Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Effect On Sward Botanical Composition Of Mixed And Sequential Grazing By Cattle And Sheep Of Upland Permanent Pasture In The Uk, J. E. Vale, M. D. Fraser, J. G. Evans

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous work has shown benefits of sequential grazing by cattle and sheep, with superior liveweight gains being recorded for lambs grazing swards previously grazed by cattle. A preliminary study of the effects of mixed sheep and cattle grazing also suggested that more extensively grazed swards offer scope for complementary grazing between sheep and cattle. The aim of this experiment was to directly compare these two approaches of integrating the grazing of cattle and sheep.

Effect Of Mixed And Sequential Grazing By Cattle And Sheep Of Upland Permanent Pasture On Liveweight Gain, M. D. Fraser, J. E. Vale, J. G. Evans

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous work has shown benefits of sequential grazing by cattle and sheep, with superior liveweight gains being recorded for lambs grazing swards previously grazed by cattle. A preliminary study of the effects of mixed sheep and cattle grazing also suggested that more extensively grazed swards offer scope for complementary grazing between sheep and cattle. The aim of this experiment was to directly compare these two approaches of integrating the grazing of cattle and sheep.

Effects Of Breed And Stage Of Growing Season On The Metabolic Profile Of Sheep Grazing Moorland, V. J. Theobald, M. D. Fraser, J. M. Moorby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have shown that the diet of sheep grazing heather moorland is affected by season (Grant et al., 1987) and the proportion of Calluna vulgaris cover (Osoro et al., 2000). In order to investigate the impact of these factors on the associated nutrient supply of animals grazing heathland, blood samples were taken to monitor the metabolic status of different breeds of sheep at different stages of the growing season when grazing sites with different proportions of heather cover.

Characterising The Fermentation Capabilities Of Gut Microbial Populations From Different Breeds Of Cattle And Sheep Grazing Heathland, D. R. Davies, M. D. Fraser, V. J. Theobald, E. L. Bakewell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have demonstrated differences in the diet composition of sheep and cattle when grazing heather moorland, and such differences may in turn lead to differences in rumen fermentation characteristics and associated adaptation to diet. To investigate this further an in vitro gas production experiment was conducted using inocula from different breeds of cattle and sheep grazing heathland.

The Performance Of Cattle On Lowland Species-Rich Neutral Grassland At Three Contrasting Grazing Pressures, B. A. Griffith, J. R.B. Tallowin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is an essential management practice for maintaining the nature conservation value of lowland semi-natural neutral grassland to control succession and create different faunal habitats via structural heterogeneity within the pasture (Duffey et al., 1974). However, there is a paucity of information on what would constitute a sustainable grazing intensity that will deliver the wildlife objectives and what the consequences of this management would be on growth rate of livestock and overall pasture output. An experiment was designed to quantify the ecological and agronomic consequences of imposing different grazing intensities on species-rich neutral grassland. The results will provide sward-based …

Nutritional Value Of Pasture Forage For Sheep In Krkonoše National Park, P. Homolka

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study describes the nutritional value of pastures in extreme mountain conditions in Krkonoše Mountains National Park. The Park performs important ecological and environmental functions. Extensive sheep grazing serves in the preservation of rare, protected and endangered species of plants (including endemics) and in the restoration of the biodiversity of meadows. The objective of this experiment was to estimate the production of plant biomass in these pastures and its digestibility by sheep.

Facilitating Transformative Innovations In Sustainability Education [Version 2], Martin Melin, Geir Lieblein, Tor Arvid Breland, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Educational strategies globally are changing from an authoritative, top-down model to one focused on greater student and stakeholder participation in planning and implementation of research and educational activities. In addition to emphasis on student-centered education, strategies currently evolve to encompass learning organizations and multistakeholder learning networks. These are essential to address the complexity and scope of tomorrow’s challenges, involving issues that could be called ’wicked problems’ not easily addressed by single disciplines nor resulting in solutions that please all the players. In this study we describe how a transformative innovation – the NEXTFOOD educational approach – may contribute substantially to …

Growth, Yield, And Yield Stability Of Canola In The Northern Great Plains Of The United States, Unius Arinaitwe, Sharon Clay, Thandiwe Nleya

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Canola (Brassica napus L.) may diversify wheat-based cropping systems in the Northern Great Plains. However, agronomic adaptability and stability of high- yielding genotypes have not been widely evaluated over the diverse environmental conditions of South Dakota (SD). A 2-year field experiment was conducted in two contrasting environments (Brookings—eastern SD and Pierre—Central SD) to evaluate genotypes (10 in 2019 and 12 in 2020) for days to 50% flower, lodg- ing, pods plant−1 , seed yield, 1000-seed weight, and yield stability. Seed yield for all genotypes in Brookings averaged 1961 and 1740 kg ha−1 , in 2019 and 2020, respectively, whereas at …

