Annual Forage Crops Research Articles

Role of kura clover (Trifolium Ambiguum bieb.) of Vys variety in the growth of the forage base of the Tambov region

In the conditions of the forest-steppe of the Central Black Earth region, the issue of the sustainable development of forage production, which can be increased through the expansion of the range of cultivated species of perennial legumes, has become relevant. The need to increase the share of areas of perennial grasses is connected with the fact that natural lands and annual forage crops have low productivity. Forage grasses are characterized by a number of unique economically valuable properties and characteristics. In this regard, there is an urgent need to increase their sown areas, as well as to improve natural lands, create hayfields and pastures. One of the limiting factors is the insufficient provision of seeds for a new fodder crop - Vys clover of a kura variety. It is kura clover that plays an important role in the creation of a solid forage base for animal husbandry in the Tambov region. Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb) is characterized by a number of valuable traits and properties. In this regard, for the first time in the Central Black Earth Region, its biology and morphological development began to be studied and the optimal terms and methods of sowing this perennial legume crop are being developed. It will allow obtaining stable seed yields. The technology for obtaining seeds of this forage crop of the Vys variety in the forest-steppe conditions of the Central Black Earth Region is currently in the process of development. Therefore, the ongoing research on agrotechnical methods of the cultivation of kura clover seeds is very relevant and the development of individual agricultural methods of its cultivation technology of seeds is one of the important tasks of forage production.

Cereal-legume mixtures increase net CO2 uptake in a forage crop system in the Eastern Pyrenees

• Cereal-legume mixtures increased net CO 2 uptake and productivity compared to cereal monocultures. • Cereal-legume mixtures increased gross uptake, while respiration did not change. • Management associated to cereal-legume mixtures enhanced net CO 2 uptake. • Cereal-legume mixtures provide enormous opportunities to mitigate climate change. Forage systems are the major land use and provide essential resources for animal feeding. Assessing the influence of annual forage crop species on net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) is key to develop management strategies that can help to mitigate climate change, while optimizing productivity of these systems. However, little is known about the effect of annual forage crop species on CO 2 exchange fluxes, considering separately net CO 2 balances during the growth and fallow periods, and species ecophysiological responses. Our study assesses the influence of cereal monocultures vs. cereal‑legume mixtures on (1) ecosystem‑scale CO 2 fluxes, for the whole crop season and separately for the two periods of growth and fallow; and (2) potential sensitivities of CO 2 exchange related to short-term variations in light, temperature, and soil water content. This is the first mid‑term (seven years) ecosystem‑scale CO 2 fluxes assessment of an intensively managed forage system in the Pyrenees region. Our results provide strong evidence that cereal‑legume mixtures lead to higher net CO 2 uptake than cereal monocultures, as a result of higher gross CO 2 uptake, while respiratory fluxes did not significantly increase. Also, cereal-legume mixtures favoured a higher voluntary regrowth during the fallow period, which was decisive for the cumulative net CO 2 uptake of the entire crop season. Overall, cereal‑legume mixtures enhanced net CO 2 sink capacity of the forage crop, while ensuring productivity and forage quality.

Warming reduces the production of a major annual forage crop on the Tibetan Plateau

Climate warming has been proposed to increase primary production of natural grasslands in cold regions. However, how climate warming affects the production of artificial pastures in cold regions remains unknown. To address this question, we used open-top chambers to simulate warming in a major artificial pasture (forage oat) on the cold Tibetan Plateau for three consecutive years. Surprisingly, climate warming decreased aboveground and belowground biomass production by 23.1%–44.8% and 35.0%–46.5%, respectively, without a significant impact on their ratio. The adverse effects on biomass production could be attributed to the adverse effects of high-temperatures on leaf photosynthesis through increases in water vapor pressure deficit (by 0.05–0.10 kPa), damages to the leaf oxidant system, as indicated by a 46.6% increase in leaf malondialdehyde content, as well as reductions in growth duration (by 4.7–6.7 days). The adverse effects were also related to exacerbated phosphorus limitation, as indicated by decreases in soil available phosphorus and plant phosphorus concentrations by 31.9%–40.7% and 14.3%–49.4%, respectively, and increases in the plant nitrogen: phosphorus ratio by 19.2%–108.3%. The decrease in soil available phosphorus concentration could be attributed to reductions in soil phosphatase activities (by 9.6%–18.5%). The findings of this study suggest an urgent need to advance agronomic techniques and cultivate more resilient forage genotypes to meet the increasing demand of forage for feeding livestock and to reduce grazing damage to natural grasslands on the warming-sensitive Tibetan Plateau.

