Botanical Composition Research Articles

Evaluation of the productivity and feed value of Wondergraze and Redlands leucaena cultivars under grazing

Context Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a leguminous shrub used for beef grazing in low-rainfall regions (<600–700 mm). Newer cultivars have the potential to extend adoption of the species to higher rainfall (>600–700 mm), frost-free areas of Australia. Aim We compared productivity, nutritional value and animal performance of two leucaena cultivars, new psyllid-resistant Redlands and the 2010-released Wondergraze, under continuous grazing management in a higher rainfall environment. Methods Growing steers were allocated to replicated established stands of Wondergraze or Redlands with inter-row mixed grass–legume pasture from January to July 2021. Pasture and leucaena were characterised for biomass and nutritive characteristics. Botanical composition was measured. Liveweight gain, rumen fermentation, and leucaena mimosine breakdown products were measured in grazing steers. Key results At the beginning of the study, leucaena edible biomass was similar for both cultivars (P > 0.05), but at subsequent samplings, biomass of Redlands was lower than of Wondergraze (P < 0.01). Biomass of both cultivars declined rapidly over the grazing period. Pasture biomass increased between February and July and was significantly higher in Wondergraze paddocks (P < 0.05). Animal performance was not significantly different between cultivar treatments, averaging 0.8 kg/day, but declined over time. Patterns of mimosine conversion to DHP isomers and their conjugation were similar for the two cultivars, suggesting that effectiveness of detoxification did not differ between them. Conclusion The results demonstrate that leucaena can sustain high levels of animal performance when included in tropical grass pastures in a higher rainfall environment if present in a sufficient quantity (>2 t leucaena edible dry matter/ha established leucaena). Implications Grazing leucaena–grass pastures is an effective means of increasing animal productivity in parts of subtropical Australia. However, managing grass and/or leucaena growth to match animal requirements can be challenging.

Assessment of the botanical origin of Bulgarian honey samples using melissopalynological, DNA barcoding and NMR analyses

Polyfloral honey samples from Bulgaria were subject to parallel analyses of their botanical origin and composition using traditional melissopalynology, DNA barcoding based on the plastid rbcL gene and NMR analysis. The obtained datasets were compared with each other to evaluate the information capacity of the applied experimental methods. The results from the melissopalynological and DNA-barcoding studies demonstrated a significantly higher resolution of the latter, revealing the presence of pollen from a total of 17 plant families, 21 plant genera and 5 plant species in comparison to pollen from only 7 plant families, 3 plant genera and 4 plant species identified by melissopalynology. The higher resolution of DNA barcoding allows a more detailed characterisation of the diet and foraging preferences of honey bees, including foraging on plant species growing in lower abundance in the area. The comparison of the quantitative data on floral honey composition for several plant genera and species reveals significant differences between the relative abundance of the pollen grains estimated by melissopalynological analysis and the relative abundance of rbcL clones in rbcL libraries determined after DNA barcoding. All three applied methods confirm the polyfloral botanical origin of the analysed samples and support routine NMR use for the assessment of the floral origin of honey.

FLORA OF THE COASTAL ZONENORTH-EASTERN CASPIAN REGION

The main limiting factors of the botanical composition of the communities of the Caspian region are the modes of humidification and salinization. In this regard, the vegetation cover is characterized by poor floral and phytocenotic diversity and simple structure. This is also due to the youth of the territory, periodic transgressions and regressions of the Caspian Sea and the constant influence of the sea's overgrowth phenomena. The distinctive features of the floral spectrum are the dominant position of the family of Mares (about 20% of the total number of species) and the high position of the family of Rdestovye (7th place, 3%). This indicates a significant salinity of land habitats and an increased role of aquatic phytocenoses. The species richness, the structure of phytobiota are important indicators of the state of the environment, the degree of anthropogenic disturbance and pollution. Assessment of the degree of vegetation degradation is carried out on a 5-point scale: very strong, strong, medium, weak degree of disturbance, background condition.To monitor the flora and vegetation in the laid sites, observations of their condition were carried out.

