Agricultural Science Commons^™

Perennial Legume Intercrops Provide Multiple Belowground Ecosystem Services In Smallholder Farming Systems, Laurie E. Drinkwater, Charles A.O. Midega, Rachel Awuor, Dickens Nyagol, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Soil degradation is a major underlying cause of poverty and malnutrition in smallholder agrarian communities across the globe. Legume diversification, through polyculture or intercropping, is a strategy that increases yields and income while improving family nutrition. However, the potential for these legume-cereal intercrops to restore soil functions in smallholder fields remains uncertain, with many studies failing to detect increases in soil organic matter (SOM). In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholders typically grow maize either intercropped with short-lived annual food legumes or as a monoculture. Recently, a novel maize system which includes perennial legumes in the genus Desmodium as intercrops, known as “push-pull” …

Environmental Factors Effect On Rangeland Plant Diversity In Al Sabaloga Area, Sudan, Salma Abdelghaffar Hassan Alamin, Hala Ahamed Hassan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted in AL Elsabaloga area in Sudan in 2017. This study aimed to assess environmental and biotic factor effects on rangeland plant diversity in the study area. A total sample size of 130 was chosen randomly to collect primary data. The data were coded, summarized, tabulated and processed. Analysis was conducted using (SPSS) computer program. The results were presented in the form of a frequency distribution. There were many problem effects on Rangeland plant diversity. Among these were floods (P < 0.01), expansion of agriculture (P < 0.01), over grazing (P < 0.01), drought, sand marching and desertification (P < 0.01), insect (P < 0.01). In addition, disappear of some plant and appear invader plant. The study was concluded expansion of agriculture, seasonal fire, overgrazing, drought, sand marching and desertification are important factors that effect on plant diversity in the study area. The study recommended protection of rangeland needs to be by improvement of the extension services, management of rangeland through opening of fire lines. Development and improvement, plant diversity and demarcation of routes relevant ministries is essential.

Collective Approach Of Rural Development: Case Study Of “Maronna Foundation” In The Pampa Bioma, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil, Adriana Ferreira Da Costa Vargas, Vicente Celestino Pires Silveira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Maronna Foundation was created in the 1980s by two brothers who were heirless farmers. After a visit to Massey University, New Zealand, they decided to use their fortune to support rural farming in the Brazilian Pampa through an agropastoral institute. Over the last four decades, the foundation has developed diverse research, education, and extension projects in partnership with local, regional, national, and international institutions, especially universities, research centers, non-governmental organizations and local governances. Recent surveys conducted in the area of the Maronna Foundation demonstrate the interest of local breeders in technologies applied to farming systems, mainly for rangeland and …

Woody Plant Species Composition And Diversity In Rusinga Island, Homa Bay County, Kenya, M. N. Nyaga, S. M. Mureithi, V. O. Wasonga, O. K. Koech

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Information on the state of woody vegetation of Rusinga Island is urgently needed in order to develop appropriate and effective conservation guidelines. Rusinga Island is an ancient historic area with numerous archeological sites and a bountiful of birdlife. However, the Island is characterized by highly degraded ecosystems from human disturbances such as cutting down of trees for fuel, construction poles, and overgrazing resulting in a remarkable degradation of flora, alteration of the ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. This study sought to determine the composition and diversity of woody plant species in Rusinga Island to understand the current status in order …

Visual Assessment Of Soil Structure As An Early Indicator Of Soil Quality In Response To Intensive Rotational Grazing, N. Teutscherova, E. Vazquez, D. Baquero, N. E. Velasquez-Ruiz, M. Pulleman, Jacobo Arango

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands can play a crucial role in mitigation of global warming by serving as carbon sink. Nevertheless, to achieve the grasslands’ potential, sustainable management is of the utmost importance as it determines system’s productivity and ecosystem services. Due to the increasing demand for animal products in developing countries, grazed areas increase exponentially in the tropics, mainly due to unsustainable management leading to low productivity and soil degradation. We evaluated the impact of intensive rotational grazing management (IRG) on early indicators of soil quality following land-use change based on on-farm observations of visual soil characteristics using two different widely used assessment …

