Agricultural Science Commons^™

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 …

Evaluation Of Microbial Biomass In Agroforestry Systems Using Forage Cactus And Leucaena Leucocephala And Gliricidia Sepium, Dayanne Camelo, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Mario De Andrade Lira Jr., Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, Diana Valadares Pessoa, Erick Santos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Vegetation type can affect soil microbiology in agroforestry systems. Plants release different organic exudates in the rhizosphere, affecting microbial growth. This study evaluated the effect of forage cactus intercropped with different tree legumes on soil microbial biomass. The research was performed in a tropical semiarid Regosol at Caruaru Experimental Station, Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Treatments included: i) Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud and forage cactus IPA-Sertânia (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck); and ii) Leucaena leucocephala [Lam.] de Wit.) and forage cactus IPA-Sertânia. Treatments were allocated in a randomized complete block design in a split-split-plot scheme, with four replications. Main …

Elephants Mitigate The Effects Of Cattle On Wildlife And Other Ecosystem Traits: Experimental Evidence, Truman P. Young, Duncan N. Kimuyu, Kari E. Veblen, Corinna Riginos, Judith Sitters, Lauren Porensky, Wilfred O. Odadi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

On rangelands worldwide, cattle interact with many ecosystem components, most obviously with soils, plants, and other large herbivores. Since 1995, we have been manipulating the presence of cattle, mesoherbivores, and megaherbivores (elephants and giraffes) in a series of eighteen 4-ha (10-acre) plots at the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment. We have demonstrated a wide array of cattle effects on this savanna rangeland, including their reduction of grass cover, wildlife use, and soil nitrogen and phosphorus pools, but their increase of primary productivity and termite abundance. Strikingly, we demonstrate that the presence of mega-herbivores (elephants, mainly) reduces the sizes of these cattle. …

Practice Cost And Size Differences In Invasive Plant Management Strategies: An Empirical Analysis Of Us Great Plains States, Mazbahul G. Ahamad

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Grassland conservation of the Conservation Stewardship Program in the United States (US) is one of the largest cost-sharing initiatives for protecting grazing land from invasive and woody plants. The practice cost and unit size of various invasive and woody plant management strategies, such as mulching, brush management, and pre- scribed burning, are different from state to state. We aimed to compare and examine the association between practice cost ($/acre[ac]) and standard unit size of practice (acre) of mulching, brush management, and pre- scribed burning strategies in nine US Great Plains states, including Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, …

Charcoal Value Chain As A Complimentary Livelihood Activity For Pastoralists In The Rangelands, S. Teyie, Oliver Vivian Wasonga, C. Bergmann, M. Petersen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Global charcoal production has more than tripled over the past 50 years from 17.3 million tons in 1964 to 53.1 million tons in 2014. 61% of the present global charcoal production occurs in Africa, mostly to satisfy demand for cooking fuel from urban and peri-urban households. Despite the adverse environmental impacts associated with charcoal production, a significant global population relies on it for energy needs, while many producers depend on it as a livelihood source. Whereas this calls for efforts to promote sustainable charcoal production practices, this has to be informed by in-depth understanding of the charcoal value chain to …

Nutritive Evaluation Of Mulberry Leaves Based Apple Pomace Silage, Ngahanyui Kengoo, Rohit Bishist

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of mulberry leaves based apple pomace silage in Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. In the study, the silage was prepared by mixing of maize, apple pomace (AP) and mulberry leaves in ratios of 80:10:10 (T1), 70:20:10(T2) and 60:30:10 (T3), and mixing of apple pomace with wheat straw in the ratio of 85:15(T4), and the silage prepared by using 100 per cent chopped maize was taken as control. Silage bags were opened after a period of three months and the proportionate samples …

Dairy Cattle Genetics By Environment Interaction Mismatch Contributes To Poor Mitigation And Adaptation Of Grazing Systems To Climate Change Actions In The Peruvian High Andes: A Review, V. M. Velez Marroquin, J. Manhire, R. Garcia Ticllacuri, J. L. Bernal Madrid, C. S. Pinares-Patino

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The high Andes of Peru includes fragile ecosystems. Nevertheless, it plays important ecosystem functions (e.g., biodiversity, water supply for the lowlands, CO₂ sinks in soil, etc). More than 80% of the livestock population of Peru is farmed in this area, supporting the livelihood of approximately 1’400,000 poor families, who are vulnerable to climate change (CC). Climate change in the high Andes is occurring at accelerated rates, compared to lowlands regions. Prevalent factors in the high Andes, such as hypoxia, high UV radiation, climatic extremes, large variation between maximum and minimum temperatures, seasonality in rainfall (determining highly seasonal forage growth) …

