Canary Grass Research Articles

Selection of adaptive types and grades of fodder herds for intensive haymakings in arid conditions of North Pre-Caspian Region

The article shows the most promising forage crops of Legume family and Poaceae for the natural and climatic conditions of the North Pre-Caspian region. They have a high nutritional value and a significant level of potential yield. According to the results of three years of research, it has been established that all experimental herbs have high nutritional value both for feed units and for digested protein, therefore they can be successfully used for creation ofintensive hayfields. The following forage long-term grasses were identified to create intensive hayfields under irrigation conditions: clover –Veteran, Marusya, Ternopilsky 3; canary grass - Donskoy-18 and Kievskiy; festulolium – Kenchy and Regin. Rostov’s roost and sainfoin Petushok can also be used, but only in grass mixtures due to their low winter hardiness.

Harvesting invasive plants to reduce nutrient loads and produce bioenergy: an assessment of Great Lakes coastal wetlands

AbstractIn Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands (GLCWs), dominant emergent invasive plants are expanding their ranges and compromising the unique habitat and ecosystem service values that these ecosystems provide. Herbiciding and burning to control invasive plants have not been effective in part because neither strategy addresses the most common root cause of invasion, nutrient enrichment. Mechanical harvesting is an alternative approach that removes tissue‐bound phosphorus and nitrogen and can increase wetland plant diversity and aquatic connectivity between wetland and lacustrine systems. In this study, we used data from three years of Great Lakes‐wide wetland plant surveys, published literature, and bioenergy analyses to quantify the overall areal extent of GLCWs, the extent and biomass of the three most dominant invasive plants, the pools of nitrogen and phosphorus contained within their biomass, and the potential for harvesting this biomass to remediate nutrient runoff and produce renewable energy. Of the approximately 212,000 ha of GLCWs, three invasive plants (invasive cattail, common reed, and reed canary grass) dominated 76,825 ha (36%). The coastal wetlands of Lake Ontario exhibited the highest proportion of invasive dominance (57%) of any of the Great Lakes, primarily from cattail. A single growing season's biomass of these invasive plants across all GLCWs was estimated at 659,545 metric tons: 163,228 metric tons of reed canary grass, 270,474 metric tons of common reed, and 225,843 metric tons of invasive cattail, and estimated to contain 10,805 and 1144 metric tons of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. A one‐time harvest and utilization for energy of this biomass would provide the gross equivalent of 1.8 million barrels of oil if combusted, or 0.9 million barrels of oil if converted to biogas in an anaerobic digester. We discuss the potential for mitigating non‐point source nutrient pollution with invasive wetland plant removal, and other potential uses for the harvested biomass, including compost and direct application to agricultural soils. Finally, we describe the research and adaptive management program we have built around this concept, and point to current limitations to the implementation of large‐scale invasive plant harvesting.

Process and Energy Analysis of Pelleting Agricultural and Woody Biomass Blends

Unprocessed biomass has low energy density and high transportation cost. The energy generated through biomass can be enhanced by the pelletizing technique. In order to evaluate the energy requirement for the pelletizing of agricultural biomass, three different particle sizes (150–300, 300–425, and 425–600 µm) of reed canary grass (RCG), timothy hay (TH), and switchgrass (SW) were selected in the present work. Furthermore, two woody biomasses (spruce and pine) were also considered under similar experimental conditions for comparison purposes. An Instron machine attached to an in-house built pelletizer unit was employed to produce a single pellet. The energy demand for compacting ground biomass (spruce) with a particle size of 150 µm was lower (2.07 kJ) than those required for particle sizes of 300 µm (2.24 kJ) and 425 µm (2.43 kJ). The energy required for compacting ground reed canary grass, timothy hay, and switchgrass was lower (1.61, 1.97, and 1.68 kJ, respectively) than that required for spruce (2.36 kJ) and pine (2.35 kJ), evaluated at a 159-MPa load and at temperature of about 80 °C. The energy demand for blended biomass was around 2 kJ with the pellet quality approaching that of the pellets made from woody biomass. Overall, blending helped to improve the quality of pellets and lower the compaction energy requirements.

