Plant Biology Commons^™

Determination Of Optimal Grazing Management For Dairy Cows In Galicia (Spain) Using A Decision Support System, O. P. Vázquez Yáñez, A. González Rodríguez, J. López Díaz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

GRAZEMORE is a decision support system (DSS) oriented to evaluate dairy grazing management decisions on pasture growth and milk production. The system integrates a herbage growth model (Barrett et al., 2003) and a herbage intake model (Delagarde et al., 2004) and has been validated in several EU countries. The objective of this work was to use this DSS to determine optimal grazing management of dairy cows at three supplementation levels and three grazing management strategies under Galician conditions.

Forecasting Forage Yields Using The Arima Model In Pastoral Areas Of East Africa, Robert J. Kaitho, J. W. Stuth, Jay Angerer, A. A. Jama

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Predicting forage supply is an age old quest for pastoralists, particularly in fragile and drought- prone areas of Africa. Traditional methods of forecasting forage used by many communities have become less effective due to climate change, frequent droughts and decline of grazing areas. Conflicts relating to available forage and water resources are increasing, because more marginal lands are put to crop production. A new forage forecasting technology has been developed that provides a comprehensive view of current forage condition (Stuth et al., 2004). A multiple species grazing land plant growth hydrology based model (PHYGROW) was parameterised with site-specific soil, …

Sensitivity Analysis Of A Growth Simulation For Finishing Lambs, P. C. H. Morel, B. Wildbore, I. M. Brookes, Paul R. Kenyon, R. W. Purchas, S. Ramaswami

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A stochastic lamb growth simulation model with a set of heuristic rules has been developed to evaluate management strategies for a solely pastoral grazing system in New Zealand (Morel et al., 2005). In the present paper the results of a sensitivity analysis for this model are presented.

A Model To Evaluate Buying And Selling Policies For Growing Lambs On Pasture, P. C. H. Morel, B. Wildbore, I. M. Brookes, Paul R. Kenyon, R. W. Purchas, S. Ramaswami

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In pastoral sheep finishing systems, farmers aim to maximize profitability by deciding on when and how many animals to buy and/or sell, while taking into account feed availability and current prices. This paper describes a stochastic lamb growth simulation model with a set of heuristic rules, which has been developed to financially evaluate different management strategies for growing lambs on pasture.

Canasta - Crop Niche Selection For Tropical Agriculture, A Spatial Decision Support System, R. O'Brien, M. Peters, R. Corner, S. Cook

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Farmers in the developing world frequently find themselves in uncertain and risky environments, often having to make decisions based on very little information. Risks for smallholder farmers are often critical because of their poverty. In addition, in the tropics and subtropics, the natural environment is spatially and temporally variable and often harsh, thereby increasing the uncertainty faced by these farmers. This research aims to improve forage adoption decisions in the developing world, thereby increasing sustainable intensification and ultimately contributing to increased sustainable world food production and the alleviation of under-nutrition.

An Internet-Based Tool For Use In Assessing The Likely Effect Of Intensification On Losses Of Nitrogen To The Environment, N. J. Hutchings, B. M. Petersen, I. S. Kristensen, N. Detlefsen, M. S. Jørgensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The EU Nitrates, Habitat and National Emissions Ceilings directives and the Kyoto Agreement mean that agricultural losses of NO₃, NH₃ and N₂O are under scrutiny by national and international environmental authorities. When farmers wish to intensify their operations, the authorities must then assess the likely environmental impact of the change in operation. The FARM-N internet tool was developed to help farmers and authorities agree how the farm will be structured and managed in the future, and to provide an objective assessment of the environmental losses that will result.

