Katherine N. Tozer, Rose M. Greenfield, Catherine A. Cameron, Martin P. Upsdell, David E. Hume
Background
Grazing approaches are needed to increase the resilience of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-based pastures subject to increasing drought stress. One opportunity has focused on seedhead management in late spring. Paddock-level studies demonstrated increased pasture resilience when ryegrass seedheads are allowed to mature, but knowledge is lacking on how defoliation management affects plant carbohydrate status and hence resilience in the sward.
Methods
A glasshouse study was conducted from spring to autumn using 1 m deep root tubes. Plant growth and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves were measured every 4–6 weeks. Defoliation treatments comprised “VEGETATIVE”—regular defoliation based on leaf stage and trimmed to 4 cm; “FLOWERING”—no defoliation spring to anthesis; and “SENESCENT”—no defoliation spring to reproductive tiller senescence. Thereafter, regular defoliation was carried out for all treatments until the end of the study. From spring to the end of summer, plants were watered daily in WET (no drought, well watered) and on four occasions in DRY (drought) treatments, with daily watering thereafter.
Results
Herbage mass, tillering, root depth, root mass, and WSC were generally higher in SENESCENT than VEGETATIVE with FLOWERING intermediate (p < 0.05). Nutritive values were similar in VEGETATIVE and FLOWERING, but in SENESCENT, metabolizable energy and crude protein declined and neutral detergent fiber increased (p < 0.05). Soil moisture effects were small, with the DRY treatment resulting in moderate suppression of herbage growth and a minor reduction in WSC reserves (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Results were consistent with field studies and recommendations to allow perennial ryegrass tillers to set seed to improve pasture resilience.
{"title":"Effect of three defoliation frequency treatments and drought on perennial ryegrass herbage and root growth and water-soluble carbohydrate reserves","authors":"Katherine N. Tozer, Rose M. Greenfield, Catherine A. Cameron, Martin P. Upsdell, David E. Hume","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12105","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Grazing approaches are needed to increase the resilience of perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.)-based pastures subject to increasing drought stress. One opportunity has focused on seedhead management in late spring. Paddock-level studies demonstrated increased pasture resilience when ryegrass seedheads are allowed to mature, but knowledge is lacking on how defoliation management affects plant carbohydrate status and hence resilience in the sward.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A glasshouse study was conducted from spring to autumn using 1 m deep root tubes. Plant growth and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves were measured every 4–6 weeks. Defoliation treatments comprised “VEGETATIVE”—regular defoliation based on leaf stage and trimmed to 4 cm; “FLOWERING”—no defoliation spring to anthesis; and “SENESCENT”—no defoliation spring to reproductive tiller senescence. Thereafter, regular defoliation was carried out for all treatments until the end of the study. From spring to the end of summer, plants were watered daily in WET (no drought, well watered) and on four occasions in DRY (drought) treatments, with daily watering thereafter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Herbage mass, tillering, root depth, root mass, and WSC were generally higher in SENESCENT than VEGETATIVE with FLOWERING intermediate (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Nutritive values were similar in VEGETATIVE and FLOWERING, but in SENESCENT, metabolizable energy and crude protein declined and neutral detergent fiber increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Soil moisture effects were small, with the DRY treatment resulting in moderate suppression of herbage growth and a minor reduction in WSC reserves (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results were consistent with field studies and recommendations to allow perennial ryegrass tillers to set seed to improve pasture resilience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 4","pages":"347-363"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12105","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143253284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sandra Loaiza, Ciniro Costa Jr, Mayesse A. da Silva, Ngonidzashe Chirinda, Idupulapati Rao, Jacobo Arango, Jeimar Tapasco, Glenn Hyman
Background
There is limited knowledge on how to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under tropical conditions. This study investigates SOC changes after converting land from native savanna (NS) to improved pasture (IP) land use.
Methods
Two acidic soil conversion sites were examined: (i) a poorly drained slope with medium-texture soil (Casanare [CAS]1) and (ii) flat terrain with fine-texture soil (CAS2). Another flat site was evaluated (Atlántico [ATL]), with fine-textured to moderately textured neutral soil. Soil samples were collected and analyzed. SOC stocks (0–60 cm soil depth) were estimated, with a complex analysis of variance analyzing pasture type and soil depth.
Results
NS to IP conversion resulted in significant SOC accumulation in two regions, with losses in one (CAS2). ATL showed higher SOC accumulation than CAS. IP adoption led to SOC accumulation at depth (0–60 cm) after 10 years in CAS1. Elevated clay content in CAS2 favored SOC storage, while poorly drained areas hindered accumulation in CAS1. Cultivating rice before IP at CAS2 likely depleted SOC (0–20 cm), with 4 years of IP not restoring initial levels.
Conclusions
Adopting IP over NS can increase SOC. Grassland type, soil properties, and land-use change all influence SOC accumulation. These data inform sustainable land management for low-emission livestock production.
