Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Conserving Mountain Biodiversity In Southern Lesotho,
2023
UNDP GEF, Kenya
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Conserving Mountain Biodiversity In Southern Lesotho, W. A. Rodgers
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
The Kingdom of Lesotho contains some 70% of the Drakensberg-Maloti Mountains, recognised as the Eastern Mountains "Centre of Biodiversity and Endemism" of southern Africa. The Mountains have globally significant plant diversity, with unique habitats and high endemism. These resources have been increasingly degraded by a grazing regime based on communal access, with reduced regulatory capability. Lack of ownership has restricted investment in conservation. Lesotho has the lowest Protected Area coverage of any nation in Africa (<0.4%). Biodiversity is thus at risk.
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Southern Africa Botanical Network "Sabonet",
2023
SANBI, South Africa
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Southern Africa Botanical Network "Sabonet", Y. Steenkamp, W. A. Rodgers
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
This six-year biodiversity capacity building project closes at the end of June 2005. The principal outcomes have been greatly strengthened capacities within, and interaction between, the national herbaria of southern Africa, in order to improve plant taxonomic outputs to better serve the needs of conservation end-users. Grassland plants have in many ways been the main regional focus. The project was based in the National Botanical Institute (NBI) of Southern Africa (now the South Africa Biodiversity Institute - SANBI) and had components in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The NBI provide regional coordination and technical support.
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Into Productive Landscapes: The Southern African Grasslands Programme,
2023
South Africa Biodiversity Institute, South Africa
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Into Productive Landscapes: The Southern African Grasslands Programme, C. Maze, W. A. Rodgers
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
This is an exciting new initiative under the second strategic priority for the Global Environment Programme (GEF)'s Biodiversity Focal Area: Mainstreaming biodiversity into productive landscapes and sector. The rationale is that whilst grassland biomes cover some 30% of South Africa, (within montane, coastal and high-veld systems) less than 3% is formally protected at national, provincial or private land-owner levels. Over 40% of the grasslands have been totally converted to other land usages and 30% is degraded. Forces of degradation and conversion (cultivation, forests, urban spread) continue. The issues of conservation are of land use and putting in place incentives to …
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Tanzania Montane Grasslands Project,
2023
Wildlife Conservation Society, Tanzania
Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Tanzania Montane Grasslands Project, T. Davenport, W. A. Rodgers
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
The Tanzania Southern Highlands and adjacent Nyika montane grasslands in Malawi form a distinct centre of plant diversity and endemism. The area is characterised by complex geology with old basement mountains and much more recent volcanoes (Mount Rungwe) adjacent to the rift valet faulting with Lakes Malawi (Nyasa) and Rukwa. Lake proximity generates rainfall up to 3,000 mm per annum. The maximum altitude is 3,000 m asl.
Long Term Results For The Naturalisation Of River Valley Grassland In The Lower Floodplains Of The River Oder,
2023
Centre for Agricultural Landscapes and Land Use Research Müncheberg, Germany
Long Term Results For The Naturalisation Of River Valley Grassland In The Lower Floodplains Of The River Oder, G. Schalitz, A. Behrendt
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
The flooded grassland area in the lower reaches of the River Oder covers about 10,000 ha, of which 4,000 ha are situated on the German side and the remainder in Poland. In spite of extreme flooding conditions (annual winter flooding from 15 Dec. to 15 April and occasional summer flooding) the area was used very intensively in GDR times. After the political change in 1989, the management of the cross-border GermanPolish National Park, which was situated in this area, was changed abruptly to extensive grassland utilisation. This paper reports on changes in the composition and productivity of the grassland.
