Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Factor Affecting The Eating Rate Of Forage Feeds, G Moseley, A Antuna Manendez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The total amount of a forage feed eaten by an animal may be regarded as the product of rate of eating and time spent eating. Balch and Campling (1962) suggested that it is controlled largely by the rate at which the forage can be broken down phy­sically and passed through the foregut. Differences in voluntary

intake between forage feeds may, however, be due to the effects of extrinsic factors such as environment, animal condition and feed presentation, or to inherent feed characteristics which con­trol the rate and extent of breakdown and digestion. The degree to which physical plant characteristics may …

Influence Of The Nature Of Hay On Its Ingestibility And The Kinetics Of Intake During Large Meals In Sheep And Cows, R Baumont, J P. Brun, J P. Dulphy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ingestibility is the quantity of a forage that can be eaten by a standard animal when it is fed ad libitum as the sole feed (INRA, 1978). The eating pattern of ruminants reflects the way in which intake is controlled. The animal eats a large meal when a new batch of forage is distributed ; meals thereafter are small until the next distribution (Dulphy & Faverdin, 1987). To make a closer study of forage ingestibility, it seemed interesting to record the daily pattern of intake and to analyse in detail the large meals, which are 60 to 90 % of …

Relative Palatability Of Some Little-Known Tropical Forage Legumes, R Schultze-Kraft, C Lascano, G Benavides, J M. Gomez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In preliminary agronomic evaluations some of the little­know legumes recently selected in Southeast Asia have shown good adaptation to an acid, low-fertility Ultisol (CIAT, 1984, 1985). It is recognized that early evaluation of forage species should include an assessment of relative palatability (Joblin, 1962), particularly for tropical legumes where some species have been found to be highly unpalatable to cattle (Warmke et al., 1952). This paper reports on two cafeteria grazing trials conducted to assess the relative palatability of some new Southeast Asian legume germplasm as well as some South American species and ecotypes assumed to be of low palatability.

Fiber Composition Of Successive Cuts Of Lucerne, D Kolarski, J Pavesic-Popovic,, O Krstic, K Koljajic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The plant cell walls contain lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, fiber bound protein and fiber bound minerals. Their nutritive value is limited by their degree of lignification, while cell con­tents is not limited (Barton et al., 1977). Type and extent oflig­nin-polysaccharide bounding could affect digestion more than amount of lignin (Jung et Fahey, 1983). The purpose of these studies was to determine chemical and fiber composition of four cuts of lucerne (Medicago sativa, CV Kl).

Relationship Between The Mineral Content In Pastures And The Content Of These Elements In Blood Serum In Dairy Cows, A Lachowski, I Kuczynska, W Wojciechowski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grass tetany, a conditioned Mg deficiency of improper K: (Ca + Mg) ratio is a nutritional problem in various parts of Poland. The aim of the investigations was to determine to what degree the mineral content of grasses in the pastures influenced the mineral content in blood serum in dairy cows. This is very important when the animals are grazing and when cattle slurry is used on grasslands. In the literature we can find opinion con­sidering hypomagnaesemia as a metabolic disorder of rumin­ants typified by low blood serum Mg and generally accompanied by hypocalcemia. It has been related to low …

Etude D'Un Facteur Antinutritionnel De La Luzerne: Les Saponines, M Lila, G Genier, W Pietraszek

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Les proteines de luzerne (Medicago sativa) extraites par des procedes industriels ne peuvent etre incorporees qu'en faible proportion dans les rations pour monogastriques a cause d'un effet antinutritionnel du essentiellement a la presence de sapo­nines et plus particulierement d'acide medicagenique (Pie­traszek, 1985). La technologie d'extraction ne permettant pas d'eliminer ces molecules, il a ete envisage d'ameliorer la qualite de ces proteines extraites par la diminution de la teneur dans la plante par voie genetique. Pour cela il fallait etudier la variabilite genetique disponible au sein de l'espece Medicago sativa et definir un test rapide per­mettant de discriminer en grande serie …

Mineral Composition Of Grasses Grown On Peat Soils In Northwestern Hungary And Fertilization Experiments. Manganese, R Schmidt, J Varga, G Tolgyesi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main goal of these experiments which were carried out for four years was to study the mineral composition of grasses grown on peat soil, where preliminary studies indicated manga­nese, copper and zinc deficiency. We tried to eliminate these deficiences by agrochemical methods, because in our opinion, intervening in the first part of the foodchain - in the soil - we can contribute to solving of the deficiency problems more fund­amentaly (Ti:ilgyesi et al., 1983).