{"title":"Soil organic carbon increase on conversion of native savanna to improved pasture in two regions of Colombia","authors":"Sandra Loaiza, Ciniro Costa Jr, Mayesse A. da Silva, Ngonidzashe Chirinda, Idupulapati Rao, Jacobo Arango, Jeimar Tapasco, Glenn Hyman","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12101","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There is limited knowledge on how to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under tropical conditions. This study investigates SOC changes after converting land from native savanna (NS) to improved pasture (IP) land use.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two acidic soil conversion sites were examined: (i) a poorly drained slope with medium-texture soil (Casanare [CAS]<sub>1</sub>) and (ii) flat terrain with fine-texture soil (CAS<sub>2</sub>). Another flat site was evaluated (Atlántico [ATL]), with fine-textured to moderately textured neutral soil. Soil samples were collected and analyzed. SOC stocks (0–60 cm soil depth) were estimated, with a complex analysis of variance analyzing pasture type and soil depth.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>NS to IP conversion resulted in significant SOC accumulation in two regions, with losses in one (CAS<sub>2</sub>). ATL showed higher SOC accumulation than CAS. IP adoption led to SOC accumulation at depth (0–60 cm) after 10 years in CAS<sub>1</sub>. Elevated clay content in CAS<sub>2</sub> favored SOC storage, while poorly drained areas hindered accumulation in CAS<sub>1</sub>. Cultivating rice before IP at CAS<sub>2</sub> likely depleted SOC (0–20 cm), with 4 years of IP not restoring initial levels.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Adopting IP over NS can increase SOC. Grassland type, soil properties, and land-use change all influence SOC accumulation. These data inform sustainable land management for low-emission livestock production.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 4","pages":"318-330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12101","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143252839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily A. Geest, Raymond A. Moranz, Kristen A. Baum
Background
As grasslands decline, grassland-dependent species such as grassland butterflies have experienced widespread population losses. To manage remaining grasslands, prescribed fire, grazing, and haying are common management practices across the Southern Great Plains of the United States. However, the impacts of management and land use intensity (LUI) on butterfly community composition and butterfly community traits are not well understood. Additionally, local habitat characteristics such as vegetation height and cover, as well as broader landscape categorization, including how much agriculture or urbanization is occurring around the habitat, can alter butterfly communities.
Methods
We conducted standardized butterfly and flowering forb surveys at grassland sites across north-central Oklahoma.
Results
LUI influenced overall butterfly community composition with sites managed only with fire having the most dissimilar butterfly community compared to three other management regimens. The amount of agriculture, urbanization, and wetlands surrounding study sites also influenced butterfly community composition. Flowering forb community measures differed by site with sites managed by fire alone having lower blooming forbs species richness, diversity, and abundance than sites with other management regimens.
Conclusions
Sites managed with only prescribed fire had the most disparate butterfly community in comparison to other management methods, suggesting that specialist butterfly species may be sensitive to increasing disturbance.
{"title":"The effect of land use intensity and habitat characteristics on butterfly community composition within the Southern Great Plains of the United States","authors":"Emily A. Geest, Raymond A. Moranz, Kristen A. Baum","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12099","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>As grasslands decline, grassland-dependent species such as grassland butterflies have experienced widespread population losses. To manage remaining grasslands, prescribed fire, grazing, and haying are common management practices across the Southern Great Plains of the United States. However, the impacts of management and land use intensity (LUI) on butterfly community composition and butterfly community traits are not well understood. Additionally, local habitat characteristics such as vegetation height and cover, as well as broader landscape categorization, including how much agriculture or urbanization is occurring around the habitat, can alter butterfly communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted standardized butterfly and flowering forb surveys at grassland sites across north-central Oklahoma.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>LUI influenced overall butterfly community composition with sites managed only with fire having the most dissimilar butterfly community compared to three other management regimens. The amount of agriculture, urbanization, and wetlands surrounding study sites also influenced butterfly community composition. Flowering forb community measures differed by site with sites managed by fire alone having lower blooming forbs species richness, diversity, and abundance than sites with other management regimens.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sites managed with only prescribed fire had the most disparate butterfly community in comparison to other management methods, suggesting that specialist butterfly species may be sensitive to increasing disturbance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 4","pages":"306-317"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12099","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pearl millet is characterized by its high dry matter (DM) yields with a high moisture content, which makes it difficult to process as silage.
Methods
Pearl millet was sown in mid-September for 3 years to examine its growth, DM yields in early December, and decrease in DM percentage after frost exposure. The crop was processed as round-bale silage to assess silage quality and preference by breeding beef cattle.