Effect of a compost fertilizer on the productivity and botanical composition of a natural grass stand under mountain conditions

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of compost of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum L.) and fresh cattle manure on the yield and the change in the botanical composition of a natural grass stand under mountain conditions. The annual application of compost in a natural meadow of a transitional type with Chrysopogon gryllus–Agrostis capillaris, increased significantly (P <0.001) the amount of dry matter in the treated variants from 57.77% (at a fertilizer rate of 3000 kg/dka) to 73.79% (at a fertilizer rate of 2000 kg/dka) compared to the untreated control. Grass stands fertilizerd at a rate of 2000 kg/dka increased to the highest degree the presence of legume components (from 44.7% to 71.2%) in the biomass, which is a prerequisite for the production of fodder with a high crude protein content. The compost application had a positive impact on the grass mass composition and contributed to positive changes in the group of desirable legume and grass meadow species. An increased share of useful legume (Trifolium pratense, T. hybridium, T. agrarium and Lotus corniculatus) and grass meadow species (Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Cynosurus cristatus and Poa pratensis) and stimulation of their productive potential was found. In the fertilized variants, the percentage share of weeds participate followed a downward trend compared to the control. Fertilizing with compost of bracken and manure is a highly effective measure and can be recommended to increase hay yields in natural grass stand (а transitional type with Chrysopogon gryllus-Agrostis capillaris) in the conditions of the Central Balkan Mountain. URL: https://www.upjs.sk/pracoviska/botanicka-zahrada/odborne-aktivity/contents-abstracts/

Hosszú távú kaszálás hatása a vegetációra és a biomassza összetételére a Nyugat-Cserhát pannon száraz gyepeiben

This study is focusing on the vegetation of seminatural dry grasslands. Those loess grasslands are valuable with large biodiversity; however their long-term preservation requires regular conservation management. The report demonstrates the results of mowing experiment, designed to suppress the spread of unpalatable grass species, Calamagrostis epigeios. The study site is located in mid-successional loss grasslands, in the Western-Cserhát, near Rád, northern Hungary.
 The study aims to the investigate the followings: Can the unpalatable Calamagrostis epigejos be suppressed by mowing? Are there possibilities to increase the diversity of sward by this? The study aims, to measure potential value-increasing effect of mowing, and to determine the carrying capacity in the aspect of grassland management.
 In 2001, Camagrostis epigeios was the species with the highest coverage rate according to the both treatment types, with an average cover value of 63%. However, as a result of mowing, a significant difference was detected in the amount of litter and legumes species as well. The number of species showed a slight increase in both types of treatment, from 15 to 37 in the mowed plots, but also from 18 to 27 in the control plots. We concluded that mowing twice a year was beneficial to modify botanical composition of a grassland. In a way it was suited well for agricultural usage, in particular grazing which can replace the expensive and time-consuming scythe. It is also a suitable management measure for controlling the native invader species as a Calamagrostis epigeios, and can significantly increase the proportion of species with higher forage values.
 Mowing has significantly increased the density of Calamagrostis epigeios, the species richness, and the diversity in the course of secondary succession. Therefore, mowing twice a year proved to be a successful management measure for controlling Calamagrostis epigeios, and for obtaining a sward composition. The treatment was effective in restoring grassland composition, although the achievement and maintenance of favourable conservation status for the grassland habitat require long-term management planning and regular treatment. According to the objectives, mowing not only promotes the control of the invasive species, but also the economic utilization of the area.

