Agricultural Science Commons^™

Regeneration Behaviour Of Degraded Pasture Of Lasiurus Sindicus Grass Under Different Cultural Practices In Extreme Arid Conditions Of Jaisalmer, India, Ram Narayan Kumawat, Priyabrata Santra, Nawalesh Kumar Sinha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The agriculture of seventies in the hot arid zone of India (western Rajasthan) was chiefly the subsistence farming involving rearing of livestock in association with rainfed cultivation of guar, moth and pearl millet. Pasturelands dominate among different land use systems and provide main support to the huge livestock population of the region (Kar et al., 2009). With the advent of Indira Gandhi Canal and commencement of tube-well technology in 1985, livestock based economy saw a change in the land use and large tracts of sewan grass (Lasiurus sindicus) came under the plough. Further, in arid zone as …

Identification Of Niches For Integration Of Brachiaria Grasses In Smallholder Mixed Crop-Livestock Farming Systems In Kenya, Donald M. G. Njarui, Elias M. Gichangi, Mwangi Gatheru, Michael N. Njunie, Elkana Nyambati, Keziah W. Ndungu, Joseph G. Mureithi, Sita R. Ghimire

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Inadequate quantity and quality of feed is the major constraint to livestock productivity in Kenya. Low rainfall, lack of adapted forages and poor management of sown forages are major factors that affect feed resources production. In most of the farming systems, forages are relegated to the less fertile and degraded soils resulting into poor growth. As a result the growth is poor resulting in deficient in minerals content, low crude protein (CP) and energy. The situation in exacerbated by climate variability and frequent drought. On the other hand, feed resources derived from crop residues, particularly cereals are of poor quality …

Evaluation Of Baby Corn Hybrids On Varying Plant Population And Nutrient Levels, M. Hargilas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

India is a largest producer country of the milk with largest livestock population in the world. Main herds of cow/ buffalo exist in surrounding areas of town and cities for supply of milk. The animal productivity directly depends on the availability of good quality green fodder. At present, the country faces a net deficit of 35.6% of green fodder, 26% of drycrop residues and 41% of concentrate feed ingredients (www.dare.nic.in/nodel/87). To overcome this problem, there is a need to shift from sole food and fodder crops to the dual or multipurpose food cum fodder crops. Under this situation, baby corn …

Tillage Options For Productivity And Profitability Of Food Forage Based Production System In Indo Gangetic Plains Of India, Mahendra Singh Pal

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Food – Forage based systems are the pre-requisite for sustainable rural development mainly as they provide support to small and marginal farmers by adjusting a substantial part of their land exclusively for forage production in grain crop based rotations (Kumar and Faruqui, 2009). In addition, the high cost of cultivation of intensive cropping systems is a major bottleneck in sustainable and profitable crop production. Presently, new innovations in tillage has revolutionized agriculture worldwide mainly due to reducing cost of cultivation, bulk density of soil and trafficabiltiy and also improving soil organic carbon resulting into high soil fertility. In addition, zero …

Effect Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Application On Productivity, Nutrient Uptake And Quality Of Teosinte (Zea Mexicana L.) Fodder, Magan Singh, A. S. Harika, P. S. Oberoi, Rakesh Kumar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Teosinte (Zea mexicana L.) is popularly known as Makchari being a close relative of maize. It provides succulent, palatable and nutritive fodder during Kharif season for feeding the animals as green fodder or conserved fodder in the form of silage. Teosinte is an excellent multicut fodder which gives high yield of nutritious green lush fodder in 65-70 days with less inputs as compared to maize. Nitrogen is an essential component of proteins, nucleic acid, enzymes, coenzymes, chlorophyll and cell wall. Phosphorus plays a vital role in crop production as it is involved in CO₂ fixation, sugar metabolism, energy …

Improved Modelling Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa L.) Production For Grazing Livestock, Andrew Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lucerne (or alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.)-based pastures play an important role in livestock and mixed farms (croplivestock) in Australia. If lucerne is to be more widely adopted, it will be important that landholders are able to plan to maximize its benefits to their livestock enterprises (usually as a part of a diverse feed base), as well as assess the benefits and minimizing the costs of lucerne phases to subsequent crops. However, the ability to accurately model lucerne plant physiology across the full spectrum of environments, genotypes and cultivars remains elusive. This study aimed to review and revise the description of …

Gaps And Variability In Pasture Utilisation In Australian Pasture-Based Dairy Systems, Sergio C. Garcia, Cameron E. F. Clark, Kendra L. Kerrisk, Mohammed R. Islam, S. R. Fariña, J. Evans

