Agricultural Science Commons^™

Micro Mineral Concentrations Of Congo Grass As Affected By Shading And Harvesting Age, P. A. Dele, J. I. Akinyode, A. A. Eesuola, B. T. Akinyemi, F. E. Enwete, C. C. Anotaenwere, O. I. Awoola, O. L. Aiyesa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study investigated the effect of levels of artificial shading and harvesting age on four micro mineral concentrations (iron, manganese, copper and zinc) of Congo grass (Brachiaria ruzizinensis Germain & Evrard). The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four replicates, which is three levels of artificial shading (0, 30 and 60% shading) as the main plot and three harvesting age (3, 6 and 9 weeks after cutback). The grass was established in May 2017 and grazed in 2018 and 2019, but a cutback was done in May 2020 for this study …

In Vitro Digestibility And Methane Production Of Two Tropical Grasses: Plant Spacing And Grazing Frequency, F. E. Enwete, P. A. Dele, O. L. Aiyesa, O. I. Awoola, C. C. Anotaenwere, J. I. Akinyode, T. A. Amole, Olufemi S. Onifade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of plant spacing and grazing frequency on the in vitro gas production, digestibility, and methane production of Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) and Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) in the humid southwest part of Nigeria. The experiment was laid in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a split-split-plot design with three replicates, which consisted of two grazing frequency (3 and 6-week) as the main plot, two grass species: Guinea grass (M. maximus) and Elephant grass (C. purpureus) as the sub plot and …

Evaluation Of New Dwarf Elephant Grass Genotypes For Grazing, Carlos A. M. Gomide, R. B. Silva, K. G. Riberiro, F. K. S. Ledo, Domingos S. C. Paciullo, E. M. Barradas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Elephant grass stands out for its production potential, forage quality and acceptance by animals. However, its tall size makes management under grazing difficult and dwarf cultivars have been selected and evaluated to overcome this limitation. The objective was to characterize agronomic aspects of dwarf elephant grass genotypes submitted to two defoliation intensities. The experiment was installed in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with five elephant grass genotypes (2022, 1810, 2111, 2035, BRS Kurumi) and two residue heights after defoliation (25 and 45 cm). A randomized block design with three replications in 4x3m plots was used. Forage above the residue …

Molecular Approaches In The Analysis Of Red Clover Rhizobium Symbiosis, Randy D. Dinkins, L. Koch, M. L. Sullivan, H. Zhu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage and pasture legume grown throughout temperate regions. Because it can form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium, it is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Due to the high cost of nitrogen fertilizers, pasture legumes have been increasingly important in forage production settings. Red clover has not been a model legume primarily due to selfincompatibility and the associated high level of genomic heterozygosity, therefore it has not been a significant contributor in molecular or genetic studies and basic information on red clover legume/rhizobium symbiosis is lacking. Using recently annotated genomic resources, RNA-seq …

Annual Ryegrass Managed For Reseeding Purposes: Relationship Between Heading Date And Seed Production, Javier Do Canto, D. Giorello

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Annual ryegrass reestablished yearly by allowing natural reseeding is a common practice among Uruguayan farmers. Its success relies on the farmers’ ability to balance grazing and seed production during spring. We tested a set of ryegrass varieties covering a wide range of heading dates under defoliation management. Each variety was managed independently according to its phenological stage, resulting in different closing dates. We tested the varieties’ ability to produce seeds under such management, the effect of heading date on seed yield components, the resulting amount of straw and its effect on summer soil temperatures. A strong negative association between heading …

Variation In Grazing Sward Chicory Content After Periods Of Low Rainfall, Kevin Dolan, C. Hearn, D. Hennessy, R. Henriques, M. B. Lynch, Michael O’Donovan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Multispecies (MS) swards can reduce chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser requirement due to the legume components of the sward mixtures, and have the potential to increase drought tolerance, particularly where chicory (CH, Chicorium intybus L.) is included in the sward mixture. A grazed plot experiment was established to investigate the persistency of forage herb species in MS swards under typical Irish grazing conditions. The swards contained three plant functional groups: grass, legume and herb; four sward types were established which included sward mixtures of the following species: perennial ryegrass (PRG, Lolium perenne L.) white clover (WC, Trifolium repens L.), red clover …