Analysis And Installation Of A Demonstration Agroforestry Orchard For Californian Mediterranean Plant Communities, Brandon Hurd

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Climate-appropriate agroforestry can provide low-input food security and ecosystem services for local Californian Mediterranean climates, while conserving natural resources (e.g., water, nitrogen, etc.). This project showcases a variety of agroforestry methods for five common plant communities of California and other analogous Mediterranean climates at the CAFES Experimental Farm on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Plant community species and their ethnobotanical uses were analyzed to mimic and incorporate aspects of native flora. Agricultural plants were also characterized to represent each of the five selected plant communities. GIS was used to assess the project site for soil, slope, and …

Protecting Wa Crops Issue 28 - March 2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Protecting WA Crops

Protecting WA Crops Issue 28 - March 2023 contents:

• GRDC Perth Research Updates 2023 - Entomology
• Russian wheat aphid thresholds in WA and using biological control for RLEM
• Lessons learnt from native budworm activity in wheat, relative to traditional hosts lupins, pulses and canola
• Meet Crop Protection team member – Svetlana Micic

Validation Of Newly Designed Ssr Markers For Eight Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Genotypes With Variable Heat Tolerance Responses Based On Agromorphic Data And Pollen Fertility Analysis [Research Note], Monaliza B. Magat, Norvie L. Manigbas, Jessica D. Rey

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Rice is one of the most valuable staple food crops in the world. However, several challenges greatly affect production, one of which is the threat imposed by heat stress. To address this, researchers are developing varieties that are heat stress tolerant with genetic markers aid. In this study, eight rice genotypes, namely Dular, Nagina 22, NSIC Rc 222, Milyang 23, EL15, EL92, EL85, and IR52 were observed for agromorphic data, which included plant height, panicle length, filled and unfilled grains, and grain yield. Flower samples were collected to determine the effect of heat stress on pollen fertility. Molecular markers were …

Intensifying A Crop–Fallow System: Impacts On Soil Properties, Crop Yields, And Economics, S. J. Ruis, S. Stepanovic, Humberto Blanco-Canqui

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Intensifying crop–fallow systems could address increased weed control costs, increased land or rental costs, reduced crop diversity, and degraded soil properties in water-limited environments. One strategy to intensify such systems could be the insertion of a short-season crop during fallow. But, how this strategy affects soils, crop production, and farm economics needs further research. Thus, we studied the impacts of replacing fallow in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L)–corn (Zea mays L.)–fallow system with a short-season spring crop [field pea (Pisum sativum L.)] on crop yields and economics from 2015 to 2019 and 5-yr cumulative effects on …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Performance Tests 2022, J. F. Carlin, R. B. Mulloy, R. D. Bond

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Corn and grain sorghum performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The tests provide information to companies marketing seed within the state and aid the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in formulating recommendations for producers. The 2022 corn performance tests contained 68 hybrids and were conducted at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC) at Harrisburg, the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center (NEREC) at Keiser, the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station (LMCRS) near Marianna, the Rohwer Research Station (RRS) near Rohwer, and the Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) …

Abnormal Ear Development In Corn: Does Hybrid, Environment, And Seeding Rate Matter?, Osler A. Ortez, Anthony J. Mcmechan, Emily Robinson, Thomas C. Hoegemeyer, Reka Howard, Roger W. Elmore

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Corn (Zea mays L.) yields have increased in the United States since the 1930s and in other parts of the world since the 1950s and 1960s because of improvements in agricultural management and genotypes. Despite these increases, production concerns still exist. In July 2016, abnormal ear development (multi-ears per node, barbell-ears, and short-husks) was reported in cornfields that extended from the Texas Panhandle to eastern Colorado and east through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. Surveys in Nebraska farmer fields revealed significant productivity losses due to the issues, but little was known about the underlying causes. A research study was …

Fenclorim Rice Safening And Weed Control With Fall-Applied Acetochlor And Pyroxasulfone, Tristen H. Avent, Jason K. Norsworthy, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton Roberts, Nicholas R. Bateman

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Applications of very long-chained fatty acid elongase (VLCFA)-inhibiting herbicides are currently not labeled within U.S. rice (Oryza sativa L.) production but have been used in Asian rice production to suppress weedy rice and control other annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaves. Therefore, separate experiments were initiated in the fall of 2019 and 2020 to evaluate rice tolerance and weedy rice (O. sativa L.) control with acetochlor and pyroxasulfone in the following spring. A three-factor experiment within a randomized complete block design was implemented with the factors being (1) herbicide choice (acetochlor or pyroxasulfone), (2) a low or high herbicide …

