Grass Cultivation Research Articles

The Floristic Composition and the Local Botanical Knowledge of Forage Plant in Traditional Silvopastoral Systems of Semi-arid Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Argentina

The traditional silvopastoral systems are essential bio-cultural socio-productive activities in the semi-arid Chaco region. The main aim of this study was to asses information on the forage plants species utilized by peasant communities of Northeastern Santiago del Estero, Argentina, in context of traditional silvopastoral systems, from an ethnobotanical approach. The peasant communities were monitored from 2012 to 2017 and 55 families (11 women, 44 men) were interviewed. The study selected the interviewers using the snowball technique, assuming they possessed more specific knowledge on the topic. The information collected was structured in a database and analyzed statistically. Overall, 131 plants from 44 families and 98 genera were cited, being Poaceae and Fabaceae the most diverse. Herbs, shrubs and trees native to the area are the predominant biological forms of forage plant species. The main local silvopastoral management practices and the annual forage dynamics were identified as well. Additionally, 12 forage species together with native woody plants and native and cultivated grasses are accounted as the most valued. The species used to feed livestock during the dry season are the best valued. The high number of forage plants mentioned in the interviews makes apparent the role played by local flora as well as the importance of the local botanical knowledge in the main socio-cultural activity. The species holding the highest popular valuation are the woody ones and grasses, which are abundant in the region, as well as those used to feed livestock in the unfavorable season (late fall, winter and early spring). The traditional silvopastoralism is a key practice in the region, especially in extensive LBK foraging plants. Local communities hold deep knowledge of these practices. This knowledge is shared through narratives, everyday activities, and productive strategies, highlighting the its importance in sustaining both the environment and the livelihoods of local inhabitants.

Influencing Factors of Competency for Extension Practitioners in Promoting Napier Grass Cultivation Among Pastoralists in Nigeria

Purpose: This study aimed to strengthen the competency of extension practitioners through Napier grass cultivation to tackle issues of social and environmental insecurity in the country.Research Method: The study used a descriptive research design and employed Borich’s model to process the knowledge and competency of 200 extension practitioners on tasks related to Napier grass cultivation. Data analysis was done using means and ranks while discrepancy scores were also determined.Findings: The study revealed a degree of inadequacy in the practitioners’ knowledge of Napier grass cultivation, but they rated the intervention of extension practitioners as important. The study found that in-service training to improve practitioners’ competency and skill in speaking pastoralists’ language is highly required for effective communication and information dissemination of Napier grass cultivation. Identification of the competency areas will boost capacity for grassland intensification strategies among pastoralists and stimulate training programs that will enrich practitioners’ knowledge; improve their innovation for adaptation to climate change impact; and develop their mitigation ability for social and environmental insecurities.Originality/ Value: The study is novel in reporting, for the first time, the competencies of extension practitioners in promoting grassland intensification for pastoralists in Nigeria. It further reduces the paucity of empirical studies on the competency of extension practitioners, with a particular focus on their training needs.

Regional cooling potential from expansion of perennial grasses in Europe

Perennial grasses are an option to mitigate global warming, increase energy security, and alleviate environmental pressures within agricultural landscapes. Their cultivation alters near-surface temperature in ways that are still largely unclear. Here, a regional climate model with an enhanced representation of perennial grasses shows that converting today’s cropland areas in Europe induces annual mean temperature reductions in summer and autumn (up to –1 °C), which are primarily driven by a later harvest of perennial grasses relative to annual crops. Cultivation of perennial grasses where they deliver stronger biogeophysical cooling can achieve a similar annual mean temperature reduction on half of the land. This cooling can counteract up to 50% of the projected future warming and it is three times larger than what is achieved via carbon emission reductions. A sustainable deployment of perennial grasses has the potential to link global mitigation objectives with co-benefits for the local climate and environment.