Multispecies swards outperform perennial ryegrass under intensive beef grazing

Decreasing reliance on fertiliser Nitrogen (N) is key to enhancing the sustainability of pasture-based agricultural systems. This study assesses the effect of sward type on annual and seasonal herbage dry-matter (DM) production potential, sown species and unsown species contribution to herbage DM under an intensive dairy-calf to beef system. Three sward types were investigated in a farmlet experiment: Lolium perenne (LP; 205 kg N ha-1 a-1); L. perenne-Trifolium repens (LP-TR); multispecies sward consisting of L. perenne, Phleum pratense, T. repens, Trifolium pratense, Cichorium intybus and Plantago lanceolata (MSS). L. perenne-T. repens and MSS each received 92 kg N ha-1 a-1. Herbage samples were collected for DM production and botanical composition determination at each grazing. Further quadrat sampling was undertaken on three occasions per grazing season (early-, mid- and late-season), to enumerate the unsown species composition of swards and changes in bare ground. Over the course of the two-year study, LP, LP-TR and MSS produced annual herbage DM yields of 9950, 10,650 and 12,600 kg DM ha-1 a-1 respectively, despite reducing fertiliser N application to LP-TR and MSS by 55% compared to LP. The average proportional contribution of grass species to MSS’ herbage DM remained constant, the clover content of MSS increased, while the herb content decreased from 2020 to 2021. Seasonally, the proportional contribution of L. perenne and P. lanceolata to MSS’ herbage DM declined as the grazing season progressed, the contribution of T. repens and T. pratense increased and that of P. pratense and C. intybus remained similar. In LP-TR, T. repens’ proportional contribution to herbage DM increased from 2020 to 2021, while L. perenne’s proportional contribution declined. Seasonally, the proportional contribution of L. perenne to the herbage DM of LP-TR declined as the grazing season progressed, while the proportion of T. repens’ increased. The contribution of dead plant material to herbage DM increased across all swards in the second year but did not differ between sward types. Sward type did not affect the proportional contribution of unsown species by functional group to herbage DM. These results demonstrate that under a relatively-intensive beef grazing system, MSS receiving reduced N compared to LP monocultures, and the same N compared to LP-TR swards, produce more herbage DM, and do not have a greater weed (unsown species) burden. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of MSS to ‘produce more while using less’, a key requirement of sustainable grazing systems.

Selection of inter-row herbaceous covers in a sloping, organic, non-irrigated vineyard.

Inter-row vegetation in vineyards is classified as a service crop as it provides many ecosystem services. The vegetation is often removed but maintaining them can mitigate the negative effects on the environment. However, the type of species or mixture choice can affect their success. A field trial was conducted in an organically-managed vineyard of Cabernet sauvignon Vitis vinifera L. cultivars in north-eastern Italy, in which three blends of grass species (Shedonorus arundinaceus, Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra) and two grass-legume mixtures were grown in the inter-rows and compared with resident vegetation and regularly tilled bare soil. Each vegetation type, including resident vegetation, was subjected to mulching and non-mulching treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of seeded species or mixtures in the inter-row spaces of the vineyard in north-Italy as an alternative management to resident vegetation and tilled soil. The experiment was conducted over two years to monitor the persistence of the sown vegetation and the influence of vegetation types on vine performance and grape composition, and on soil compaction and erosion. The relative abundances of each species, vegetation height, percentage green cover and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), vine shoot length, number of leaves per vine shoot, leaf area, bunch weight, vine NDVI, soil compaction and erosion, and depth and width of tractor tyre prints were measured. Over time, weed invasion altered the botanical composition of all vegetation types except for the S. arundinaceus blend, which remained stable throughout the study period. Our results showed that vine parameters were not affected by the type of vegetation in the inter-rows, nor were there differences between the grassed and bare soil inter-rows. Soil compaction and erosion, and tractor tyre prints were not directly affected by the type of vegetation cover, but they were affected by tillage in the plots with bare soil in the inter-rows or where it was used to prepare the soil for sowing. Soil compaction and erosion were related to the percentage vegetation cover. Mulching did not affect any of the parameters measured. Therefore, species selection plays a crucial role in inter-row vegetation management and in minimising environmental impacts. S. arundinaceus gave high protection against soil erosion due to its high persistence throughout the year and had the lowest growth rate thus requiring fewer cuttings.

PRODUKTIVITAS PASTURA ALAM PADA MUSIM HUJAN DI KECAMATAN NEKAMESE KABUPATEN KUPANG

The present study aims to evaluate fresh and dry matter production, botanical composition, and carrying capacity of natural pasture during the rainy season in Oemasi Village, Nekamese District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The fresh and dry matter production was evaluated using the Halls method. The botanical composition was analyzed using the dry weight rank method, and the carrying capacity was calculated using the Voisin formula. The data obtained were descriptively analyzed. The results showed that the average production of fresh and dried materials was respectively 1.64 tons/ha and 0.90 tons/ha. The botanical composition comprises 61.70% grass, 9.68% legumes, and 28.62% weeds. The carrying capacity of natural pasture is 0.84 UT/ha. The findings of the present study suggest that the carrying could be increased by introducing the creeping of legume vines and minimizing non-palatable weed species. Keywords: Botanical composition, Carrying Capacity, Fresh and dry production.