Does Residue Incorporation Influence Available Nitrogen Release From Cereal Rye And Tillage Radish Cover Crops Under Controlled Conditions?, Kelsey Greub, Trenton L. Roberts

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nitrogen (N) captured by cover crops can be recycled for use by the following crop via decomposition and net mineralization. This study assessed the magnitude of inorganic-N released from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) residue. The experiment was designed using a five by two factorial treatment structure with five cover crop residue treatments (radish shoots, radish roots, whole radish, cereal rye shoots, and no cover crop) and two levels of residue incorporation (incorporated and surface applied). Cover crop residues were applied to a silt loam soil on an equivalent N basis, incubated for …

Molecular Mapping And Characterization Of Qtls For Grain Quality Traits In A Ril Population Of Us Rice Under High Nighttime Temperature Stress, Anuj Kumar, Julie Thomas, Navdeep Gill, Yheni Dwiningsih, Charles Ruiz, Adam Famoso, Andy Pereira

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Elevated nighttime temperatures resulting from climate change significantly impact the rice crop worldwide. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant is highly sensitive to high nighttime temperature (HNT) during grain-filling (reproductive stage). HNT stress negatively affects grain quality traits and has a major impact on the value of the harvested rice crop. In addition, along with grain dimensions determining rice grain market classes, the grain appearance and quality traits determine the rice grain market value. During the last few years, there has been a major concern for rice growers and the rice industry over the prevalence of rice grains opacity …

Identification Of Genomic Regions Associated With The Plasticity Of Carbon 13 Ratio In Soybean, Siva K. Chamarthi, Avjinder Kaler, Hussein Abdel-Haleem, Felix B. Fritschi, Jason D. Gillman, Jeffery D. Ray, James R. Smith, Sarah Purcell

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Improving water use efficiency (WUE) for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] through selection for high carbon isotope (C13) ratio may increase drought tolerance, but increased WUE may limit growth in productive environments. An ideal genotype would be plastic for C13 ratio; that is, be able to alter C13 ratio in response to the environment. Our objective was to identify genomic regions associated with C13 ratio plasticity, C13 ratio stability, and overall C13 ratio in two panels of diverse Maturity Group IV soybean accessions. A second objective was to identify accessions that differed in their C13 ratio plasticity. Panel 1 …

Evaluating Metabolic And Genomic Data For Predicting Grain Traits Under High Night Temperature Stress In Rice, Ye Bi, Rafael Massahiro Yassue, Puneet Paul, Balpreet Kaur Dhatt, Jaspreet Sandhu, Phuc Thi Do, Harkamal Walia, Toshihiro Obata, Gota Morota

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The asymmetric increase in average nighttime temperatures relative to increase in average daytime temperatures due to climate change is decreasing grain yield and quality in rice. Therefore, a better genome-level understanding of the impact of higher night temperature stress on the weight of individual grains is essential for future development of more resilient rice. We investigated the utility of metabolites obtained from grains to classify high night temperature (HNT) conditions of genotypes, and metabolites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to predict grain length, width, and perimeter phenotypes using a rice diversity panel. We found that the metabolic profiles of rice genotypes …

Ruminal Proteolysis In Forages With Distinct Endopeptidases Activities, G. Pichard, C. Tapia, R. Larrain

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Improving livestock efficiency in utilisation of nitrogen resources continues to be a major environmental and economic objective. Zhu et al. (1999) have shown that plant endopeptidases are activated as a response to cutting stress. Previous work in our laboratory explored over 300 entries of forage genotypes and found a broad diversity in enzymatic activity by means of hydrolysis in gelatine and direct autolysis assays in forage tissues. The objective of this work was to assess if the species previously identified as having high or low endopeptidase activity, would behave consistently when exposed to ruminal microbial proteolysis.

Effects Of Particle Size In Forage Samples For Protein Breakdown Studies, G. Pichard, C. Tapia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Coupling ruminal processes of hydrolysis and synthesis continues to be a research issue where more progress is needed. This requires the development of good protein assessment methods, particularly when representing the breakdown processes that occur in fresh pastures eaten by herbivores. Laboratory analyses need to deal with small and homogeneous samples, but the mechanical reduction of particle size may not reflect the actual digestion kinetics occurring when the original fresh forage is consumed. Such physical traits may alter the release of non-structural compounds and the penetration of microbial enzymes (Boudon et al., 2002). The objective of this work was …

A New System For The Evaluation Of The Fermentation Quality Of Silages, K. Weiß, E. Kaiser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Depending on the content of nitrate in green forage, the pattern of fermentation products in silages differ significantly (Weiß & Kaiser, 2001). The systems, which are now common in practice for evaluating the quality of silage fermentation, characterise fermentation quality incorrectly because the evaluation is influenced by the chemical composition of green forage. The aim of this work was to derive an evaluation system for fermentation quality, which is independent from the chemical composition of green forage.

