Forage Production Research Articles

Optimizing Sericea Lespedeza Fodder Production in the Southeastern US: A Climate-Informed Geospatial Engineering Approach

Lack of attention to rural healthcare for livestock in the southeastern United States has led to a focus on small ruminant farming, mainly using sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], a drought-resistant forage species with nutraceutical benefits. Climate change has increased land availability for SL cultivation, further expanding the potential of this bioactive (anti-parasitic) legume. This study aims to create a geospatial engineering and technology-assisted model for identifying suitable SL production areas for supporting profitable small ruminant farming. The cultivation of SL depends on specific weather conditions and soil properties, with minimum requirements for temperature and rainfall, non-clay soil with reduced bulk density, and open land cover. The main objective was to develop an automated geospatial model using ArcGIS Pro ModelBuilder to assess SL production suitability. This model also aimed to identify appropriate locations for small ruminant production in Georgia in the southeastern United States, characterized by increasing temperature fluctuations. A web-based geographic information system (webGIS) platform was developed using the ArcGIS Online dashboard interface, allowing agriculturalists to access decision support for SL production suitability tailored to their land. This forage production suitability analysis, conducted in the context of climate change, offers valuable guidance for pasture managers in other nations with similar environmental attributes, promoting global adaptability and resilience.

Forage peanut genetic variability: Multi-trait selection for forage production and ornamental purposes

The selection of superior genotypes considering several traits simultaneously allows the release of more adapted, productive, and nutritive cultivars. To select forage peanut genotypes for use as animal feed and for ornamental purposes, 67 genotypes were evaluated. Twelve agronomic and nutritive value traits were evaluated in three temporally separated trials: a randomized complete block design. The mixed model method (Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (REML/BLUP)) was employed for estimating genetic parameters and predicting genotypic values, which were used in the selection indexes. The selection criteria considered vegetative and seed propagation traits corresponding to the use of forage peanut as animal feed and for ornamental purposes. Seed productivity was also evaluated and correlated with other traits. Genetic variability with high heritability in seed production was observed. Plant vigor, ground cover, and dry matter yield were negatively correlated with seed production. Among the genotypes evaluated, there is a possibility of selecting 14 and 16 genotypes corresponding to seed propagation for animal feed and ornamental purposes, respectively. For vegetative propagation, there are 16 and 14 promising genotypes for animal feed and ornamental purposes, respectively. Vegetatively propagated genotypes generally performed better in terms of agronomic traits related to feed production.

Adjusting spatial use to establish productive and stable Elymus nutans monocultures and mixed sowing systems

Community arrangement plays a critical role in maintaining forage community production and stability. To explore reasonable management for efficient community production in alpine regions, three monoculture communities composed of Elymus nutans, Cross row (S_C), Double row (S_D), and Single Row (S_R), and three mixed communities consisting of Elymus nutans and Onobrychis viciifolia, Broadcast(M_B), Dependent row (M_D) and Independent row (M_I) were established in Tianzhu County on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau during 2018–2019. The results showed S_C was the most productive monoculture community, with less intraspecific competitiveness and higher population density after establishment, which could reduce the influence of lodging on yield loss. The maximum forage yield was attained at the end of 2018 (5187.6 kg·ha−1) and August 2019 (26190.9 kg·ha−1). In mixed communities, the relationship of natural height between E. nutans and O. viciifolia was relatively stable, but growth rate displayed asynchronous traits. Besides, mixed communities had higher lodging resistance compared with monoculture communities; E. nutans showed higher competitiveness than O. viciifolia, but O. viciifolia competivity when the community natural height decreased. M_B (3015.3 kg·ha−1 in 2018; 4804.6 kg·ha−1 at the flowering of 2019), and M_D (7686.2 kg·ha−1 in 2019) had better performance in forage yield. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility of adjusting plant spatial arrangements as a means to enhance forage production in alpine regions. It is crucial to consider the interaction of growth rates, as this factor determines the optimal utilization time for monocultural and mixed communities. Additionally, this study highlights the influence of changes in sowing patterns on forage growth and yield, while enriching the grassland establishment mode, thus supporting the development of sustainable livestock systems in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau.