Cover crops influence the physical hydric quality of a tropical sandy soil under no-tillage cotton cropping

ABSTRACT Reduced stability and structural resilience expose sandy soils to physical degradation under intensive production systems. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different cover crops (CC) under no-tillage system (NTS) cotton cropping, grown either individually or in combination, on the soil physical quality (SPQ) of a sandy loam Oxisol (Latossolo) in southeastern Brazil. To quantify the effects of CC on soil physical quality indicators, an experiment in randomized blocks design was implemented with the treatments: CC1: single cultivation of Ruzi grass; CC2: Intercropping of Pearl Millet + Ruzigrass; CC3: Intercropping of Pearl Millet + Velvet bean; CC Mixture : Intercropping of Ruzi grass, Pearl Millet and Velvet bean; and Control: maintenance of spontaneous plants. Undisturbed samples were taken from layers 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.40 and 0.40-0.60 m, in which were determined the soil bulk density (Bd), total porosity (TP), available water (AW), soil penetration resistance (PR) and the least limiting water range (LLWR). According to the multivariate analyses, the CC 2 treatment resulted in better SPQ compared to the other treatments. The LLWR, air-filled porosity (θ AFP ), and AW were responsible for differentiating the CC 2 treatment compared to the other treatments evaluated. Regardless of treatments, values of Bd> 1.75 Mg m -3 result in loss of SPQ due to the significant increase in PR and decreases in AW and LLWR. In the CC 3 and Control, there was a physical impediment caused by the increase in Bd in the 0.10-0.20 m layer, which could result in the confinement of cotton roots to the surface, making them more susceptible to water stress. Soil PR reached values greater than 2.5 MPa for water contents lower than the θ PWP in most treatments. In treatment CC3, for water contents equivalent to the θ PWP , the PR did not exceed 6 MPa, while for the other treatments, the PR reached values greater than 10 MPa. Only the PR was influenced using CC. Soil moisture is considered crucial to maintain PR below impeding values, determining the control of the physical quality of this sandy soil.

The role of pollen and NPP research in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Neolithic archaeological site “Gorjani-Topole” (Slavonia region, eastern Croatia)

The palynological study of eight samples from the Gorjani-Topole archaeological site was conducted with the aim of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In total, 44 different palynomorphs were recorded: 12 pollen taxa, 23 fungal spores/remains, four algal cysts, one amoebae and four palynomorphs of unknown origin. Among the non-pollen palynomorphs, Chomotriletes (previously Pseudoschizaea) occurred with the greatest frequency and abundance. The low pollen richness accompanied by the presence of only a few sporopolleninrich pollen types indicates unfavourable preservation conditions in the analysed core samples. The dominance of erosion/desiccation indicators supports the scenario of significant oscillations of the hydrological level in the sediments, with periodic drying of the substrate. Although the interpretation of changes in plant cover, due to the reduced pollen spectrum, is not feasible, it is still possible to indicate paleoecological trends and partially interpret them, considering the indicator value of the few preserved palynomorphs. The findings of cultivated grass pollen (Cerealia) and other anthropogenic indicators including weed pollen (Convolvulus arvensis) are of great importance. Moreover, Riccia moss spores or fungal Epicoccum spores could also indicate the anthropogenic impact on the study area.

Penggunaan Slurry sebagai Pupuk Organik terhadap Kualitas dan Fermentabilitas Rumput Setaria (Setaria splendida Stapf) di Rumen

Biogas slurry is an organic product derived from livestock manure and produced through an aerobic fermentation process that can be used to improve soil fertility, forage production, and quality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of slurry organic fertilizer on crude protein content, crude fiber, and total fermentation gas production in the rumen in vitro . The study was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD), consisting of five treatments of slurry levels as organic fertilizer and four replications consisting of two experimental units. The treatments consisted of S0 = without slurry, S1 = slurry 20 g/polybag, S2 = slurry 25 g/polybag, S3 = slurry 30 g/polybag, and S4 = slurry 35 g/polybag. The variables measured in this study were crude protein content, crude fiber, and total fermentation gas production. The data obtained were analyzed using a variance analysis (ANOVA). Duncan’s test was used to determine the effect of different levels of slurry on the measured parameters. The results showed that the use of slurry as an organic fertiliser increases crude protein content by an average of 16.06%, increases crude protein production from 1.47 g/poly bag to 96.38 g/poly bag and improves fermentability in the rumen by an average of 8.08% of setaria grass (Setaria splendida Stapf). The use of slurry at the level of 35 g/poly bag is recommended for the cultivation of setaria grass (Setaria splendida Stapf).