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We used commercial farm data from 4 states of Australia and 9 subsets of data from 4 whole farm system studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand to: (1) explore the relationship between pasture utilisation and farm profitability; (2) identify gaps and causes of both between and within-farm variability in pasture utilisation; and (3) discuss possibilities to reduce these gaps through the application of technology-based solutions. Results confirm that the amount of pasture utilised per ha is a key driver of profitability of Australian pasture-based systems. In spite of this, the gap between potential (research) and commercial reality is huge. …

The Role Of Botanical Garden Of Pbai In Bydgoszcz In Promoting The Crop And Usage Of Perennial C4 Grasses In Poland, Włodzimierz Majtkowski, Gabriela Majtkowska, Bartosz Tomaszewski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Among the over 300 grass species known from Poland, there are about 160 species well established in the flora (~130 native with C3 photosynthesis pathway and ~30 aliens), and nearly 150 ephemerophytes, occasional escapers from cultivation or cultivated species (Mirek and Piękoś-Mirkowa 2002). Grasses from other climatic zones have been introduced to our country in recent years, especially as ornamental plants and as a source of biomass for energy purposes. The studies conducted since the 1990s in Botanical Garden of PBAI in Bydgoszcz, where the National Grass Collection is located, have contributed considerably to the popularization of C4 grasses in …

Little Effect Of Species Richness And Vegetation Composition On Herbage Production And Quality In A Permanent Temperate Grassland, Johannes Isselstein, Tatiana From, Ute Petersen, Nicole Wrage-Mönnig

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Phytodiversity of grasslands has been shown to support production and other ecosystem services (e.g.Weigel et al. 2009, Tilman et al. 2012). However, in many of these studies, species richness was controlled by sowing and weeding and it was questionable to what extent the findings would also be applicable to permanent 'real world' grasslands where the species number is dependent on site and management conditions. In addition there is uncertainty about the effect of diversity on the herbage value for ruminants (Wrage et al. 2011). In a new approach to biodiversity experiments, we combined experimental and observational measures …

Spider Fauna (Araneae: Araneomorphae) In Natural Grasslands Of Uruguay With Different Livestock Management, Álvaro Laborda, Rafael A. Tosi-Germán, Sebastián Donate, Oscar Blumetto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Uruguay natural grasslands sustain cattle ranching and are the country’s main renewable resource. This ecosystem not only serves a productive function, but also functions in geophysical processes of soils and sustaining the nation’s biodiversity through complex trophic webs (Berretta 2009). Increased pressure from human activities that exploit natural resources makes it necessary to possess tools for detecting disturbances in ecosystems and assessing their conservation status. Identifying indicator taxa is essential for evaluating the degree of impact on natural grasslands and for applying this in the development of management plans for this habitat type (Avalos et al. 2007; Cardoso …

Bird And Mammal Fauna Assemblages In Well-Preserved Natural Grasslands Of Uruguay With Different Livestock Management, Rafael A. Tosi-Germán, Álvaro Laborda, Sebastián Donate, Oscar Blumetto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study is to assess the composition of mammalian and avian communities in sites under two different cattle management plans: one where sheep are present along bovine cattle and another where pastures are grazed solely by bovines.

Winter Forage Yield Of Signal Grass (Brachiaria Brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich) R.D. Webster) At Different Cutting Frequency And N Fertilization, Pedro Arturo Martínez Hernández, Erick A. López Rojas, Rogelio Montero Rodríguez, Enrique Cortés Díaz, Iban Mendoza Pedroza, José L. Zaragoza Ramírez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Signal grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich) R.D. Webster) is widely grown in sub-humid tropical environments. In winter, shorter photoperiod and lower rainfall and temperatures reduce grass forage yield. Cutting frequency and N fertilization might reduce this negative effect (Whitehead, 1995; Pereira et al., 2014). The objective of the study was to determine winter forage yield total and by components of Signal grass under different cutting frequency and N fertilization.

Yak Rearing On High Altitude Pastures Of Northeastern Himalaya Of India: Their Utilization Strategies And Rejuvenation, Vijay Paul, Sanjit Maiti, G. Krishnan, D. Medhi, S. M. Deb

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Yak rearing on alpine pastures is the main occupation of the highland pastoral nomads (Brokpa and Dokpas) of north-east (NE) India. These pastoral nomads living in the remote mountains solely rely on high altitude pastures for their nutritional and livelihood security because of virtual existence of agricultural activities in this area. They rear yaks under transhumance and utilize various pastures while migrating from low land winter pastures to high altitude alpine pastures during summer. Therefore, the temperate and alpine pastures are the major feed resources for the yaks. The indiscriminate use of pastures and impending climate change results …

Use Of Native Grassland In Small-Scale Dairy Systems In The Highlands Of Central Mexico. A Case Study, P. A. Sainz-Sanchez, Carloss Manuel Arriaga-Jordan, D. Heredia Nava, C. G. Martinez-Garcia, F. Vicente, L. R. Garcia-Winder, A. Martinez-Fernandez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Small-scale dairy systems in Mexico comprise 78% of specialized dairy farms and provide 37% of national production. They are small farms with herds 3-35 cows plus replacements, and rely on family labour (Posadas-Domínguez et al., 2014).

