Of Perennial Grasses In Australian Semi-Arid Wooded Grasslands, S. G. Marsden, K. C. Hodgkinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In many semi-arid pastoral systems, landscape processes easily become dysfunctional. Shifts to less functional states may be irreversible, and have long-term consequences for pastoral profitability and social viability of rural communities. Typically, shifts to lower functional states involve a decline in perennial grasses (Hodgkinson, 1994). Here we develop a conceptual basis for modelling the basal area of perennial grasses in a semi-arid grassland and validate the model using data from a 10-year grazing study.

The Effect Of Manipulated Conservation Margins In Intensively Grazed Dairy Paddocks On The Biodiversity Of Pteromalidae And Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Parasitica), A. Anderson, G. Purvis, A. Helden, H. Sheridan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Conserving field margins provides an opportunity to enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. The parasitoid Hymenoptera represent one of the most diverse and biologically specialised of all insect groups and play an important role in insect pest control (LaSalle & Gauld, 1993). The diversity of parasitiods in any habitat is theoretically likely to reflect the diversity of host taxa. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of field margin manipulations on the diversity of parasitoids as a wider indication of effects on general arthropod diversity.

Plant Diversity Patterns Along Altitudinal Gradient In Understory Communities Of Darkesh Region, Bojnord, Iran, A. Arjmandi, H. Ejtehadi, F. Memariani, Mansour Mesdaghi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The ecotone region of Darkesh with an area of 22,500 hectares is located in the Irano-Turanian xeric-continental bioclimatic zone of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh. To investigate the plant diversity patterns of understory communities along three elevation classes of 1100-1600, 1600-2100, and 2100-2600 m, 187 plots were sampled randomly and abundance and cover of species were recorded using 4-m² plots. Beta diversity and Hill indices were calculated by using R and PAST software. A total of 252 species were recorded including 31 perennial grasses. The most abundant grasses were Poa nemoralis, Poa bulbosa, Bromus sterilis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, and Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata …

Using Genetic Diversity In Deep Root Systems Of Perennial Forage Grasses And Rice To Capture Carbon In Tropical Soils, J. Arango, Daniel M. Villegas, R. N. Jauregui, J. A. Cardoso, C. Costa Jr., C. Rebolledo, M. F. Alvarez, M. Selvaraj, L. Rodriguez, M. Mayorga, P. Chavarriaga, A. Notenbaert, M. Quintero, M. Da Silva, Manabu Ishitani, M. Peters, I. Rao, Joe Tohme

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agricultural soils have the potential not only to be sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂) but also to mitigate the emissions of this gas to the atmosphere, thus, alleviating global warming. Perennial tropical grasses and rice upland and lowland varieties exhibit a large untapped genetic diversity in their root systems (e.g., deep rooting ability, exudation rates and chemical composition) that, if unlocked, could contribute to increased food production in crop-livestock systems while enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) in tropical regions. Naturebased solutions that improve crop adaptation and SOC storage in tropical soils could help to remove CO₂ from …

Salt Tolerance Mechanisms In Perennial Fodder Grasses, Edna Antony, B. Aravind, A. Amulya, T. Anushree, P. V. Rakshata, F. H. Savitha, M. B. Doddamani, P. V. Kuligod, Akbar, Vinod Kumar, K. Sridhar, Vijay Kumar Yadav

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Salinity stress is one of the most damaging stresses in crop plants. It reduces the productivity of the soil and makes it unsuitable for crop cultivation. Fodder crops are considered the best alternative in such uncultivable land. Using salinity-affected land for pasture development is the best alternative to utilize such lands. However, the extent of salinity tolerance varies among different grass species. In this study, Pearl millet Napier hybrids (PMN hybrid) and guinea grass varieties were studied for salinity tolerance in artificially created saline soils in the ratio of 13:7:1:2 (NaCl: Na₂SO₄: MgCl: CaSO₄, …

Effect Of Soil Nitrogen And Water Content On The Establishment Of A Lolium Perenne L. And Trifolium Repens L. Pasture, M. F. Alonso, Oscar A. Balocchi, I. Calvache, O. Martínez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate change has decreased rainfall in Southern Chile affecting the productivity of the grasslands that sustain the dairy and beef cattle industries. These grasslands are mainly mixtures of Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. Thus, we study the response on the establishment of a mixture of these two species to three levels of soil water content and two levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. The trial was carried out in containers sowed in a complete randomized block´s design. Soil moisture measurements were taken daily. N fertilizations was applied at the establishment and every 60 days. Leaf appearance rate was measured …

