Festuca Pratensis Research Articles

Species dynamics in forage seed mixtures exposed to different lengths of growing season

AbstractSix seed mixtures differing in number of species and their proportion of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were tested during three/four production (ley) years in replicated field experiments at three climatically different sites in Norway; one a mountainous inland site at 61° N (Løken) and two in coastal environments, at 61° N (Fureneset) and 65° N (Tjøtta). There were significant differences in forage accumulation (FA) and digestible forage accumulation (DFA) between the three sites. There was a significant FA decline from the third to the fourth ley year for mixtures containing timothy, but not for mixtures without timothy. Estimated interannual FA‐ stability was higher for timothy‐based seed mixtures than for mixtures without timothy at the inland site, but FA‐stability was lower at the coastal sites. In the third‐year herbage of timothy‐based mixtures at the inland site consisted almost solely of timothy, whereas at the coastal sites meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) and especially tall fescue (F. arundinacea Schreb.) dominated. In seed mixtures without timothy, cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) suppressed other species at the inland site, whereas at the coastal sites, tall fescue and ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) were the dominant species in the third‐year herbage. Length of growing season and site‐specific growing conditions were important drivers for the observed species changes. Timothy can thus be recommended for ley establishment at sites where the growing season is short (<4 months) and plant growth is intensive, but under conditions with a longer growing season it needs to be sown in mixtures with grass species that surpass the regrowth capacity of timothy.

Phenological Analysis of Grasses (Poaceae) in Comparison with Aerobiological Data in Moscow (Russia).

Grasses (Poaceae) produce large amounts of pollen and are among the main causes of pollinosis worldwide. Despite their morphological similarity, pollen grains of different grass species may have different allergenicities. Therefore, quantification of the roles of individual species in airborne pollen is an important task. There are very few studies on this topic, and none of them have been conducted in a temperate continental climate. Our study was carried out for three years (2020-2022) in the urban territory of Moscow (Russia) and aimed to understand what grass species contribute the most to the total pollen load of the atmosphere. The comparison of aerobiological and phenological data was based on calculating the phenological index, which is a combination of phenological parameters, pollen productivity of individual species, and their abundance. Our data showed that the decomposition of pollination curves based on the phenological index was sometimes very efficient but not always possible in temperate continental climates. The main reasons for disagreement between aerobiological and phenological data were weather conditions and lawn mowing. Not all grasses were equally important as sources of allergenic pollen. The greatest contribution to the pollen load at the beginning of the season in Moscow was made by Dactylis glomerata, and to a lesser extent by Phleum pratense and Festuca pratensis. These are the most common species, which are widespread throughout Europe. The contribution of minor components is insignificant.

Phosphorus fertiliser is associated with reduced grass grub (Costelytra giveni) fitness in Epichloë endophyte-infected meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass.

Fertiliser applications are well-established tools in pasture-based agricultural landscapes. This study focuses on the impact of phosphorus (P) fertiliser on grass grub (Costelytra giveni), a major pasture pest. This research investigates the interplay between P, plant growth, and grass grub fitness in Epichloë endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass (Epichloë sp. LpTG-3 strain AR37) and meadow fescue infected with E. uncinata (strain MaxR; AR1017), alongside their endophyte-free counterparts. In a glasshouse trial, plants were grown in P-enriched soil with varying Olsen P levels (9, 18, 28 or 78 mg L-1), and grass grubs were introduced. Their survival and weight gain, and plant performance were measured. In a bioassay, grass grubs were placed in specimen vials with P-enriched soils (Olsen P levels 9, 18, 28 and 78 mg L-1) and provided with identical plant material to assess their diet consumption and weight gain. In the glasshouse trial, results highlighted a notable decrease in the survival of grass grub on plants infected with MaxR endophyte, but not with AR37, as well as increasing soil Olsen P levels in both plant species. While grass grub decreased plant performance at the low Olsen P level (9 mg L-1), this effect diminished with increasing P. Likewise, results from the bioassay showed a decrease in diet consumption with increasing soil Olsen P levels. In both trials increasing Olsen P levels correlated with diminished grass grub performance, revealing a nuanced relationship between soil fertility and pest dynamics. The study underscores the pivotal role of selected Epichloë endophyte-grass associations in mitigating grass grub damage across varying phosphorus levels. This study highlights the potential to integrate P applications for sustainable pest control against grass grub. Further field trials are required to validate these findings. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Reduced seed viability in exchange for transgenerational plant protection: Does the defensive mutualism concept pass the fitness test?