A Comparison of Pearl Millet and Sorghum–Sudangrass Pastures during the Frost-Prone Autumn for Growing Beef Cattle in Semiarid Region

Sorghum–sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) provide adequate nutritive value for growing beef cattle; however, unlike pearl millet, sorghum–sudangrass produces hydrocyanic acid (which is toxic to livestock) when frosted. Forage yield, nutritive value, and weight gain of growing cattle grazing sorghum–sudangrass and pearl millet were compared during the frost-prone autumns of 2013 and 2014, at New Mexico State University’s Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center in Tucumcari, NM USA, in randomized complete block designs each year with two replicates. No differences existed between pearl millet and sorghum–sudangrass forage yield, although there was a year–forage interaction for fiber-based nutritive value components because of maturity differences across years between the forages when freeze-killed. Pearl millet allowed for extending grazing of available forage for an additional 14 and 24 d in 2013 and 2014, respectively, compared to sorghum–sudangrass during the frost-prone autumn periods. During that period, when sorghum forages produce potentially toxic levels of hydrocyanic acid, animals grazing pearl millet accumulated an additional average of 94.9 kg live-weight gain ha−1 (p < 0.001). These factors afford producers an opportunity to increase returns on the similar investments of establishing and managing warm-season annual forage crops each year, and allow more time to stockpile cool-season perennial and annual forages for winter and early spring grazing, or to reduce hay feeding.

EFFICIENCY OF USING IN FEEDING CALVES VETCH-OAT SILAGE PREPARED WITH PROBIOTICS

The results of the study of the effectiveness of new probiotic preparations based on strains of probiotic microorganisms in the preparation of silage from cereal-legume mixtures of annual forage crops with high humidity and their impact on the interior performance and productivity of fattening calves.
 in production conditions, two variants of vetch-oat silage were preserved, the control one was fermented with BPS-L leaven at a dose of 10 ml per tone, and the experimental one was preserved with probiotic preparation KT-L 18/1 at a dose of 8 ml per tone of green mass. Both preparations are domestically produced, created in the laboratory of probiotics of the Institute of Agriculture Microbiology and Agro-Industrial Manufacture of NAAS.
 A study of the chemical composition and nutritional value of silos showed that the addition of probiotic preparations BPS-L and KT-L 18/1 to the green mass by ensiling annual forage crops with high humidity (78-80%) contributes to the preservation of dry matter at 91-94, crude protein 90-93 and carotene 85-88%, provides the optimal level of lactic acid fermentation, accumulation of lactic acid at the level of 67-69%, acetic - 29-32% without accumulation butyric acid. Based on data on chemical composition, fermentation acid content and organoleptic evaluation, such silos were classified as quality class 1.
 Studies on animals (calves for fattening) lasted 140 days in the experimental farm "Obroshyne" Pustomyty district of Lviv region. The main diet of both groups consisted of cereal-legume hay, winter wheat straw, pulp and feed. Animals of the control group received an additional 15 kg of silage prepared with BPS-L, and experimental - 14.5 kg of silage with the KT-L 18/1.
 In the rumen fluid calves were fed silage harvested with drug KT-L 18/1 noted the increase in the concentration of nitrogen free amino acids and protein nitrogen in the background reduction of ammonia.
 Established tendency to increase the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin content of calves in the experimental group.
 Analysis of serum protein spectrum showed a significant increase in the level of albumin and γ-globulin fractions in animals that consumed silage prepared with the KT-L 18/1.
 Average daily live weight increase of calves in experimental group were 703 g, its 4.2% higher than in controls (675 g).