Software Ppbb_Mx: Potential Productivity Modelling Of Brachiaria Brizantha (Cultivars Marandu And Xaraés), E. R. Detomini, D. Dourado Neto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Recent improvements in computer capacity and technology allow models to be built to simulate the attributes of many agricultural processes and systems. Although Brachiaria brizantha is the most cultivated tropical grass species in Brazil, there is no single tool to predict its production under optimal conditions. The objective of this paper is to present PPBB_MX software to calibrate and simulate (using a stochastical procedure) the shoot and total biomass potential productivity (output variables) of Brachiaria brizantha as a function of the following input variables: local latitude, season (from cutting date - Julian day), length of regrowth (time, days) and climate …

N-Mineralisation And Phosphorous: Important Elements In Decision Support For Grassland Systems, A. Lisbeth Nielsen, C. C. Hoffmann

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Leaching of N and P from extensively managed grasslands on organic soils varies considerably. In environmentally sensitive areas it is important to diminish leaching by appropriate agricultural management. In Denmark low grazing intensity and management without fertilisation have been given a high priority. The type of soil has not been equally in focus, and it seems that the effect of cutting, compared to grazing, resulting in a higher removal of nutrients (e.g. Benke et al., 1992) can be used more strategically. The objective of this case study was to combine data from management strategies with data from leaching examinations …

Artturi Assists Finnish Advisers And Farmers To Succeed In Grass-Based Dairy Production, Marketta Rinne, Pekka Huhtanen, Kaisa Kuoppala, H. Nikander, J. Nousiainen, M. Hellämäki, L. Nyholm, J. Helminen, K. Lampinen, M. Maisi, M. Korhonen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Artturi is a collective name for a wide range of services. It is a common tool for different bodies who share an interest in strengthening grass-based dairy production in Finland: research, advisory service and industries. The Service is named after A. I. (Artturi Ilmari) Virtanen, the Finnish scientist who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1945, partly based on his work in developing the ensiling process of grass. The Artturi web site is available in Internet at: http://www.agronet.fi/artturi. Access to Artturi Services is free and no registration is required. The language used is Finnish. During summer 2003, 15,000 visits were …

Involvement Of Maasai Pastoralists In Participatory Rangeland Management Planning And Implementation, Evelyne Kiptot, W, Ego, D. Ochieng, A. Mohamed

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The pastoral Maasai lifestyle was and still is traditionally based on subsistence dairy and meat production. But with population increase, the rangelands can no longer sustainably support livestock production systems. Most of the rangelands which are used for grazing have been subdivided and partially cleared to pave way for cultivation, because of increased population pressure (Ego et al., 1999). This has led to a tendency to overgraze, thus impacting negatively on secondary production from the range. In order to effectively reverse this trend, the users of the rangeland resources were brought together to analyse constraints and opportunities for sustainable …

Management Of Pasture Quality For Sheep On New Zealand Hill Country, D. I. Gray, J. I. Reid, P. D. Kemp, I. M. Brookes, D. Horne, Paul R. Kenyon, C. Matthew, S. T. Morris, I. Valentine

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The control of pasture quality over spring is central to the achievement of high levels of sheep performance on hill country. Despite this, with the exception of the work of Lambert et al. (2000), little is known about how farmers actually manage pasture quality. The purpose of this research was to describe how a high performing hill country farmer manages pasture quality on their sheep area over spring and from this develop a framework that will assist other farmers improve their pasture management.

Decision Support System For Grassland-Based Sheep Production In The Chilean Patagonia, R. R. Vera, S. Morales, C. Aguilar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Temporal decision-making in sheep production systems of the Chilean Patagonia is influenced by forage availability in existing paddocks, which in turn is determined by previous use, localisation, climate and soil. Also, production strategies are evolving, with a trend towards fat lamb production, introduction of new breeds and a reduction in the importance of wool production. The objective of this study was to develop an initial version of a spatial empirical simulation model based on extremely limited information, to predict forage growth and sheep production so that decision-makers can assess alternative production strategies.

Accelerating The Impacts Of Participatory Research And Extension: Lessons From Laos, Joanne E. Miller, Viengxay Photakoun, J. G. Connell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The role of participatory research and extension in stimulating farmer uptake and adaptation of beneficial technologies has been demonstrated over the last two decades in both developed and developing countries. The challenge is to move beyond simply trialling new technologies with farmers on a small scale to enabling significant livelihood impacts across larger numbers of households, villages and districts. This paper presents results of a project in Lao PDR exploring ways to accelerate and spread localised impacts in complex upland farming systems.