Results
Plants reached a height of 160–200 cm, with heading tiller percentages of 50%–70% in early December. With frost exposure, DM percentage increased in leaves and panicles, followed by stems, reaching over 40%, 1 month after exposure. These increases were positively correlated with cumulative frost exposure. After frost exposure, in vitro DM digestibility and crude protein content declined while acid detergent fiber content increased. Repeated cafeteria feeding experiments showed a reduced preference for either pearl millet silage or Italian ryegrass hay. The silage showed moderate acidity at pH 4.73–5.40, with lactic acid at 0.58%–1.62% DM, acetic acid at 0.03%–0.10% DM, and negligible butyric acid, indicating a satisfactory quality.
Conclusions
In Southern Kyushu, pearl millet sown in late summer can be processed into low-moisture round-bale silage in January, the year following sowing.
{"title":"Yield, silage quality, and feeding preference of late-summer sown pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone) in Southern Kyushu","authors":"Genki Ishigaki, Mitsuhiro Niimi, Hikaru Shigedomi, Yuuto Sasaki, Sachiko Idota, Yasuyuki Ishii","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12096","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pearl millet is characterized by its high dry matter (DM) yields with a high moisture content, which makes it difficult to process as silage.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pearl millet was sown in mid-September for 3 years to examine its growth, DM yields in early December, and decrease in DM percentage after frost exposure. The crop was processed as round-bale silage to assess silage quality and preference by breeding beef cattle.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plants reached a height of 160–200 cm, with heading tiller percentages of 50%–70% in early December. With frost exposure, DM percentage increased in leaves and panicles, followed by stems, reaching over 40%, 1 month after exposure. These increases were positively correlated with cumulative frost exposure. After frost exposure, in vitro DM digestibility and crude protein content declined while acid detergent fiber content increased. Repeated cafeteria feeding experiments showed a reduced preference for either pearl millet silage or Italian ryegrass hay. The silage showed moderate acidity at pH 4.73–5.40, with lactic acid at 0.58%–1.62% DM, acetic acid at 0.03%–0.10% DM, and negligible butyric acid, indicating a satisfactory quality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In Southern Kyushu, pearl millet sown in late summer can be processed into low-moisture round-bale silage in January, the year following sowing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 4","pages":"364-372"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12096","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143253491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>When I was born in 1951, earth's atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was around 310 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> (i.e., parts per million), with an annual rate of increase averaging some 0.8 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year (NOAA, <span>2024</span>). When I commenced my research career in 1984, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was 340 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, with a decadal average increase for the 1980s of 1.6 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year. In August 2024, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was reported as 423 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, with the decadal mean annual increase for the 2010s nearing 2.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year (NOAA, <span>2024</span>). In the same period, Earth's human population has increased from 2.5 to 8.0 billion. Science says the increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, together with other trace gases, notably methane and nitrous oxide, will decrease the proportion of insolation received by earth that is reflected back into space, and so warm the planet. The expectation of global temperature increase is the climate change story; it has been told repeatedly in many forums such as the IPCC documents and debated at great length by “believers” and “deniers.” I will not dwell on it here.</p><p>There is ample evidence that the predictions are being fulfilled (see, e.g., Figure 2 of Yuan & Hou, <span>2015</span>). The acceptance of climate change as fact is now mainstream, with the global temperature rise to date frequently stated to be in the vicinity of 1.1°C (IPCC, <span>2023</span>). Europe is leading the way among nations in transforming lifestyles to achieve carbon neutrality (EU, <span>2020</span>). The increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> and population increase are closely linked. Fundamentally, humans need energy to drive their homes, motorcars, and industries; much of this energy comes from burning fossil fuels, thereby releasing CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere that was sequestered in past geological eras. What intuitively perturbs me about the raw NOAA data is that the rate of increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is still increasing. After all the international effort, I had thought that the annual rate of global atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> increase would be falling by now, not still rising.</p><p>I turn to the 2023 IPCC 6th Assessment report for guidance as to the status of the collective international effort in climate change mitigation. For me, the report does not join the dots and only increases my feeling of concern. “Summary for policymakers, Figure 5” is telling; it depicts annual global emissions of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalents around 55 Gt per year, and shows that this needs to be halved by 2040 to limit warming to 1.5–2°C. I wondered to myself what the current annual CO<sub>2</sub> increase of 3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year would convert into in units of Gt, so I looked up the weight of the earth's atmosphere—5.15 million Gt. Thus, a 3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> annual increase is about 15.5 Gt. Allowin