Short-Term Dry Season Forage Monitoring In Rangelands And Savannas Of West Africa, J. Y. Anchang, C. W. Ross, W. Ji, Q. Yu, B. Lind, L. Prihodko, N. P. Hanan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry season plant biomass is critical for livestock production and hence livelihoods in rangeland communities. We have developed a cloud-based application that employs remote sensing data to provide weekly spatially explicit information on plant vegetation cover in West Africa during the dry season (typically October-June). In this paper, we discuss the data analysis steps and results that drive the application. Linear spectral mixture analysis is used to derive endmember samples of basic landcover primitives (active/green vegetation, non-active vegetation, and bare soil) from very high-resolution imagery that spans the spatiotemporal spectrum from wet/peak-green to dry/dormant conditions in Senegal. These samples are …

Range Condition Classification Based On Quantitative Characteristics Of Vegetation, Nafiseh Fakhar, Mansour Mesdaghi, Kamal Naseri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Change in range condition classes over time are usually the basis for monitoring management effectiveness. Several approaches have been proposed to monitor the range condition classes in relation to a bench mark usually called climax stage. There are some types of range condition classification often included in a range inventory. In this paper, six factors of canopy cover, litter frequency, plant vigour, soil protection percentage, plant composition, and present production as a percentage of indicative state were described for determination range conditions. We have determined range condition classes by using R software. This method was developed by FAO projects in …

Prescribed Fire Plus Grazing Horses: A Sustainable Model To Decrease Fire Hazard In A Mountain Landscape, F. Torres-Manso, R. Pinto, A. Marta-Costa, P. Fernandes, M. Fernandes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The mountain landscapes of northern Portugal have been modified through rural depopulation and the absence of rangeland management. As such, increased above-ground biomass and higher fire hazard resulted, as well as decreased ecosystem biodiversity. The objectives of the OpentoPreserve Interreg SUDOE project are to evaluate the effects of the combined use of prescribed fire with grazing horses, and also to develop strategies of socio-economic valorization of this model. Concerning the evaluation of prescribed fire and grazing effects, the experimental design consisted of three plots in the Natura 2000 Alvão/Marão Site, respectively Control, Fire x Grazing, and Fire. The Fire plots …

Positive Changes In Regional Vegetation Cover In Patagonia Shown By Maras Monitoring System, Gabriel E. Oliva, J. Gaitan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

MARAS (Environmental monitoring of arid and semiarid lands) is a vegetation and soil monitoring system in Patagonia, a 700.000 km2 area in southern South America. Installed between 2008-2015 within INTA-Argentina and INIA-Chile national agricultural research institutes, it includes photographs, 500-point intercepts, 50-m canfield lines to detect patches, 10 land function observations and 0-10 cm soil samples in 458 ground sites. Data is centralized and freely accessible https://maras.inta.gob.ar. We analysed changes based in the first 255 reassessments made at 5-year intervals. At a regional scale significant changes (P < 0.05 paired T test) were detected for: perennial vegetation cover, that was originally 42% and increased +3.1%. Plant species richness of 13.7 species/monitor increased +0.7, bare soil of 35% decreased -7.9%. Length of bare soil interpatches was 157 cm and decreased -42 cm. Land function indexes of Stability 46.2%, Infiltration 45.1% and Recycling 31.0% showed small non-significant changes (-1.3, +0.7 and +1.42 respectively). Significant changes in soils under vegetated patches were: conductivity 0.59 dS/m increased +0.49, and pH 7.3 +0.33. Organic matter was 2.0% and increased 0.35%, and sand was 73% and increased 3%. Finer soil particles decreased non-significantly. Bare soil interpatches had 1.4% organic matter and also increased 0.33%, and clay, that initially was 9.3% reduced -2.3%. The long-term ground sites provide a means to monitor slow changes in these rangelands in relation to global climatic change and regional grazing patterns. Patagonia has currently the lowest domestic stocking rates of the last century and vegetation seems to be slowly growing in perennial cover, with significant reductions in exposed bare soil, increase in biodiversity and soil organic carbon.