Characterization Of Biological Properties Of Fodder Value Of Dandelion, Taraxacum Officinale Web., M Falkowski, I Kukulka, S Kozlowski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In recent years the quantities of dandelion appearing on newly established grasslands has increased quite significantly. In such conditions it can no longer be treated as a meadow herb whose fodder value, according to European literature, equals half of that of valuable fodder plants. Becoming a weed, dan­delion has been the object of investigations on ways of elimina­ting it from the sward by means of herbicides (Schlotter et al., 1988). At the same time, experiments are under way on biologi­cal properties of dandelion with the aim to explain the causes of its expansion. It was found that there is an …

Location Of Polyphenols In Leaves Of Serciea Lespedeza, C O'H Mosjidis, C M. Peterson, J A. Mosjidis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Preliminary studies in sericea lespedeza, a nonbloating for­age legume, indicated that its palatability and digestibility were reduced by high levels of phenolics (Clarke el al., 1939). Another study suggested that younger parts of the shoots are more palatable than older leaves and stems (Donnelly el al., 1971). Nevertheless, younger leaves have been reported to con­tain higher levels of phenolics (Burns, 1966). Polyphenols have been thought to play a role as growth regulators and in protection against insects and diseases. Also they seem to be associated with lignification (Salatino el al., 1988). The present study was performed to determine whether his­tological …

Effect Of Endophytic Fungus Infection, Water Stress And Genotype On K, Ca And Mg Concentration Of Fescue, S R. Wilkinson, D P. Belesky, W C. Stringer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Replacement of endophyte infected tall fescue with endo­phyte free tall fescue is recommended to avoid tall fescue toxi­cosis. Fribourg et al. (1988) suggest that the endophyte may enhance tolerance of tall fescue to environmental stresses, including drought. This controlled environment study was undertaken to determine the effect of water stress on the K, Ca and Mg concentration of four genotypic selections of tall fescue with and without fungal endophytes. This paper emphasizes water stress and endophyte effects. The growth characteristics are reported elsewhere (Belesky et al. 1989).

Effect Of Fertilizers On Cutting On Time On Chemical Composition Of Sward From Permanent Meadow, A Golob, Zdenka Berloznik, M Leskosek, Vekoslava Stibilj

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ecological problems and surpluses of milk and meat have given rise to less intensive systems of grassland utilisation. One of such system is utilisation of air nitrogen via legume sym­biosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria. In Slovenia, where conditions for legume growth are more favourable than in NW Europe, natural meadows fertilized with P and K only give reasonable yields - on average around 7 t DM per ha (Leskosek, 1981). Most legumes suffer after fre­quent defoliation so such meadows should be defoliated only 2- 3 times during the growing season. Under less frequent cutting regime nutritive value of forage is …

The Effect Of N And K Fertilizers On The No3 Content Of Different Grass Species And Mixtures, A Szodfridt, J Varga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The major quantity of the annual grassland vegetation comes from the first cut in Hungary because of the continental climate of the country. Next to the energy content of grasses it is important to have informations about the amount of some possible toxic components such as nitrate. The critical NO3- value is considered to be 0.25-0.31 % in DM (Andreev, 1981), NO3 content higher than 0.6 % in DM is toxic (Kemp et al., 1977). Ebert et al. (1977) showed that 120 kg/ha N given for the 1st cut did not raise NO3 content higher than the critical value. K …