{"title":"Our world is changing","authors":"Cory Matthew","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12102","url":null,"abstract":"<p>When I was born in 1951, earth's atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was around 310 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> (i.e., parts per million), with an annual rate of increase averaging some 0.8 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year (NOAA, <span>2024</span>). When I commenced my research career in 1984, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was 340 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, with a decadal average increase for the 1980s of 1.6 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year. In August 2024, atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration was reported as 423 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, with the decadal mean annual increase for the 2010s nearing 2.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year (NOAA, <span>2024</span>). In the same period, Earth's human population has increased from 2.5 to 8.0 billion. Science says the increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, together with other trace gases, notably methane and nitrous oxide, will decrease the proportion of insolation received by earth that is reflected back into space, and so warm the planet. The expectation of global temperature increase is the climate change story; it has been told repeatedly in many forums such as the IPCC documents and debated at great length by “believers” and “deniers.” I will not dwell on it here.</p><p>There is ample evidence that the predictions are being fulfilled (see, e.g., Figure 2 of Yuan & Hou, <span>2015</span>). The acceptance of climate change as fact is now mainstream, with the global temperature rise to date frequently stated to be in the vicinity of 1.1°C (IPCC, <span>2023</span>). Europe is leading the way among nations in transforming lifestyles to achieve carbon neutrality (EU, <span>2020</span>). The increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> and population increase are closely linked. Fundamentally, humans need energy to drive their homes, motorcars, and industries; much of this energy comes from burning fossil fuels, thereby releasing CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere that was sequestered in past geological eras. What intuitively perturbs me about the raw NOAA data is that the rate of increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is still increasing. After all the international effort, I had thought that the annual rate of global atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> increase would be falling by now, not still rising.</p><p>I turn to the 2023 IPCC 6th Assessment report for guidance as to the status of the collective international effort in climate change mitigation. For me, the report does not join the dots and only increases my feeling of concern. “Summary for policymakers, Figure 5” is telling; it depicts annual global emissions of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalents around 55 Gt per year, and shows that this needs to be halved by 2040 to limit warming to 1.5–2°C. I wondered to myself what the current annual CO<sub>2</sub> increase of 3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> per year would convert into in units of Gt, so I looked up the weight of the earth's atmosphere—5.15 million Gt. Thus, a 3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> annual increase is about 15.5 Gt. Allowin","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"217-218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142451233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luis A. Vallejos-Fernández, Ricardo Guillén, César Pinares-Patiño, Rubén García-Ticllacuri, Yudith Y. Muñoz-Vilchez, Carlos Quilcate, Wuesley Y. Alvarez-García
Background
Evaluation of forage resources is vital for the sustainability of livestock farming in the South American Andes, especially under conditions of low water availability for irrigation and acid soils.
Methods
We evaluated the productivity and nutritive value of two cultivars of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and one of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) in three high-altitude sites (AL) of the northern highlands of Peru: AL-I: 2300–2800 m.a.s.l, AL-II: 2801–3300 m.a.s.l. and AL-III: 3301–3800 m.a.s.l., for 1 year. The parameters evaluated were dry matter yield (DMY), plant height (PH), growth rate (GR) and nutritional value.
Results
Plantain achieved the greatest annual DMY (ADMY), PH and GR compared to the two chicory cultivars (9.34, 9.56 and 13.39 Mg ha−1 for Puna II and Sese 100 chicory and Tonic plantain, respectively; p = 0.0019). The greatest ADMY and GR occurred at AL-I. Regarding nutritional value, differences were observed only for in vitro digestibility of dry matter and metabolisable energy with chicory cultivars higher than plantain.
