Lotus Corniculatus Research Articles

Dynamic of Phosphorus in Soils Fertilized with different Phosphorus Sources and Phosphorus Acquisition by Lotus Corniculatus

The dynamic of the reaction between a clayey and sandy soil and three P-sources differing in P-solubility was study in a greenhouse experiment were Lotus corniculatus was cultivated and harvested several times during 287 days. The absorbed P by the plants with time was interpreted by an equation representing the P already present, added P, extracted P and the retained P even after the extraction by a soil-P test. The dry yield and P uptake differed between soils and for each soil among P-sources. In the clayey soil there was little difference with time between the two water soluble P-sources, both dry yield and P uptake, but in the sandy soil P uptake was significantly higher for poultry litter compared with triple superphosphate. Dry yield and P uptake were lower for phosphate rock with respect to both water soluble P-sources. In the clayey soil P uptake from the three P-sources with was mainly interpreted by the decrease of both the extracted and retained P, whereas in the sandy soil and for phosphate rock addition P uptake was described by the decrease of the retained P meanwhile extracted P was constant with time. Native P had little influence in both soil for all P-sources.

Interseeding legumes into established semiarid smooth bromegrass pasture

AbstractSeeding legumes into established cool‐season grass pasture helps to lower the long‐term costs of production and may improve total forage yield and quality, but seeding these legumes in the semiarid Central Great Plains region is often ignored. Eight legumes commonly seeded in the Midwest and eastern USA were no‐till seeded in late winter into upland and lowland west‐central Kansas smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures. Purple‐flowered alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ssp. sativa) and yellow‐flowered alfalfa [Medicago sativa L. ssp. falcata (L.) Arcang.] established well at the lowland and upland sites and helped improve forage yield compared with nitrogen‐fertilized smooth bromegrass. Korean lespedeza [Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino] and yellow sweetclover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.] established well on both landscape sites, but these legumes declined significantly over time and did not increase forage yield compared with smooth bromegrass alone. Legume establishment was greater in unfertilized smooth bromegrass at each landscape, indicating that early competition from the grass limited legume establishment. Purple‐flowered and yellow‐flowered alfalfa increased the crude protein concentration compared with smooth bromegrass alone on the lowland site, and increased crude protein and total digestible nutrient concentration on the upland site. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) failed to establish with competition from smooth bromegrass at the upland and lowland sites. Purple‐flowered and yellow‐flowered alfalfa may establish and persist when seeded into existing smooth bromegrass pastures in the drier regions of central Kansas while increasing forage yield and nutritive value.

Individual and integrated methods on tough lovegrass control

ABSTRACT: The current study evaluated the efficiency of mechanical, physical, chemical and cultural methods, used exclusively or integrated, to control tough lovegrass. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 15 treatments and four repetitions. Physical control of tough lovegrass was based on the application of fire, whereas mechanical controls consisted in mowing and harrowing/plowing procedures. The herbicide clethodim and different glyphosate salts were evaluated for chemical control. Glyphosate and soil fertility correction were applied as cultural and integrated methods, in addition to isopropylamine + potassium salts combination, soil fertility correction and implantation of one of the following forage plants: Elephant grass, Pangola grass, Forage peanut and Birdsfoot trefoil. The effect of treatments on the incidence of tough lovegrass and on its botanical composition was evaluated one year after their applications. Isolated control methods, except for glyphosate using, did not present efficient tough lovegrass control. Glyphosate salts could control tough lovegrass plants, but their association with improved soil fertility and Pangola grass implantation was the best strategy to control the invasive plant.

Effect of growing forage legumes on the migration and survival in the pasture of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.

In order to identify types of forage that inhibit pasture contamination, an evaluation was performed of the effect of the forage legumes Trifolium repens (white clover), Trifolium pratense (red clover) and Lotus corniculatus (bird's-foot-trefoil) on the survival and migration of infective larvae (L3) of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of sheep. An experimental area of 441 m2 was divided into four blocks, subdivided into areas of 1.20 × 1.20 in which the three forage legumes were separately overseeded. After growth of the forage in each subdivision, experimental units were established that were later artificially contaminated with sheep faeces containing GIN eggs. Between October and December 2018, pasture, faecal and soil samples were collected on four occasions during weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 after the deposition of faeces. In week 6, the forage legumes in all the experimental units were mown to simulate grazing. The number of L3 was quantified to determine their survival in the pasture, faeces and soil. In addition, the horizontal migration of L3 was measured at two distances from the faecal pellets (10 and 30 cm), as well as their vertical migration at two heights of the plant stems, that is, lower half and upper half. Larvae vertical migration was affected by the forage species (P < 0.001), in that bird's-foot-trefoil contained fewer larvae in the upper stratum. Bird's-foot-trefoil restricted the migration of L3 to the upper stratum of the plant, which could potentially decrease the risk of infection by intestinal nematodes in grazing sheep.