In the highlands, many farms have native grasslands, grazed during the rainy season, and supplemented with other feeds as maize straw, maize grain and maize ears. Native grasslands have not been studied in this context. This is a case study on the use of native grassland in a small-scale dairy farm. The objective was to determine how native grasslands are integrated in feeding …

Date Palm Wastes As Growth Substrate In Hydroponics To Grow Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.), Khawla Mohammed Al Marzooqi

Aridland Agriculture Theses

Recently, many countries are practicing a variety of modern farming techniques like hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics vertical farming etc., to enhance production and quality of the production. Among such techniques, hydroponic system of production is growing plants in an appropriate substrate, which provides both physical and nutrient support with a suitable root environment. Substrate media can be either inorganic or organic. In this study, date palm leaf waste has been used, rock wool slab and cocopeat slab. The main objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using palm leaf wastes as a growing substrate extensively in the hydroponics …

A Global Perspective On Sustainable Intensification Research, Kenneth Cassman, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Despite general agreement that meeting food demand without further loss of natural ecosystems requires sustainable intensification, there is little dialogue about the research agenda needed to achieve it. To that end, we evaluate current trajectories towards sustainable intensification, review published research on the topic, identify missing links, and propose a prioritization framework to fill gaps. Although progress towards sustainable intensification is behind schedule, we are optimistic that current trends can get back on course assuming a well-prioritized and adequately funded research portfolio and appropriate policies and institutions to support it.

Ecological And Economic Benefits And Risks Of Using Botanical Insecticides In Tanzanian Farms, Lilia Garcia

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Insect damage is a major concern for smallholder farmers in developing countries like Tanzania. Synthetic insecticides can tame infestations, however they can be expensive, inaccessible, and their misuse can threaten farmer health and ecological conditions. Botanical insecticides are cheap alternatives to treat infestations while preserving beneficial insects such as pollinators, predators, and parasitoids. This study assesses how both synthetic and botanical insecticides affect beneficial insects, crop yield and profit/costs. This study finds botanical insecticides slightly less harmful towards non-target insects. Botanical insecticides seldomly improve crop yields but usually result in a higher profit/lower cost. Due to high variation in ecological …

Herbicide Injury From Dicamba And 2,4-D: How Much Is Too Much In Lettuce?, Xinzheng Chen, Amit J. Jhala, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Samuel E. Wortman

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

Off-target herbicide injury from dicamba and 2,4-D is an increasingly common problem for specialty crop growers in the Midwest United States. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a common specialty crops grown in Nebraska, but proximity to corn and soybean production leaves growers vulnerable to crop injury and significant economic loss. The goal of this study was to quantify crop injury and yield loss in greenhouse grown lettuce after exposure to simulated sub-lethal drift rates of 2,4-D and dicamba. Sublethal doses were determined based on a percentage of the maximum labeled rate and ranged from 25% to 0.01%. Tested lettuce …

Spring Meadow Management Practices: What’S A Rancher To Do?, Tara M. Harms, Jerry D. Volesky, Mitchell B. Stephenson

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

Subirrigated meadows are a valuable forage resource to ranching operations in the Nebraska Sandhills, being used for both hay production and livestock grazing.

The water table of these meadows is within one meter of the soil surface during the growing season.

In some years, wet conditions hinder meadow utilization, resulting in a buildup of standing dead and litter plant material which can lower forage production.

Investigate if burning and mowing are effective strategies to remove dead plant material from meadows • Determine if burning or mowing interact with grazing to influence end of season forage production

Burning or mowing effectively …

Closing Yield Gaps In Oil Palm Production Systems In Ghana Through Best Management Practices, Tiemen Rhebergen, Shamie Zingore, Ken E. Giller, Charles Adu Frimpong, Kwame Acheampong, Francis Tetteh Ohipeni, Edward Kofi Panyin, Victor Zutah, Thomas Fairhurst

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The area under oil palm in Ghana has expanded but average fruit bunch yields remained low, resulting in large yield gaps. This study assessed the potential for increasing yield with 'Best Management Practices (BMP)' on plantations and smallholder farms in southern Ghana, compared with current standard practices, i.e. reference (REF) yield. We evaluated short-term (≤1 year) yield increases with 'yield taking' (improved crop recovery), and long-term increases (>1 year) with 'yield making' (better agronomy) practices and identified the factors that contributed most to yield improvements. Average fruit bunch yield increases with BMP were 2.1 t ha−1 (+19%) and 4.7 …