Increased Foliar Activity of Isoproturon+Tribenuron and Pyroxsulam Against Little Seed Canary Grass and Field Bindweed by Proper Adjuvant Selection in Wheat

ABSTRACT: Using an adjuvant to optimize and increase the foliar activity of post emergence herbicides is an acceptable way to reduce their side effects. Field researches were conducted to detect a suitable adjuvant for two post-herbicides namely, isoproturon+tribenuron and pyroxsulam against little seed canary grass (Phalaris minor) and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). Treatments were, isoproturon+tribenuron at 1,025 g a.i. ha-1 (recommended dose) and pyroxsulam at 140.6 g a.i. ha-1 (recommended dose) alone or their reduced dose (75% of the recommended dose) isoproturon+tribenuron at 769 and pyroxsulam at 105.5 g a.i. ha-1, tank mixed with three different adjuvants viz. alkylethersulphate sodium salt at 400, fatty alcohol ethoxylate at 200 and sunflower oil at 1,000 mL ha-1. These treatments were applied at the two to three leaf stages of weeds. All the adjuvants enhanced the efficacy of herbicides; however, maximum herbicide efficacy against P. minor (93.50-97.66%) and C. arvensis (82-100%) was achieved with the application of isoproturon+tribenuron plus alkylethersulphate sodium salt, showing the lowest total weed dry weight (1.48, 0.88 g m-2). The maximum NPK-uptake was associated to the untreated control. Nutrient saving (55-95% N, 43-92% P, 55-95% K) was enhanced by the addition of all adjuvants to herbicides, with better weed control. The maximum yield (41 - 43% increase over weedy check) and yield attributes were recorded with reduced rates of isoproturon+tribenuron plus alkylethersulphate sodium salt, followed by the recommended rate of the same herbicide applied alone. In contrast, sunflower oil with pyroxsulam exerted greater control of little seed canary grass and field bindweed with more yield and yield related traits than alkylethersulphate sodium salt and fatty alcohol ethoxylate with pyroxsulam. These results demonstrated the improvement in the performance of reduced rates of isoproturon+tribenuron with the inclusion of alkylethersulphate sodium salt, with a dose higher than or equal to the recommended dose of the same herbicide, and this is the most cost-effective combination.

Characterization of fast pyrolysis bio-oil properties by near-infrared spectroscopic data

Pyrolysis transforms bulky and heterogeneous lignocellulosic biomass into more easily-handled oils that can be upgraded into bio-based transportation fuels. Existing systems for monitoring pyrolysis processes and characterizing their products rely on slow and time-consuming wet chemical analyses. On-line near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy could potentially replace such analyses, providing real-time data and reducing costs. To test the usefulness of NIR methods in characterizing pyrolysis oils and processes, biomass from conifers, Salix, and reed canary grass was milled and pyrolyzed at 675, 750, and 775 °C. Two separate pyrolytic fractions (aerosol and condensed) were produced in each experiment, and NIR spectra were collected for each fraction. Multivariate modelling of the resulting data clearly showed that the samples’ NIR spectra could be used to accurately predict important properties of the pyrolysis oils such as their energy values, main organic element (C, H and O) contents, and water content. The spectra also contained predictive information on the samples’ origins, fraction, and temperature treatment, demonstrating the potential of on-line NIR techniques for monitoring pyrolytic production processes and characterizing important properties of pyrolytic oils from lignocellulosic biomass.