Impact Of Level Of Use On Plant Vigor And Weight Of Festuca Humilior And Calamagrostis Vicunarum, T. Edson, L. Aguirre, E. R. Flores

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Tussock grasslands of Festuca humilior and Calamagrostis vicunarum cover a significant extension of the central Andes of Peru, constituting a plant association highly appreciated by cattle ranchers. The objective of this research was to estimate the cumulative impact of the level of use of the key grasses Festuca humilior and Calamagrostis vicunarum on plant height, vigor, and weight. This study was conducted in a humid grassland of regular condition located at 4186 masl in the Puna ecoregion. The variables evaluated were: plant height, basal and canopy diameter and plant weight. The experiment lasted two years in which individual plants from …

Arkansas Wheat Performance Tests 2022-2023, J. F. Carlin, R. B. Mulloy, R. D. Bond

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Wheat variety performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program.

The tests provide information to companies developing cultivars and marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating variety recommendations for small-grain producers. The tests were conducted at the Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser, the Vegetable Substation near Kibler, the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station near Marianna, the Pine Tree Research Station near Colt, and the Rohwer Research Station near Rohwer. Specific location and cultural practice information accompany each …

Disease-Reducing Effect Of Calcium Salts Against Postharvest Diseases Of Mango (Mangifera Indica L. Cv. Carabao) Fruits, Melissa P. Montecalvo, Mary Joy C. Mendoza, Teresita U. Dalisay

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Mango fruits (Mangifera indica L. cv. Carabao) are susceptible to fungal infection, resulting in postharvest diseases. Chemical pesticides are used for disease management but may have a health impact and are costly. Therefore, alternatives to chemical control are necessary to minimize health risks and losses due to postharvest diseases. This research presented the disease-reducing effect of calcium salts, calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), against mango stem end rot (SER) (sometimes caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae) and anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato). In in vitro assays, mycelial growth of both pathogens …

Scaling Up Of Site Carbon Dynamics To Predict The Carbon Dynamics In Kazakhstan, Central Asia, B. K. Wylie, Tagir Gilmanov, S. L. Stensaas, N. Z. Saliendra, D. A. Johnson, K. Akshalov, S. B. Frank, L. Zhang, R. F. Doyle, E. A. Laca, Montague W. Demment

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate and management determine whether rangelands are net carbon sources or carbon sinks. Regional carbon dynamics of the Kazakh Steppe has not previously been documented. The objective of this study is to quantify the regional carbon flux dynamics of these extensive steppes.

A New System For Plant Experiments On Biodiversity Or Multi-Species Competition, John Connolly, L. Kirwan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Considerable discussion in recent years has focused on the design of competition and biodiversity experiments (Connolly et al., 2001a; Allison, 1999). Few agronomic experiments with >2 plant species have been conducted in greenhouse conditions (Gibson et al, 1999) or in the field (Connolly et al., 2001b). In many experiments the effects of density and initial species size have been confounded. The effects of species richness and evenness also are confounded frequently. The proposed system provides a framework of design and analysis, in which to address questions of function at community level and of structure and competition at …

Native Grasses Seeded Into A Cool-Season Pasture Encouraged By Low Resource Availability, J. E. Doll, R. L. Cates, R. D. Jackson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native prairie of the Upper Midwest, which was dominated by warm-season (C₄) grasses, now exists as relatively small relict and restored patches (Curtis 1959). Re-introduction of natives into grazed agroecosystems would promote genetic, species, and landscape diversity. Extensive re-introduction of C₄ grasses will require a shift away from the paradigm of maximizing production because C₄ grasses have higher C:N ratios than C₃ grasses rendering them inferior forage species. Nonetheless, there is great interest amongst the grazing community of the Upper Midwest in establishing native grasses as a means of improving wildlife habitat and increasing belowground …

The Ag-Biota Project: A Preliminary Assessment Of Potential Indicators Of Biodiversity In Agricultural Grasslands, Gordon Purvis, A. Anderson, A. J. Helden, L. Kirwan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In compliance with European commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity within agricultural land is a primary objective of current agri-environmental measures. However, there is a widespread lack of information concerning the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes in Europe, (Kleijn & Sutherland, 2003). In large part, this is due to uncertainties about selection of appropriate biological indicators of biodiversity (Buchs, 2003; Duelli & Obrist, 2003).

Effects Of Plant Species Diversity In Multifunctional Grasslands On Avian Communities, K. K. Bakker, K. F. Higgins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands, planted or native sod, can provide multiple simultaneous functions (e.g., hay-forage production, biomass fuel products, bird nesting cover, soil and water conservation). Bird use of and abundance in grasslands is dependent on vegetation structure, size, and surrounding landscape (Bakker et al., 2002) but little is known about avian relationships to plant species diversity. We evaluated the relationship between plant species diversity and avian community structure in 5 grassland types. The results have application to grazing, haying, burning, and conservation practices applied to native and sown grassland stands and to conservation strategies for declining grassland bird populations.