Modelling Catchment-Scale Evapotranspiration And Net Primary Production In Sub-Humid African Grasslands: Towards Understanding Carbon And Water Trade-Offs In Communal Rangelands, A. R. Palmer, Z. Munch, L. Vermeulen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Being able to confidently predict net primary production within intensively used rangeland systems has become the goal of many rangeland scientists. The communally-managed rangelands of Africa, with their very high livestock numbers, represent such a challenge, as above-ground biomass is most often depleted before it has had chance to accumulate. In order to provide more accurate estimates of NPP for these rangelands, we explored the use of direct measurements of canopy cover, standing biomass and leaf area index, against standard vegetation indices from the Sentinel 2 sensors. Following intensive field surveys, we developed regression models of the relationships between Sentinel …

Lowveld Savanna Bush Cutting Alters Tree-Grass Interactions, E. R. Wedel, J. B. Nippert, A. M. Swemmer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Savannas are characterized by the coexistence of trees and grasses, and their interactions are modified by water availability and herbivore activity. Many savannas are experiencing bush encroachment, resulting in reduced herbaceous productivity and shifts in savanna structure. This study aims to understand the effects of tree density and tree cutting on herbaceous productivity, water use, and herbivore abundance in a mopane-dominated lowveld savanna. We present data from a 4-year mopane-cutting experiment in the Mthimkhulu Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park (South Africa). We established three 60x60 m plots for experimental manipulation where mopane stems and re-sprouting shoots were cut 2-3 …

Multifunctionality Of Sown Grassland Is Enhanced By Combining Four Complementary Species, M. Suter, O. Huguenin-Elie, Andreas Lüscher

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We investigated species diversity effects and multifunctionality in an intensively managed grassland. A diversity experiment was set up with monocultures and mixtures comprising Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium pratense, and Trifolium repens, and was maintained for three years at 150 kg∙N∙ha^-1∙ year^-1. Ten functions were measured that represented i) forage production (aboveground biomass yield (μ), standard deviation of yield (σ), temporal stability (μ/σ), weed biomass), ii) N cycling (symbiotic-N₂-fixation, N efficiency, NO₃ in soil solution), and forage quality (crude protein content (CP), organic matter digestibility …

Status And Distribution Of Range Plants Genetic Resources In Al Sabaloga Biosphere Conservation Area, Sudan, Salma Abdelghaffar Hassan Alamin, Hala Ahamed Hassan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted in the Al Sabaloga area in 2017. The objective of this study was to investigate the status and distribution of range plants genetic resources in the study area. Sample size of 131 was chosen randomly to collect primary data. The data were coded, summarized, tabulated and processed. Analysis was conducted using (SPSS) computer program. The results were presented in the form of a frequency distribution. The result of this study represented in an ecological zone in the study area about (67%) Nile bank and island, Goz (35%), Valley (22%), Plains (17%) and Mountains (17%). For example, …

Rejuvenation Of Rangelands – Role Of Diversity And Improvement Strategies Of Range Grasses, A. K. Roy, D. R. Malaviya, P. Kaushal

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In India, a major part of the rural economy is dependent on the grazing-based livestock husbandry which is unique integration of agriculture and livestock coupled with rich traditional knowledge. Ecosystems of common property resources had been a mainstay in rural economy and livelihood. The traditional grazing forage resources in arid and semi-arid regions have deteriorated a lot due to various factors including heavy grazing pressure, climate change and dominance of invasive species, thus, needs rejuvenation. Additionally, these are causing serious economic and ecological problems such as poor productivity, soil and water erosion and reduced carbon sequestration.