Soil microbial community construction under revegetation in newly created land

Revegetation represents the primary method for restoring the ecological balance of the Loess Plateau. The assessment of revegetation efficacy on degraded lands can be facilitated through the utilization of soil microorganisms as indicators. We chose Medicago sativa L. (MX), Trifolium repens L. (BSY), Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (GYM), Elymus dahuricus Turcz. (PJC) and natural grass (CK) as the research objects, the soil microbial community composition, function and co-occurrence patterns of the five treatments were analyzed. The results showed that the microbial community composition was similar among the different vegetation types, but there were differences in abundance. Bacteria were significantly correlated with OM, BD and sand. Fungi were significantly correlated with sand and BD. Notably, BD showed highly significant correlation with microbial communities (P < 0.001). Microbial function prediction was dominated by metabolism at the bacterial level, and fungal function was predicted with eight trophic types dominated by parthenogenetic trophic types, and the microbial function prediction analyses showed that in bacteria, BSY had a high abundance of gene functions, and in fungi, PJC had a high abundance of gene functions. Network analysis revealed that the microbial community had small-world characteristics, a modular structure and a non-random co-occurrence pattern. Bacterial interactions included both competition and cooperation, further suggesting that growing raw grass increased the stability of the bacterial community. Overall, our results elucidated the changes in microbial communities and their correlations after raw grass cultivation, which could provide a more comprehensive perspective on microbial community assembly, and provide a theoretical basis for future ecological restoration on the Loess Plateau.

AGRONOMIC INDICES AND DRY MATTER YIELD OF BRACHIARIA RUZIZIENSIS AS AFFECTED BY COW DUNG AND AGE OF CUTTING IN THE SUDAN SAVANNAH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Effect of cow dung and age of cutting on agronomic indices and dry matter yield of Brachiaria ruziziensis in the Sudan savannah zone of Nigeria was assessed in this study. The experiment was conducted at the Professor Lawal Abdu Saulawa Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria. The research was laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 3 rates of cow dung application (5, 10 and 15t/ha) and 3 ages of cutting (6, 8 and 10) weeks after planting. data on agronomic indices (Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, tiller number, number of leaves, leaf area index and dry matter yield) collected at 6, 8 and 10 WAP were subjected to 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that all the agronomic indices were significantly affected (P&lt;0.05) by cow dung application and age of cutting. 15t/ha rate of application and cutting at 10 WAP had a better agronomic indices when compared with other manure application rates and age of cutting, respectively. It was recommended that farmers use 15t/ha cow dung for cultivation of Congo grass and harvest same at 10 WAP for a higher agronomic indices in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria.

Effect of Organic Mulches on Weed Dynamics and Productivity of Super Napier Grass

Background: The current practice of weed control in grass planting relies on the use of inorganic materials. This approach has the potential to damage the environment and is an inefficient method for controlling weeds in the cultivation of Super napier grass. This study aims to examine the use of organic mulch as a means of controlling weeds in the cultivation of forage, particularly Super napier grass. Methods: The experiment employed a randomized block design with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were as follows: no mulch (NM) served as the control treatment, rice straw mulch (RSM), rice husk mulch (RHM) and sawdust mulch (SDM). Each of these treatments was plotted with 3.5 m × 2.8 m in size. The experiment was conducted during the summer season, from April to September 2023, in Macorawalie, Panca Rijang, Sidenreng Rappang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The observed parameter consisted of fresh weight, dry matter, growth, production and chemical soil. Result: The experimental results revealed that the use of organic mulch resulted in significant effect on soil chemical properties as it was proven to increase the N and C-organic contents of the soil. Sawdust mulch resulted in significant decrease in weed population as compared to other treatments of organic mulch.