The Effects Of Water Availability On Plant Growth In Sesleria Albicans - Dominated Grasslands In The Burren, Co. Clare,
2023
University College Dublin, Ireland
The Effects Of Water Availability On Plant Growth In Sesleria Albicans - Dominated Grasslands In The Burren, Co. Clare, Patrick Moran, S. Ryal, B. Osborne
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
The Burren is a karstic region in the west of Ireland characterised by large areas of exposed limestone pavement with sparse vegetation. Despite the prevailing oceanic climate and high rainfall, substrate volumetric water content values are similar to those of semi-arid habitats due to high run-off. As a consequence, plants growing on the pavement regularly experience water deficit during the summer months. S. albicans, a species reported to be tolerant of water deficits, is one of the most abundant species growing on the limestone pavement. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of water availability on …
Forage Yield And Soil Moisture Content In Panicum Maximum Cv. Tanzania Monoculture And In A Mixture With Leucaena Leucocephala With Different Densities In Mexico,
2023
Universidad del Zulia, Mexico
Forage Yield And Soil Moisture Content In Panicum Maximum Cv. Tanzania Monoculture And In A Mixture With Leucaena Leucocephala With Different Densities In Mexico, H. J. Delgado Gómez, Juan C. Ku-Vera, J. Ku Vera, J. Escamilla Bencomo, P. A. Velázquez Madrazo
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Cattle production is limited by forage availability during the dry season since water and soil fertility are the main factors limiting production. Leucaena leucocephala has good nutritive value (24-30% CP). It can stand drought and grazing and so its introduction into pastures is recommended as an alternative to forage production during the dry season. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the introduction of L. leucocephala with different densities on biomass production of P. maximum and soil water content.
Effects Of Supplemental Irrigation On Berseem Seed Crop In A Semi-Arid Mediterranean Environment,
2023
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
Effects Of Supplemental Irrigation On Berseem Seed Crop In A Semi-Arid Mediterranean Environment, G. Amato, D. Giambalvo, C. Scarpello, P. Trapani
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Berseem seed production in Mediterranean environments is strongly influenced by soil water availability, particularly during spring growth. A long-term study (11 years) in Sicily recorded seed yields of between 0 and 1600 kg/ha, for an annual rainfall range of 289 to 867 mm (Stringi et al., 2001). It was proposed that water irrigation during sensitive growth stages could increase and stabilize seed yield. This research investigated the response of berseem seed crop to low levels of irrigation applied at different growth stages.
Primary Productivity And Water Use Of The Perennial Grass, Cenchrus Ciliaris, In Arid Environments,
2023
University of Sfax, Tunisia
Primary Productivity And Water Use Of The Perennial Grass, Cenchrus Ciliaris, In Arid Environments, L. Mnif, Mohamed Chaieb
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Cenchrus ciliaris is a perennial grass that may be suitable for the restoration of Rhanterium steppes (Chaieb et al., 1991). In this study, four Cenchrus ciliaris accessions from Tunisia from a range of climate and soil conditions, likely to vary in their adaptation to drought, were evaluated for productivity, rainuse-efficiency and reproductive output at Sfax in southern Tunisia. The suitability of these accessions for the restoration of Rhanterium steppes is considered.