Grass Vegetation Dynamics In Wetlands With Different Utilization, Dorai Pandian Kannan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The land-use patterns, combined with the biotic interactions, are likely to substantially affect the grass community of tropical wetlands. However, we need more information to understand the vegetation cover and, particularly, the diversity of grasses in the protected sites, where the naturally occurring interactions with extreme complexity. Hence a thorough understanding of these interactive effects on grass dynamics would help develop wildlife management guidelines to predict the grass-woody herbs and other associated vegetation. In light of this, a beta vegetation survey and diversity analysis in two varying wetland ecosystems of natural mountain streams and temporary ponds. Grass communities occurred along …

Weed Management Affects Pasture Productivity And Animal Performance, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., I. L. Brêtas, L. M. D. Queiroz, H. A. Koury

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Weed can be defined as any plant growing in undesirable locations. Weeds are considered one of the main challenges in agricultural fields. Weeds affect pasture productivity mainly because of the competition for limited resources such as nutrients, water, and light with forage plants. Weeds encroach pastures spontaneously and spread quickly through the farm and neighboring areas, making their control difficult. In addition, weeds can affect forage nutritive value, grazing behaviour, voluntary forage intake, animal health, and consequently animal performance. The low efficiency of mechanical weeding and the global concern about indiscriminate use of herbicides impose challenges for producers in grazing …

Improving Forage Production Practices Of Livestock And Hay Producers, S. Dyer, L. Baxter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

By the year 2060, the U.S. population is expected to reach 417 million, up from 319 million in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Following historical trends, the U.S. continues to produce more food with a decreasing amount of land. This is possible because of continuous research and innovation of advanced agricultural technologies. Educating farmers of agricultural best practices and the newest resources available to them to improve their operation is vital to improving overall agricultural production. To improve livestock forage and hay production practices, Dade Extension conducted a monthly forage management series. The series covered an entire year …

Seasonal Performance Of White Clover In Mixed-Sward Grazing Pasture Highlights Genotype By Environment Interaction, O. Grace Ehoche, Sai Krishna Arojju, Greig Cousins, Jessica O'Connor, Brian Maw, Jennifer A. Tate, Peter J. Lockhart, Mohamed Z. Z. Jahufer, Andrew G. Griffiths

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White clover is an important forage crop because of its nutritional value, ability to provide plantavailable nitrogen via symbiosis with Rhizobium soil bacteria, and year-round availability of dry matter (DM) yield. However, its performance in mixed sward-based pastures is characterised by seasonal variability and declining DM yield over time. The identification of white clover genotypes adapted for across seasonal performance is an important goal in white clover breeding. In this study, we evaluated the seasonal performance of 200 white clover half-sib families using visual growth scores and calibrated dry matter yield based on growth scores measured for three years in …

History And Theory Of Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis (Nirs), Arnold J. Eilert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an analytical technique has evolved greatly since it was first demonstrated to be a viable method of obtaining molecular compositional information from the “scanning” of a sample. Potential applications of the technology envisioned by early pioneers in the field have been realized or exceeded time after time, and it has now become a very broadly applied means of instrumental analysis. It is worth recalling the historical progression of the technology and the fact that the earliest applications were developed to meet the challenges of agricultural product analysis. In particular, forage analysis is …

Do Grass And Legume Vitamin Contents Change During Extended Growth In Spring?, A. Elgersma, Karen Søegaard, S. K. Jensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage vitamins affect performance of grazing and grass-fed cattle. In silages, knowledge of vitamin contents in herbage is desired to balance supplements in indoor feeding rations. This is of particular interest in organic farming systems. Information on companion species effects in grass-legume mixtures on changes during prolonged growth is scarce, while this is relevant in view of delayed harvests that frequently occur in practice. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was sown with either red clover (Trifolium repens), white clover (Trifolium pratense), lucerne (Medicago sativa) or birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and white …

Assessing The Nutrient Status Of Alfalfa Stands In Kentucky, William R. Fleming, Christopher D. Teutsch, Edwin L. Ritchey, John H. Grove