The Growth Dynamics of King Grass (Pennisetum purpureophoides) in The Application of Beef Cattle Dung Enriched Azolla microphylla

Research on the cultivation of king grass (Pennisetum purpureophoides) was conducted to obtain information on growth, productivity, and continuity in providing forage for a sustainablee ruminant farming business. One of the cultivation factors is fertilization using beef cow manure as a renewable, inexhaustible natural resource or organic fertilizer. Improving the quality beef manure is important for better stimulation of plant growth and production. Fertilizer can be enriched with Azolla microphylla as a good nitrogen contributor. This study used beef cow dung fertilizer at doses of 10, 20, 30 tons per hectare per defoliation, and Azolla microphylla enrichment by 0%, 10%, and 20 % as treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). The observed variables were plant growth (plant height, stem diameter, number of plants, and number of leaves as production), every 14 days until harvesting on day 42. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively based on the dynamics of plant growth. The result showed that the growth dynamics of the king grass were strongly influenced by fertilizer and plant’s age but no interaction each other. In conclusion fertilizer made of beef cattle dung enriched with Azolla microphylla is a feasible nitrogen source. The optimum results were obtained from using 30 tons beef cattle dung enriched with 20% Azolla microphylla to fertilize per hectare per defoliation soil.

To Harvest or not to Harvest: Management Intensity did not Affect Greenhouse Gas Balances of Phalaris Arundinacea Paludiculture

The cultivation of flooding-tolerant grasses on wet or rewetted peatlands is a priority in climate change mitigation, balancing the trade-off between atmospheric decarbonisation and biomass production. However, effects of management intensities on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the global warming potential (GWP) are widely unknown. This study assessed whether intensities of two and five annual harvest occurrences at fertilisation rates of 200 kg nitrogen ha− 1 yr− 1 affects GHG exchange dynamics compared to a ‘nature scenario’ with neither harvest nor fertilisation. Fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), using opaque and transparent chambers, were measured on a wet fen peatland with a mean water table depth of -10 cm below soil surface. Overall, no treatment effect was found on biomass yields and GHG emissions. Annual cumulative CH4 emissions were low, ranging between 0.3 and 0.5 t CO2-C eq ha− 1 yr− 1. Contrary to this, emissions of N2O were high, ranging between 1.1 and 1.5 t CO2-C eq ha− 1 yr− 1. For magnitudes of CH4 and N2O, soil moisture conditions and electrical peat properties were critical proxies. Atmospheric uptake of CO2 by net ecosystem exchange was higher for the treatments with management. However, this benefit was offset by the export of carbon in biomass compared to the treatment without management. In conclusion, the results highlighted a near-equal GWP in the range of 10.5–11.5 t CO2-C eq t ha− 1 yr− 1 for all treatments irrespectively of management. In a climate context, a restoration scenario but also intensive paludiculture practices were equal land-use options.

Production and nutrients value of local forage plant in the coastal region of Lebak-Banten

Abstract The coastal region of Lebak-Banten is home to 30% of the total buffalo population in the Lebak district. To develop the buffalo population in the area, forage plants (FP) need to be available year-round. However, the coastal region is categorized as a marginal area due to its limitations such as high salinity and partial acidity. Developing FP in the coastal area involves introducing superior, salinity or acidity tolerant FP, or increasing production of local FP through cultivation techniques. Research was conducted using a survey method based on distance from the beach (25-100 m, 1 km, and 5 km), reflecting the relocation habits of farmers during both dry and rainy seasons The result of the exploration were cultivated in the Ciawi experimental garden utilizing a randomized completely block design with 5 replications. Cultivated grass was also observed, and the parameters measured were productivity and nutritional value of the forage. Results showed that 15 types of FP could be grown on acidic land, and 5 types on saline land. Axonopus grass had the highest production on a 1m2 area, while Illat Kerbau grass had the highest production per clump. In the saline land, Jotang grass (Comelina benghalensis 1238.33 g/m2) and Japanese grass (584.40 g/m2) had the highest productions. The highest production after planting was achieved with Binuangeun grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium (38.77 g/clump) and Benggala (Panicum maximum) cv Mombasa grass (2846.7 g/clump) for local and cultivated grasses, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential for developing local grass varieties tolerant to salinity or acidity through breeding or cultivation techniques to achieve optimal production.