Scientific and practical recommendations for obtaining innovative feed based on a three-component poly-species mixture of annual forage crops

Scientific and practical recommendations for obtaining innovative feed based on a three-component poly-species mixture of annual forage crops

Review of the Current Forage Production, Supply, and Quality Measure Standard in South Korea

Cattle feeding in South Korea has been heavily dependent on domestically produced rice straw and imported grain. Around 42% of domestically produced rice straw is utilized for forage, and the remainder is recycled to restore soil fertility. Approximately 35% of round baleages were made with rice straw. However, higher quality hay is desired over rice straw. Due to increasing stockpiles of rice, there has been an economic burden on the government to store the surplus; therefore production of annual forage crops in rice fields has been further promoted in recent years. Hay import from the USA currently constitutes more than 80% of total imported hays. The main imported hays are alfalfa (Medicago sativa), timothy (Phleum pretense), and tall fescue (Festica arundinacea). The estimated forage required for cattle feeding was approximately 5.4 million MT in 2016. Domestically produced forage sates only 43% of that value, while low quality rice straw and imported hay covered the rest of demand by 33% and 20%, respectively. As utilization of domestically produced forage is more desirable for forage-based cattle production, long-term strategies have been necessary to promote domestic production of high quality baleage. One such strategy has been utilizing the fertile soil and abundance of fallow rice fields of western region of S. Korea to produce forage crops. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is the most successfully produced winter annual in the region and is approximately 56% of the total winter annual forage production. Forage sorghums (Sorghum bicolor), sorghum × sudangrass hybrids, and hybrid corn (Zea mays) produce a substantial amount of warm-season forage during summer. Produced forage has been largely stored through baleage due to heavy dew and frequent rains and has been evaluated according to S. Korea’s newly implemented baleage commodity evaluation system. The system weighs 50% of its total grading points on moisture content because of its importance in deliverable DM content and desirable baleage fermentation; this has proved to be an effective method. Although further improvement is required for the future of forage production in South Korea, the current government-led forage production in rice fields has been able to alleviate some of the country’s shortage for quality hay.

Balancing Forage Production, Seed Yield, and Pest Management in the Perennial Sunflower Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae)

The perennial sunflower Silphium integrifolium Michx. (Asteraceae), also known as silflower, is a prospective dual-purpose forage plus grain crop. Pre-flowering biomass harvest for animal feed and the subsequent delay in plant growth and anthesis has the potential to benefit seed yield and/or offset yield loss from native pests, such as the native North American Eucosma giganteana (Lepidopera: Tortricidae). The aim of this study was to develop a cropping technology for silflower to (A) balance forage and grain production and (B) minimize seed loss. Silflower produced high-quality forage, but biomass harvest in early spring reduced same-season seed production by 45%. Despite significantly delaying flowering, forage harvest alone did not effectively reduce Eucosma colonization, although treating plants with the insecticide permethrin did reduce colonization. Our results do not support the proposal that S. integrifolium could be profitably harvested for both high quality forage and as an oilseed grain within the same season. Nevertheless, our findings suggest the possibility of developing a strategy of alternating between forage or seed production, depending on their differential economic values. The choice between harvesting biomass vs. seed could be made much later in the season for this perennial crop than the choice of planting an annual forage vs. annual grain crop.