Evaluation Of Sweet Grain Sorghum Silage For Dairy Cows As An Alternative To Irrigated Maize Silage,
2023
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France
Evaluation Of Sweet Grain Sorghum Silage For Dairy Cows As An Alternative To Irrigated Maize Silage, W. G. Do Nascimento, Y. Barrière, X. Charrier, Christian Huyghe, J. C. Emile
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Under European dairy cattle rearing conditions, whole plant maize silage is the main part of the dairy cow's diet especially during the winter season. Nevertheless maize production can be limited in some areas because summer rainfall is insufficient and so irrigation is necessary. Grain sorghum hybrids, and especially sweet sorghum types, are potentially of great interest to avoid this water consumption (Lemaire et al., 1996, Legarto, 2000). For this reason we evaluated in 2003 the benefits and limits of a sweet grain sorghum silage for dairy milk production, compared to an irrigated maize silage. We paid particularl attention to …
Enhancing Water Use Efficiency On Irrigated Dairy Pastures With Nitrogen Fertiliser,
2023
Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Enhancing Water Use Efficiency On Irrigated Dairy Pastures With Nitrogen Fertiliser, Frank R. Mckenzie, J. L. Jacobs, G. N. Ward
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Low summer rainfall in southwest Victoria, Australia, restricts pasture growth and limits milk production. One fifth of dairy farmers in the region have some capacity to irrigate during summer. Irrigated dairy pastures are relatively poor utilisers of water with water use efficiencies (WUE) of about 1 t DM/ML water (Ward et al. 1998). Using nitrogen (N) fertiliser may increase dry matter (DM) yields for a given amount of water. Data on N response efficiencies from irrigated pasture in southwest Victoria are lacking. Two experiments determined the potential of N fertiliser to maximise the conversion of irrigated water to pasture …
Responses Of Irrigated Pasture Nutritive Characteristics To Summer Nitrogen Fertiliser,
2023
Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Responses Of Irrigated Pasture Nutritive Characteristics To Summer Nitrogen Fertiliser, Frank R. Mckenzie, J. L. Jacobs, G. N. Ward
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Low summer rainfall in southwest Victoria, Australia, restricts pasture growth and reduces pasture nutritive value thereby limiting potential milk production. One fifth of dairy farmers in the region have some capacity to irrigate during summer and nitrogen (N) fertiliser is used to enhance pasture dry matter (DM) yield. Data on the effects of N fertiliser on irrigated pasture nutritive characteristics during summer in southwest Victoria are lacking. Two experiments determined the potential of N fertiliser to improve pasture nutritive (crude protein, CP and metabolisable energy, ME) value during summer.
Balancing Water Use Efficiency And Milk Production In The Sub-Tropics,
2023
The University of Queensland, Australia
Balancing Water Use Efficiency And Milk Production In The Sub-Tropics, Mark N. Callow, S. K. Kenman
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Queensland dairy farmers have had to confront in the last 5 years deregulation of the milk pricing system, resulting in a 25% reduction in farm gate price for milk in the year 2000, and drought. Many storage dams are significantly below capacity and regulatory authorities have imposed restrictions on irrigation water allocations. Major changes in farm business strategies were needed to overcome the shortfall in milk income. Production systems had to change to deliver more milk more efficiently and become more profitable. A farmlet study was developed in the sub-tropical dairy region of Queensland to evaluate 5 very different farm …
Rooting Pattern Distribution And Spatial Variability Of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum Lam) In A Mediterranean Region,
2023
University of Évora, Portugal
Rooting Pattern Distribution And Spatial Variability Of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum Lam) In A Mediterranean Region, M. R. G. Oliveira, F. C. Brasil, Q. I. Monteiro, R. O. P. Rossiello
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
It is estimated that less than 10% of the studies on pastures and forages have evaluated the subterranean biomass production. The objective of this study was to evaluate for a Mediterranean region the rooting characteristics and spatial variability of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) under two different soil water status conditions.
Effect Of Timing And Intensity Of Drought On Perennial Ryegrass Seed Yield,
2023
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited, New Zealand
Effect Of Timing And Intensity Of Drought On Perennial Ryegrass Seed Yield, R. J. Martin, R. N. Gillespie, S. Maley
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Perennial ryegrass seed worth about $50 million is produced annually in Canterbury, New Zealand (Rowarth 1998). Ryegrass seed production in New Zealand is often affected by drought, reducing both seed number and seed size (Rolston et al., 1994). Irrigation management recommendations are not currently available for farmers growing ryegrass seed crops. To quantify the effect of water stress on perennial ryegrass seed yield, we carried out an experiment in a rainshelter where rainfall was excluded from experimental plots otherwise exposed to normal weather (Martin et al., 1990).