Diversity And Adaptation Of Perennial Plants From North Africa: Legumes And Grasses, Aissa Abdelguerfi, M. Laouar, K. Abbas, M. M'Hammedi Bouzina

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A variety of climates, soil types and reliefs characterise North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia). These natural conditions have produced a large diversity of environments, landscapes, plant formations and flora. Several factors have contributed to the spread of a wide floristic variety: the influence of the Mediterranean in the north and in the north-east, the Atlantic in the west, and the Sahara in the south, as well as the presence of mountain ranges, particularly the Rif, the Tell Atlas, the Sahara Atlas, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas. This diversity of landscapes, environments and ecosystems has generated …

Comparison Of Compositional Changes In Multi-Species Grass/Legume Mixture Experiments Across Three Nordic Countries (Iceland, Sweden And Finland) Over Two Years, Caroline Brophy, Anne-Maj Gustavsson, A. Helgadottir, Oiva Nissinen, J. Connolly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A multi-site experiment was established at 39 sites across Europe, Australia and Canada within COST Action 852 to: (1) assess the benefits of grass/legume mixtures over monocultures, (2) test the stability of mixtures and (3) evaluate the consistency of the observed patterns over broad environmental gradients. This paper compares the results from 3 Nordic sites using the same plant species: Korpa Experimental Station in Iceland, Lapland Research Station in Finland and Piteå in Sweden to investigate if compositional changes in mixtures are consistent across the sites.

Site Effects On The Composition Of Multi-Species Grass/Legume Mixtures During Sward Establishment, Rosemary P. Collins, M. Fothergill, John Connolly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Under the auspices of COST Action 852, a multi-site experiment investigated issues of community structure, function and their interrelationships in multi-species grass/legume mixtures (Collins et al., 2004; Sebastià et al., 2004). We describe the effects of 2 contrasting sites on forage yield and species composition during sward establishment.

Unplanned Fires And Sustainability Of A Semi-Arid Rangeland In South Africa, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Whether due to lightning or human negligence, large-scale unplanned fires affect large areas of the semi-arid southern African rangelands during the dormant winter (June-August) period (Everson 1999). These fires cause enormous fodder flow problems, and also influence ecosystem functioning (Snyman 2003). The short-term impact (2 years) of an unplanned fire on the sensitivity of above- and belowground productivity of a semi-arid rangeland was therefore investigated.

Effects Of Burning On Grassland Vegetation Cover On The Northeastern Side Of The Alborz Ranges In Iran, F. Amiri, M. R. Chaichi, A. Atrakchali

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Golestan National Park is located on the northeastern side of the Alborz ranges, Golestan province, Iran. Because of the special vegetation cover and being located close to two wet and dry weather areas, this park is vulnerable to fire hazards. Between 1957 and 2004 more than 67 fires have been reported in the park. The international importance of the park requires a careful study on fire effects on vegetation cover, phytomass production, grass diversity and successional process after fires.

The Influence Of Tree Thinning And Subhabitat Differentiation On Panicum Maximum And Urochloa Mosambicensis Of A Bush Encroached Semi-Arid Savanna In South Africa, G. N. Smit

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The productivity of grasses is most important for herbivores in extensive semi-arid savannas. In these areas an increase in woody plant abundance, commonly referred to as bush encroachment, suppresses grasses. This is the main reason why landowners often consider thinning or even total clearing of all woody plants. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of different intensities of tree thinning and subhabitat differentiation on the grass layer of a semi-arid South African savanna.

The Effect Of Different Utilisation Methods On Composition Of Semi-Natural Grassland, J. Jančovič, L'. Vozár, L'. Jančovičová

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There has been much research on application of mineral fertilisers to permanent grasslands to maximise production of above-ground phytomass (Folkman & Jančovič 1990), but the changes arising after exclusion of fertilisers have not been studied in Slovak Republic up to now despite current interest in low input ststems. This paper reports on the effects of cessation of fertiliser inputs for an eight-year period.

Impact Of The Agricultural Use On The Biodiversity Of A Festuca Rubra Meadow, I. Rotar, F. Păcirar, R. Vidican, N. Sima

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Technological inputs into meadow ecosystems trigger significant changes in the sward. In this paper we present the effect of organic and mineral fertilisation on the biodiversity of a Festuca rubra meadow.