Agricultural Science Commons^™

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 …