Combined physiological responses and differential expression of drought-responsive genes preliminarily explain the drought resistance mechanism of Lotus corniculatus.

Lotus corniculatus L. is a perennial high-quality legume forage species but is vulnerable to drought, and water deficit reduces productivity. To understand the drought response mechanism of L. corniculatus , we investigated physiological responses under drought stress and constructed suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH) cDNA libraries to isolate drought-inducible genes and quantitatively study the expression levels of candidate drought- responsive genes. Genes encoding calmodulin-like protein, mitogen-activated protein kinase, indole-3-acetic acid-induced protein, ser/thr-protein phosphatase homolog-related proteins, and β -galactosidase-related protein with hydrolysis activity were isolated and considered the main factors that explained the resistance of L. corniculatus to drought. Approximately 632 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified and confirmed in the constructed SSH library. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes were involved mainly in transcription processes, protein synthesis, material metabolism, catalytic reactions, sugar metabolism, and photosynthesis. The interaction between the functions of these drought-related genes and the physiological responses preliminarily explains the drought resistance mechanisms of L. corniculatus .

Isolation and characterization of Klebsiella oxytoca from the rhizosphere of Lotus corniculatus and its biostimulating features.

Significant food resource shortages are occurring worldwide. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent an ecofriendly and efficient approach for increasing soil fertility and plant productivity. The current study explored biostimulating traits of PGPR from the rhizosphere of Lotus corniculatus growing in the Al-Ahsa region. A bacterial isolate (LCK121) was obtained, characterized for phenotypic, and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition, its growth-stimulating effects on barley were investigated. The strain identity was confirmed via comparative analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences with Klebsiella oxytoca (99.3% similarity level). LCK121 exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting features, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (16.34 µg mL-1), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity (1.35±0.02 µmol α-ketobutyrate mg-1 h-1), phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, in vitro inoculation of barley with LCK121 significantly increased the root and shoot dry weights. The results highlight the potential of LCK121 for developing green fertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

HIGHLIGHTING THE MELISSOPALYNOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AYDER-RİZE (TURKEY)

The aim of this research is characterizing the honey produced in Ayder/Rize-Turkey. In this context 20 honey samples were collected from Ayder in 2018. The melissopalynological and physicochemical analysis of the honey samples were done by this research. According to the melissopalynological analysis 40 taxa belong to the 22 plant families were identified as botanical sources of the investigated honey samples. Nine of the investigated samples (sample no 1-9) were evaluated as monofloral and the others as multifloral honeys. As a result of melissopalynological analysis, while pollen belong to the Castanea sativa taxon were found in dominant ratios in some of the investigated samples, the pollen belongs to the Castanea sativa, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Coronilla orientalis taxa were found as secondary in some other honey samples. Total pollen number in 10 gram honey (TPN 10) values of the samples were found between 7 732 and 167 147 by melissopalynological analysis. The first step of the physicochemical analsyis was the moisture analysis and the values found between 15,8% and 18,8% (mean value:7,01±0,98 %). The fructose/glucose analysis were done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the values for fructose found as: 26,43-35,57g/100g (mean: 31,39±2,41 g/100g), glucose values as; 20,11-30,58 g/100g (mean: 26,83±2,16 g/100g). Also fructose/glucose ratio was found as 1,03-1,34 (mean: 1,17±0,10). Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and total phenolic acids analysis were done also by HPLC. The results for HMF analysis is between 0,7- 11,31 ppm (mean: 3,8±2,6 ppm ), for total phenolic acids the value are found between 88,92±0,04 mgGAE/kg - 196,17±0,10 mgGAE/kg (mean: 121,98±0,1 mgGAE/kg). As a step of chemical analysis; the volatile compounds of the honey samples were determined by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The compounds belong to the aldehydes, aliphatic acids and esters, alcohols, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and their esters, ketones, terpenes, fatty acids and their esters groups were found as a result of GC-MS analysis. The compounds belong to the carboxylic acids and their esters, fatty acids and their esters identified in higher ratios compare to the other compounds. Since, there is little detailed published information about the quality and properties of Ayder-Rize honey, the current study aims to characterize the honey belong to the this region.