Epichloë endophytes are vertically transmitted via grass seeds and chemically defend their hosts against herbivory. Endophyte-conferred plant defence via alkaloid biosynthesis may occur independently of costs for host plant growth. However, fitness consequences of endophyte-conferred defence and transgenerational effects on herbivore resistance of progeny plants, are rarely studied. The aim of this study was to test whether severe defoliation in mother plants affects their seed production, seed germination rate, and the endophyte-conferred resistance of progeny plants. In a field study, we tested the effects of defoliation and endophyte symbiosis (Epichloë uncinata) on host plant (Festuca pratensis) performance, loline alkaloid concentrations in leaves and seeds, seed biomass and seed germination rates. In a subsequent greenhouse study, we challenged the progeny of the plants from the field study to aphid herbivory and tested whether defoliation of mother plants affects endophyte-conferred resistance against aphids in progeny plants. Defoliation of the mother plants resulted in a reduction of alkaloid concentrations in leaves and elevated the alkaloid concentrations in seeds when compared with non-defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants. Viability and germination rate of seeds of defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants were significantly lower compared to those of non-defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants and endophyte-free (defoliated and non-defoliated) plants. During six weeks growth, seedlings of defoliated endophyte-symbiotic mother plants had elevated alkaloid concentrations, which negatively correlated with aphid performance. Endophyte-conferred investment in higher alkaloid levels in seeds -elicited by defoliation- provided herbivore protection in progenies during the first weeks of plant establishment. Better protection of seeds via high alkaloid concentrations negatively correlated with seed germination indicating trade-off between protection and viability.

Effect of mowing versus abandonment of mesic grasslands in Central Europe on biomass use for biogas production: Implications for semi-natural ecosystem conservation

The economic management of lignocellulosic biomass from semi-natural grasslands is now a challenge across Europe. The abandonment of mowing these grasslands leads to the gradual degradation of these ecosystems. This study investigates how chemical and biological factors affect the suitability of biomass from abandoned grasslands for biogas production. We sampled 30 mown and 30 abandoned grassland sites in the Sudetes Mountains (Poland and Czechia). The cover contribution of short herbs was found to be significantly higher in mown grasslands (p < 0.001), while that of tall herbs was more prevalent in abandoned grasslands (p < 0.01). The specific biogas yield (SBY, NL kg−1 volatile solids) is negatively affected by an increased percentage of herbs in the biomass of mown and abandoned grasslands. This is due to the inhibitory effect of herbs on biodegradation, the increase in lignin content and the decrease in cellulose. This study highlights the importance of individual plant species in assessing grassland biomass for area biogas yield (ABY, m3 ha−1) and provides new insights into a field that has not yet been extensively investigated. In mown grasslands, ABY was most positively correlated with grass species (Arrhenatherum elatius, Trisetum flavescens and Festuca pratensis). In abandoned grasslands, the ABY was most correlated with herbaceous species (Galium aparine, Urtica dioica and Chaerophyllum aromaticum) and grasses (A. elatius and Elymus repens). Mown grasslands had significantly higher species richness (p < 0.001) compared to abandoned grasslands, but the number of species sampled did not correlate with SBY and ABY. This study contributes to the development of a sustainable bio-economy by highlighting the need for efficient use of grassland biomass. This approach helps protect semi-natural ecosystems and facilitates sustainable management of renewable resources.

Productive performance of beef bulls fed tall fescue silage or meadow fescue silage and complemented with cereal grains

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different grasses offered to weaned beef breed bulls until slaughter. Three cuts of tall fescue (TF) and meadow fescue (MF) were harvested with as similar chemical composition as possible, pre-wilted and ensiled separately in bales. Forty newly weaned intact bulls of Continental beef breeds were kept indoors and randomized to one of the two silages, complemented with 2.5–3.0 kg grain/day, and followed until slaughter. The two silages were offered simultaneously from the same cut during most of the finishing period. Bulls receiving TF had a higher silage dry matter intake than bulls offered MF (7.69 vs. 7.04 kg-d; P = 0.0026) but had lower carcass weight (370 vs. 380 kg; P = 0.0357). From this limited study it was concluded that replacing traditional MF silage with TF silage might compromise the carcass performance of finishing beef bulls.