Reducing Nitrogen Inputs Improves the Production of Maize Grain and Forage

ABSTRACT Aiming to optimize the nitrogen (N) application rate during maize production and to improve the production process, we carried out a 2-year field study included 5 N application rates and five recommended production patterns (maize grain (P1); maize grain and straw (P2); the whole maize plant (WMP) forage (P3); grain, straw and milk (P4); WMP forage and milk (P5)). The results showed that reducing N application rate from 400 to 300 kg N ha−1 maintained the maize yield and the forage quality for different patterns. Compared to 400 kg N ha−1, 300 kg N ha−1 increased the economic profit and the economic efficiency of N fertilizer (EEN) of all patterns. Compared to the optimal N rate with the same pattern, the 75% of optimal N rate caused in a 2% decrease in economic profits, but saved N fertilizer by 25% and increased EEN by 30%; the 75% of optimal N rate saved N fertilizer by 50% and increased EEN by about 40%, but caused in a 8–9% decrease in economic profits. Therefore, the 75% of optimal N rate was optimal in improving maize production. When the economic profits from the five patterns were optimized based on regression equations, ranking the optimal N rates and economic profits in increasing order led to the following result: P1 < P2 < P3 < P4 < P5. The extending maize production chain from P1 to P5 improved economic profits, and increased the optimal N rate, improving the productivity of N fertilizer.

Ecological, morpho-agronomical, and nutritional characteristics of Sulla flexuosa (L.) Medik. ecotypes

The present work was part of assessing wild genetic plant resources of forage interest in Northern Morocco and aimed to study the agro-morphology and nutritional value of Sulla flexuosa (L.) Medik. (Hedysarum flexuosum L.) ecotypes. The seeds of twenty-one wild S. flexuosa (L.) Medik. ecotypes were collected from 21 sites. The edaphic and climatic characteristics of the collection sites were studied and testified to the remarkable adaptability of S. flexuosa (L.) Medik. These 21 ecotypes were cultivated in three complete randomized blocks design for two consecutive years. Statistical analysis showed substantial variability between the collected ecotypes. Principal component analysis and heatmap analysis allowed to distinguish four groups of ecotypes mainly based on nutritional parameters (fiber content and digestibility), forage production (dry matter yield, number of leaves per plant, and total number of branches), and reproduction (number of inflorescences per plant and, weight of thousand seeds and seeds per plant). Furthermore, the present study pointed out the value of ecotype 1, which was dual purpose with its high productivity, nutritional value, and reproductive parameters. Ecotype 4 was also highlighted as having late flowering but intermediate productivity, which can be used mainly for haymaking as the drying period could coincide with the last rainfall in the region.

Pelatihan Pengembangan Hijauan Pakan di Kelompok Peternak Mekar Desa Merbaun Kecamatan Amarasi Barat Kabupaten Kupang

This training activity aims to introduce the participants to various types of forage that can be used as feed for ruminant livestock, especially cattle. Another objective is to motivate the participants to innovate in feed provision, ultimately encouraging them to start agricultural enterprises, particularly in forage production, to support the development of cattle farming in the Amarasi Barat sub-district of Kupang Regency. The training begins with providing information about different types of forage, planting methods, harvesting age, and post-harvest handling. The methods used to achieve these objectives include counseling, demonstrations, direct practice, mentoring, and evaluation. The training participants are members of the Mekar livestock group in Dusun VI (Puru), Merbaun Village – Kecamatan Amarasi Barat. The results from the mentoring and evaluation activities will be used as a reference for creating future programs related to post-harvest forage technology. After community members have acquired the knowledge and abilities of cattle raising, the community's revenues will provide better outcomes, increase income, and improve welfare in the long run.

Species richness and functional diversity enhance winter annual forage productivity and nutritive value

AbstractWinter annual forages can extend grazing into the cool‐season in the US southeast, however uncertainty regarding potential tradeoffs between winter annual mixtures versus monocultures exists. We examined increasingly species‐rich and functionally diverse winter annual forage mixtures at two Florida locations to evaluate impacts of including more plant species with distinct traits (e.g., different maturities and nitrogen [N] scavenging vs. N2‐fixing capabilities) on forage accumulation (FA), nutritive value, and evenness of forage distribution across the cool‐season compared with a rye (Secale cereale L.) monoculture. Furthermore, we quantified the N2‐fixing potential of winter annual legumes to measure their contribution to soil fertility and ecosystem N cycling. We found that greater species richness enhanced total cool‐season FA at both sites, ranging from 0.92 to 4.38 Mg DM ha−1 in Gainesville and 6.48 to 9.11 Mg DM ha−1 in Marianna. In Marianna, where legumes accounted for approximately 25% or more of the biomass accumulated by winter annual forage mixtures, legume inclusion enhanced forage shoot N concentration. Furthermore, &gt;50% of the N in legume tissues derived from the atmosphere, supplying 0.18–2 kg N ha−1 in Gainesville and 30–52 kg N ha−1 in Marianna. Altogether, our data suggest that species richness enhanced winter annual forage production and legume inclusion improved forage nutritive value although these responses were site‐specific. Thus, our multi‐site study provides information that can guide decision‐making regarding appropriate winter annual forage selections to increase cool‐season forage production in the southeastern United States.