Испытание нового сорта козлятника восточного «Еля-ты» (Galega orientalis) в условиях Ненецкого автономного округа

The paper deals with the adaptive properties of the new fodder culture of Eastern galega, variety‘ Elya-Ty”, its influence on the productivity, nutritional value and botanical composition of haying hytocenoses for the research period of 2003-2022. The natural and climatic conditions are favorable for Eastern galega breeding as evidenced by the ecological test data of its biopotential in the floodplain ecosystem of the Lower Pechora River. The area differs by temperature regime (average daily temperatures of 8.6–16.2 °C) and moisture conditions from arid to excessively moist (hydrothermal coefficient 0.6–3.9) with the production of 80–294 centners/ha of green mass without fertilizer. By the correlation analysis, economic characters of the cultivar moderately to strongly depend on the deficiency coefficient of active (˃10 °S) and average daily air temperatures. The productivity of galega is characterized by a moderate type of fluctuation. By the data obtained, the productivity increase is mean stable (p = 0.391) with high dependence on random meteorological factors during the vegetation period and in winter time (JR = 0.7571). 1 kg of feed contains 0.70 feed unit, 9.3 MJ exchange energy, nitrogen-free extractable substances - 45.1, raw protein - 19.5, raw fiber - 27.6, raw fat and ash - 1.86 and 5.9, respectively, and sugar - 9,5 %.

Dynamics of the species composition of alfalfa-grass agrophytocenosis depending on technological methods of growing

Goal.To highlight the features of the formation of the species composition of the alfalfa-grass mixture, depending on the liming of the soil and the application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, comparative calculation. Results. In the first year of using the herbage during chemical soil reclamation, the alfalfa-grass grass mixture contained 50.4-52.0% of the legume component, without liming - 40.8-42.1%. In the third year of use on the produced plots, alfalfa also dominated the botanical composition of the herbage and occupied 50-53.1%. In areas without chemical soil reclamation, the share of sowing alfalfa has sharply decreased - to 10.5-13.4%. Among the sown cereals in the herbage, tall fescue prevailed. The share of this species grew, reaching a maximum of 41.9-42.4% in the third year of use. The species composition of the herbage significantly changed depending on the mowing. Thus, grasses dominated in the first mowing on non-deoxidized areas, the share of which was 53.9-54.5%, including tall fescue 31.4- 32.2%, timothy grass 15.4-16.8%. The share of alfalfa in the first cut was 25.1-27.3%. Soil liming increased the share of the legume component in the first cut to 46.1-47.4%. The share of grass was also high and amounted to 42.1-42.2%. In the second cut, the proportion of alfalfa increased to 26.1-30.2% in the variants without soil deoxidation and to 65.3-68.0% in the variants with limestone flour. Conclusions.The introduction of limestone flour was the most effective factor in changing the species composition of the studied agrophytocenosis. In the limed areas, the share of alfalfa was high during all three years of grass stand use and amounted to 50.0-59.2%. Of the studied perennial grasses, tall fescue was noted to have high coenotic activity, the dominance of which increased in the second and, especially, the third cuttings.

The size of topographic depressions in a Sahelian savanna is a driver of woody vegetation diversity

In drylands, water availability is the main limiting factor for plant growth. Topographic depressions in the Sahel that reveal a more favorable water balance display greater tree diversity compared to their surroundings. However, the environmental factors that drive differences in botanical composition between depressions remain unknown. Here, we investigated the depression features, and the landscape and connectivity metrics responsible for woody vegetation composition in a savanna of Senegal. We mapped depressions in a 700 km2 area and inventoried woody vegetation in 61 depressions varying in area. Simple linear models were applied between (i) indicators of richness and botanical composition and (ii) depression attributes, landscape and connectivity metrics. We found that the area of a depression increased species richness. The number of vegetation strata and the presence of a temporary pond also positively influenced species richness. Yet, while large depressions always had high richness, some small depressions did too. We were not able to identify additional factors to explain this diversity between small depressions. In the context of decreasing richness and composition shift observed in the Sahel over recent decades, depressions, as biodiversity hotspots, are key elements in ecosystem functioning. Further studies are needed to understand other potential drivers of species diversity, such as soil water availability.