Distribution Strategies of Vascular Plants at the Reclaimed Lands at the Saemangum Sea Dike

The distribution of plant communities in the reclaimed land of the southwestern coasts of South Korea, along with the environmental or plant factors, was studied through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and the competitor (C), stress tolerator (S), and ruderal (R) (CSR) ecological strategies. The coastal reclaimed land plants were classified into three plant-factor groups in the CCA biplot diagram. Axis1 was correlated with LS, SLA, CH, and FS. Axis 2 was correlated with LDMC, FP, and LDW. The reclaimed landplants were classified into three soil-factor groups in the CCA biplot diagram. First, the group factor was correlated with SAND. Second, the group factor was distributed according to T-N and TOC. Third, the group factor was distributed according to Salinity content. To clarify the relative significance of competition, stress, and disturbance in the distribution process of plant communities, the CSR distribution model was adopted. Sixteen of the 19 species were allocated to the factors related to the ruderals strategies such as R/CR and CR including R/CSR, SR/CSR, and CR/CSR, and SC strategies. They displayed ruderal and competition adaptation strategies reflecting the ecological environment. Seven species showed R/CR (ruderal/competitor-ruderal) strategies; Aeschno meneindica, Chenopodium album var. centrorubrum, Lolium perenne, Lotus corniculatus var. japonicus, Phragmites communis, Portulaca oleracea, and Soncous brachyotus and 6 species showed CR (competitor-ruderal) strategies; Bidens frondosa, Echinochloa crus-galli, Echino chloaoryzicola, Erigeron canadensis, Fimbristy lislongispica and Setaria viridis. The three species with R-related strategies were Artemisia princeps, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens. The distribution patterns of the CCA diagrams and CSR triangles may provide a useful scientific basis for protecting and restoring reclaimed lands and their valuable ecosystem services, from the increasing disturbances.

Non-linear effects of landscape on pollination service and plant species richness in a peri-urban territory with urban and agricultural land use

Pollination contributes to both human food security and the reproduction of the majority of wild plant species, but pollinators are facing a rapid decline, a major cause of which is habitat conversion and degradation due to human activities. Urbanization is one of the major types of habitat conversion, but its influence on pollination has been surprisingly mixed, ranging from markedly negative to strongly positive effects. One hypothesis proposed to explain these discrepancies is that pollinator responses to urbanization are highly dependent on the non-urban control habitat, with negative effects when the controls are natural or semi-natural areas but positive when they are intensive agricultural areas. It was also proposed that the pollination response along an agricultural-to-urban gradient is non-linear, with maximum pollination observed at an intermediate level of urbanization due to increased environmental heterogeneity. To test these two hypotheses, we selected a group of 38 sites in a peri-urban area near Paris, France, using a semi-stratified sampling strategy that ensured that all three of the urban, agricultural and semi-natural gradients were maximized. We then estimated pollination using two approaches: we evaluated the pollination success of Lotus corniculatus, a strictly entomogamous self-sterile plant species pollinated mainly by bees, and we measured the species richness of entomogamous and non-entomogamous plants, the difference in their response being expected to relate to the pollination service provided by the overall pollinator community. We found that in our study area, pollination success of L. corniculatus responds positively to the agricultural to urban gradient but not to the semi-natural to urban gradient. The diversity of both entomogamous and non-entomogamous plants is highest at sites surrounded by intermediate proportions of urban and agricultural areas. In addition, high proportions of urban areas have a negative effect on the diversity of non-entomogamous but not entomogamous plant species, suggesting that pollinators are able to partially buffer entomogamous plant species against the negative effect of urban development. Our results show the importance of urban areas in pollination conservation plans and demonstrate that the interaction between different anthropogenic land-use is an important factor for understanding pollination.