Productivity and quality of annual crops for harvesting haylage in the conditions of Yakutia

Relevance. The basis for increasing livestock production is a solid food base. Therefore, it is important to increase production and improve the quality of all types of feed, primarily by expanding mixed crops, improving the technology of their cultivation and harvesting.Methods. The aim of the research is the comparative productivity and nutritional value of annual forage crops for the production of haylage in Central Yakutia.Results. Carry out the selection of promising annual crops for the production of haylage; establish the optimum time of sowing of annual crops and their mixtures on silage; study the features of growth, development and formation of yield and nutritional value of annual crops. According to the results of studies on the yield of green mass of forage crops were allocated in 1 sowing period two — component options-Vico-oat and pea – oat mixture (19.9–19.0 t/ha).

Impact of Diverse Annual Forage Mixtures on Weed Control in a Semiarid Environment

Intercropping with different crop species and different spatial patterns is suggested to lead to increased competition with weeds and reduced weed abundance and biomass. In this study, our objective was to explore the ability of multi-species annual forage crop mixtures to control weeds while providing productive forage. We utilized field and greenhouse trials to evaluate the impact of different crop mixtures and row spacing on weed control in the semi-arid Brown soil region of southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. Seven different mixtures of up to eight annual forage crops were grown with row spacing of 15 cm or 30 cm in a replicated field trial. Weed abundance and biomass was significantly affected by crop species mixtures. Crop mixtures that contained radish and barley generally had higher weed suppression. Row spacing did not significantly impact weed abundance or biomass across the treatments. Results were similar over both years in spite of drastically different precipitation conditions. Forage production was significantly different between cropping mixtures in July in both years. The barley-radish mixture had the highest crop biomass in July, and this early crop production was linked to weed suppression because crop biomass had a significant effect on weed abundance and biomass in July, but not August. A greenhouse experiment was used to further evaluate the crops (i.e., barley and radish) that demonstrated the highest weed suppressive activity in the field trial. Crop identity and row spacing were both significant factors affecting weed and crop biomass production. Radish exhibited stronger control of common lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) compared to barley, but the binary mixture of the two species produced the highest crop biomass and equivalent weed control compared to the radish monoculture. This research suggests that cropping with multiple species (particularly forage radish) may be an effective way to control weeds in semiarid environments.

Palatability and Yield of Winter Annual Forage Crops under Horse Grazing System in Jeju

Palatability and Yield of Winter Annual Forage Crops under Horse Grazing System in Jeju

Comparative analysis of the skim milk and milk fat globule membrane proteomes produced by Jersey cows grazing pastures with different plant species diversity

The objective of this experiment was to identify and characterize the bovine milk proteome within the skim milk fraction and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM)-associated fraction from 16 organically certified lactating Jersey cows after a short term of grazing pastures with or without annual forage crops (AFC). Cows were offered a partial mixed ration (~60% of dry matter intake) and approximately 40% of their total dry matter intake as herbage. Eight cows were offered a cool-season grass–legume herbage (GLH), which included orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), timothy (Phleum pratense), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and white clover (Trifolium repens). The other 8 cows were offered the same GLH strip-tilled with the AFC, including oat (Avena sativa), millet (Pennisetum glaucum), teff (Eragrostis tef), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), and chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus). Milk samples were collected from each cow during a.m. and p.m. milkings on d 19 to 21 of grazing, and composite milk samples per cow were analyzed for (1) the high-abundance milk protein profile, (2) the skim milk low-abundance protein-enriched proteome, and (3) the MFGM proteome. Of the 443 proteins identified in the skim and MFGM proteomes, 433 were included in statistical analysis, including 68 proteins identified in the skim milk fraction and 365 in the MFGM-associated fraction. Analysis of the skim and MFGM proteomes encompassed unique gene ontology profiles and proportions of functional classifications. In response to diet, αS1-casein as well as 8 low-abundance proteins were present in higher concentration or abundance in milk from cows grazing the GLH strip-tilled with the AFC compared with milk from cows grazing GLH, suggesting that even short-term grazing of pastures including some AFC may affect the milk proteome.