The genetic improvement of …

Soil Organic Carbon And Total Nitrogen Stock Response To Traditional Enclosure Management In Eastern Ethiopia, Mohammed Abdulahi, Abule Ebro, Lisanework Nigatu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional enclosures are widely used by pastoralists in East Africa. However, the response of basic soil properties to the establishment of traditional enclosure management remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of traditional enclosure on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock in the Bordade rangelands, eastern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from twelve area enclosures and openly grazed areas at a depth of 0-30 cm. The samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and bulk density. There were significant differences between enclosure and openly grazed areas in soil organic carbon and …

Soil Carbon Stocks Are Stable Under New Zealand Hill Country Pastures With Contrasting Phosphorus And Sheep Stocking Regimes, Ronaldo Vibart, Alec D. Mackay, C. Mckenzie, Brian Devantier, Des A. Costall, E. Noakes, F. Bilotto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A temporal and spatial assessment is required to quantify the effects of nutrient inputs and varying grazing management regimes on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under grazed pastures in complex landscapes. We examined SOC stocks under permanent pastures in three farmlets under a range of different annual phosphorus (P) fertiliser and associated sheep stocking regimes. The farmlets examined had either no annual P applied (NF), 125 kg single superphosphate (SSP) ha^-1 (LF), or 375 kg SSP ha^-1 (HF) on an annual basis since 1980. Soils were sampled to three depths (0-75, 75-150, 150-300 mm) in 2003 and 2020, …

Influence Of Seasonality And Agricultural Practices On Soil Microbes In Kamishihoro, Japan, Y. Madegwa, Y. Uchida

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Soil microbes are important for maintenance of soil fertility and ecosystem functions. Agricultural practices such as land use, seasonality and fertilizer application effect the soil microbial community structure. However, the effect of these management practices on soil microbes and related functions, especially in one specific region, is still not clear.

Therefore, the study was conducted in Kamishihoro, Japan, to determine effect of land use (cropland, grassland), season (summer, spring) and fertilizer (anaerobic digestate, control) on soil microbial community and functions. Experimental procedure included DNA extraction, quantification, purification, amplification of 16SrRNA (bacterial gene) and Next Generation Sequencing (Ion PGM). Data analysis …

Hydraulic Responses Of Shrubs And Grasses To Fire Frequency And Drought In A Tallgrass Prairie Experiencing Bush Encroachment, K. O’Keefe, R. Keen, E. Tooley, S. Bachle, J. B. Nippert, K. Mcculloh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The increase in abundance and density of woody plants in herbaceous ecosystems (i.e. bush encroachment) is occurring globally and is driven by reduced fire frequency, climate change, and the utilization of deeper, more reliable soil water by woody plants. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the physiological processes through which woody and herbaceous plants use water will provide greater insight into the mechanisms of bush encroachment, as well as the trajectory of encroachment in a changing climate. Our objective was to assess how experimental changes in water availability and fire frequency impact belowground water-use traits in Cornus drummondii, the primary …

Fighting Wildfire With Prescribed Fire In The Southern Great Plains, Usa: Liability, Regulatory And Social Factors, Urs P. Kreuter, M. L. Treadwell, C. L. Wonkka, D. Toledo, D. L. Stroman, D. Twidwell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Elevated fuel loads together with hotter and drier climatic conditions are expected to produce more frequent catastrophic wildfires in rangelands. This has led to calls for more prescribed fire to reduce fuel loads. However, perceptions that prescribed fire presents substantial legal liability risks hinder its use by landowners. Here we present research findings about the perceptions of landowners, county commissioners and district court judges regarding prescribed fire in the Southern Great Plains. The extent of liability incorporated in legal statutes pertaining to prescribed fire can affect the use of this land management tool, and the enactment of burn bans by …