Waterlogging‐Induced Changes in ABA, Carbohydrates and CBF6 Modify Freezing Tolerance in Prehardened Festuca pratensis

ABSTRACTChanges in precipitation and snow melt during warmer winters can increase low‐temperature waterlogging. Such conditions may bring about different effects when compared with a single stress trigger, such as low‐temperature or water excess. The effects of waterlogging are clearly related to water temperature, and the consequences of water excess might be less severe, as more oxygen is dissolved in colder water. The effect of waterlogging during cold acclimation (CA) is poorly understood; most experiments concerning water excess are performed at relatively high‐temperatures. In this study, we examined the effect of 3 weeks of waterlogging (approx. 2 cm above the soil level) on CA in Festuca pratensis Huds. (Fp), a cool‐season grass. Measurements were taken before CA (after prehardening, before flooding) and after 3 weeks of CA in waterlogged (treated) and non‐waterlogged (control) plants. The work included: (i) freezing tolerance test (regrowth after freezing), (ii) analysis of abscisic acid (ABA) content in the leaf, (iii) leaf stomatal conductance, (iv) leaf water content, (v) carbohydrates analysis, including fructans, and (vi) transcript levels of selected genes involved in freezing tolerance, ABA signalling and fructan biosynthesis. The aim of the study was to test a hypothesis that low‐temperature waterlogging in Fp enhances freezing tolerance (plant regrowth after freezing) related to increased ABA accumulation, increased C‐repeat‐binding transcription factor expression and/or increased carbohydrate accumulation, including fructans. Two out of four genotypes exhibited enhanced regrowth following freezing due to waterlogging relative to control. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a positive correlation between ABA levels and freezing tolerance in both treatments, with a more pronounced effect observed in the waterlogged plants. However, the phytohormone played different roles in these two treatments. In the context of low‐temperature waterlogging, ABA may be involved in the dehydration tolerance response in genotypes suffering from physiological drought, as well as the induction of C‐repeat‐binding transcription factors (CBFs) and sucrose, which may improve freezing tolerance. The increased fructan amount and polymerisation degree due to waterlogging may provide a carbohydrate sink to maintain a high photosynthetic efficiency, but are not directly responsible for freezing tolerance changes. The study indicates that tolerance mechanisms of Fp exposed to low‐temperature waterlogging involve maintaining a high photosynthetic rate, as well as oxidative and dehydration stress tolerance.

The Suitability of Several Grasses for the Remediation of Hotspots Affected by Cadmium Contamination

Areas contaminated with cadmium require remediation because it is a highly toxic element. The aim of this study was to assess the Cd tolerance of four grass species (Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Festuca rubra, and Festuca pratensis) and to identify the most useful grass for the phytostabilization of areas with extremely high Cd content in the soil. Additionally, the relationship between grass tolerance to Cd and the glutathione (GSH) content in shoots was examined. Two series of pot experiments were carried out using soil artificially contaminated with Cd. Three levels of contamination were used—30, 60, and 130 mg kg−1 Cd—against a control. The plants were cut down 2 months after sowing. At the Cd1 level, L. perenne showed the highest tolerance to Cd (tolerance index TI = 86), while P. pratensis had the lowest tolerance (TI = 65). At Cd2, the TIs ranged from 52 to 59, indicating a similar tolerance of all species. Cd3 was most harmful to L. perenne (TI = 24), while P. pratensis was the most tolerant (TI = 31). Grassroots accumulated much more Cd than shoots. L. perenne showed the greatest increase in root Cd at each contamination level, followed by F. pratensis and then P. pratensis and F. rubra. It is noteworthy that the tolerance of grasses to Cd3 was related to the GSH content in shoots. P. pratensis and F. rubra increased the GSH content 4.6 and 3.6 times, respectively, while L. perenne and F. pratensis only increased it 2.3 times compared to the control plants.