Biochemical composition and quality of herbal mass of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. by phases of plant growth and development.

Purpose. To establish the qualitative indicators of the grass mass of the Danae variety of Trifolium repens L. and the Ajax variety of Lotus corniculatus L. in accordance with the growth and development phases of plants in order to produce high-protein feed. Methods. Field, laboratory, system analysis methods were used. Results. According to our data, the leafiness of leguminous plants and the ratio of leaf mass and stems decrease from the branching phase to the flowering phase, what significantly affects individual indicators of the biochemical composition of the green mass of the first and second mowings. According to the development phases of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. plants in the grass mass of both the first and second mowings, a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat and increase in the content of crude fiber was observed, which was due to a decrease in the leaf mass of plants and an increase in the stem mass. The ratio of the mass of leaves and stems according to the phases of plant development of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. also influenced the nutritional value of the grass mass forage. The content of fodder units from the branching phase to flowering decreased from 0.94-0.90 to 0.55-0.61 f.u., exchange energy – from 10.25- 10.27 to 7.31-7.86 MJ respectively. Conclusions. Significant changes in plant foliage covering and the percentage ratio of the mass of leaves and stems, their influence on indicators of the biochemical composition, quality and energy nutritional value of the grass mass of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. have been proved. Changes in the composition of the grass mass were accompanied by a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and increase in crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractive substances, which led to a decrease in the quality of forage for the leafy mass of leguminous grasses. It has been established that the most high-protein and energetically nutritious forage for the grass mass of leguminous grasses (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) can be obtained by mowing the grass stand in the branching-budding phase. Subsequently, there is a significant decrease in the content of crude and digestible protein, metabolic energy and increase in the content of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractives.

Is Lotus zhegulensis Klok. (Fabaceae) a separate species endemic of the Middle Volga Region or just a variety of a widespread L. corniculatus L.?

We have studied several samples from Lotus corniculatus s. l. and L. zhegulensis populations with the use of SSR and sequenced nuclear (ITS) and plastid (atpB-rbcL, ndhC-trnV, rpl32-trnL(UAG), trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF) markers. We analysed 9 local populations from the Volga River valley ranging from Ulyanovsk in the north to Volgograd in the south, as well as two local populations from Moscow and Lipetsk Provinces. Analyses of SSR markers using the STRUCRURE program divided the sample into three genetic clusters. Populations from Moscow and Lipetsk Provinces, and three local populations from the ‘locus classicus’ location of L. zhegulensis in Samara Province appeared to be the most genetically differentiated while all the other populations were variously genetically admixed. Low pairwise Fst values indicate low genetic differentiation of Lotus populations and the intraspecific nature of the revealed diversity. The nuclear and plastid DNA sequences analyzed yielded little information. Substitutions and indels revealed were mostly autapomorphies characteristic of separate specimens or small groups of specimens but not of populations. Our study enables to firmly conclude that Lotus populations from the right bank of the Volga River in vicinity of Zhiguli upland described as L. zhegulensis are weakly genetically differentiated from other populations of Lotus corniculatus s. l. and, hence, cannot be regarded as a separate species.

The key regulator LcERF056 enhances salt tolerance by modulating reactive oxygen species-related genes in Lotus corniculatus

BackgroundThe APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) family are important regulatory factors involved in plants’ response to environmental stimuli. However, their roles in salt tolerance in Lotus corniculatus remain unclear.ResultsHere, the key salt-responsive transcription factor LcERF056 was cloned and characterised. LcERF056 belonging to the B3–1 (IX) subfamily of ERFs was considerably upregulated by salt treatment. LcERF056-fused GFP was exclusively localised to nuclei. Furthermore, LcERF056- overexpression (OE) transgenic Arabidopsis and L. corniculatus lines exhibited significantly high tolerance to salt treatment compared with wild-type (WT) or RNA interference expression (RNAi) transgenic lines at the phenotypic and physiological levels. Transcriptome analysis of OE, RNAi, and WT lines showed that LcERF056 regulated the downstream genes involved in several metabolic pathways. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR) and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay demonstrated that LcERF056 could bind to cis-element GCC box or DRE of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes such as lipid-transfer protein, peroxidase and ribosomal protein.ConclusionOur results suggested that the key regulator LcERF056 plays important roles in salt tolerance in L. corniculatus by modulating ROS-related genes. Therefore, it may be a useful target for engineering salt-tolerant L. corniculatus or other crops.