The content and quality of soil carbon and nitrogen as well as enzymatic activity in soils with diverse texture following different land use and management practices

AbstractA detailed knowledge concerning the responses of different carbon pools and the activity of soil enzymes to various land uses is critical for maintaining soil health and quality. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of different soil uses and management practices on the contents of total, dissolved and microbial biomass C and N as well as the fractional composition of humus and the set of enzyme activities. This study was conducted to compare the status of soil properties in the surface horizons of 24 soils with diverse textures, following the different land uses. Thus, arable lands, short‐term cultivation, vineyards, orchards, hop plantations and grasslands were compared. The contents of total and dissolved carbon and nitrogen, the fractional composition of humus, the content of microbial biomass C and N and the enzymatic activity were assessed. The application of various land uses affects the C and N content of the soils and their humus fractions as well as their enzymatic activities differently. Generally, both grass‐based systems (grasslands and orchards) revealed the most positive effects in most of the studied properties as compared to other land use systems. By contrast, long‐term tillage and/or the lack of permanent plant cover (cereals, grapevine and hop cultivation) adversely affects the studied properties of the soils. No clear pattern of changes was detected in terms of the fractional composition of the SOM. The enzymatic activity changed because of their different functions in SOM transformation and because of the differences in the complexities of the enzymatic substrates occurring in the soil. Most of the studied properties were significantly higher in soils with a loamy texture as compared to the sandy loam and loamy sand soils. Differently managed soils presented a distinctive response in terms of organic matter content and quality as well as extracellular enzyme activity as a function of the tillage regime applied and different cultivated plants. In general terms, both land uses which were based on permanent grass cultivation revealed that the most positive effects occurred on these studied properties as compared to other land use systems. Therefore, we may conclude that permanent grasslands play a special role in the status of soil organic matter, microbial content and enzymatic activity.

How the Management and Environmental Conditions Affect the Weed Vegetation in Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) Fields

Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) is a versatile crop with global significance; it is primarily cultivated for its small elliptical seeds, which are used as bird feed and for human consumption. This crop is adapted to various climates and soils, so it can be grown successfully in Hungary. However, challenges such as weed control, climate change impacts, and soil factors require strategic management for sustained success in canary grass cultivation. Our study investigated the impact of management and environmental (as seasonal and soil) factors on pre-harvest weed vegetation in canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary between 2017 and 2020. In addition to showing the weed vegetation of the canary grass, the aim of our work was to promote more effective weed management of canary grass by revealing correlations between soil, seasonality, and management variables, influencing weed diversity and coverage. Using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlation tests, we tested significant variables, providing insights into the complex interactions affecting weed composition. A redundancy analysis (RDA) further unveiled the relationships between explanatory variables and weed species’ composition. The findings offer valuable information for effective weed management strategies in canary grass cultivation. Our comprehensive study on canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary sheds light on significant factors influencing weed composition and abundance. The average weed coverage was 10.8%, with summer annuals and creeping perennials being the most prevalent life forms. Echinochloa crus-galli, Cirsium arvense, Xanthium italicum, and Setaria viridis were among the dominant species. ANCOVAs revealed the impact of soil, management, and seasonal factors on weed cover, species richness, diversity, and yield levels. Soil properties like texture, pH, and nitrogen content showed varying effects on weed parameters. The vintage effect, tillage systems, and farming practices also played crucial roles. The redundancy analysis highlighted the influence of the year, soil sulfur content, and winter preceding crops on weed composition. In conclusion, the herbaceous vegetation in the studied area is dominated by summer germinating and creeping perennial species. Despite slight differences in average coverage and occurrence, a well-defined set of significant species is evident. Multicollinearity among variables suggests limitations to further increase the number of variables that can be included in the analysis. The ANCOVAs showed that the soil, seasonal, and farming variables significantly influence overall weed vegetation and crop yield, with a lesser impact on species richness and diversity. The reduced RDA model highlights the strong influence of the year on species’ composition, emphasizing the inherent factors during canary grass cultivation that are challenging to modify through farming practices.