Soil quality indicator response to land‐use change from annual to perennial bioenergy cropping systems in Germany

AbstractProduction of biomass feedstock for methanation in Europe has focused on silages of maize and cereals. As ecological awareness has increased in the last several years, more attention is being focused on perennial energy crops (PECs). Studies of specific PECs have shown that their cultivation may enhance agrobiodiversity and increase soil organic carbon stocks while simultaneously providing valuable feedstock for methanation. This study was designed to compare soil quality indicators under annual energy crops (AECs), PECs and permanent grassland (PGL) on the landscape level in south‐western Germany. At a total 25 study sites, covering a wide range of parent materials, the cropping systems were found adjacent to each other. Stands were commercially managed, and PECs included different species such as the Cup Plant, Tall Wheatgrass, Giant Knotweed, Miscanthus, Virginia Mallow and Reed Canary Grass. Soil sampling was carried out for the upper 20 cm of soil. Several soil quality indicators, including soil organic carbon (Corg), soil microbial biomass (Cmic), and aggregate stability, showed that PECs were intermediate between AEC and PGL systems. At landscape level, mean Corg content for (on average) 6.1‐year‐old stands of PEC was 22.37 (±7.53) g kg−1, compared to 19.23 (±8.08) and 32.08 (±10.11) for AEC and PGL. Cmic contents were higher in PECs (356 ± 241 μg C g−1) compared to AECs (291 ± 145) but significantly lower than under PGL (753 ± 417). The aggregate stability increased by almost 65% in PECs compared to AEC but was still 57% lower than in PGL. Indicator differences among cropping systems were more pronounced when inherent differences in the parent material were accounted for in the comparisons. Overall, these results suggest that the cultivation of PECs has positive effects on soil quality indicators. Thus, PECs may offer potential to make the production of biomass feedstock more sustainable.

Correction: Karyotype evolution in Phalaris (Poaceae): The role of reductional dysploidy, polyploidy and chromosome alteration in a wide-spread and diverse genus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192869.].

Modification of properties of energy crops under Polish condition as an effect of sewage sludge application onto degraded soil

Energy crops are one of the possible solutions for reclamation of degraded or contaminated terrain. Their cultivation requires adequate fertilization typically containing high content of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous. While sewage sludge may be one source of these necessary nutrients, it may also modify some plant biomass properties, such as total carbon content. In our study, we determined whether sewage sludge (containing different value of heavy metals) could be an effective fertilizer to obtain good quality energy crops (such as Miscanthus x gigantheus and reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea) and simultaneously play positive role for improvement of phytoremediation. The 3-year experiment was performed on degraded soil from terrain of steel mill of Czestochowa (Silesian region, Poland). During the study, it was confirmed that sewage sludge (also in combination with urea, CH4N2O) influences the mobility of Pb, Zn, Cd in soil solution, however the intensity of the process can be limited by plant species and time. Both miscanthus, and reed canary grass were characterized by the low value of bioconcentration factor (BCF), but because biomass was high, the total concentration of heavy metals in crops was comparable with hyperaccumulators. Additionally, modification of the fertilization affected energetic parameters, such as the content of carbon, S/Cl ratio, unitary CO2 emission. However, this effect was not statistically significant.

Combined experimental and computational approach for defect detection in precious walls built in indoor environments

In thermographic non-destructive evaluation (TNDE), the optimal thermal stimulus to be provided on precious coatings applied on ancient walls confined in indoor environments is a complex problem to solve particularly when low temperatures characterize the room where they were built. In fact, thermal stresses are always the concern of any restorer who is interested in determining both the positions and sizes of superficial and sub-superficial defects. In scientific literature, the use of lamps appears to be dominant, but when large surfaces must be inspected in situ, many problems could arise, such as environmental reflections, emissivity variations, and non-uniform heating, which cause false alarms in defect detections.In this study, the heating phase was carried out by using a wooden tunnel and an air heater. The main physical and geometrical characteristics of these two objects were optimized in order to stimulate the external coating (called “finishing layer” in this study) as homogeneously as possible. In fact, taking into account the very low temperature of the room which contains the inspected aedicule, the energy deposition (heating phase) is enhanced and the energy dispersion (cooling phase) is reduced (thanks to the tunnel) at the same time. This improves the heat transfer phenomenon along the z axis (i.e., the thickness of the wall).The detection of the defects was performed via higher-order statistics thermography (HOST) technique, which processes the thermal images resulting from the heating and cooling phases. Bearing in mind the low emissivity value of the canary grass (i.e., the finishing layer), the use of heating sources in front of it must be minimized; otherwise, spurious reflections can be recorded and then processed.In particular, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach implemented via Comsol Multiphysics® computer program was used to validate the experimental setup. This was applied to a couple of cases in the Baiocco's room subjected to restrictions of the Superintendence for Historical, Architectural, and Environmental Heritage of the Abruzzo region (Italy) owing to its high artistic importance.The exact position of each defect was modelled after a combined visual-acoustical-thermal inspection. An expert restorer helped us in this task. This study is important because, to the best of our knowledge, the problem discussed above has not been solved yet by the scientific community involved in the field of cultural heritage. The results are first thoroughly discussed and second experimentally validated using a combination between thermocouples and ground penetrating radar (GPR) technique, while advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method are highlighted in view of a future perspective of the present work.