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage legume and is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Forages” due to its high nutritional value. Alfalfa is commonly produced as hay for use in the dairy and equine industries. Alfalfa yield increased exponentially from the 1950s to the1980s due to new breeding and management innovations. However, during the 1980s yields plateaued at around 7.5 Mg/ha and remain there today. The overarching goal of this study was to determine the role of soil fertility in the observed yield plateau. Fifty alfalfa stands in Kentucky were sampled to gather information about …

Prospects For Improving Alfalfa Yield Using Genomic- And Phenomic-Based Breeding, M. W. Francis, D. Pap, A. Krill-Brown, E. C. Brummer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial outcrossing legume that is cultivated as an important forage crop in many parts of the world. Yield is the most important trait for profitable alfalfa production, yet over the last 30 years yield improvement in California has stagnated. Current breeding methods focus on recurrent phenotypic selection; however, alternatives incorporating genomic- and phenomic-based information may enhance genetic gain and help to address the lack of yield improvement. Here we attempt to increase the yield potential of alfalfa using genomic selection (GS) in combination with high throughput phenotyping (HTP). A total of 193 families …

Morphogenesis Of Marandu Brachiaria Under Different Nitrogen Rates In The Brazilian Savannah, V. L. Banys, I. I. Silva, L. V. D. Ribeiro, M. S. Soares, T. P. Evangelista

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen fertilization contributes to grass growth and, for this reason, the objective was to evaluate the morphogenic characteristics of Urochloa brizantha cultivar Marandu subjected to different nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N.ha^-1) in the Brazilian savannah through the variables number of leaves.tiller^-1, leaf growth, leaf average size, senescent leaf.tiller^-1 number and stem+pseudostem average size. The experiment was established in the Forage and Pastures Sector of Jatai Federal University (UFJ) and, after the soil correction and fertilization, the Marandu grass plots were installed in a randomized blocks experimental design, with four treatments and …

Use Of Limpograss As An Alternative Feed During The Fall Forage Gap In Beef And Dairy Systems In Central And North Florida, L. Garcia, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Marcelo O. Wallau, J. D. Pereira-Neto, M. A. Bernardini, M. Ruiz-Moreno

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In central and North Florida, the use of limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & C. E. Hubb.] for beef and dairy operations is limited and its potential use is not well documented. Two on-farm projects have been conducted in Central and North Florida to explore the use of limpograss as an alternative conserved forage during late fall and winter. The potential use of this forage as baleage for dairy farmers and as stockpiling for livestock producers would offer another alternative to reduce feed costs and fill the forage gap in the area when typical warm-season forages go dormant. In …

Ohio Pastures For Profit Online, C. Gelley, E. Lyon, D. Bender, S. Boyles, M. Estadt, C. Finney, A. Gahler, J. Hartschuh, B. Hendershot, A. Holden, C. Jagger, D. Lima, C. Little, J. Morris, C. D. Penrose, R. Purdin, G. Ruff, M. Sulc, C. Turner, G. Wilson, B. Campbell, M. Joyce, T. G. Wiseman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Pastures for Profit program is an established course created through a collaboration between Ohio State University Extension, Central State University, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council. In 2021, due to COVID-19, the Pastures for Profit curriculum was adapted to a virtual classroom setting and was offered again in 2022. The virtual experience consisted of three live webinars pairing with corresponding modules in Scarlet Canvas. Enrolled students were also mailed traditional course materials for personal use. Module content was newly developed and compiled …

Development Of Seed Production Of Important Grass And Legume Species In Poland In Relation To The European Market, Barbara Golińska, Piotr Goliński

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An analysis was carried out on the status of seed production of most important grass and legume species in Poland in terms of the area of seed crops and their seed yield on the background of the European market. Particular attention in the analysis was paid to the dominant species in the reproductive area of varieties of forage and turfgrasses and small-seeded legumes in Poland and in Europe, i.e. Lolium perenne L., Lolium multiflorum Lam., Festuca rubra L. and Trifolium pratense L. For analysis the ESCAA and Polish Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection data from 2004‒2021 were …