Determination Of Condensed Tannins In Tropical Legume Forages, L Telek

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) in ruminant nutrition is complex and needs further interdiscipli­nary reinvestigations with improved analytical methods. With the « cell rupture » theory of legume pasture bloat (Howarth et al., 1978), the role of condensed tannins seems to be secondary; they are acting as protein precipitants (Goplen et al., 1980) and inhibiting microbiological proliferation in cell­ular spaces (Howarth et al., 1982). Their assumed interference with digesting enzymes in vivo is doubtful (Mole and Water­man, 1985). On the importance of condensed tannins in nutrition, several reviews were published (McLeod, 1974; Tempel, 1982; Kumar and Singh, 1984 and …

Screening Sericea Lespedeza Germplasm For Tannin Concentration In The Leaves And Herbage Palatability, J C. Petersen, J A. Mosjidis, N S. Hill

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Several million hectares in the subtropical world are currently used as grazing land for beef and dairy cattle, how­ever, in many cases animal production is very low. To improve animal nutrition, cultivated legume species can be introduced. Sericea lespedeza has potential and could be utilized in the acid soils of the· subtropics. Generally, sericea is low in palatability and nutritive value because its leaves contain tannins, which have long been associ­ated with low intake and reduced digestibility. Tannins are responsible for an astringent or bitter taste caused by the pre­cipitation of salivary glycoprotein (Goldstein and Swain, 1963). Chopping or macerating …

The Effect Of Selenium Fertilizer On The Selenium Status Of Sheep Grazing Annual Pasture In South-Western Australia, B R. Whelan, D W. Peter, N J. Barrow, D J. Buscall, V C. Cox

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White muscle disease was first reported in grazing livestock in Western Australia by Gardiner (1961). Sheep affected by the disease could be divided into two categories : young suckling lambs in winter and early spring, and weaners and hoggets in summer (Gardiner et al., 1962). Subsequent investigations showed that, while there were few clinical symptoms of sel­enium deficiency, there were probably many sheep suffering from ill-thrift. This sub-clinical deficiency caused reduced liveweight gains, reduced wool production and lowered ewe fertility. It was most noticeable in areas of greater than 600 mm of annual rainfall on the lighter sandy soils with …

Synthesis Of Cell Wall Components In Maize Internodes, J H. Cherney, J J. Volenec, G A. Brown

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cell wall structure affects intake and digestibility of forages by rummants. Before microbial degradation of cell walls can be understood, it will be necessary to have a better understanding of cell wall formation. Internodes of grasses elongate in a_cropetal succession, with two internodes usually elongating s1multaneously. Elongating internodes consist of three regions : 1) a zone of cell division, 2) a zone of cell elongation, and 3) a zone of secondary cell wall deposition. This tissue provides an excellent system for studying cell wall changes in rapidly developing tissues. Our objectives were to : 1) examine changes in cell wall …

Natural And Artificial Drying Effects On Condensed Tannins Of Sericea Lespedeza, T H. University Of Georgia, W R. Windham, J J. Evans, C S. Hoveland

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont-Cours.) G. Don.] is well adapted to acid soils and low fertility but has generally been considered a low-quality forage due to high levels of tannin and indigestible fiber. Tannin levels increase during midsummer (Windham et al. 1988). The most com­monly used assay for tannin in sericea is the vanillin-HCl pro­cedure (Burns, 1963) on oven-dried samples. Oven-drying has been reported to cause increased polymerization or oxidative changes in tannins (Goldstein and Swain, 1963). Fresh-frozen sericea contained higher amounts of extract­able tannin than field-dried forage and fiber digestibility of high-tannin sericea by sheep was much lower …

International Rice Outlook: International Rice Baseline Projections 2024–2034, A. Durand-Morat, W. Mulimbi

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

• Global rice consumption is projected to exceed global rice production for most of the coming decade, with stocks playing a crucial role in balancing the global market over the projected period.

• The projected growth in production is almost exclusively due to productivity gains.

• The projected global rice consumption is growing, driven mainly by population growth. However, the average global per capita rice consumption is estimated to increase slowly in the coming decade due to a regain in per capita consumption in Asia, the largest rice-consuming region worldwide.