N fertilization strategies for the use of P-rich organic amendments in the restoration of soil productivity—short-term responses in two soils

To facilitate nutrient management and the use of manure as a feedstock for biogas production, manure is often separated into a solid and a liquid fraction. The former fraction is usually high in P and low in N, so when incorporated in the soil as fertilizer, it needs to be supplemented by N from, e.g., mineral fertilizers or nitrogen-fixing species. To explore strategies to manage N with solid-separated manure, we examined how the amount of digestate and the N:P ratio of pig digestate, i.e., manure that had partially undergone anaerobic digestion, affected the productivity of Westerwolds ryegrass and red clover in a pot experiment with one soil which was rich and another which was poor in plant nutrients. The soil and plant species treatments were combined with four doses of digestate, which gave plant available phosphorus (P) concentrations of 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg P100 g−1 soil. Ammonium nitrate was dosed to obtain factorial combinations of digestate amount and N:P ratios of 1.8, 4, 8, and 16. Clover was harvested once at the beginning of flowering (15 weeks after seeding), while Westerwolds ryegrass was allowed to regrow three times after being cut at the shooting stage (in total, 4 cuts, 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks after seeding). Ryegrass yield increased by up to 2.9 times with digestate dosage. Interactions with the N:P ratio and soil type were weak. Hence, the effect of increasing the N:P ratio was additive across digestate dosages. Red clover biomass also increased by up to 39% with digestate dosage. Residual nutrients in the soil after red clover cultivation were affected by the initial differences in soil characteristics but not by digestate treatment or biomass of harvested red clover. A targeted N management is required to benefit from the P-rich digestate in grass cultivation, while the long-term effects of red clover culture on N input need further investigation.

Tall wheatgrass response toward phosphorus deficiency: a constraint to its use as a forage resource in marginal soils

Tall wheatgrass is cultivated for pasture in marginal areas around the world due to its tolerance to abiotic stress including seasonal droughts and floods, as well as saline and alkaline soils. However, there is concern about its biomass productivity, which often does not exceed that of natural pastures. In this work we hypothesize that tall wheatgrass is a plant more sensitive to low P availability than commonly assumed. A glasshouse sand culture experiment was conducted to analyze morpho-physiological responses of tall wheatgrass to different P availability levels: 1 µmol L−1 phosphorus (severe deficiency, P1), 10 µmol L−1 phosphorus (representative value of soil solution in the region, P10) and 500 µmol L−1 phosphorus (full P supply, P500). Our results show that both limiting P conditions strongly decreased plant development and biomass accumulation, and altered above- and below-ground morphology, in comparison with P500 plants. The latter, in turn, had relative growth rate values comparable to those of other cultivated grasses under non-limiting conditions. In both P-deficient treatments, plant development was severely delayed starting from leaf number 3, even when P concentration in the pseudostem at early stages was similar or even higher than that of P500 plants. Our results suggest that developmental inhibition of tall wheatgrass at low P supply may be the consequence of a specific plant response to P concentration in soil solution, rather than to direct P starvation in plant tissues, and underlines the need of improvement of this species to enhance productivity in this environment.

Nitrogen acquisition and retention pathways in sustainable perennial bioenergy grass cropping systems

AbstractPerennial tall grasses show promise as bioenergy crops due to high productivity and efficient nutrient use. Ongoing research on bioenergy grasses seeks to reduce their reliance on synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer, the manufacture of which relies on fossil fuel combustion. Excessive use of fertilizers also causes adverse environmental consequences and leads to the evolutionary loss of plant traits beneficial to sustainable N cycle. Notably, perennial tall grasses have exhibited the potential to maintain high biomass yield without the need for N fertilizer or causing soil N depletion. Perennial grasses can be adept at interacting with their microbial partners to facilitate N acquisition and retention via mechanisms such as biological N fixation and nitrification inhibition. These inherent N management traits should be preserved and optimized at the this early stage of bioenergy grass breeding programs. This review examines the impact of external N on bioenergy grass production and explores the potential of leveraging advantageous N‐cycling attributes of perennial tall grasses, laying groundwork for future management and research efforts. With minimized dependency on external N input, the cultivation of perennial energy grasses will pave the way toward more resilient agricultural systems and play a significant role in addressing key global energy and environmental challenges.