Evaluation of meadow fescue grass cultivars seeded with alfalfa in New York state

AbstractAlfalfa–grass mixtures sown in the northeastern United States provide high‐quality dairy forage, and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) may improve the quality of these mixtures. Our objectives were to evaluate competitiveness and nutritive value of nine meadow fescue (MF) cultivars in New York State at spring harvest. Three farms, two in central New York State and one in northern New York state, were used. Conventional alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was sown (15 lb acre−1) to nine MF cultivars (three tetraploid and six diploid) and one tall fescue Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) ‘Darbysh’ cultivar in a randomized complete block design with four field replicates at each field site at three seeding rates (1, 2, and 3 lb acre−1). Grass proportion in mixtures was estimated visually. Grass samples were collected shortly before first harvest and analyzed for neutral detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), acid detergent fiber, in vitro digestibility, and crude protein. Most meadow fescue cultivars maintained a grass proportion between 20%–45% across farms and growing seasons when seeded at 1lb acre−1. Seeding rates above 1lb acre−1 resulted in grass proportions above the recommended 20–30% grass proportion rate. Drought in early 2022 resulted in an average drop in grass percentage of 16.9% units for meadow fescue in mixtures, compared to 2021. Nutritive value of cultivars varied among farms and over growing seasons. Meadow fescue cultivars averaged 2.7% units higher NDFD than tall fescue, and cultivars with consistently high NDFD were Hidden Valley, SW Revansch, SW Minto, and Schwetra. Tetraploid cultivars averaged 4.0% units lower NDF compared to diploid cultivars, which is very advantageous for grass in alfalfa–grass mixtures.

Phenotypic screening of seed retention and histological analysis of the abscission zone in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne

BackgroundSeed retention is the basic prerequisite for seed harvest. However, only little breeding progress has been achieved for this trait in the major forage grasses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of plant genetic resources of the important fodder grasses Festuca pratensis Huds. and Lolium perenne L. as source for seed retention in the breeding process. Furthermore, the morphology of the abscission zone, where shattering occurs, was studied on the cell tissue level in different developmental stages of contrasting accessions.Results150 and 286 accessions of Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne were screened for seed retention, respectively. Contrasting accessions were selected to be tested in a second year. We found a great variation in seed retention in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne, ranging from 13 to 71% (average: 35%) and 12 to 94% (average: 49%), respectively, in the first year. Seed retention was generally lower in the second year. Cultivars were within the accessions with highest seed retention in Festuca pratensis, but had lower seed retention than ecotypes in Lolium perenne. Field-shattered seeds had a lower thousand grain weight than retained seeds. Cell layers of the abscission zone appeared already in early seed stages and were nested within each other in accessions with high seed retention, while there were two to three superimposed layers in accessions with low seed retention.ConclusionsPlant genetic resources of Lolium perenne might be a valuable source for breeding varieties with high seed retention. However, simultaneous selection for high seed weight is necessary for developing successful commercial cultivars.

Equine relative preferences regarding selected cool-season grass hays

Horse preferences for cool season grass cultivars under grazing has been described. However, preference for cool-season grass cultivars as hays has not been widely evaluated in horses, particularly the new varieties of Tall Fescue with novel endophytes designed to produce less ergovaline, the compound to which fescue toxicosis is attributed. First cutting hay was harvested in 2019 and 2020 from seven cool season grasses: Tall Fescue v. KY 31; Tall Fescue v. Bronson, endophyte free; Tall Fescue v. Texoma MaxQ, novel/non-toxic endophyte; Meadow Fescue v. Preval; Festulolium v. Spring Green; Perennial Ryegrass v. Elgon; and Orchardgrass v. Crown Royal. First cutting yield was determined on a dry weight basis. Sub-samples were analyzed for forage quality parameters and ergovaline concentrations. The effect of cultivar on mean hay yields was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, and since the F-Value was significant (< 0.001) the least significant differences were further determined to compare yield differences among the cultivars. All three Tall Fescue cultivars, Meadow Fescue, and Festulolium had significantly greater yields than the Perennial Ryegrass and Orchardgrass (P < 0.05). All samples tested for ergovaline were below the reporting threshold of the laboratory. Subsequently, tillers of the Tall Fescue cultivars were evaluated for endophyte presence. Endophyte was detected in only 3.3 % and 16.7 % of v Bronson and Texoma MaxQ tillers, respectively. No endophyte was detected in v KY 31. To evaluate preference four mature idle horses (6 ± 1.08 yrs) were fasted 30 min prior to being in the test stalls for 30 min. First choice and weight consumed were recorded. Preference testing occurred within harvest year. Equine preference data were analyzed within year using a one-way ANOVA pairwise comparison with the Tukey-Kramer adjustment for multiple comparisons. Both forward and backward stepwise regression modelling were used to investigate proximate analyses values as potential predictors of cultivar consumption by the horses during the preference tests. The best performing model explained 36 % of the variation in cultivar consumption. Based on amounts consumed horses had similar preferences each year; the overall rank of the cultivars was very similar with only the two least preferred cultivars transposed from 2019 to 2020. Horses most preferred the lowest yielding cultivars (Perennial Ryegrass and Orchardgrass). Despite low ergovaline and endophyte content in the Tall Fescue varieties, adult horses preferred hay of other cultivars. Festulolium is an option for hay producers that balances both yield and horse preference.