Pre- And Post-Degradation Management Of Rangelands: Implications For Sustainable Management, S. K. Tuffa, A. C. Treydte

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangeland degradation directly affects livestock production, resulting in food insecurity and ecological instability. A shift in vegetation from grass to woody plants has severely affected cattle production in Ethiopian rangelands. Those grass species that are perceived by the pastoralists as highly palatable and desirable are currently decreasing in both quality and quantity. A reason for this decline has been claimed to be degradation owing to overgrazing and climate change. While appropriate management of livestock density in rangelands is essential for sustainable production and grassland ecosystem health, the management of dryland ecosystems is mired in controversy due to the complexity of …

Indian Forage Scenario – Region Wise Availability And Deficit, A. K. Roy, Rajiv K. Agrawal, N. R. Bhardwaj, Asim Kumar Misra, S. K. Mahanta

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In India, rapid urbanisation, changing food habit and higher purchasing power have increased the demand for animal based food products.Proper feeding strategies using green nutritious fodderis key to increase livestock production and productivity in economical and sustainable way.Three major sources of fodder are crop residues, cultivated fodder from arable land (irrigated and rainfed) and fodder from common property resources like forests, permanent pastures, grazing lands, cultivated wasteland, fallow lands etc.

Based on the livestock census, we estimated the green and dry fodder availability vis-a-vis demand and emerging deficit/surplus situation. The state wise livestock population for Cattle, Buffaloes, Goat, Sheep, Yak …

Grólind – Sustainable Land Use Based On Ecological Knowledge, B. Marteinsdóttir, E. F. Þórarinsdóttir, G. Halldórsson, J. H. Stefánsson, J. Þórsson, K. Svavarsdóttir, R. Finnsdóttir, S. Jónsdóttir

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The highlands of Iceland play an important role as summer rangelands for sheep. Large areas are badly degraded and the sustainability of this practice has been questioned. To achieve sustainable land management it is necessary both to obtain data on ecosystem changes over time and to ensure that the results are used by land users and policy makers in their management plans.

Currently, the first long-term national vegetation and soil monitoring programme (GróLind) is being developed in Iceland. The programme is based on an agreement between the Icelandic National Associations of Sheep Farmers, the Farmers Association of Iceland, Ministry of …

Grasses And Ruminants That Will Help Save Space Ship Earth, A. M. Craig, L. L. Blythe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

For the last twenty years, it has been known that grasses are capable of extracting toxins from the soil. More recently, it has been shown that microorganisms from ruminants, especially sheep, can biodegrade certain toxins in plants and soil, including munition residues. The combination of these two processes act as an agricultural means to clear toxins and munitions from land has been termed Phyto-Ruminal-Bioremediation by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as illustrated in the discussion below. As an example, plants containing toxins such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids can be cleared from pastures using sheep and their ruminant microorganisms. Use …

Mongolian Rangelands Have A Great Potential For Natural Recovery, Bulgamaa Densambuu, Sumjidmaa Sainnemekh, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Budbaatar Ulambayar, Burmaa Dashbal, Erdenetsetseg Baasandai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Mongolians are aware that rangeland degradation is accelerating due to the combination of unsustainable use and drought events, but the natural recovery of degraded rangeland and timelines for recovery are less well studied. In this paper, we describe the use of “recovery class” concepts in rangeland classification that are being used to evaluate rangeland condition and management impacts across Mongolia. Recovery classes are analogous to degradation classes already used in Mongolia, but are based on ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and provide information about expected recovery rates based on quantitative measurements. While the degradation levels communicate the severity of plant community …

Livestock Corridors Working As Pollinator Refuges And Dispersal Hotspots: Lessons From Spain, P. Manzano, A. García-Fernández, J. Seoane, F. M. Azcárate, J. M. Iriondo, B. Peco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem productivity mediated by direct human impact. Its consequences include genetic depauperation, comprising phenomena such as inbreeding depression or reduction in genetic diversity. While the capacity of wild and domestic herbivores to sustain long-distance seed dispersal has been proven, the impact of herbivore corridors in plant population genetics has not been observed previously.