Karyotype evolution in Phalaris (Poaceae): The role of reductional dysploidy, polyploidy and chromosome alteration in a wide-spread and diverse genus.

Karyotype characteristics can provide valuable information on genome evolution and speciation, in particular in taxa with varying basic chromosome numbers and ploidy levels. Due to its worldwide distribution, remarkable variability in morphological traits and the fact that ploidy change plays a key role in its evolution, the canary grass genus Phalaris (Poaceae) is an excellent study system to investigate the role of chromosomal changes in species diversification and expansion. Phalaris comprises diploid species with two basic chromosome numbers of x = 6 and 7 as well as polyploids based on x = 7. To identify distinct karyotype structures and to trace chromosome evolution within the genus, we apply fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) of 5S and 45S rDNA probes in four diploid and four tetraploid Phalaris species of both basic numbers. The data agree with a dysploid reduction from x = 7 to x = 6 as the result of reciprocal translocations between three chromosomes of an ancestor with a diploid chromosome complement of 2n = 14. We recognize three different genomes in the genus: (1) the exclusively Mediterranean genome A based on x = 6, (2) the cosmopolitan genome B based on x = 7 and (3) a genome C based on x = 7 and with a distribution in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Both auto- and allopolyploidy of genomes B and C are suggested for the formation of tetraploids. The chromosomal divergence observed in Phalaris can be explained by the occurrence of dysploidy, the emergence of three different genomes, and the chromosome rearrangements accompanied by karyotype change and polyploidization. Mapping the recognized karyotypes on the existing phylogenetic tree suggests that genomes A and C are restricted to sections Phalaris and Bulbophalaris, respectively, while genome B occurs across all taxa with x = 7.

Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Inhabiting Stands of Reed Canary Grass Phalaris Arundinacea on Islands in the Lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin

Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Inhabiting Stands of Reed Canary Grass Phalaris Arundinacea on Islands in the Lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin

Chemical Composition, Characteristics Profiles and Bioactivities of Tunisian Phalaris canariensis Seeds: a Potential Source of ω-6 and ω-9 Fatty Acids.

Seeds oils of Phalaris canariensis extracted by ultrasonication and cold maceration were evaluated for their physical characteristics, total phenol contents, fatty acid and sterol compositions as well as for their antioxidant, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities. The physicochemical properties of ultrasonication and cold maceration oils respectively were: acid values (4.00 and 3.25) mg KOH/g, peroxide values (5.53 and 4.41) meq O2 Kg-1, iodine values (88.83 and 95.17) g/100 g of oil, saponification values (119.21 and 98.17) mg KOH/g, phenolic content (36.40 and 53.00) mg GAE/g extract, chlorophylls (0.52 and 0.60) mg/kg oil and carotenoids contents (1.92 and 1.88) mg/kg oil. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that linoleic (52.03 and 52.2%), oleic (31.75 and 31.84%) and palmitic (11.09 and 11.34 %) acids were the major fatty acids in the two oils. Specific extinctions at 232 nm (K232) and 270 nm (K270) were (0.58 and 0.44) and (0.42 and 0.33), respectively. The DSC melting curve showed that their melting points and melting enthalpies were (-28.05°C and 76.8 J/g) and (-27.47°C and 62.3 J/g), respectively. On the other hand, the evaluation of their DPPH radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities showed interesting results. Thus, Phalaris canariensis seeds oils could deserve further consideration and investigation as a potentially new multi-purpose product for agro-food, medicinal and cosmetic uses.