Forage Biomass and Nutritive Value of Grasses and Legumes Grown Under Agrivoltaic Systems

Forage crops grown underneath ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (PV) may provide a feed source for livestock production. The objective was to evaluate forage biomass and nutritive value of crops, grasses and legumes grown under different PV conditions. Forages were planted underneath a 30-kilowatt PV site (30kW), a 50-kilowatt PV site (50kW) and one control site without PV (CON) in May 2022 with four replicates per site. Forage crops included alfalfa, field peas, meadow fescue, orchard grass, red clover, brown midrib sorghumsudan grass, white clover and 3 grass and legume mixes with either alfalfa, red clover, or white clover. Biomass samples were clipped at appropriate maturity levels for grazing. Samples were sorted for botanical composition and analyzed for nutrient value. Crop biomass, dry matter and nutrient values were analyzed with PROC Mixed of SAS with the fixed effects of site (30kW, 50kW, or Con), crop nested within site, and cutting (1st or 2nd) and the random effect of replicate nested within site. Forages produced less biomass at the 30kW (563.7 kg/ha) and 50kW (446.4 kg/ha) solar sites compared to CON (1099.7 kg/ha). The 50kW forages had greater crude protein on a dry matter basis (25.8%) than the 30kW (21.4%) and CON (20.9%). The 50kW (57.1%) forages also had greater total tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility than the 30kW (52.5%) and CON (51.0%). Additionally, the 50kW forages had greater percent calcium (1.05%) compared to the 30kW (0.75%) and CON (0.84%). Forage biomass and nutrient values varied based on the solar array design and amount of sun exposure.

Productivity and nutritional value of perennial cereal grasses in the Middle Cis-Urals

The purpose of the research was the assessment of feed productivity and nutritional value of 13 new varieties of meadow timothy, meadow fescue and awnless brome when cultivated for green mass in the Middle Cis-Urals. The research was carried out in 2018–2022 on sod-podzolic medium loamy soil of the Udmurt Republic. Meteorological conditions of the growing seasons during the years of the research were different: 2018, 2021 and 2022 were arid (hydrothermal coefficient – 0.89, 0.78 and 0.91, respectively), 2020 – slightly arid (HTC – 1.04), 2019 – waterlogged (HTC – 1.73). The beginning of regrowth of the studied varieties of perennial cereal grasses was noted in the third ten days of April; the grass reached mowing ripeness in 44–60 days. The yield of meadow timothy varieties on average for three years of using the grass stand was at the level of 3.5–3.9 t/ha of dry weight, meadow fescue – 2.3–2.4 t/ha, awnless brome – 4.5–4.7 t/ha. The “year conditions” factor had a primary influence on the variation in yield, density and height of the grass stand – 92.4…97.4 %, 62.9…79.2, 80.3…82.6 %, respectively. The “genotype x year” factor also influenced the number of shoots and their height. Fescue varieties were distinguished by a relatively high content of crude fat (2.5–3.1 %), sugars (15.6–17.7 %), and calcium (0.31–0.36 %). High content of crude fat (2.3–2.6 %), phosphorus (0.68–0.71 %), potassium (2.45–2.52 %), calcium (0.31–0.39 %) noted in plant samples of awnless brome varieties. A positive strong correlation between the yield of dry mass of cereal grasses and the content of phosphorus (r = 0.87…0.96) and potassium (r = 0.69…0.85) in it was revealed. Some varieties of perennial cereal grasses were distinguished by their nutritional value: meadow timothy varieties Sleipnir (Finland), Aturo (Germany) and Tamiza (Germany) with a yield per 1 hectare of metabolic energy of 32.3–34.4 GJ, digestible protein – 0.14–0.16 tons, feed units – 2.41–2.60 thousand; meadow fescue variety Karpatchi (Netherlands) – 21.2 GJ, 0.09 tons, 1.57 thousand; awnless brome variety Gvardeets (Russia) – 35.7 GJ, 0.25 tons and 2.58 thousand, respectively. Cultivation of Karpatchi fescue, Sleipnir timothy and Gvardeets brome is energetically and economically profitable: energy efficiency coefficient – 1.9; 3.0 and 3.6, profitability level – 65; 101 and 161 %, respectively.