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ И СОСТАВ ТРАВОСТОЕВ ПАСТБИЩНОГО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СЕВЕРА РОССИИ

The scientific work presents the results of 2017–2021, obtained at the experimental field of the Northwestern Dairy Farming and Grassland Management Research Institute in the Vologda region, on the influence of purposefully selected species and varieties of cereals and legumes, complementing festulolium and ryegrass, on the productivity and botanical composition of agrophytocenoses of the European North of the Russian Federation. The soil of the experimental site is sod-podzolic, medium cultivated, medium loamy. The scientific experience consists of 10 variants (including a control consisting of fescue, timothy and bluegrass), the repetition is threefold. Observations and records were carried out according to the methods generally accepted in forestry at the V.R. Williams Research Institute of Forage. The processing of yield data will be carried out by the method of variance analysis described in the "Methodology of field experience" by B.A. Dospekhov. It was found that on average, over 4 years of research on cereal grass with the use of fertilizers, productivity was 6.1–7.2 tons of dry weight, the content of feed units was 5.0–5.8 thousand, digestible protein 0.7–0.8 tons, metabolic energy 610–72.0 GJ per hectare. On legumes and cereals grass stands with the inclusion of meadow and creeping clover, the production indicators were: dry the weight is 8.2–8.4 tons, the metabolic energy is 84.8–87.6 GJ, the collection of feed units is 7.1–7.3 thousand and crude protein is 1.1–1.6 tons per hectare.

Botanical Composition, Feed Consumption and Feed Conversion of Male Bali Cattle in The Tunas Karya Group, Teruwai Village, Central Lombok Regency

Feed is a very important factor in cattle farming business. The adequacy of feed requirements is not only measured by the amount of feed given, but it is also necessary to pay attention to the diversity of types of feed and the ability of livestock to change the feed ingredients given to increase body weight. The research entitled Botanical Composition, Consumption and Feed Conversion for Male Bali Cattle in the Tunas Karya Group of Teruwai Village, Central Lombok Regency was carried out for 3 months from August to October 2021. This research was carried out using 3 Bali bulls which were placed in separate individual pens. equipped with feed and drinking water. Variables observed in this study included botanical composition, feed consumption, and conversion as well as body weight gain during the study. The data obtained in this study were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the feed given to male Bali cattle reared in the Tunas Karya Group of Teruwai Village, Central Lombok Regency consisted of 100% king grass forage and 5 kg of commercial concentrate feed. Dry matter consumption (KBK) was 6.78 kg or 2.36% of body weight/head/day, while organic matter consumption (KBO) was 5.90 kg/head/day. Daily body weight gain (PBBH) was recorded at 0.526 kg/head/day, with a feed conversion of (12.1).
 Keywords: Botanical Composition, Consumption, Conversion, Feed, Bali Cattle

PRODUKSI, KOMPOSISI BOTANI DAN KAPASITAS TAMPUNG PADANG PENGGEMBALAAN ALAM DESA MAUBOKUL KECAMATAN PANDAWAI KABUPATEN SUMBA TIMUR PADA MUSIM HUJAN (Production, botanical composition and carrying capacity of pasture in Maubokul Village, Pandawai.....

This experiment aims to analyze the production, botanical composition, and carrying capacity of pasture in the Maubokul Village, Pandawai District, East Sumba Regency. The experiment was conducted on March 1th to April 30th 2022. The experiment used survey method, measurement, and direct observations in the field. Forage production measured by actual weight estimate method with 1 m x 1 m of the frame as tool utilization. Botanical composition measured using the summed dominance ratio method, as well as the carrying capacity measured using the viosin formula. The data obtained were tabulated and calculated to obtain the total forage production, botanical composition, and carrying capacity. The results showed that the pasture in Maubokul Village, Pandawai District, had a fresh production of 5.182 kg/ha, dry matter production of 1.505 kg/ha, Summed Dominance Ratio (SDR) of grass 65,21%, legumes 18,04%, and weeds 16,75%. The pasture also has a carrying capacity of 1,12 AU/ha/year. In conclusion, pasture in Maubokul Village, Pandawai District were dominated by natural grass with high capacity during the rainy season.