Conclusions
The results indicate that the three cultivars evaluated may be used as a nutritional supplement in cattle feed, associated with grasses because they have high nutritive value suitable for milk production in the mountain regions of Peru.
{"title":"Forage yield and nutritive value of plantain and chicory for livestock feed at high altitudes in Peru","authors":"Luis A. Vallejos-Fernández, Ricardo Guillén, César Pinares-Patiño, Rubén García-Ticllacuri, Yudith Y. Muñoz-Vilchez, Carlos Quilcate, Wuesley Y. Alvarez-García","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12098","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Evaluation of forage resources is vital for the sustainability of livestock farming in the South American Andes, especially under conditions of low water availability for irrigation and acid soils.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We evaluated the productivity and nutritive value of two cultivars of chicory (<i>Cichorium intybus</i> L.) and one of plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in three high-altitude sites (AL) of the northern highlands of Peru: AL-I: 2300–2800 m.a.s.l, AL-II: 2801–3300 m.a.s.l. and AL-III: 3301–3800 m.a.s.l., for 1 year. The parameters evaluated were dry matter yield (DMY), plant height (PH), growth rate (GR) and nutritional value.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plantain achieved the greatest annual DMY (ADMY), PH and GR compared to the two chicory cultivars (9.34, 9.56 and 13.39 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> for Puna II and Sese 100 chicory and Tonic plantain, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.0019). The greatest ADMY and GR occurred at AL-I. Regarding nutritional value, differences were observed only for in vitro digestibility of dry matter and metabolisable energy with chicory cultivars higher than plantain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results indicate that the three cultivars evaluated may be used as a nutritional supplement in cattle feed, associated with grasses because they have high nutritive value suitable for milk production in the mountain regions of Peru.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"243-248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12098","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>Plants provide a habitat for a tremendous diversity of microbes, including bacteria and fungi, with the relationship ranging from mutualism to parasitism. The assemblages of microbes hosted on the stem and leaf surfaces and in internal tissues of plants are defined as plant microbiomes (Gilbert & Parker, <span>2023</span>). Plant microbiomes play a critical role in promoting host plant fitness through enhanced nutrition acquisition, stress tolerance, and also resistance to herbivores and pathogens (Trivedi et al., <span>2020</span>). Specifically, antagonistic phyllosphere microbes can regulate plant resistance substances and signaling pathways, and influence the outcome of plant–pathogen interactions (i.e., diseases) (Agrios, <span>2005</span>). In fact, the process of pathogens infecting host plants can be seen as the colonization by “invasive” species of plant microbiomes, in which environmental filtering and competitive exclusion processes play important roles (Liu et al., <span>2021</span>). The process of infection by plant disease agents is also regulated by biocontrol agents (BCAs), including <i>Trichoderma</i> and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). To better understand the relationship between plants and their microbiome, we need to go beyond the previous studies on how A affects B and clarify the interaction among all players through more rigorous and complex field and greenhouse manipulative experiments.</p><p>Although the interactions between plant microbiomes and pathogens have been the subject of active research in recent years (e.g., Carrión et al., <span>2019</span>; Kwak et al., <span>2018</span>; Yin et al., <span>2021</span>), the influence and modifying role of BCAs in these interactions are still unclear. The reason for this knowledge gap is that the analysis of the complex interactions among plant microbiomes, BCAs, and pathogens requires controlled experiments, and sequencing is essential for analyzing the plant microbiome. A recently published paper in <i><b>Grassland Research</b></i> by Zhu et al. (doi:10.1002/glr2.12081) used greenhouse manipulative experiments, combined with high-throughput sequencing, to provide novel insights into these complex interactions. Based on their findings, the authors suggest that the BCAs can induce plant defense by shifting the community composition of plant microbiomes toward favorable phyllosphere bacteria.</p><p>Both <i>Trichoderma</i> and plant PGPR are used as BCAs for common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa</i> L.), while anthracnose caused by <i>Colletotrichum spinaciae</i> usually reduces the yield of common vetch. In their study, Zhu et al. manipulated the presence or absence of two PGPRs, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i>, and also <i>Trichoderma longibrachiatum</i>, and evaluated the anthracnose disease index 7 days after <i>C. spinaciae</i> inoculation. They found that common vetch with PGPR and <i>T. longibrachiatum</i> showed significant reduct