Study On Transpiration Rates Of Vicia Villocea And Bromus Inermis Species,
2023
Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
Study On Transpiration Rates Of Vicia Villocea And Bromus Inermis Species, S. H. R. Sadeghi, N. Rahimzadeh
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Ecohydrology is concerned with the interaction between the hydrological and plant processes. Some aspects of the hydrologic cycle, such as transpiration and interception have received little attention owing to difficulties in field measurements. Quantifying the components of water balance for a watershed is crucial for understanding the dominant hydrologic processes occurring in a basin (Flerchinger & Cooley, 2000). Water use by vegetation is controlled by the water uptake by roots, the transfer of liquid water through plants and vapour loss from the leaf surfaces by the opening and closure of the stomata (Roberts, 2000) i.e. transpiration. Comparison of transpiration of …
Influence Of Water Stress On Root/Cladode Ratio And Water-Use Efficiency Of Opuntia Ficus-Indica And O. Robusta,
2023
University of the Free State, South Africa
Influence Of Water Stress On Root/Cladode Ratio And Water-Use Efficiency Of Opuntia Ficus-Indica And O. Robusta, Hennie A. Snyman
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Due to the regular occurrence of drought in southern Africa, there is a need for more research on drought tolerant fodder plants such as Opuntia (cactus pear) species. In contrast with the cladode system, the roots of cactus pear have received little attention, however, they certainly differ from other plants, as they develop xeromorphic characteristics, enabling the plant to survive prolonged periods of drought (Nobel, 1988). The influence of different water applications was evaluated in terms of root and cladode mass, water-use efficiency (WUE) and root length for one-year-old plants of Opuntia ficus-indica (cultivar Morado) and O. robusta (cultivar Monterey).
Variability In Tolerance To Water Stress By Holcus Lanatus L., Bromus Valdivianus Phil. And Agrostis Capillaris L. Accessions,
2023
Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile
Variability In Tolerance To Water Stress By Holcus Lanatus L., Bromus Valdivianus Phil. And Agrostis Capillaris L. Accessions, Ignacio F. López, Oscar A. Balocchi
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Holcus lanatus L. (Hl), Bromus valdivianus Phil. (Bv) and Agrostis capillaris L. (Ac) are frequently present in the naturalised pasture of the Chilean humid region, which has a summer drought with two distinguishable areas according to average summer rainfall: a Northern area (Long summer drought, LSuD: 136-186 mm;) and a Southern area (Short summer drought, SSuD: 186-338 mm). It was hypothesised that plant species have colonised areas with different water deficits during summer through differentiated drought tolerance, which would imply ecotype generation.
Development Of A Breeders’ Toolkit For Drought Resistance In A Lolium/Festuca Hybrid,
2023
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, UK
Development Of A Breeders’ Toolkit For Drought Resistance In A Lolium/Festuca Hybrid, J. Humphreys, I. P. Armstead, M. O. Humphreys
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Lolium multiflorum (Lm) is considered an ideal grass for European agriculture. However, existing high-quality forage Lm cultivars have been bred for intensive systems in benign environments, and have proved to be insufficiently robust to meet many of the environmental challenges that face extensive agriculture in more extreme conditions. Genes for persistency, tolerance of cold, drought and poor soils, can be found in currently under-exploited native Festuca ecotypes. These Festuca ecotypes cannot however compare with Lm cultivars for productivity or quality of forage under favourable conditions. Festuca glaucescens (Fg) is of Mediterranean origin and as such is adapted to drought and …
Impact Of Land Use On Water Quality In River Njoro Watershed, Kenya,
2023
Egerton University, Kenya
Impact Of Land Use On Water Quality In River Njoro Watershed, Kenya, W. A. Shivoga, M. Muchiri, S. Kibichi, J. Odanga, S. N. Miller, T. J. Baldyga, C. M. Gichaba
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Water resources within the River Njoro watershed have become degraded due to high population growth rate and change in land use upsetting environmental stability. Land cover classification using Landsat images (Baldyga et al., 2004) shows loss of about 20% of forested areas between 1986 and 2003 in the watershed. The forested and large-scale farm areas have been converted mainly into small-scale mixed agriculture and human settlements. These changes have impacted negatively on the ecological integrity and hydrologic processes in the watershed (Shivoga, 2001) but little is known about the influence of specific land uses on water quality of the …