Evaluation of the botanical composition of kikuyu and fescue grasslands associated with white clover during two seasons in the high valleys of Mexico

Objective. To evaluate the botanical composition of grasslands of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) compared to tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum cv. Cajun II), each one in association with white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Ladino), in two independent experiments conducted during two seasons, autumn 2018 and winter 2019. Methodology. Two independent experiments under small-scale milk production system (SMPS) were established in the municipality of Aculco, State of Mexico, during autumn 2018 and winter 2019. The botanical composition of grasslands under intensive continuous grazing by breeding cows was evaluated. One grassland planted with tall fescue cv. Cajun II and the other invaded by kikuyu; each grassland was associated with white clover cv. Ladino. The botanical composition of both experiments was analyzed using a complete randomized experimental design. Results. The kikuyu grassland recorded significant differences (p<0.05) with a higher proportion of forage during the winter 2018. Whereas the tall fescue cv. Cajun II grassland recorded a proportion of forage (p<0.05) higher than its proportion of dead tissue during autumn 2019. Study Implications: The study of the botanical composition of mixed grasslands destined for livestock grazing allows to identify, propose and define strategies for forage production facing agroclimatic and management conditions in order to generate a better and higher forage yield. Conclusions: The proportion of kikuyu was higher than that of tall fescue cv. Cajun II during the two seasons and years evaluated. This highlights the adaptability of kikuyu grass under agroecological conditions such as the absence of rains and high temperatures, coupled with the high stocking densities of the milk production systems in the study region.

Key Habitat Factors of Breeding Birds in Agricultural Hedgerow Landscapes in East-Fryslân, the Netherlands, in European Perspective – Ecological Evaluation and Relation to Agri-Environmental Schemes

Modern agricultural landscapes suffer heavily from biodiversity loss. To counter this loss, it is important to understand the key factors that affect biodiversity in these landscapes. We studied the relationships between breeding birds and the habitat characteristics of the small-scale hedgerow landscapes of East-Fryslân, The Netherlands, a typical agricultural landscape that is under pressure from upscaling and habitat degradation. We questioned whether our findings collaborate the results of hedgerow studies from other countries. We also analysed whether agri-environmental schemes were effective for breeding birds. In this study, breeding birds and fifteen habitat factors were surveyed along 170 transects in two different regions in East-Fryslân in 2018. 37 bird species were identified, of which 19 were woodland species, 18 shrub species and 7 hedgerow specialists. We found five habitat characteristics to be key factors for breeding bird numbers. Four of these factors were intrinsic factors of the hedges (i.e. shrub cover, cover of brambles and nettles, crown width, hedge width at the base) and one spatial factor (i.e. number of hedge corners within a 150-m radius, corresponding to hedge intersections). Four key factors were the same for the two regions, but effect sizes differed between factors and species groups. As proxies for habitat volume (amount of habitat), the intrinsic key factors for hedgerow breeding birds in East-Fryslân correspond to those found in Britain and Eastern Europe, despite considerable differences in botanical composition, structure and management of the hedges. In contrast to studies on British hedges, we found mainly quantitative key factors and only one qualitative factor (cover of brambles and nettles). We found one spatial key factor (hedge intersections) and no correlation of bird numbers with density of hedges in the vicinity. We discuss the ecology of the key factors with respect to food provisioning and breeding. We also conclude that agri-environmental schemes favour key habitat factors and through this shrub birds. Implications of our findings are that traditional management favours breeding birds, but also that management should partly be extensified.

Prescribed burning of endophyte-infected tall fescue plots: Effects on forage production, ergot-like alkaloid concentrations, and botanical composition

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of early-spring prescribed fire on forage production and botanical composition in Kentucky 31 tall fescue plots. Treatments were applied in a completely randomized design with 10 plots per treatment. Treatments were (1) no burn (CON), (2) March mowed (MWD), (3) March burn (EBRN, early burn), and (4) April burn (LBRN, late burn). Beginning in May and repeated monthly until October, tall fescue tillers were hand clipped at ground level while walking an “X” pattern. In May of each year, tall fescue seedheads were counted in twelve 0.09-m2 quadrats per plot, and species frequencies were recorded. Species frequency was collected again in October. Tall fescue seedheads were reduced by 72% (P < 0.01) for LBRN. Spring forage accumulation was reduced (P < 0.01) by MWD, EBRN, and LBRN treatments, with EBRN and LBRN having a greater reduction (P = 0.03) than MWD. Nonfescue forage species frequency increased (P ≤ 0.01) in October for LBRN. Ergovaline concentration did not differ (P = 0.57) among treatments but differed (P = 0.01) by month, with a substantial increase in June compared with other months. Early-spring prescribed fire reduced tall fescue seedhead production; however, fire also reduced forage production. Removal of a portion of seedheads from tall fescue plots did not affect ergovaline concentration in plant samples. Thus, future research should evaluate ergot-like alkaloid concentrations in various plant parts from tall fescue subjected to seedhead control measures.