植物为种类繁多的微生物（包括细菌和真菌）提供了栖息地，它们之间的关系从互生到寄生不等。寄居在植物茎叶表面和内部组织中的微生物群被定义为植物微生物群（Gilbert & Parker, 2023）。植物微生物群通过增强营养获取能力、抗逆性以及对食草动物和病原体的抵抗力，在促进寄主植物健康方面发挥着至关重要的作用（Trivedi 等人，2020 年）。具体来说，拮抗植物叶球微生物可以调节植物抗性物质和信号通路，并影响植物与病原体相互作用（即病害）的结果（Agrios，2005）。事实上，病原体感染寄主植物的过程可视为植物微生物群落中 "入侵 "物种的定殖过程，其中环境过滤和竞争排斥过程发挥了重要作用（Liu 等人，2021 年）。植物病原菌的感染过程也受到生物控制剂（BCA）的调控，包括毛霉和植物生长促进根瘤菌（PGPR）。为了更好地理解植物与其微生物组之间的关系，我们需要超越以往关于 A 如何影响 B 的研究，通过更严格、更复杂的田间和温室操作实验来阐明所有参与者之间的相互作用。虽然植物微生物组与病原体之间的相互作用是近年来活跃的研究主题（例如，Carrión 等人，2019 年；Kwak 等人，2018 年；Yin 等人，2021 年），但 BCA 在这些相互作用中的影响和调节作用仍不清楚。造成这一知识空白的原因是，分析植物微生物组、BCA 和病原体之间复杂的相互作用需要对照实验，而测序对于分析植物微生物组至关重要。Zhu 等人最近在《草地研究》（Grassland Research）上发表的一篇论文（doi:10.1002/glr2.12081）利用温室操作实验，结合高通量测序，对这些复杂的相互作用提出了新的见解。毛霉和植物 PGPR 都被用作普通薇菜（Vicia sativa L.）的 BCA，而由 Colletotrichum spinaciae 引起的炭疽病通常会降低普通薇菜的产量。Zhu 等人在他们的研究中操纵了两种 PGPRs（枯草芽孢杆菌和地衣芽孢杆菌）以及长链霉的存在与否，并在接种 C. spinaciae 7 天后评估了炭疽病的发病指数。他们发现，使用 PGPR 和长苞毛霉的普通薇菜的发病率和病害指数都显著降低。作为 BCAs，PGPR 和毛霉在促进抗病性方面表现良好。在其他研究系统中也发现，这些结果证实了 PGPR 和毛霉在增强植物抗病性方面的关键作用。炭疽病是一种广泛而隐蔽的病害，会导致普通薇菜减产，造成严重的经济损失，而且往往被低估。这些研究与之前的经验证据一起，表明了 PGPR 和毛霉在生物防治计划中的应用潜力。在阐明反应机制方面，Zhu 等人发现，过氧化物酶（POD）和多酚氧化酶（PPO）等防御酶的活性对 C. spinaciae 和 PGPR 的接种均表现出积极的反应。同时接种 PGPR 和 T. longibrachiatum 会降低水杨酸（SA）含量，而仅接种 PGPR 的处理中茉莉酸（JA）含量最高。此外，通过使用高通量测序技术鉴定叶球细菌的 16S rRNA 基因，作者证实了接种或未接种 C. spinaciae 的寄主植物的叶球细菌群落组成存在显著差异。通过线性判别效应大小分析，作者发现接种 C. spinaciae、PGPRs 和 T. longibrachiatum 都会在科和属的层面上显著改变叶球细菌群落组成。最后，根据结构方程建模，作者证实 PGPRs 与酶活性的增加密切相关，而 JA 和 SA 水平与叶球细菌群落的特定成分相关。植物微生物群与防御酶的产生之间的正向耦合有助于提高寄主植物的整体抗病性，突出了植物微生物群在调控真菌病害中的重要作用。 在随后的研究中，分离和接种潜在的重要功能细菌和真菌可能有助于从机理上理解研究结果，尽管防御酶的功能通常取决于微生物群落。总之，通过结合植物病害严重程度、酶活性、激素和叶球细菌群落成员的数据，他们的研究发现：(1) 植物对炭疽病（C. Spinaciae）的防御可由 PGPR 和毛霉诱导；(2) PGPR 和毛霉接种与植物病害严重程度的显著增加有关。spinaciae）的植物防御能力；(2) PGPR 和毛霉菌接种与有利的植被层细菌相对丰度的显著增加有关，而有利的植被层细菌可增强寄主植物对炭疽病的防御能力。总之，Zhu 等人的研究提供了 BCAs 对炭疽病有显著预防作用的实证证据，并揭示了这种抑制作用背后的一些机制。考虑到在农业生态系统和自然生态系统中，常见和多样的 BCAs 与寄主植物和病原体都会发生相互作用（Andrews & Harris, 2000），更好地了解这些相互作用可提高我们预测疾病爆发进展的能力，从而为草地和畜牧业制定适应性管理措施。这些知识在全球变化的背景下尤为重要（Trivedi 等人，2022 年）。Zhu 等人的研究重点是生物碱对植物病害的影响，而这种相互作用的另一面，即病原体对生物碱-植物关联的潜在影响，仍然是未知的。此外，没有理由认为 BCA 与植物微生物组之间的相互作用仅限于病原体。哺乳动物和昆虫食草动物也可能调节陆地生态系统中植物的适应性和生长。鉴于自然生态系统中初级消费群体的多样性，在未来的研究中必须考虑所有这些群体之间的潜在联系。具体来说，人们对植物微生物组如何应对昆虫和食草动物的存在，以及植物被昆虫或家畜吃掉时植物微生物组的反应知之甚少。食草动物（即昆虫和食草动物）之间复杂的相互作用及其生态后果需要在不久的将来进行更多的田间和温室操作实验，并结合使用测序技术来确定植物微生物组组成的变化，以揭示植物宿主及其微生物组之间复杂相互作用的内在机制。
{"title":"Biocontrol agents enhance plant disease resistance by altering plant microbiomes","authors":"Xiang Liu","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12100","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plants provide a habitat for a tremendous diversity of microbes, including bacteria and fungi, with the relationship ranging from mutualism to parasitism. The assemblages of microbes hosted on the stem and leaf surfaces and in internal tissues of plants are defined as plant microbiomes (Gilbert & Parker, <span>2023</span>). Plant microbiomes play a critical role in promoting host plant fitness through enhanced nutrition acquisition, stress tolerance, and also resistance to herbivores and pathogens (Trivedi et al., <span>2020</span>). Specifically, antagonistic phyllosphere microbes can regulate plant resistance substances and signaling pathways, and influence the outcome of plant–pathogen interactions (i.e., diseases) (Agrios, <span>2005</span>). In fact, the process of pathogens infecting host plants can be seen as the colonization by “invasive” species of plant microbiomes, in which environmental filtering and competitive exclusion processes play important roles (Liu et al., <span>2021</span>). The process of infection by plant disease agents is also regulated by biocontrol agents (BCAs), including <i>Trichoderma</i> and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). To better understand the relationship between plants and their microbiome, we need to go beyond the previous studies on how A affects B and clarify the interaction among all players through more rigorous and complex field and greenhouse manipulative experiments.</p><p>Although the interactions between plant microbiomes and pathogens have been the subject of active research in recent years (e.g., Carrión et al., <span>2019</span>; Kwak et al., <span>2018</span>; Yin et al., <span>2021</span>), the influence and modifying role of BCAs in these interactions are still unclear. The reason for this knowledge gap is that the analysis of the complex interactions among plant microbiomes, BCAs, and pathogens requires controlled experiments, and sequencing is essential for analyzing the plant microbiome. A recently published paper in <i><b>Grassland Research</b></i> by Zhu et al. (doi:10.1002/glr2.12081) used greenhouse manipulative experiments, combined with high-throughput sequencing, to provide novel insights into these complex interactions. Based on their findings, the authors suggest that the BCAs can induce plant defense by shifting the community composition of plant microbiomes toward favorable phyllosphere bacteria.</p><p>Both <i>Trichoderma</i> and plant PGPR are used as BCAs for common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa</i> L.), while anthracnose caused by <i>Colletotrichum spinaciae</i> usually reduces the yield of common vetch. In their study, Zhu et al. manipulated the presence or absence of two PGPRs, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i>, and also <i>Trichoderma longibrachiatum</i>, and evaluated the anthracnose disease index 7 days after <i>C. spinaciae</i> inoculation. They found that common vetch with PGPR and <i>T. longibrachiatum</i> showed significant reduct","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"299-301"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12100","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142451235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diet regulates rumen microbiota, which in turn affects animal health. The present study evaluated the response of rumen microbiota and the immune system of lambs to a fermented total mixed ration diet.