Prediction Of Indigestible Ndf Content Of Grass And Legume Silages By Nirs, L. Nyholm, M. Rinne, M. Hellämäki, P. Huhtanen, J. Nousiainen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The future feed evaluation systems based on mechanistic digestion models require reliable estimates of forage digestible and indigestible NDF content (DNDF and INDF). The objective of this study was to examine the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in predicting INDF content of grass and legume silages.

Analysis Of Silage Fermentation Characteristics Using Transflectance Measurements By Near Infrared Spectroscopy, A. Martínez, A. Soldado, R. Garcia, D. Sánchez, B. De La Roza-Delgado

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The fermentation end products as lactic acid, volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen, are important indicators of the efficiency of silage fermentation and are closely related to nutritive value of them (Jaster, 1995). Drying is problematic in the case of silage as many fermentation products are volatile and may get lost during the drying process. This may be a reason why NIR technology is being little used for the evaluation of silage fermentation characteristics. The feasibility of using near infrared transflectance spectroscopy to evaluate the content in fermentation end products of grass and maize fresh silage was investigated in this study.

Development Of A Method For The Fast And Complete Assessment Of Quality Characteristics In Undried Grass Silages By Means Of An Nir-Diode Array Spectrometer, H. Gibaud, C. Paul, J. M. Greef, B. Ruser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditionally, the determination of grass silage is very time consuming and needs a lot of manpower and chemicals. The advantages of conventional laboratory NIRS instruments are well known but their disadvantage lies in their lacking suitability for on-farm use. A new type of spectrometer based on diode arrays may be used for this purpose. However, these new instruments still need to be calibrated for an accurate estimate of the fermentative and nutritive value of wet and unchopped grass silage.

A Simple Method For The Correction Of Fermentation Losses Measured In Laboratory Silos, F. Weissbach

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry matter (DM) losses caused by formation of gaseous fermentation products can be measured by different methods. The most common method (A) is measuring the difference between the DM input and output of a silo. Other methods are based on the measurement of the fermentation gases which spontaneously leave the silo, either directly by collecting them (B) in a special absorbent like KOH or, much more easily, by weighing the filled silo at the beginning and the end of the fermentation process (C). The figures obtained by B and C are substantially smaller than those by A. This difference represents …

Prediction Of Red Clover Content In Mixed Swards By Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, B. Deprez, D. Stilmant, C. Clément, C. Decamps, A. Peeters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Because of the legume fixation capacity, their high protein content, digestibility and intake characteristics, more and more attention is paid to grassland clover content. In field experiments, clover content must often be determined, for example to quantify nitrogen flux or the best practices to manage such species (Stilmant et al., 2004). However hand sorting of clover and grass, even if accurate, is time-consuming and has a high labour cost. In comparison, accuracy of visual estimation of clover content, directly in the field, varies according to training and experience. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed as a method for …

Intake And Milk Production Of Lactating Dairy Cows Grazing Diverse Forage Mixtures Over Two Grazing Seasons, K. Soder, M. A. Sanderson, J. L. Stack, L. Muller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Voluntary intake and stocking rate are key determinants of animal performance on pasture. Greater plant diversity in grassland plant communities has been linked to increased primary production, greater stability in response to disturbance, and reduced weed pressure. Thus, increasing plant diversity may be one approach to improving animal productivity. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of forage diversity on intake and milk production of lactating dairy cows over two grazing seasons.

A Comparison Of Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars Differing In Heading Date And Grass Ploidy For Grazing Dairy Cows At Two Different Stocking Rates, M. O'Donovan, G. Hurley, L. Delaby, G. Stakelum

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Animal productivity is the ultimate performance indicator of any new grass cultivar. Direct assessment is complex and expensive. Recent research has identified a number of important sward factors that influence intake and production. The most important factor appears to be green leaf mass. The objective of this two year study was to investigate the effects on milk yield, composition and grass intake of grass cultivars with contrasting heading dates (HD) and grass ploidies (PL) when grazed at different stocking rates.

In Situ Rumen Degradability Of Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars Differing In Ploidy And Heading Date In Ireland, V. Olsson, J. J. Murphy, F. P. O'Mara, M. O'Donovan, F. J. Mulligan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazed grass is the predominant feed in Irish dairy and beef cattle production systems. Knowledge of the degradability characteristics of protein in Irish forages is necessary for the establishment of protein values (PDIE and PDIN values) for these. This knowledge would also facilitate more accurate formulation of supplements for grass diets with the potential to reduce nitrogen (N) excretion.