Research Progress on the Effects of Different Soil Methods in Orchards on Soil Nutrients and Fruit Trees

With the continuous expansion of the area of orchards, there are many ways of soil management among orchards. Orchard main line used at home and abroad are covered with grass cultivation, stubble cover, natural grass, fruit intercropping. Different management methods have a great influence on soil nutrient status, root distribution of fruit trees, leaf nutrient yield and fruit quality. In this paper, the main 4 management methods of orchards at home and abroad are summarized: different soil management methods have different effects on soil Nutrients, fruit trees have different effects. This paper analyzes some problems existing in these four kinds of soil management methods and puts forward the problems that need to be solved in the future so as to provide a theoretical basis for exploring suitable soil management methods in orchard of our country.

Состояние и агроэкологическое районирование семеноводства райграса пастбищного в России

The area of cultivation of perennial grasses and their productivity are determined by the biological capabilities of plants to adapt to natural soil and climatic conditions. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a mesophilic species with a limited winter hardiness resource. The purpose of the work is to conduct acomparative assessment of the effectiveness and stability of the yield level of perennial ryegrass seeds in various places in the area of its cultivation and, taking into account the agroclimatic resource of the territories, to identify areas with the highest potential for effective commercial seed production. It has been established that the cultivation of perennial ryegrass for feed purposes is most effective in areas where the values of the hydrothermal coefficient for the growing season are 1.3–1.4 and higher. When cultivated for seeds, the HTC values are optimal in the range from 1.1–1.2 to 1.3–1.4. The highest probability of obtaining high yields in terms of the provision of agroclimatic resources of 83% is in the Central region, as well as parts of the adjacent regions of the North-Western region. This allows us to classify this area as a zone of sustainable seed production of perennial ryegrass. On average, seed yield in the first year of use in the Central region was in the range of 0.53–0.84 t/ha with Cv 16.3–27.4%, in the second year of use — 0.15– 0.36 t/ha with Cv 19.9–32.9%. Based on the assessment of the level and stability of seed yields and their comparison with natural resources in the area of cultivation of perennial ryegrass, the zone of effective commercial seed production is generally limited from the north and northeast schematically along the line St. Petersburg – Vologda – Kirov – Perm, from the south and the southwestern — line Bryansk – Orel – Lipetsk – Tambov – Saransk – Kazan – Izhevsk.

Leveraging the sugarcane CRISPR/Cas9 technique for genetic improvement of non-cultivated grasses.

Under changing climatic scenarios, grassland conservation and development have become imperative to impart functional sustainability to their ecosystem services. These goals could be effectively and efficiently achieved with targeted genetic improvement of native grass species. To the best of our literature search, very scant research findings are available pertaining to gene editing of non-cultivated grass species (switch grass, wild sugarcane, Prairie cordgrass, Bermuda grass, Chinese silver grass, etc.) prevalent in natural and semi-natural grasslands. Thus, to explore this novel research aspect, this study purposes that gene editing techniques employed for improvement of cultivated grasses especially sugarcane might be used for non-cultivated grasses as well. Our hypothesis behind suggesting sugarcane as a model crop for genetic improvement of non-cultivated grasses is the intricacy of gene editing owing to polyploidy and aneuploidy compared to other cultivated grasses (rice, wheat, barley, maize, etc.). Another reason is that genome editing protocols in sugarcane (x = 10-13) have been developed and optimized, taking into consideration the high level of genetic redundancy. Thus, as per our knowledge, this review is the first study that objectively evaluates the concept and functioning of the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 technique in sugarcane regarding high versatility, target specificity, efficiency, design simplicity, and multiplexing capacity in order to explore novel research perspectives for gene editing of non-cultivated grasses against biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, pronounced challenges confronting sugarcane gene editing have resulted in the development of different variants (Cas9, Cas12a, Cas12b, and SpRY) of the CRISPR tool, whose technicalities have also been critically assessed. Moreover, different limitations of this technique that could emerge during gene editing of non-cultivated grass species have also been highlighted.