A Decision Support System For Monitoring Livestock Diet Quality And Performance: Verification Study On Cattle, Adami Tulu, Ethiopia, A. A. Jama, G. Tolleson, J. W. Stuth, Abule Ebro, K. Zander, Robert J. Kaitho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fecal profiling technology based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been widely used in the U.S. to predict the diet quality and performance of free-ranging animals (e.g. Leite & Stuth 1995, Lyons & Stuth 1992, Lyons et al., 1993, Stuth et al., 1999, Tolleson et al., 2001). This technology is linked with the Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL-PRO) model to form the core of a nutritional advisory system for livestock producers in the United States. This model predicts changes in body weight and condition for a broad range of livestock classes for cattle, sheep and goats. To test …

Irish Grassland Association: Delivering The Benefits From Grassland, S. Flanagan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Irish Grassland Association (IGA) is Ireland's leading forum for discussing the science of grass and animal production, the economics and finances of dairy, beef cattle and sheep farm enterprises. Membership is 800 and is a lively mix of progressive farmers (70%), research scientists, advisers and agribusiness personnel. The IGA is a member of the European Grassland Federation and has close ties with the Ulster Grassland Society, Fermanagh Grassland Club and the British Grassland Society.

The Role Of The British Grassland Society In Technology Transfer, J. M. Crichton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since its formation in 1945, the British Grassland Society (BGS) has been active in disseminating information to the grassland and associated sectors of agriculture and has adapted to a change from production-based agriculture to its current output mix of private and public goods. The BGS has as its remit: (a) improved production and utilisation of grass and forage crops for the promotion of agriculture and the public benefit, and (b) the advancement of education and research in grass and forage crop production and utilisation, and the publication of results.

Reproductive Ecology And Bee Associates Of Packard’S Milkvetch (Astragalus Packardiae), A Rare Plant Endemic To Southwestern Idaho, Justin R. Fulkerson, C. Lynn Kinter

Western North American Naturalist

Conservation of rare plants is dependent on identifying mechanisms that limit their population or persistence. Successful pollination of flowers is one life history trait that is often limiting in plants occurring in fragmented landscapes. We studied pollinator associates and seed production in Astragalus packardiae (= A. cusickii var. packardiae, Packard’s milkvetch), a narrow endemic that is imperiled as a result of nonnative annual grasses, increased wildfire, recreational off-highway vehicle use, and livestock use. We used pollinator exclusion bags to examine the breeding system of Packard’s milkvetch. We collected and videotaped floral visitors to determine the makeup of the associates …

Evidence Of Competitive Release Following Overstory Mortality In A Semi-Arid Piñon-Juniper Woodland, Corrie D. Gonzalez

Biology ETDs

Extreme temperatures and severe drought events have led to widespread tree mortality worldwide. In semi-arid regions of the Southwest United States, these events pose a significant threat to piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands. We studied the effects of piñon and juniper mortality on the growth and physiology of existing saplings in PJ woodlands by analyzing water status, photosynthetic activity, and tissue chemistry to gain insights into these impacts. Juniper saplings exhibited improved water status and water use efficiency in response to overstory mortality, whereas piñon saplings did not. Additionally, both piñon and juniper saplings exhibited increased photosynthetic rates, increased photosynthetic capacity, and …

Vegetation Survey Data For Spring Run Experimental Site, Valerie N. Thurston, Ryan W. Mcewan, Anna R. Pallone, Mary C. Lloyd

Data Files: Ecosystem Restoration Following Industrial Agriculture

This spreadsheet is the percent cover of each species surveyed in the Spring Run experimental restoration site (39° 46 '42.2"N, 84° 20' 52.5"W) collected at the quadrat level.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26890/fdw4698

Lunchbox Hydroponics, Stacy A. Adams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Growing plants with hydroponics is less complicated than it may appear when the fundamentals of the system are understood. This publication provides instruction on the construction of a simple hydroponic prototype suitable for school or youth education programs. The fundamentals of hydroponics, basic design of a solution system, seed starting, creating a nutrient solution, and plant care are explored through this engaging project. This prototype can successfully be used to grow small edible and herb plants in the classroom or at home.