Productive grass stands of pasture use for conditions of the Vologda region

Scientific research was carried out on the experimental field of the North-Western Research Institute of Dairy and Grassland Farming, a separate division of the Voluntary Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the village of Dityatevo, Vologda Region. The soil of the experimental plot is soddy-podzolic and moderately cultivated. Pasture is a cheap and accessible food source for herbivores; it solves the problems of survival in crisis ecological, economic, and atypical climatic conditions. Pasture farming has significant animal health benefits, allowing them to consume desirable grass species. In the Russian Federation, pastures occupy about 30% of the area of agricultural land, and in the Vologda region, they occupy 13.3% (145.3 thousand hectares). The article describes ten years of research on the creation of pastures based on traditional and rare perennial grasses. In the composition of pasture grass stands, we studied cereal grasses (meadow timothy grass Vologda local and Leningradskaya 204, meadow fescue Sverdlovskaya 37, festulolium Allegro, perennial ryegrass VIK-66, awnless brome SibNIISKhoz-189, meadow bluegrass Limagi and Dar) and legumes (eastern goat’s rue Krivich, Lyad crown horned Solnyshko, meadow clover Carmine and Dymkovsky, creeping clover Belogorsky and Lugovik). Cereal and legume-cereal grass stands on average for 2011–2015. provided yields from 1.3 to 5.3 t/ha, metabolic energy output – 12.6–52.5 GJ/ha, and crude protein content ranging from 10.3 to 15.6% per 1 kg of dry matter; in 2017–2021, these figures were 2.3–8.4 t/ha, 23.4–87.6 GJ/ha, 13.4–18.9%, respectively.

Deep N acquisition in cultivated grasslands: Uptake of slow-release 15N-labeled ammonium in hemiboreal monospecific leys

AimsTo develop a methodology to study uptake and redistribution by plants of NH4+ from deep soil, applying it to investigate deep root N uptake by cultivated grassland species.MethodsA slow-release 15NH4+ label adsorbed to clinoptilolite was placed into soil (depth 42 cm) well below the densest root zone in well-established monospecific stands of five grass and two clover species. Species showing a variety of deep rooting patterns, N acquisition strategy, forage qualities, and persistence in hemiboreal conditions were chosen. The label was placed in early spring and tracked throughout one or two growing seasons in two repeated experiments.ResultsAfter two growing seasons ~ 90% of the label was tracked in the soil and harvested herbage of grasses, less in clovers. Deep N uptake was limited in spring, increased during mid-season, and was strongest in autumn in all species, despite lower herbage yield in autumn. Species differed in ability to recover and maintain 15N in the soil–plant system. In one growing season, Lolium perenne L., Phleum pratense L., Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P.Beauv. and Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort herbage recovered ~ 65% of the label, Poa pratensis L. 54%, and Trifolium pratense L. and Trifolium repens L. 36–48%. Label transport to topsoil was observed, mainly attributable to plant nutrient redistribution rather than physical diffusion.ConclusionsThe innovative slow-release 15N label enabled tracing species differences and seasonal changes in uptake of NH4+ from deep soil. Among the tall-growing grasses, growth vigor appeared as important for deep N uptake as expected root depth.