We conducted this study in the Conquense Drove Road in Spain, where sustained use by livestock over centuries has involved transhumant herds passing twice a year en route to winter and summer pastures. We compared …

Choosy Grazers And Plant Communities – Interactions Between Cattle Breeds And Vegetation In Semi-Natural Pastures, C. M. Pauler, Johannes Isselstein, J. Berard, T. Braunbeck, M. K. Schneider

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

It is well recognized that domesticated and wild ruminant grazers have an important impact on the composition of grassland vegetation, mainly by forage selection, trampling and defaecation. However, little is known on the effects of genetic diversity, for example differences among breeds of cattle. Cattle breeds differ in terms of robustness, growth rate, weight and probably also in movement and forage selection behaviour, which all could impact vegetation composition. Our study therefore aimed at identifying breed-specific differences in forage selection and behaviour and its consequences for vegetation. In a controlled experiment on semi-natural pastures in the Swiss Alps, suckler cows …

Germinable Soil Seed Bank Of Bothriochloa Macra Dominated Pasture In South-Eastern Australia, M. L. Mitchell, J. M. Virgona, A. Durling, F. W. Dempsey

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In native pastures, soil seed banks play an important role in conserving the genetic material in a plant population, influencing community structure and providing protection against adverse climatic conditions. One important native grass is Bothrichloa macra (Steud.) S.T.Blake (Red grass, Red-leg grass). This grass is a C₄ indigenous perennial grass that is commonly found in native pastures in the high rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia.

At Tarrawingee, NE Victoria, (36°25´S, 146°31´E) and Wymah, southern NSW, (35°58´S, 147°11´E), Australia, two sites that had Bothriochloa macra as the dominant native grass were sampled. Three hundred cores (50 mm diameter and 50 …

Carbon And Nitrogen Pools In Soil Aggregates Were Affected By Grazing Component ---- Results From Dry And Wet Sieving Methods, N. Liu, Y. Q. Wei, Y. Pang, B. Wei, Y. J. Zhang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing intensity can affect soil carbon (C) sequestration in semiarid grassland, but less is known about the effects of grazing component (defoliation, trampling, excreta return and their combinations) on the C and Nitrogen (N) in soil aggregates. In this study, a simulated grazing experiment was established in a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, and we investigated the impacts of different grazing component treatments on the different size of aggregates distribution and their C and N content from dry and wet physical separations. Different soil C fractions were showed in different sieving method. The C content of different aggregate size showed …

Rangeland Rehydration: Collaboration Between Land Managers, Government And Private Experts, P. Theakston, H. J. R. Pringle, L. Mashford

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the rangelands of New South Wales, Australia, many successful soil erosion control techniques have been developed. These techniques have been implemented by the Western Local Land Services (WLLS), rehabilitating 23,000 ha since 2004. However the focus was on degraded land with little regard to catchment dynamics and the threatening processes that were causing the degradation.

With the introduction of Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU)™ in 2016, the focus was broadened to address grazing properties in a drainage ecosystem context. There is a focus on understanding landscape function and designing projects that address threatening processes.

With the integration of the WLLS …

Plant Root Mass Fraction Response To Soil Resource Limitation In The Context Of Dry Mediterranean Rangeland, Guy Dovrat

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Root mass fraction (RMF) was proposed as a stable measurement of plant resource partitioning that can represent plant acquisition–conservation trade‐offs. We examined the effects of soil resources availability on RMF of abundant annual plant species of water-limited rangeland. We used data from controlled experiments in which nine species were grown under variable water and nitrogen availabilities and their root and shoot biomass were examined at flowering time. In legumes we examined also presence of N₂-fixation. In all of the species, reduced water and/or nitrogen availability was associated with increased RMF. However, the magnitude of variation in RMF found …