• The international prices of long-grain and medium-grain rice are …

Mitigating Nitrogen Losses: The Role Of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers In Sustainable Corn Production, Dipesh Giri

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitrogen (N) is essential for crop production, but its inefficient use often leads to environmental losses through nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), such as nitrification inhibitors (NIs) and urease inhibitors (UIs), have been developed to minimize these losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This research combined a multi-year field experiment and a controlled laboratory study to evaluate how dual-inhibitor fertilizers compare to conventional urea and single-inhibitor formulations in Nebraska cropping systems. The main objective was to understand how nitrogen inhibitors influence N availability, crop performance, and nitrogen losses across different environmental …

Improving Nitrogen Management And Corn Productivity Through Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer And Cover Crop Integration In Nebraska Cropping Systems, Madhusudhan Adhikari

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Effective nitrogen (N) management is vital for sustaining corn yield and reducing environmental impacts in Nebraska cropping systems. Three field studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of 1) fertilizer type (anhydrous ammonia [AA] with nitrification inhibitor: enhanced efficiency fertilizer [EEF] or AA without EEF) and N application timing (pre-plant vs. split with side-dress UAN) on in-season soil N availability, crop response, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, residual soil N and N use efficiencies (NUEs); 2) winter cover crop (CC) species and crop rotation variability on CC biomass production, N uptake, soil N dynamics, and cash crop performance in …

Extending Cover Crop Growing Window To Improve The Health Of Environmentally Sensitive Soils, Noshin Ara Tunazzina

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sloping and sandy soils are highly susceptible to degradation. The health of these soils could be improved with cover crops (CCs). However, CC effectiveness in improving soil health mainly depends on CC biomass production, which is often low in temperate regions. The question is: how can we increase CC biomass production? Lengthening the CC growing window can be a potential strategy. This study assessed how 1) interseeded and terminated early (2-3 weeks before crop planting) CC, 2) interseeded and terminated late (at crop planting) CC, 3) drilled (after harvest) and terminated early CC, 4) drilled and terminated late CC, and …

Maximizing Crop Production And Profitability Through Double Cropping Corn And Soybean Systems In South Carolina, Bennett Harrelson

All Dissertations

Profitability is critical for farm sustainability, efficiency, and longevity. Over the last decade, corn and soybean commodity prices have fluctuated considerably, and more recently, extreme increases in input prices have narrowed profit margins. Non-traditional cropping systems that can boost profit are becoming of interest to farmers in South Carolina, specifically double cropping soybean behind corn. In this scenario, corn is harvested at high moisture contents and followed by ultra-late planted soybean. However, prior research related to the agronomic production practices of double cropping corn and soybean is minimal. To develop best management practices for growers interested in double cropping corn …

Evaluating Risk And Return Of Corn And Soybean Marketing Strategies Using Monte Carlo Simulation Methods, Johanna Ilves

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study evaluates the performance of pre-harvest marketing strategies for corn and soybeans, using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Given the increasing volatility in commodity prices and the evolving landscape of agricultural markets, producers face growing challenges in developing effective marketing plans that manage risk and enhance profitability. This thesis examines thirteen marketing strategies from 2008 to 2024, including benchmark harvest-only sales and various pre-harvest futures contract approaches. Historical futures price data for December corn and November soybean contracts were used to simulate 1,000 marketing outcomes per strategy per year, capturing a broad range of market conditions. Key performance indicators such …

Landscape Effects On The Beneficial Arthropod Community In Agriculturally Dominated Environments, Hannah E. Stowe

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ecosystem services in agriculturally dominated regions rely, at least in part, on arthropods. Environment and biodiversity influence beneficial arthropods in population size, community structure, diversity, and ecosystem service provisioning. Predation is among the most important services provided by arthropods in agroecosystems. Understanding what alters predation and predator activity can support the successful application of biological control and, more broadly, integrated pest management. Land use and edge adjacency, field characteristics, landscape, seasonality, and diel period all alter predatory behavior. Crop fields dominate Nebraska agroecosystems, although interspersed perennial grasslands persist through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Such grasslands supply crucial resources and …

Gene Editing Approaches To Improving Grain Amino Acid Profiles In Maize And Sorghum, Joseph Preston Hurst