Exploring The Variation In Spatial Landscape Utilisation By Cows In The Pre- And Post-Partum Period Using Gnss Technology, A Z. Chang, M. G. Trotter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

On-animal sensors refer to systems that monitor the location, behaviour, or physiological characteristics of livestock. These technologies provide a method to overcome many of the challenges that are associated with monitoring livestock within an extensive grazing system. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) could be used to detect the changes in spatial utilisation associated with when a cow has a calf at foot. In this study, forty pregnant Belmont Red heifers were fitted with GNSS collars programmed to provide a location reading at 5 minute intervals. The data was cleaned and mapped in ArcGIS to identify changes in paddock area …

Sustainable Intensification Of Livestock Systems Using Forage Legumes, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Lynn E. Sollenberger

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Global human population is increasing and expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. Sustainable intensification (SI) of agricultural systems is key to increase food production while minimizing impact on global natural resources. Forage legumes provide a myriad of ecosystem services (ES) and represent an important tool for promoting SI in livestock systems. Forage legumes associate with soil microorganisms to reduce atmospheric N₂. This N input represents a valuable contribution to increase net primary productivity with reduced C footprint. In addition, forage nutritive value generally increases, resulting in greater animal performance. When forage legumes are integrated into livestock …

The Optimum Grazing Time Based On Milk Fatty Acids And Yield For Holstein Lactating Cows Through Eco-Pastoral System In Alpine Grassland, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, C. H. Kim, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to detect the optimum grazing time based on milk fatty acids and yield for the Holstein cow (Bos taurus) through eco-pastoral system in Korean alpine grassland. The treatment of grazing time was 3 levels: Non-grazing, Half-day grazing, Full-day grazing. First, the difference of milk fatty acids (saturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid, Total ω-3, etc.) and milk yield was checked by grazing time via ANOVA. Second, various measurements of milk fatty acids were reduced to principal components for effective and obvious detecting the variation as a grazing time. Final, the variations of milk fatty acid …

Prospects Of Cattle Farming In An Era Of Land Degradation-Perceptions Of The Farmers In The Okakarara Communal Area, Namibia, H. T. N. Heita, D. Gunner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock farming plays an important role in many rural people s’ livelihoods around the globe. The sector is, however, faced with numerous challenges, particularly land degradation. Namibia, one of the driest countries in the world, is no exception to land degradation challenges, mostly among communal rangeland areas. Several studies and interventions on land degradation have been conducted in the country, however, with limited or no information on farmers' perceptions. Although land degradation may be a physical process, understanding its causes, process, indicators, and effects from the own users’ is indispensable. Here, we assessed farmers' perception in the eastern part of …

Effects Of Seasonal Rest Grazing And Diet Selection Of Sheep On Pasture Composition In Bromus Inermis Improved Meadow Steppe, H. Zhang, Y. J. Zhang, N. Liu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To develop sustainable grazing management systems based on highly-productive dominant species, it is critical to maintain pasture growth and prevent land degradation on meadow steppe. A field study was performed to identify the impact of seasonal rest grazing on diet selection of sheep and pasture composition in Bromus inermis improved meadow steppe from 2015 to 2017 in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. Three seasonal rest grazing strategies were conducted: R1 included a spring rest from June 15 to July 15, R2 a summer rest from July 15 to August 15 and R3 an autumn rest from August 15 to September 15. …

The Effect Of Hay Supplementation On Performance Of Grazing Alpaca In The Peruvian Andes, M. Enciso, C. Gómez, C. Osorio

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Productivity of alpaca grazing rangelands in the Andes is often limited by the low availability and quality of those pastures during the dry season of the year. The use as supplements of forages cultivated during the rainy season in appropriate areas in the Andes may be a strategy to improve performance of alpacas. Therefore, the supplementation of oat-vetch pellets or oat hay was evaluated and compared with a control group without supplementation. Sixty three female alpacas (15 months of age, 34 ± 1.0 kg BW), divided in three groups, grazing range pastures (6.1% crude protein and 61.3% NDF) during dry …