Effect Of Using A Prototype Aerator On The Botanical Composition And Fodder Production On Grassland With Low Soil Porosity, Piotr Goliński, Barbara Golińska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Permanent grasslands located on some organic soils can be sensitive to compaction due to the use of agricultural machinery and their natural tendency for compactness. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of using innovative own constructed aerator on sward botanical composition, dry matter yield and forage quality. The study also looked at the physical properties of the meadow soil. The research was carried out in 2018-2019 using a single-factor field experiment established on a dairy farm located in Wielkopolska region on grassland with the natural organic peat-muck soil compaction. The aerator was constructed by the farmer …

A Comparison Of Four Methods Of Botanical Analysis In Kentucky Cattle Pastures, Echo Elizabeth Gotsick, S. Ray Smith, Jimmy C. Henning, Christopher D. Teutsch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Throughout the many decades of grassland and forage research, practitioners have used many different methods to assess botanical composition. While a few of these methods have proven to be accurate and efficient, there has been limited direct comparison between methods. The objective of this study was to determine an accurate and efficient method to determine botanical composition for researchers, practitioners, and students. Six farms with two pastures each were monitored across the state of Kentucky. Sampling started fall 2020 and continued through fall 2022 with measurements taken three times a year using the following measurement techniques: step point, visual estimation, …

Inhibiting Dhurrin Biosynthesis Effects On Stocker Cattle Daily Gains, S. M. Gruss, K. D. Johnson, R. P. Lemenager, M. R. Tuinstra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate change has made resilient crops more valuable in many agricultural production systems. Sorghum is an important resilient grain and forage crop due to its high drought tolerance and ability to thrive in low-N environments. All current commercial sorghum varieties produce the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin. Cell maceration causes the conversion of dhurrin to hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which is toxic to animals. Toxicity symptoms range from labored breathing and convulsions to death within minutes. The dhurrin biosynthesis pathway was altered to inhibit dhurrin production by a mutation that inactivated CYP79A1, the first enzyme in the pathway. The dhurrin-free phenotype eliminates the …

Perennial Ryegrass ‘Virazón’, A New Cultivar For Warm Temperate Areas In Uruguay And South America., Felix Gutiérrez, Javier Do Canto, R. Reyno, C. Rossi, A. Stewart, M. Carrere, F. Nolla

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

‘Virazón’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), a grazing-type tetraploid cultivar, was developed by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) in Uruguay as a part of the Joint Venture with PGG Wrightson Seeds and Grasslands Innovation Limited and commercially available since 2021. ‘Virazón’ was developed after 6 cycles of selection from crosses with cultivar Horizon from New Zealand based on climate adaptation, dry matter production, vigor, rust resistance, seed yield, and persistence under Uruguayan conditions. The aim was to obtain a perennial ryegrass with 3 years of consistent production. ‘Virazón’ was evaluated in forage yield trials in comparison with …

Short-Term Effect Of Forage Grasses On Carbon Sustainability, Fodder Security, And Soil Properties In Poor Soils Of Semi-Arid India, H. M. Halli, P. Govindasamy, M. Choudhary, R. Srinivasan, M. Prasad, Vinod K. Wasnik, Vijay Kumar Yadav, A. K. Singh, S. Kumar, D. Vijay

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasses are essential sources of fodder for livestock and provide options for climate resilience due to their broad range of adoption. They are also valuable resources for soil quality enhancement. Therefore, a six-year field study using nine grasses (2013 to 2019) was initiated in a semi-arid region of central India. The study aimed to assess the short-term impact of these nine grasses on soil carbon stock, selected soil physiochemical and biological properties, and green fodder yield. Results (after six years) revealed that a greater carbon stock (7.0 and 7.2 Mg ha^–1), carbon sustainability index (71.6 and 89.3), and …

Improvement In The Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Uptake Of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne) Caused By The Epichloë Fungal Endophyte Ar37, M. A. Harmer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The forage yield and pasture persistence benefits of Epichloë fungal endophyte strain AR37 (AR37) in high rainfall perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pastures in Australia and New Zealand are recognised. However, the effect of beneficial endophytes on nitrogen (N) use efficiency, yield response to applied N and N uptake had not been determined.