Blood profile and meat quality of Holstein-Friesian steers finished on total mixed ration or flaxseed oil-supplemented pellet mixed with reed canary grass haylage

Holstein-Friesian steer beef production is renowned globally as a secondary product of the milk industry. Grass feeding is a common practice in raising Holstein steers because of its low cost. Furthermore, grass feeding is an alternative way to produce beef with a balanced n-6 to n-3 fatty acids (FAs) ratio. However, the performance and meat quality of Holstein-Friesian cattle is more likely to depend on a high-quality diet. The aim of this study was to observe whether feeding two mixed diets; a corn-based total mixed ration (TMR) with winter ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or flaxseed oil-supplemented pellets with reed canary grass haylage (n-3 mix) provided benefits on carcass weight, meat quality and FA composition compared with cattle fed with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) haylage alone. In all, 15 21-month-old Holstein-Friesian steers were randomly assigned to three group pens, were allowed free access to water and were fed different experimental diets for 150 days. Blood samples were taken a week before slaughter. Carcass weight and meat quality were evaluated after slaughter. Plasma lipid levels and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were determined. Diet did not affect plasma triglyceride levels and GGT activity. Plasma cholesterol levels, including low-density and high-density lipoproteins, were higher in both mixed-diet groups than in the haylae group. The highest activities of plasma AST, CK and ALP were observed in the haylage group, followed by n-3 mix and TMR groups, respectively. Carcass weight was lower in the haylage group than in the other groups and no differences were found between the TMR and n-3 mix groups. Although the n-3 mix-fed and haylage-fed beef provided lower n-6 to n-3 FAs ratio than TMR-fed beef, the roasted beef obtained from the TMR group was more acceptable with better overall meat physicochemical properties and sensory scores. According to daily cost, carcass weight and n-6 to n-3 FAs ratio, the finishing diet containing flaxseed oil-supplemented pellets and reed canary grass haylage at the as-fed ratio of 40 : 60 could be beneficial for the production of n-3-enriched beef.

Glabrous Canary Seed: A Novel Food Ingredient

Glabrous Canary Seed: A Novel Food Ingredient

Dilute Solution Properties of Two Hairless Canary Seed Starches Compared with Wheat Starch in a Binary Solvent: Influence of Temperature, Mono‐ and Divalent Cations

The dilute solution properties of starches from two canary seed varieties (C05041 and CDC Maria), as well as wheat starch (WS) in DMSO/H2O (9/1 v/v %) solution, as a function of salt type (NaCl and CaCl2) and salt concentration (5–100 mM) at different temperatures (25, 35, 45, and 55 °C) are investigated. Various models, i.e., Huggins, Kraemer, Higiro, and Tanglertpaibul and Rao equations are applied for estimating the intrinsic viscosity [η] of the canary seed starches (CSSs) and WS in dilute solution. Of all the examined models, the Higiro 1 model shows a higher performance for determining the intrinsic viscosity of the selected starches at all temperatures and ionic strengths. The intrinsic viscosity [η] of the selected starches decreases significantly with an increase in ionic strength, at all examined temperatures. The results show that the influence of NaCl on the [η] reduction of CDC Maria starch and WS is more than for C05041 starch. The shape functions of the selected starches at 25 °C are spherical; however, with increasing ionic strength and temperature from 25 to 55 °C, the CSSs and WS samples take an ellipsoidal shape. The Berry number and the slope of the master curve reveal that CSSs and WS solutions at all temperatures and salt concentrations are in the dilute domain and no molecular entanglements occur.