Methods
A total of 30 lambs were assigned into two groups: a group fed an unfermented high-fiber diet (total mixed ration [TMR]) and a group fed an fermented low-fiber diet (fermented TMR [FTMR]).
Results
The results showed that FTMR markedly (p < 0.05) increased average daily gain and dry matter intake compared to TMR. The FTMR diet increased the relative abundance of Veillonellaceae_UCG-001 and decreased the diversity of undesirable microbiota despite stable overall microbial community diversity. Serum metabolomic analysis combined with enrichment analysis showed that serum metabolites were affected by the FTMR and metabolic pathways, and the FTMR diet significantly (p < 0.05) influenced amino acid metabolism of lambs. There was a decrease in inflammatory factors in the FTMR treatment, indicating that inflammatory factors followed the same trajectory as changes in microbial community structure and function.
Conclusions
Overall, the FTMR diet reduced undesirable microbiota diversity, thereby regulating host amino acid metabolism and improving immune status.
{"title":"Effect of fermented total mixed rations on rumen microbial communities and serum metabolites in lambs","authors":"Mingjian Liu, Yulan Zhang, Yichao Liu, Yuyu Li, Zhijun Wang, Gentu Ge, Yushan Jia, Shuai Du","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12095","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diet regulates rumen microbiota, which in turn affects animal health. The present study evaluated the response of rumen microbiota and the immune system of lambs to a fermented total mixed ration diet.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 30 lambs were assigned into two groups: a group fed an unfermented high-fiber diet (total mixed ration [TMR]) and a group fed an fermented low-fiber diet (fermented TMR [FTMR]).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results showed that FTMR markedly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) increased average daily gain and dry matter intake compared to TMR. The FTMR diet increased the relative abundance of <i>Veillonellaceae_UCG-001</i> and decreased the diversity of undesirable microbiota despite stable overall microbial community diversity. Serum metabolomic analysis combined with enrichment analysis showed that serum metabolites were affected by the FTMR and metabolic pathways, and the FTMR diet significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) influenced amino acid metabolism of lambs. There was a decrease in inflammatory factors in the FTMR treatment, indicating that inflammatory factors followed the same trajectory as changes in microbial community structure and function.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, the FTMR diet reduced undesirable microbiota diversity, thereby regulating host amino acid metabolism and improving immune status.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"249-263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12095","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142451236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Using winter fallow fields for plant forage is important to ensure food security. Forage triticale (× Triticosecale) has higher yields than other available forage crops and can be planted widely in winter fallow fields. Recently, the planted area of forage triticale in Shanxi Province, China, has exceeded 3500 ha; however, problems such as low farmer willingness to plant (WTP) winter forage still remain.
Methods
A total of 219 farmers were surveyed in Taiyuan, Lvliang, and Jinzhong. We analyzed the factors influencing farmer WTP forage triticale, focusing on personal, family, land, and cognition characteristics. We used a binary logistic regression model to quantify the influence of various factors on farmer behavior and conducted a robustness check and heterogeneity analysis.
Results
“Age” was negatively correlated with farmer WTP—farmers 50 years of age and older showed less WTP. “Land lease situation” was also negatively correlated with WTP. Factors that positively correlated with WTP were “land areas,” “raising of livestock,” “size of labor force,” and “development prospect.”