Analysis of the source material for the selection of lotus corniculatus in the conditions of the Non-chernozem region of Russia

The article presents the results of testing 16 varieties of lotus corniculatus in comparison with the Smolensky 1 standard. The experience was laid in 2016, the yield of air-dry matter 2017-2020 was taken into account. The best in terms of hydrothermal coefficient (GTC) were 2018 with GTC=1.4 and 2019 with GTC=1.8. The analysis of the indicators of air-dry matter yield, ecological plasticity (bi), stability (Si2), stress resistance (Ymin - Ymax), genetic flexibility ((Ymax+Ymin)/2), yield span (d) was carried out. Favorable conditions for crop formation were formed in years with a positive value of the environmental conditions index (Ij). These are 2018 Ij=2.29 and 2019 Ij=1.15. The largest collection of air-dry mass of lotus corniculatus for the entire period gave the sample E-25 (52.2 t / ha) this is 45.8% higher than the variety Smolensky 1, E-47 with 46.3 t / ha by 29.3%, E-49 with 46.2 t/ha by 29% and E-50 with 45.1 t/ha by 26%; the average yield of air-dry matter in these samples also exceeded the standard by 44-25.6%. The most plastic samples were E-24 (bi=1.59), E-19 (bi=1.29), E-50 (bi=1.24), E-49 (bi=1.23). The most stable samples were E-47 (Si2 =0.1), E-50 (Si2=0.3), E-12 and E-4(Si2=0.6); unstable samples were E – 10 (Si2=10.0) and E-39 (Si2=8.7). Stress resistance is best in E-12 (Ymin-Ymax=-2.54) and E-9 (Ymin - Ymax=-4.92); worst in E-24(Ymin - Ymax=-9.56). Maximum genetic flexibility (Ymax+Ymin)/2 had cultivars E-25 (12.77), E-10 (11.73), E-49 (11.54). The lowest yield range (d) in E-12 is 24.68 %, the highest in E – 24 is 60.89 %.

Accumulation of isoflavonoids in Lotus corniculatus after UV-B irradiation

Accumulation of isoflavonoids in Lotus corniculatus after UV-B irradiation

Sowing Mixtures of Native Plant Species: Are There Any Differences between Hydroseeding and Regular Seeding?

Hydroseeding is a convenient, low-cost way to plant seeds. Traditionally, fast-growing commercial species that are cheap to obtain are preferred in hydroseeding, while native species have limited use. Nowadays, the use of native species is often desired in revegetation projects. However, there is a paucity of information about hydroseeding native species in Northern areas of Europe. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether hydroseeding has any effects on native plant cover formation, species richness and abundance, the development of plant morphological features, or aboveground biomass. A total of 40 native plant species in Lithuania were sowed using hydroseeding and regular seeding. The experimental plots were assessed for two years. The results show a relatively small and short positive effect of hydroseeding on plant cover formation. No significant differences were found in species richness between the sowing treatments. However, a comparison of species composition revealed significant differences between the sowing treatments that were more associated with species abundance than species diversity. Hydroseeding was favoured by legume species, such as Onobrychis viciifolia, Ononis arvensis, Lotus corniculatus, and Trifolium medium, while Festuca rubra favoured the regular seeding treatment. Overall, our findings emphasize that legume species that display more competitive growth traits should be included in the seed mixture in lower proportions when hydroseeding is applied.

Exploring apoplast reorganization in the nodules of Lotus corniculatus L. growing on old Zn–Pb calamine wastes

Nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation are important factors that determine legume growth. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of Zn–Pb contamination on nodule apoplast (cell walls and intercellular spaces) of bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) that spontaneously colonized old calamine wastes. The plants were grown in pots filled with sterile calamine substrate (M, metal treated) or expanded clay (NM, untreated) and inoculated with calamine-derived Lotus-nodulating Bradyrhizobium liaoningense. Apoplast reorganization in the nodules was examined using specific dyes for cellulose, pectin and lignin detection, and immuno-histochemical techniques based on monoclonal antibodies against xyloglucan (Lm25), pectins (Jim5 and Jim7), and structural proteins (arabinogalactan protein - Lm14 and extensin - Jim12). Microscopic analysis of metal-treated nodules revealed changes in the apoplast structure and composition of nodule cortex tissues and infected cells. Wall thickening was accompanied by intensified deposition of cellulose, xyloglucan, esterified pectin, arabinogalactan protein and extensin. The metal presence redirected also lignin and suberin deposition in the walls of the nodule cortex tissues.Our results showed reorganization of the apoplast of cortex tissues and infected cells of Lotus nodules under Zn–Pb presence. These changes in the apoplast structure and composition may have created actual barriers for the toxic ions. For this reason, they can be regarded as an element of legume defense strategy against metal stress that enables effective functioning of L. corniculatus-rhizobia symbiosis on Zn–Pb polluted calamine tailings.

Onion-forage cropping systems on a Vertic Argiudoll in Uruguay: Onion yield and soil organic matter, aggregation, porosity and permeability

Hostipastoral systems in small farming units that integrate horticulture crops, as main cash crop, with sheep/cattle raising on cultivated forage, in Uruguay, present physical restrains to crops because of high consistency and compaction of the vertic soils and unique tillage requirements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different hortipastoral systems on soil organic matter, aggregation, porosity, permeability and onion yield during a cropping year in onion-forage hortipastoral systems. A long-term experiment was installed in 1995 in the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA-Las Brujas) in Uruguay, on fine (mixed) smectitic thermic superactive Vertic Argiudolls. The soil was previously under native grasslands, and treatments consisted of cropping systems for onion (Allium cepa L.) production, maintained for three years and then rotated. Onion yield was evaluated during the period 1998–2006, and in the cropping year 2006–2007, corresponding to the end of a 3-year cropping cycle, we evaluated soil organic matter and physical properties and functioning in the cropping systems: alfalfa, fescue, forage consortium (birdfoot trefoil, alfalfa and white clover), onion after alfalfa, onion after fescue, and onion after consortium. At four times during the cropping year, aggregate stability and organic matter were determined for the 0–0.05 m soil layer, whereas soil bulk density, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity were determined in 0–0.10 and 0.10–0.20 m layers. The results showed high variability in onion yields from 1998 to 2006 (10.8–36.4Mgha−1), mainly related to high rainfall (higher than 150 mm) that affected crop planting, and the low rainfall (lower than 30 mm) that affected growth and development. In two out of eight years, there were significant differences in onion yield among treatments, where alfalfa (1999) and fescue (2006) crops are more beneficial to onion yield than pasture consortium. To establish the onion crop in the vertic soil tillage is needed, but tilling the soil under forage crops reduces macro and increases microaggregation (reduces GMDw from 1.8 to 0.8 mm), increases macroporosity (close 0.07 to 0.25 m3 m−3) and functioning in terms of water and air permeability (Ka increase above 3 µm2 after tillage) and decreases the degree of compaction (under forages decreased DC from 69-84% to 58–60% in surface layer). In conclusion, there is a significant potential of hortipastoral systems and proper management of soil organic matter to minimize adverse effects of climate, and improve productivity stability of intensive production systems. Single forage crops, either legume or grass, are more beneficial to onion yield than consortium of grass plus legumes.

Influence of ultraviolet irradiation of perennial grasses seeds on their sowing quality

A new direction in pre-sowing seed preparation is environmentally friendly and energyefficient ultraviolet irradiation, which increases germination, reduces seed infection, and improves growth force. In this regard, the experiment of studying the effect of UV irradiation on the sowing qualities and morphophysiological parameters of the seeds of the birds-foot trefoil and awnless brome was laid at the UdmFRC UB RAS in 2019. Use of UV rays of range A with a wavelength of 315–400 nm for 5 min reduced the infection of the birds-foot trefoil seeds by 3.2%, increased the length of the sprout by 0.81 cm and the strength of growth — by 5.4% in comparison with untreated seeds. There was also a tendency for a decrease in seed hardness by 2.5%, an increase in root length by 0.41 cm, and the degree of seedling development by 0.12 points. The most effective for awnless brome seeds was UV treatment for 35 minutes, which led to an increase in germination by 14.5%, a decrease in seed infection by 5.8%. There was also a tendency to improve the morphological parameters of seedlings: the length of the sprout increased by 0.9 cm, the length of the root — by 0.88 cm, the length of the coleoptile — by 0.30 cm. The strength of growth in this variant was 9.3% higher than in the control without treatment. In general, the treatment of perennial grasses seeds with ultraviolet light reduced infection, increased laboratory germination and strength of growth, and reduced seed hardness.