To investigate this, a replicated trial was managed for three years under irrigation in southern Australia. Five N application rates (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg N/ha) were applied every second harvest to a tetraploid perennial ryegrass variety with and without AR37. Ryegrass biomass was …

Improving Frost Seeding Accuracy With An Entry Level Gps Unit, B. L. Hendrix, Christopher D. Teutsch, J. Jackson, C. Raymond

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Guidance utilizing GPS has long been used for various operations in row crop agriculture. However, the high cost of these systems has limited their use in low-input forage and livestock operations. Reduced prices and the availability of used guidance systems have the potential to increase the use of precision agriculture in pastoral settings. In the past, frost seeding often resulted in areas that received no seed and areas that were double seeded. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of using a guidance system on the uniformity of seed dispersal. This study was conducted at the University …

Application Of Fall Nitrogen Increased Spring Tall Fescue Yield, B. L. Hendrix, Christopher D. Teutsch, J. Duckworth

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Late season nitrogen fertilization is a practice that has long been implemented in turfgrass production. This practice involves applying nitrogen from September through December and results in an extended green period in the fall without stimulating excessive shoot growth. The longer green period results in higher levels of carbohydrate reserves and enhanced root growth compared with a spring-summer fertilization program. In addition to these benefits, sods fertilized in late fall have been shown to green up two to six weeks earlier in the spring. Limited research has considered the impact of late fall nitrogen applications on grass growth in hayfields …

Looking At Cell Wall Components With Our Customers In Mind, D. J. Heuschele, Z. Xu, J. F. S. Lamb, H. J. Jung, D. A. Samac

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fiber digestibility of alfalfa for animal nutrition is a complex system encapsulating animal, plant, and microbe biological traits. Understanding all components within the system is key to predicting forage quality. We investigated the relationship between alfalfa cell wall components and invitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD) speed (16-hr) and potential (96-hr) of by cattle ruminant microbes. A composite alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) population from seven commercial cultivars underwent two cycles of bidirectional selection for plants with low or high stem 16-hr IVNDFD and low or high stem 96-hr IVNDFD. The resulting selected populations were then evaluated by near inferred spectrometry …

Using A Radiometric Method To Determine The Silage Density In Bunker Silos, Thomas Hoffmann, Andree Jacobs

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Certain minimum densities should be targeted when storing silage in bunker silos. Often the minimum density is not reached. As a result, high losses can occur. This study aims to develop a measuring device for online density measurement. The basis of the measuring device is a source of caesium radiation with an activity of 37 MBq and a sodium iodide scintillation detector. The measuring device uses the backscattering method. Source and detector are arranged in a measuring wheel, which is connected with the tractor via the rear three-point linkage. Both, the current density as well as the density increase in …

Effects Of Intrinsic Tannins On Metabolome During Sainfoin Ensiling, Rongzheng Huang, Chunhui Ma, Fanfan Zhang, Xuzhe Wang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Condensed tannins (CT) from sainfoin have a high capacity to inhibit proteolysis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of CT (following supplementation of deactivated CT with polyethylene glycol [PEG]) on the metabolome during sainfoin ensiling. In total, 510 metabolites were identified after 60 d of sainfoin ensiling, with 33 metabolites were annotated in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Among those metabolites, phospholipids were the most abundant (72.7% of total 33 metabolites). In addition, 10 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated metabolites, respectively, were identified in the PEG treated group when compared with the …

Stability And Purity Of Epichloë Endophyte Infection In New Zealand Ryegrass Pastures, David E. Hume, Grant M. Rennie, W. Mcg. King, A. L. Taylor, Marty J. Faville, D. Luo, Katherine N. Tozer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in New Zealand pastures is typically infected with the mutualist Epichloë fungal endophyte, which assists the plant in resisting biotic and abiotic stresses. Ryegrass that has naturalised in New Zealand is highly infected with the ‘Standard’ strain of endophyte. This strain provides good protection from a range of invertebrate pests but negatively impacts livestock productivity and health in the warmer seasons of the year. Grass-endophyte associations have been developed between elite perennial ryegrass cultivars and selected endophyte strains to provide protective properties to the host plant and lessen or eliminate the negative effects on …