Crop Growth and Yield Losses in Wheat Due to Little Seed Canary Grass Infestation Differ with Weed Densities and Changes in Environment

ABSTRACT: Understanding the weed interference with different sowing times of crop is inevitable for forecasting yield losses by weed infestation and designing sustainable weed management systems. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of sowing dates (20th November, 10th December) and various little seed canary grass (LCG) infestation levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 plant m-2) on growth and yield of wheat under semiarid conditions. Plots with two natural infestations of weeds including LCG (Unweeded control; UWC) and excluding LCG (UWC-LCG) were maintained for comparing its interference in pure stands with designated densities. A season-long weed-free (WFC) treatment was also run. All the weeds/LCG infestation levels starting from 10 LCG plants m-2 considerably reduced the wheat growth (leaf area index, crop growth rate, total dry matter accumulation) and hampered the yield contributing factors in both sowing dates. Presence of LCG was more detrimental for growth of late-sown wheat (10th Dec), therefore, 40 LCG plants m-2 recorded more reductions in growth indices of wheat even than UWC. In late sown wheat crop, the grain yield losses by 40 LCG plants m-2 and UWC were comparable, however, these losses were much greater than UWC LCG. In crux, delay in sowing of wheat not only reduced the crop growth and yield but also enhanced the LCG/weed interference. Furthermore, greater competitive ability of LCG particularly for late-sown wheat suggests that it should be controlled in order to provide healthy environment for crop plants.

Plot-scale spatial variability of methane, respiration, and net nitrogen mineralization in muck-soil wetlands across a land use gradient

Spatial patterns of soil microbial activity are central to understanding greenhouse gas dynamics in wetlands. Because agriculture reduces spatial heterogeneity in soil properties, we examined the hypothesis that soil microbial activity in natural wetlands would show a high degree of spatial autocorrelation when distances between samples were small; however, in wetlands that were disturbed by agriculture these spatial patterns would occur across larger sampling distances or disappear due to homogenization. We examined the hypothesis via methane (CH4) dynamics, respiration (as carbon dioxide (CO2) production), and net nitrogen (N) mineralization in muck soils from a natural wetland dominated by sedges (Carex lacustris) either with or without grey alder (Alnus rugosa). The disturbed wetland had corn production or restoration with either reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) or purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) growing for about 10years. Rates of anaerobic CH4 production ranged from 0.1 to 12,370nmolkg−1s−1 with the largest rates in the natural wetland with alder; the Reed Canary Grass site exhibited extremely slow rates of CH4 production. Oxic CH4 consumption occurred only in soils from the natural wetland, with no activity in soils from the Corn site and the two Restored sites. Rates of CO2 production ranged from −76 to 388nmolkg−1s−1 under anoxic conditions and from 0.1 to 402nmolkg−1s−1 under oxic conditions, with the highest rates in natural wetland surface soils. Despite broad spatial variation in rates across all sites, spatial patterns of CH4, respiration, and net N mineralization displayed limited spatial dependence, with autocorrelation at distances <8m only in the Purple Loosestrife site. The results suggest that large sample sizes are needed to characterize the high variability present in microbial activity and greenhouse gases in muck soils, but explanation(s) for spatial variability remain elusive.

Transcriptomic characterization of Caecomyces churrovis: a novel, non-rhizoid-forming lignocellulolytic anaerobic fungus