Conclusions
Many farmers are over 50 years of age, land lessors, and have low WTP winter forage. Farmers who raise livestock and have large labor forces, huge land areas, and good cultivation prospects have a high WTP. This study identifies the factors influencing farmers' WTP to assist in the development of the forage triticale industry in the study region, improving land resource utilization and efficiency. The findings are likely to have wider relevance and application.
{"title":"Factors influencing farmer willingness to plant forage triticale in winter fallow fields in Northern China: An example from central Shanxi Province","authors":"Qishen Jiang, Haibin Dong, Qidong Li, Zongxian Zhang, Changyu Gao, Yanting Yin, Xiangyang Hou","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12097","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using winter fallow fields for plant forage is important to ensure food security. Forage triticale (× <i>Triticosecale</i>) has higher yields than other available forage crops and can be planted widely in winter fallow fields. Recently, the planted area of forage triticale in Shanxi Province, China, has exceeded 3500 ha; however, problems such as low farmer willingness to plant (WTP) winter forage still remain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 219 farmers were surveyed in Taiyuan, Lvliang, and Jinzhong. We analyzed the factors influencing farmer WTP forage triticale, focusing on personal, family, land, and cognition characteristics. We used a binary logistic regression model to quantify the influence of various factors on farmer behavior and conducted a robustness check and heterogeneity analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>“Age” was negatively correlated with farmer WTP—farmers 50 years of age and older showed less WTP. “Land lease situation” was also negatively correlated with WTP. Factors that positively correlated with WTP were “land areas,” “raising of livestock,” “size of labor force,” and “development prospect.”</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Many farmers are over 50 years of age, land lessors, and have low WTP winter forage. Farmers who raise livestock and have large labor forces, huge land areas, and good cultivation prospects have a high WTP. This study identifies the factors influencing farmers' WTP to assist in the development of the forage triticale industry in the study region, improving land resource utilization and efficiency. The findings are likely to have wider relevance and application.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"290-298"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12097","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael D. Peel, Blair L. Waldron, Jacob T. Briscoe, Marcus F. Rose, S. Clay Isom, Kara J. Thornton, Jacob A. Hadfield, Kerry A. Rood, J. Earl Creech
Background
Mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) increase herbage intake in grazing cattle. We hypothesized that BFT spatially separated from grasses would increase preferential grazing of BFT and herbage intake compared to grass and BFT in mixed rows.
Methods
Binary mixtures of BFT were established with orchardgrass, meadow bromegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass in alternating and in mixed rows. Pastures were rotationally stocked with Jersey heifers, and herbage mass, intake, and preferential grazing were estimated.
Results
Planting BFT in alternating rows did not affect herbage mass, intake, or BFT preference. Regardless of spatial arrangement, pasture production averaged 4116 kg ha−1 per rotation, of which 32% was BFT. BFT comprised 39% of herbage intake in alternating and mixed rows, 7% greater (p = 0.001) than offered, indicating partial preference for BFT. Greatest preferential grazing of BFT was in tall fescue and orchardgrass mixtures, but less than commonly reported for legumes grown in more contrasting spatial arrangements with cool-season grasses.
Conclusions
Grazing heifers showed partial preference for BFT over grass. However, the lack of an effect of spatial arrangement on herbage mass, herbage intake, and diet preference indicates that spatial arrangements greater than alternating rows may be needed to increase overall herbage intake.
{"title":"Intake and diet preference of dairy heifers grazing mixed or alternating rows of birdsfoot trefoil and cool-season grasses","authors":"Michael D. Peel, Blair L. Waldron, Jacob T. Briscoe, Marcus F. Rose, S. Clay Isom, Kara J. Thornton, Jacob A. Hadfield, Kerry A. Rood, J. Earl Creech","doi":"10.1002/glr2.12094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12094","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) increase herbage intake in grazing cattle. We hypothesized that BFT spatially separated from grasses would increase preferential grazing of BFT and herbage intake compared to grass and BFT in mixed rows.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Binary mixtures of BFT were established with orchardgrass, meadow bromegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass in alternating and in mixed rows. Pastures were rotationally stocked with Jersey heifers, and herbage mass, intake, and preferential grazing were estimated.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Planting BFT in alternating rows did not affect herbage mass, intake, or BFT preference. Regardless of spatial arrangement, pasture production averaged 4116 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> per rotation, of which 32% was BFT. BFT comprised 39% of herbage intake in alternating and mixed rows, 7% greater (<i>p</i> = 0.001) than offered, indicating partial preference for BFT. Greatest preferential grazing of BFT was in tall fescue and orchardgrass mixtures, but less than commonly reported for legumes grown in more contrasting spatial arrangements with cool-season grasses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Grazing heifers showed partial preference for BFT over grass. However, the lack of an effect of spatial arrangement on herbage mass, herbage intake, and diet preference indicates that spatial arrangements greater than alternating rows may be needed to increase overall herbage intake.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":100593,"journal":{"name":"Grassland Research","volume":"3 3","pages":"219-229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/glr2.12094","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142451169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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