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ ОДНОЛЕТНИХ КОРМОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР В СМЕШАННЫХ АГРОЦЕНОЗАХ РАЗНЫХ СПОСОБОВ ПОСЕВА В УСЛОВИЯХ НОВГОРОДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ ОДНОЛЕТНИХ КОРМОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР В СМЕШАННЫХ АГРОЦЕНОЗАХ РАЗНЫХ СПОСОБОВ ПОСЕВА В УСЛОВИЯХ НОВГОРОДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Utilizing Annual Forage Crops in Rotations

Utilizing Annual Forage Crops in Rotations

Growth Characteristics and Productivity of Spring Sowing Time and Mixed Sowing of Winter Annual Forage Crops

Growth Characteristics and Productivity of Spring Sowing Time and Mixed Sowing of Winter Annual Forage Crops

PSV-30 A nutritional survey of commercially available grass-finished beef

Abstract Consumer interest in the source of their food, its environmental footprint, and the impact of diet on health has supported the growth of the grass-finished beef (GFB) industry. Studies have concluded that GFB has distinct nutritional differences from conventionally-finished beef. As the GFB industry continues to expand, it is vital to continue to explore the nutritional complexities and variation in the product. To achieve this, a survey of grass-finishing production systems throughout the United States was conducted, and beef finished on the participating farms was analyzed for its nutritional composition, including fatty acid (FA), mineral and fat-soluble vitamin contents. Samples were analyzed from 12 producers and annual production capacity of farms ranged from 25 to 5,000 cattle, with a mean age of cattle at harvest of 26.8 ± 2.30 mo. An array of finishing diets included grazing exclusively in perennial pasture, incorporating annual forage crops, and feeding a variety of harvested forages with supplementation of non-starch feed byproducts. Beef muscle tissue FA content was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The mean ratio of omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) FA in samples varied significantly by producer, ranging from 1.80 to 28.3 (P < 0.0001), with an overall sample set median of 4.10. A selection of minerals including iron, magnesium, and potassium were analyzed by ICP emission spectroscopy and mineral content significantly differed by producer for all minerals (P < 0.001). Mean α-tocopherol and β-carotene content was 610.6 μg/100 g beef and 32.2 μg/100 g, respectively. The amount of these antioxidants also varied between producers (P < 0.0001), but tended to be greater in beef finished solely on fresh forages. This survey indicates that commercially available GFB can vary in nutritional composition due to the diverse practices used to grass-finish cattle.

Nitrogen application effects on forage sorghum production and nitrate concentration

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an important annual forage crop but prone to high nitrate concentration which can cause toxicity when fed to cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus). Two field experiments were conducted over six site-years across Kansas to determine the optimum nitrogen (N) rate for no-till forage sorghum dry matter (DM) yield and investigate the effect of N fertilization on sorghum forage nitrate content. A quadratic model described the relationship between sorghum DM and N rate across the combined site-years. Maximum DM yield of 6530 kg ha−1 was produced with N application rate of 100 kg N ha−1. The economic optimum N rate ranged from 55 to 70 kg N ha−1 depending on sorghum hay price and N fertilizer costs. Crude protein concentration increased with N fertilizer application but N rates beyond 70 kg N ha−1 resulted in forage nitrate concentrations greater than safe limit of 3000 mg kg−1. Nitrogen uptake increased with N fertilizer application but nitrogen use efficiency and N recovery decreased with increasing N fertilizer rates. In conclusion, forage sorghum required 55–70 kg N ha−1 to produce an economic optimum DM yields with safe nitrate concentration.