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Maize grain is deficient in lysine. While the opaque2 mutation increases grain lysine, o2 is a transcription factor that regulates a wide network of genes beyond zeins, which leads to pleiotropic and often negative effects. Additionally, the drastic reduction in 19kDa and 22kDa alpha-zeins causes a floury kernel, unsuitable for agricultural use. Sorghum, closely related to maize, has a similar lack of lysine that can be corrected with prolamin alteration and also subject to the same deleterious kernel texture. CRISPR/cas9 gives researchers the ability to directly target genes of interest. In this research, gene editing was used to specifically target …

Mechanisms Of Perennial Sorghum Resistance To Sugarcane Aphid Infestation, Esha Kaler

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, the fifth most-grown cereal crop in the world, is a versatile crop, grown across different agro-ecological regions. Sorghum has numerous uses ranging from food and forage purposes to biofuel production. Sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) is a major threat to sorghum production, accounting for 50% to 100% yield loss under heavy infestations. Perennial sorghum can be a sustainable and climate-resilient alternative to the current cereal farming systems. The development of perennial sorghum offers numerous benefits, such as reduced economic inputs, more carbon sequestration, better soil health, and sustainable yields. We employed host plant resistance …

Integrating Genomic And Phenomic Breeding Tools For Wheat Stem Sawfly Resistance In Hard Winter Wheat, Sydney E. Graham

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The wheat stem sawfly (WSS; Cephus cinctus) is an insect pest that affects wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the Northern Great Plains. This pest causes stem cutting that makes the plants susceptible to lodging and results in up to 30% yield loss. The primary management strategy for producers is utilizing host plant resistance, for which the main trait is stem solidness. This trait increases the pith thickness and provides resistance to the WSS by increasing larval mortality and reducing stem cutting. While stem solidness is largely controlled by a known major gene (SSt1), the phenotypic expression is also …

Effects Of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms On Microbial Community Dynamics And Plant Growth Responses Of Aeroponically Cultivated Spinach, Veronica Snow

All NMU Master's Theses

Regional food insecurity caused by the inability to use conventional farming techniques year-round in cold climates increases the need for access to quality, locally sourced, and affordable foods year-round. Shifting from a soil-based system to aeroponics can increase yields, as aeroponic systems are not weather-reliant and can operate year-round. Aeroponics, a subgroup of hydroponics, induces growth by misting nutrient-rich solutions onto the plant roots. These systems use space and water more efficiently and rely less on fertilizers and pesticides but are vulnerable to errors in nutrient application, power loss, and rapid pathogen spread. Adding Vermicompost (VCT) and plant growth-promoting microorganisms …

Identification Of New Germplasm Sources And Traits For Breeding Heat-Tolerant Soybean Varieties, Shelby Hammond

All Theses

The heat-tolerant soybean breeding is constrained by limited genetic diversity for heat tolerance, lack of efficient selection criteria, and incomplete knowledge of heat tolerance mechanisms. The objectives of this study were to characterize the heat tolerance of a soybean recombinant inbred line (RIL) population based on traits defining leaf function, pollen viability and yield, and identify genotypes and traits that can be included in breeding programs for heat tolerance. Field trials were conducted at Pendleton, SC in 2022 and 2023 to test the heat stress responses of 192 RILs [derived from DS 25-1 (heat tolerant) x DT97-4290 (heat-susceptible)], parental lines, …

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation As A Non-Chemical Management Option Against Fungi And Heterotrophic Bacteria In Organic Sweetpotato Production, Meredith Tucker

All Theses

North Carolina is the largest producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States, with South Carolina increasing farming acreage to 2,501 in 2022 compared to 1,300 in 2017. Growers producing conventional and organic sweetpotatoes are equally challenged with managing fungal pathogens due to fungicide resistance or fungicides being unavailable due to environmental regulations, leading many to shift to growing organic crops. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a non-chemical pre-plant management option that uses a carbon amendment, irrigation, and plasticulture to establish an anaerobic environment in soils, killing soil microbes. A greenhouse study was conducted to assess ASD on fungal pathogens and …