Anti-herbivory defences delivered by Epichloë fungal endophytes: a quantitative review of alkaloid concentration variation among hosts and plant parts.

In the subfamily Poöideae (Poaceae), certain grass species possess anti-herbivore alkaloids synthesized by fungal endophytes that belong to the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae). The protective role of these symbiotic endophytes can vary, depending on alkaloid concentrations within specific plant-endophyte associations and plant parts. We conducted a literature review to identify articles containing alkaloid concentration data for various plant parts in six important pasture species, Lolium arundinaceum, Lolium perenne, Lolium pratense, Lolium multiflorum|Lolium rigidum and Festuca rubra, associated with their common endophytes. We considered the alkaloids lolines (1-aminopyrrolizidines), peramine (pyrrolopyrazines), ergovaline (ergot alkaloids) and lolitrem B (indole-diterpenes). While all these alkaloids have shown bioactivity against insect herbivores, ergovaline and lolitrem B are harmful for mammals. Loline alkaloid levels were higher in the perennial grasses L. pratense and L. arundinaceum compared to the annual species L. multiflorum and L. rigidum, and higher in reproductive tissues than in vegetative structures. This is probably due to the greater biomass accumulation in perennial species that can result in higher endophyte mycelial biomass. Peramine concentrations were higher in L. perenne than in L. arundinaceum and not affected by plant part. This can be attributed to the high within-plant mobility of peramine. Ergovaline and lolitrem B, both hydrophobic compounds, were associated with plant parts where fungal mycelium is usually present, and their concentrations were higher in plant reproductive tissues. Only loline alkaloid data were sufficient for below-ground tissue analyses and concentrations were lower than in above-ground parts. Our study provides a comprehensive synthesis of fungal alkaloid variation across host grasses and plant parts, essential for understanding the endophyte-conferred defence extent. The patterns can be understood by considering endophyte growth within the plant and alkaloid mobility. Our study identifies research gaps, including the limited documentation of alkaloid presence in roots and the need to investigate the influence of different environmental conditions.

Structural carbohydrate and lignin content of perennial cereal forage grasses depending on the growth phase and digital innovations in forage composition analysis

The article is devoted to the study of the content of cell wall carbohydrates – neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) – in cereal forage grasses depending on the growth phases. An increase in all cell wall fractions was revealed as the growth phases changed. The content of acid detergent fiber, neutral-detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin (% in dry matter) in cereal forage grasses (awnless brome, meadow fescue, meadow timothy) is 31‑32, 50‑55, 4‑6 before earing; in the earing phase – 32‑37, 55‑65, and 5‑6; in the flowering phase – 40‑45, 70‑72, 7‑9, respectively. As grasses grow, their composition changes with the accumulation of cell walls. The increase in the proportion of neutral detergent fiber occurs mainly due to an increase in the proportion of cellulose and a decrease in the proportion of hemicellulose, which is consistent with a higher digestibility of grasses in the early growth stages. According to the results of the study, the relationship between crude fiber and acid detergent fiber was closer (n = 64, s = 2.4%, r = 0.93) than between crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber (n = 64, s = 4.4%, r = 0.87). As the composition of grass changes daily during the growing season, it is advisable to determine its composition as soon as possible. As chemical methods are time-consuming, an express method based on an infrared analyzer can be used to solve this problem. The express method involves, after the grinding of the sample, sequential operations such as calibrating the analyzer, placing the sample in the analyzer and analyzing the samples with the analyzer. This means that this method is also quite time-consuming. To obtain information more quickly (two hours), digital technologies are now increasingly being used. The method based on digital technologies involves the sequential execution of the following operations: UAV launch, crop survey, transmission of multispectral data to the server, information processing and calculation of crude fiber content.