Non-Escaping Frost Tolerant Qtl Linked Genetic Loci At Reproductive Stage In Six Wheat Dh Populations, Jingjuan Zhang, Md Shahidul Islam, Yun Zhao, Masood Anwar, Zaid Alhabbar, Maoyun She, Rongchang Yang, Angela Juhasz, Guixiang Tang, Jiansheng Cheng, Darshan L. Sharma, Nathan Height, Ben Biddulph, Hang Liu, Yanjie Jiang, Shengnan Zhai, Xin Hu, Junkang Rong, Yingquan Zhang, Yebo Qin, Qier Liu, Zitong Yu, Yujuan Zhang, Sadegh Balotf, Mirza Dowla, Sonia Afrin, Nandita Roy, Md Resad Mallik, Md Atik Us Saieed, Shanjida Rahman, Nigarin Sultana, Sarah Al-Sheikh Ahmed, Chris Florides, Kefei Chen, Meigin Lu, Jorge E. Mayer, Wujun Ma

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Reproductive stage frost poses a major constraint for wheat production in countries such as Australia. However, little progress has been made in identifying key genes to overcome the constraint. In the present study, a severe frost event hit two large-scale field trials consisting of six doubled haploid (DH) wheat populations at reproductive stage (young microspore stage) in Western Australia, leading to the identification of 30 robust frost QTL on 17 chromosomes. The major 18 QTL with the phenotype variation over 9.5% were located on 13 chromosomes including 2A, 2B, 2D, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5A, 5D, 6D, 7A, 7B and …

Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2021, F. Bourland, A. Beach, B. Milano, C. Kennedy, L. Martin, B. Robertson

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant. These annual evaluations will then facilitate the inclusion of new, improved genetic material in Arkansas cotton production. Adaptation of varieties is determined by evaluating the lines at five University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture research sites (Manila, Keiser, Judd Hill, Marianna, and Rohwer). The 2021 tests at Rohwer were abandoned due …

Assessment Of The 2006 Abuja Fertilizer Declaration With Emphasis On Nitrogen Use Efficiency To Reduce Yield Gaps In Maize Production, Ntinyari Winnie, Mekonnen Giweta, Joseph Gweyi-Onyango, Benson Mochoge, James Mutegi, Generose Nziguheba, Cargele Masso

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The Abuja Fertilizer Declaration in 2006 recommended the increase of fertilizer use from the current practice for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to achieve food sufficiency and improve soil fertility status. However, the current recommended rates of fertilizer have not been evaluated for specific crops on their potential to reduce the yield gap and optimize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In this study, with nitrogen (N) being a significant yield-determinant nutrient, four N use scenarios were drawn from existing recommendations and were evaluated under field conditions for maize crops in two catchments of the Lake Victoria basin. The scenarios included Business as Usual …

Do The Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), And The Maize Lepidopteran Stemborers Compete When Sharing The Same Food?, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Peter Malusi, Sevgan Subramanian, Dora Chao Kilalo, Gerald Juma, Paul André Calatayud

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In insect communities, the outcome of intra- and inter-specific competitions for food utilisation depend primarily upon density and duration even inter-specific competitions can occur when they are not sharing the same feeding niche such as between foliar feeders and stemborers. Experimental manipulations of larval densities and the durations of common diet feeding of fall armyworm (FAW), S. frugiperda, and the African lepidopteran stemborers, Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis and Chilo partellus, were conducted to determine how the density and the duration of resource utilization affected larval survival and the relative growth rate (RGR) in intra- and inter-specific interactions. The results showed …

Understanding Changes In Cassava Root Dry Matter Yield By Different Planting Dates, Crop Ages At Harvest, Fertilizer Application And Varieties, Rebecca Oiza Enesi, Stefan Hauser, Pieter Pypers, Christine Kreye, Meklit Tariku, Johan Six

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Cassava is a perennial crop that can adapt to periods of drought at different times in a growing season, which permits scheduling planting and harvest to develop production systems supplying roots continuously. However, farmers plant and harvest cassava at the onset of rains which creates glut and results in unattractive root prices. Thus, farmers need to understand how cassava varieties respond to different planting dates and crop ages at harvest to be able to use opportunities in income generation that may arise from flexible planting and harvest dates resulting from price and dry matter (DM) variabilities. Thus, this study was …