Cultivation of Legume and Gramineous Grass Mixtures for Use on Hayfields and Pastures of Southern Sakhalin

Nowadays due of the world population growth, the demand for agricultural products is also growing. To obtain good meat and dairy products, high-quality feed for farm animals is necessary. Legume-gramineous perennial grass mixtures are used to improve fodder lands. Our experience included a test of 9 variants of legume-gramineous grass mixtures, where 6 types of grasses were used: red clover, alfalfa (legumes), meadow timothy grass, orchard-grass, smooth brome-grass, meadow fescue (cereals). The experiments were carried out in four repetitions on the lands of hay and pasture use with the use of fertilizers; there were carried out phenological observations, biometric measurements, and determination of the botanical composition. In herbage from hay fields the smooth brome-grass dominated, and in herbage from pastures the orchard-grass dominated. The proportion of non-sown grass species reaches 26.3-32.7 % in three-component grass mixtures with meadow timothy grass. Meadow fescue and meadow timothy in terms of growth rate, reactions to nitrogen application were inferior to the orchard-grass and smooth bromegrass, which led to their oppression and displacement from the herbage. The best density of plant standing per 1 m2 was noted in the orchard-grass and smooth bromegrass, the smallest - in meadow fescue and alfalfa.

Seasonal variations in nutritive and botanical composition properties of multispecies grazing swards over an entire dairy grazing season

AbstractBackgroundRecently, there has been increasing interest in the use of multispecies (MS) swards in dairy grazing systems.MethodsA plot grazing study was established to investigate the potential contribution of different sward species (perennial ryegrass, legumes and herbs) sown in grazing pastures. Ten sward mixtures were sown, ranging in complexity from a perennial ryegrass (PRG) monoculture to binary mixtures including either forage legumes or herbs to a five‐species mixture; four different nitrogen (N) application rates of 0, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha−1 were applied to each sward.ResultsSpecies abundance for all sward species components was associated with the interaction of time point and sward mixture; species abundance for all sward components, except PRG, was associated with the interaction of N application and sward mixture. The interactions of time point and sward mixture, and time point and N application rate, were associated with all analysed sward chemical components, except for sward digestibility.ConclusionsIncreased N application rates reduced the level of clover in all sward mixtures. Increased levels of white clover led to increased sward crude protein levels; the inclusion of ribwort plantain led to some seasonal variation in the nutritive value of swards.

KAPASITAS TAMPUNG DAN LEGUMINOSA PADANG PENGGEMBALAAN DIKECAMATAN BULA KABUPATEN SERAM BAGIAN TIMUR

Background:This study aims to determine the botanical composition of forages and legumes and the capacity of livestock in grazing fields in Bula sub-district, East Seram Regency. Research methods:This research was conducted in May 2009 with research locations in 2 villages, Jembatan Basa and Bula villages and using a survey method conducted in the grasslands. Determination of sample villages and grazing locations based on purposive sampling based on village area and number of ruminants. This method uses dry weigh rank to determine the botanical composition of forage by using cluster sampling, while in measuring the capacity of the capacity is measured based on the formula voisin (Y-1) S = r. Results :The study showed the botanical composition as follows: Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) 22.36 percent, donated pasture. Leguminosa found in Bula Sub-district, East Seram Regency, Arachis Nuts (Arachis glabarata) 5.37 percent, Asu beans (Kalopogonium mucunoides) 4.11 percent. The results of the study showed that the carrying capacity (KT) for ruminants in Bula District was 1.39 ha/UT/year or 0.58 UT/ha/year. Conclusion: The botanical composition of legumes in pastures in Bula sub-district does not meet the 9.84 percent standard, besides that there are tree legumes such as gamal (Gliisida sepium), and Chinese petai (Lamtorogun).