Anaerobic gut fungi are the primary colonizers of plant material in the rumen microbiome, but are poorly studied due to a lack of characterized isolates. While most genera of gut fungi form extensive rhizoidal networks, which likely participate in mechanical disruption of plant cell walls, fungi within the Caecomyces genus do not possess these rhizoids. Here, we describe a novel fungal isolate, Caecomyces churrovis, which forms spherical sporangia with a limited rhizoidal network yet secretes a diverse set of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) for plant cell wall hydrolysis. Despite lacking an extensive rhizoidal system, C. churrovis is capable of growth on fibrous substrates like switchgrass, reed canary grass, and corn stover, although faster growth is observed on soluble sugars. Gut fungi have been shown to use enzyme complexes (fungal cellulosomes) in which CAZymes bind to non-catalytic scaffoldins to improve biomass degradation efficiency. However, transcriptomic analysis and enzyme activity assays reveal that C. churrovis relies more on free enzymes compared to other gut fungal isolates. Only 15% of CAZyme transcripts contain non-catalytic dockerin domains in C. churrovis, compared to 30% in rhizoid-forming fungi. Furthermore, C. churrovis is enriched in GH43 enzymes that provide complementary hemicellulose degrading activities, suggesting that a wider variety of these activities are required to degrade plant biomass in the absence of an extensive fungal rhizoid network. Overall, molecular characterization of a non-rhizoid-forming anaerobic fungus fills a gap in understanding the roles of CAZyme abundance and associated degradation mechanisms during lignocellulose breakdown within the rumen microbiome.

Afforestation of cutaway peatlands: effect of wood ash on biomass formation and carbon balance

Abstract Alternatives to the restoration of cutaway peatlands include afforestation, energy forests, agricultural production, wetland restoration (restoration of peataccumulating function), reed canary grass (energy mower) or wild berries (blueberry, cranberry) cultivation, protected area for birds, and artificial lakes. Investigations made in several countries suggest that one of the most promising ways of regenerating cutaway peatlands is afforestation. The re-vegetation of Estonian cutaway peat production fields is mainly the result of natural processes, which are generally very slow: vegetation covers only 10–20% of a peat field. Carbon dioxide is not bound anymore in cutaway peatlands where vegetation layer has been destroyed and therefore photosynthetical processes no more occur. Using biofuel ashes (wood ash, etc.) for the afforestation of cutaway peatlands helps to balance the content of nutrients in peat substrate, which improves the survival of planted seedlings and significantly increases bioproduction. Drained and mined peatlands have become a significant source of CO2 but stimulated woody biomass production can be helpful to balance CO2 emission from cutaway peatlands. Because of the limited resources of fossil fuels and negative impacts on the environment in recent decades alternative sources of energy have been actively looked for. In Scandinavia a lot of attention has been paid to finding possibilities for using biofuels. The situation in Estonia is that only very few types of ashes (for example certified oil shale fly ash with product name Enefix) have been founded to be suitable for utilization and have been used for recycling in agriculture.

Field characteristics driving farm-scale decision-making on land allocation to primary crops in high latitude conditions

To govern better future landscape planning of high-latitude agricultural systems, it is necessary to understand fully the drivers that currently determine farmers’ land allocation to different crops. The aim of this study was to identify key farm and field characteristics that drive farmers’ land allocation, based on substantial datasets, and to benchmark findings for farmer perceptions with interviews. Focus was on characteristics that are easily monitored and facilitate development of a field optimization tool to support future implementation and monitoring processes for land use changes at farm and field scales. Drivers for land allocation to different crops varied between crop production and dairy farms, but less evidently between southern and northern regions. Crop choices differed among regions, being greater for southern than for northern farms, but also for farm types, dairy farms mainly cultivating on-farm feed. Some special crops, such as potato and reed canary grass, represented diversified land use in the northern region, but farmers tended to allocate such crops very strictly to certain types of field and did not diversify crop rotations. Interviewed farmers highlighted the complexity of land allocation and the interactive nature of the drivers. When comparing outcomes of the data analyses and farmers’ interviews, field size, distance from farm center and soil type were considered to be primary drivers for land allocation. Field shape, slope and land ownership, but only in the case of long-term contract periods, were hidden drivers, identified using statistical analyses, but were not specifically referred to by farmers. Proximity to waterways was the only field characteristic classified as unimportant. Farmers highlighted logistical advantages as an important driver for land allocation, which was confirmed by data analyses. A farmer’s justification process for land allocation is likely to be based on intergenerational transitive knowledge and concepts of operationally critical farm and field characteristics. Valuable, empirical information gained during this study needs to be coupled with the development of policy measures to develop effective future policy instruments that are not only practicable, but are easily implemented and cost-effective, while remaining coherent with other policies.