Effect of chop length of grass silage harvested at two maturity stages, and of concentrate protein level, on feed intake and milk production in dairy cows

AbstractThis study in dairy cow feeding explored the effects of growth stage and chop length for grass‐clover silage, and of concentrate protein level, including the interactions of these three factors. The experiment was conducted with 48 Norwegian Red cows according to a cyclic change‐over design with four 4‐week experimental periods and eight dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Round bale silage from a mixed sward of timothy, meadow fescue, and red clover was harvested at two growth stages (H1, H2) and offered to dairy cows either unchopped with median particle length of 152 mm or chopped to 19 mm median particle length before feeding. A low protein (LP) concentrate containing 7% lignosulphonate treated soybean meal (SBM) and a high protein (HP) concentrate containing 12% solvent extracted SBM were compared. Silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 8 kg concentrate per day. Silage dry matter intake was 2.0 kg higher for H1 than H2 silage, which supported a higher yield of milk, energy‐corrected milk and the milk constituents, fat, protein, and lactose. All these measures of milk production, as well as feed energy efficiency and N use efficiency, increased when silage was fed chopped rather than unchopped. Lignosulphonate treated SBM spared N in the diet without milk yield reductions. For efficient milk production with high energy and N utilisation, we recommend chopping to 20 mm for timothy, meadow fescue, and clover silages harvested in late stem elongation or in reproductive growth stages.

Evaluation of perennial poaceae grasses species and varieties for creating lawns

Under the conditions of the Moscow region, in a field experiment, a comparative assessment of 6 types of perennial grasses and 13 of their varieties was carried out in the lawn mode of use for 12 years. It has been established that in the first year of life, the highest intensity of tillering in the first two to three months was observed in perennial ryegrass, meadow fescue and giant bentgrass. The projective cover of single-species lawns from these species amounted to 92-96% by autumn. In the first year, red fescue was characterized by lower development rates and by the beginning of autumn formed a high-quality lawn with a closed-mosaic structure and 71-79% projective cover, depending on the variety used. The slowest formation of lawns in the year of sowing was noted for meadow bluegrass, which provided projective cover in different varieties from 14 to 60%. The bluegrass lawns reached their maximum density mainly in the third year. The most high-quality lawn with a closed-diffuse composition and 100% projective cover was formed already in the first year when using a grass mixture with the participation of varieties of red fescue, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, bent grass, a mixture of meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass and giant bent grass, as well as a mixture of these species with varieties of bluegrass, red fescue and meadow timothy. The best longevity with a high density of shoots and close-diffuse composition with more than 90% annual projective cover for 12 years was distinguished by lawns from red fescue varieties Dipa and Celianna. In polyspecific lawns with the participation of bluegrass meadow, the share of its shoots in the total structure did not exceed 17-38%. Starting from the eighth year, due to the low vegetative mobility of red fescue, there was a consistent increase in the number of bluegrass shoots in the lawn. With intensive constant use of the lawn for sports, the grass mixture with a predominance of up to 90% of bluegrass meadow variety Balin turned out to be the most stable.

Endophytic Fungal Infection of Meadow Fescue in the Driftless Area of the Upper Mississippi River Valley: Impacts on Agronomic Fitness

Meadow fescue, Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv., has recently been discovered as a common but previously unknown pasture grass in the Driftless Area of the upper Mississippi River Valley, USA. Preliminary data also indicated that many meadow fescue pastures were infected with an endophytic fungus, Epichloë uncinata (W. Gams, Petrini &amp; D. Schmidt) Leuchtm. &amp; Schardl. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if the endophyte impacts agronomic fitness of the host meadow fescue. Meadow fescue plants from eight farm sites were intensively sampled, and endophyte infection levels were determined to range from 82 to 95%. Paired endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E−) meadow fescue subpopulations from each collection site were then created, and were subsequently compared for greenhouse and field drought tolerance, forage mass, and persistence under frequent defoliation. There was no impact of the endophyte under a wide range of drought conditions for either greenhouse or field studies. Furthermore, there was a small forage-mass-enhancement effect in the E+ subpopulation for only one of the eight collection sites. The only consistent effect was an average of 9% increased ground cover (persistence) in endophyte-infected meadow fescue under frequent defoliation. As per other studies, enhanced root growth, fungal-disease resistance, and/or reduced insect feeding could be mechanisms for this increased survivorship. We conclude that the meadow fescue endophytes present in the Driftless Area do not help protect their host from drought or provide any consistent forage-growth enhancement; however, we found evidence that the endophyte provides some protection against frequent defoliation at low residual sward heights.