Perceptions On Governance For Effective Adaptation To Climate Change Within Community-Based Wildlife Conservancies In Kenya, S. Kibet, Oliver Vivian Wasonga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Community-based wildlife conservancies (CBC) represent a broad spectrum of new management arrangements and benefit sharing partnerships in natural resource management by none state agents, but who, by virtue of their collective location and activities, are critically placed to shape the present and future status of these resources. This approach of wildlife management is increasingly gaining popularity as an option for achieving sustainable co-existence and complementarity between wildlife conservation and livestock production in the drylands of Kenya. Despite difference in ownership and governance structure in place, all conservancies have instituted new rules of control and access. This study sought to understand …

The Cleaned Approach For Flagging And Addressing Environmental Issues, A. Notenbaert, B. Paul, R. Van Der Hoek, J. Mukiri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While livestock presents an important livelihood strategy for many smallholders, it is also held responsible for important environmental impacts. In this paper, we used an online survey to identify the perceptions of global livestock experts on environmental impacts of livestock and how these might be tackled. We then explored how the CLEANED environmental ex-ante assessment tool (Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for improved Nutrition, a secured Environment and sustainable Development = CLEANED) responds to this and how it can be used to influence decision making towards more environmentally-friendly livestock production.

According to the survey, there was general agreement between researchers, development …

Survey Of The Farm Management, Focusing On The Regional Difference And Cattle Farming In Burkina Faso, H. Kumagai, T. Kawashima, A. Sienou, F. Nagumo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Burkina Faso the history using of cattle as draft power for cultivation is not long. This study was conducted to investigate the farm management, focusing on the regional difference and the presence of cattle farming in the country. Interview was carried out on 30 farms from B Province in the Centre-West Region consisting of 8 non-cattle owners (BNs) and 22 cattle owners (BCs), and on 9 farms of cattle owners from H Province in the Haut-Bassins Region (HCs) in November 2013. The average household sizes of BNs, BCs and HCs were 16.5, 27.2 and 31.3, respectively. The ratios of …

Sowing Date Affects Dry Matter Yield Of Fodder Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) Crops And Farm Profitability, Edith N. Khaembah, John M. De Ruiter, S. Maley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a high yielding and high energy supplementary ruminant feed. Including the crop in a pasture system means loss in production and additional costs during crop establishment, but economic benefits may be recovered with increased seasonal productivity and feed quality. In this study, the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator was used to estimate herbage production of a typical dairy farm in the Canterbury region of New Zealand based on using a ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture (“Pasture only”) or pasture in combination with fodder beet …

Real-World Applications For Virtual Fences – What Are Potential Benefits For Conservation?, F. Riesch, M. Komainda, J. Horn, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock grazing can enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. In many parts of Europe, however, grazing has lost its importance, especially in the dairy sector. Large proportions of permanent grassland have been converted to arable land or intensified by fertilization and frequent defoliation. The disappearance of large herbivores and extensively grazed pastures contributes to the loss of structural, functional and biological diversity and ecosystem services. Modern technologies, which circumvent the cost- and labour-intensive installation of physical fences, could facilitate a precise spatio-temporal management of livestock and promote grazing. We reviewed the literature on the state-of-the-art of virtual fencing, …

Sahiwal Breed In Pastoral Production Systems In Kenya: Future Roles And Existing Gaps In Knowledge And Supportive Technical Logistics; A Review, Samson I. Mwangi, E. D. Ilatsia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sahiwal genetic resources is an integral part of the ASALs economy of Kenya. Sahiwal is the largest single dual purpose cattle breed kept by the pastoral communities in the ASALs where livestock products are the main drivers of food and nutrition security, and a source of income to support other household obligations. It was introduced in Kenya to upgrade the low performing small east African Zebu because of its superior productive and reproductive performance. The promising results of this upgrading programme led to the breed gaining preference over the local Zebu among the Maasai pastoralists. Despite the impressive results from …

Potential Of Croton Megalocarpus Nut As An Alternative Protein Supplement For Feeding Of Ruminants In The Tropics, E. K. Njoroge, C. C. Wambui, C. B. Wasike

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Croton megalocarous is a tree native to the arid and semi-arid rangelands of East Africa that produces nuts reported to contain high crude protein (CP). However, they are often neglected as a potential feed due to lack of information on how best to utilize them. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of four forms of croton namely whole nut (WN), peeled nut (PN), De-husked nut (DhN) and Defatted seed (DfS). DM of all forms was above 89%, ash content was highest in WN (5.9%) and least in PN (2.2%). Crude …