Grazing diverse combinations of tanniferous and nontanniferous legumes: implications for foraging behavior, performance, and hair cortisol in beef cattle.

A diversity of forages with different types and concentrations of nutrients and plant secondary compounds may lead to complementary relationships that enhance cattle performance and welfare. We determined whether grazing combinations of tanniferous legumes (Lotus corniculatus, birdsfoot trefoil [BFT], Onobrychis viciifolia, sainfoin [SF]), and alfalfa [ALF] (Medicago sativa) influence foraging behavior, performance, and hair cortisol concentration in beef cattle compared with grazing the same legumes as monocultures. Twenty-one pairs of heifers grazed three spatial replications of seven treatments: monocultures of BFT, SF, or ALF, and all possible two- and three-way choices among strips of these legumes: SF-BFT, ALF-BFT, ALF-SF, and ALF-SF-BFT in two periods of 25 d each (adaptation phase + experimental period) during two consecutive years. The lowest incidence of grazing events occurred in the BFT treatment (42.0% of the total scans recorded; P < 0.10), with the rest of the treatments ranging between 47.8% (SF-BFT) and 52.6% (ALF-SF) of the total scans recorded. Heifers selected a varied diet, preferring SF over BFT or ALF in a 46:27:27 ratio for the three-way choice, and in a 70:30 ratio for both two-way choices. Heifers preferred BFT over ALF (62:38 ratio) in a two-way choice. All treatments followed similar daily grazing patterns (P > 0.10), with two major grazing events (1 h after sunrise and 3 h before dark). No differences among treatments were observed for the number of steps taken by heifers on a daily basis, motion index, or the percentage of time heifers spent standing (1,599, 5,356, and 45.3%, respectively; P > 0.10), suggesting that heifers on choice treatments did not invest extra time in walking, searching, or patch switching activities relative to heifers grazing monocultures. Heifers grazing the three-way choice gained more body weight (1.27 kg/d) than the average gains observed for animals grazing in all legume monocultures (1.00 kg/d; P = 0.014) or two-way choices (0.97 kg/d; P = 0.007), suggesting a synergism among pasture species for the treatment with the highest diversity. No differences in hair cortisol concentration were observed among treatments, with values ranging between 1.4 (BFT) and 2.12 ng/g (three-way choice; P > 0.10). Thus, forage diversity has the potential to enhance animal performance without affecting grazing efficiency, likely explained by the spatial arrangement of the forage species presented in the study.

Native plants facilitate vegetation succession on amended and unamended mine tailings

Facilitating the establishment of native pioneer plant species on mine tailings with inherent metal and/or acid tolerance is important to speed up natural succession at minimal cost, especially in remote areas where phytoremediation can be labor intensive. We investigated vegetation community dynamics after ∼48 years of succession along two legacy Ni–Cu mine tailings and waste rock deposits in the Sudbury Basin, Ontario, Canada with and without various site amendments (i.e. liming and fertilization) and planting. Metal/acid tolerant pioneer plants (Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, Pohlia nutans) appeared to facilitate the establishment of less tolerant species. Conifers and nitrogen-fixers less tolerant to site conditions were planted at the fully amended (limed, fertilized, planted) mine tailings site in the 1970s, but conifers were not propagating at the site or facilitating understory succession. The planted nitrogen-fixing leguminous species Lotus corniculatus was, however, associated with increased diversity. These findings have implications for long-term reclamation strategies in acidic mine waste deposits utilizing native species, as primary colonizing tree species are only recently emerging as candidates for phytoremediation. Novelty statement The potential for native species to act as facilitators for vegetation colonization has rarely been investigated on tailings, despite wide use in remediation of less toxic sites. This study provides a retrospective of over 40 years of plant growth following initial treatment of toxic tailings. We observed that regardless of tailings geochemical conditions, acid/metal tolerant pioneer plants were facilitating ecological succession on acidic Ni-Cu mine tailings sites.