Evaluating crude protein concentration of leucaena forage and the dietary legume content selected by cattle grazing leucaena and C4 grasses in northern Australia

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.In Australia’s central and southern Queensland regions, Leucaena leucocephala-grass pastures produce substantially more beef and higher profits than grass-only pastures and annual forage crops. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a rapid and cost-effective approach to assessing quality of available forage as well as the quality of the diet selected by cattle, but existing calibrations have not been comprehensively validated for leucaena-grass pastures. This study examined the reliability of existing northern Australian calibrations for NIRS to predict the crude protein (CP) concentration of the edible fraction of the leucaena plant, and the proportion of leucaena in the diet of grazing cattle. Samples of edible leucaena and cattle faeces were analyzed by NIRS and the predictions plotted in a linear regression and fitted to a 1:1 line with Dumas analysis of CP for leucaena forage, and mass spectrometry of δ13C for cattle faeces. Results demonstrated that prediction of the CP concentration of leucaena forage and the proportion of leucaena in the diet of grazing cattle using current broad northern Australian NIRS forage calibrations were associated with substantial error. However, it is likely that these errors can be reduced with the inclusion in the calibration data set of more samples representing leucaena forage and faeces of cattle grazing leucaena from varying locations, seasonal conditions and management strategies.

Phenology and sowing time affect water use in four warm-season annual grasses under a semi-arid environment

Plant water use strategies are crucial for fodder production in semi-arid environments, with implications for food supply, livestock products and social sustainability in a global warming environment. This study aimed to determine the effect of phenology and sowing date on water use in four annual forage crops on the Loess Plateau of China. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (δD and δ18O) measured soil water in different layers (0–1.2 m), xylem water at jointing, flowering and maturity, and rainwater. The IsoSource model was used to calculate the relative contribution of soil water to plant water use in the shallow (0–0.1 m), middle (0.1–0.6 m) and deep (0.6–1.2 m) layers. As the forage crops grew, more water was absorbed from deeper layers. Delaying sowing up to four weeks could promote forage maize (Zea mays), Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense Stapf.) used water from deep layers at all measured growth stages (jointing, flowering, and maturity). Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) absorbed deep water at flowering and maturity. Further, maize, Sudan grass, and foxtail millet used more water at flowering while Japanese millet used more at maturity. The distinct water use patterns of the four crops at different growth stages and sowing dates showed that plant water use in a semi-arid environment is controlled by both environment and growth stage. Delaying sowing might be an efficient way of coping with water stress caused by unpredictable rainfall by using water from deeper layers to reduce the risk of yield losses. Our results provide a reference for agricultural water management under global warming and sustainability in rainfed farming systems.

Plant development and solar radiation interception of four annual forage plants in response to sowing date in a semi-arid environment

Annual forage crops attract more attention to researchers for it can be used as both forage in animal production and ethanol production in industry. Sowing date are critical to increase crop yield potential in semi-arid environments. Successful establishment and canopy develop are two key aspects ensuring the final yield of forage crop. Therefore, emergence time, leaf appearance and solar radiation interception by the canopy were measured with four annual forage grasses [maize (Zea mays), Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense Stapf., S), foxtail millet (Setaria italic) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacacea)] during the period of 2011–2013 in the western Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that a delay of sowing date could decrease the time for crop emergence. In addition, a decrease in the final leaf number (FLN) and the individual leaf area (ILA) (maize, foxtail millet and Japanese millet) from delayed sowing resulted in less light interception (RI). The variation FLN was closely related to day length (DL) and initial soil water and rainfall at flowering (Ws+Rf) for maize and foxtail millet, thermal time (TT), DL and Ws+Rf for Sudan grass and Japanese millet. Changes in leaf area per plant (LAsingle) in Sudan grass, foxtail millet and Japanese millet were caused by leaf area elongation rate (LAER). Sowing date did not affect leaf appearance rate (LAR) in Japanese millet while decreased in Sudan grass and increased in foxtail millet when the sowing date was delayed, mainly due to changes in DL, TT and Ws+Rf. Variations in individual leaf area (ILA) and LAER indicated the strong plasticity of the four crop species. Therefore, the results of this study improved the understanding of the relationship between sowing date and canopy development and provide important information in crop management and breeding to increase the crop yield.