Nitrogen fertilization and genotype jointly drive bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) productivity but are not associated with differences in SOC

AbstractPastureland contributes a large share of the global soil C stock, much of which derives from root systems. Management practices like fertilization and the introduction of improved forages have clear benefits to aboveground forage production, but their impacts on belowground biomass (BGB) and hence soil C are less clear, especially in relatively understudied subtropical pastures. If fertilization and improved cultivars increase BGB, C sequestration may benefit. However, long‐term soil C stocks, and their associated ecosystem services, may be compromised if these practices sacrifice roots in favor of shoot production. We studied the aboveground and belowground biomass of nine bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) genotypes in response to four escalating NPK fertilization rates and compared the soil C and N stocks among them. As expected, increasing fertilization improved forage accumulation (FA) although gains from additional N diminished at higher fertilization rates. A positive relationship between fertilization and BGB emerged but varied among genotypes. The latter identified potential tradeoffs between aboveground and belowground allocation in newly released and commercial forage varieties, which may affect pasture persistence and contributions to soil organic matter over time. Overall, we found subtle differences in soil organic C/soil organic N stocks among NPK fertilization rates and genotypes, with the strongest signal emerging from C isotopic analysis. Our results suggest that fertilization at the recommended rate and improved genotype selection minimized negative tradeoffs between aboveground and belowground biomass and did not elicit differences in SOC in the top 15 cm but likely contributed to ecosystem disservices as it relates to N losses.

Can we have it all? The role of grassland conservation in supporting forage production and plant diversity

ContextA key global challenge is to meet both the growing demand for food and feed while maintaining biodiversity’s supporting functions. Protected grasslands, such as Natura 2000 sites in Europe, may play an important role in harmonising productivity and biodiversity goals. This work contributes to an understanding of the relationship between forage production and plant diversity in protected and non-protected grasslands.ObjectivesWe aimed to identify differences in plant diversity and forage production between protected and non-protected grasslands by assessing the effects of land-use intensity (i.e. mowing, grazing, fertilising) on these variables.MethodsData were available for 95 managed grassland plots (50 × 50 m) in real-managed landscapes. After controlling for site conditions in the analysis, we tested for significant differences between protected and non-protected grasslands and used a multi-group structural equation modelling (SEM) framework to investigate the linkages between land-use intensity, biomass and plant diversity.ResultsIn protected grasslands, plant diversity was significantly higher while forage production was significantly lower. In non-protected grasslands we found significantly higher land-use intensity, particularly in relation to mowing and fertilisation. Grazing intensity did not significantly differ between protected and non-protected grasslands. In non-protected grasslands we found a significant negative association between forage production and plant diversity. However, this effect was not significant in protected grasslands. We also found a negative association between land-use and plant diversity in both grassland types that was related to mowing and fertilising intensity. These two management aspects also influenced the positive association between land-use intensity and forage production. Furthermore, environmental conditions had a positive effect on forage production and a negative effect on plant diversity in protected grasslands.ConclusionsOur results confirm that the protection of grassland sites is successful in achieving higher plant diversity compared to non-protected grasslands and that protected grasslands do not necessarily trade-off with forage production. This is possible under moderate grazing intensities as higher land-use intensity has a negative effect on plant diversity, particularly on rare species. However, forage production is lower in protected sites as it is driven by mowing and fertilisation intensity. Future research needs to further investigate if the nature of these relationships depends on the livestock type or other management practices.

Effect of cutting management on the forage production and quality of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray)

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is an underutilized drought tolerant annual legume, originating from the Sonoran Desert, that may be a beneficial forage/hay for beef cattle in the Southern Great Plains of the US (SGP). The SGP has erratic rainfall and periods of intermittent drought exacerbated by high summer temperatures. In 2020 and 2021, a split-plot design was used to evaluate 13 genotypes of tepary bean and a forage soybean (control) at El Reno, OK, USA to compare production of plant biomass and forage nutritive value parameters under seven harvest regimes. Genotypes were used as the main plot and cutting management as the sub-plot. Biomass production of all tepary bean genotypes equaled that of soybean (p > 0.05), while several genotypes had superior forage nutritive value traits (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, a 15-cm cutting height and 30-day harvest interval produced the best overall product (average dry biomass of 5.8 Mg ha−1 with average relative feed values (RFV) of 165). Although all harvest regimes reduced total seasonal biomass, forage nutritive value increased. However, the tradeoff between forage production and nutritive value may be unacceptable to most producers. Further agronomic and breeding research is needed to encourage producers to grow tepary bean as a forage/hay in the SGP.

Increasing the Fertility and Productivity of Marginal Land by Planting Leguminous Plants

Background: Marginal land is dry land which has limited nutrient content so it has relatively low productivity. The development of marginal land use can be optimized with an ecosystem approach strategy through improving soil fertility. Planting leguminous plant species that can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere can increase soil fertility. Methods: This research was conducted to determine the ability of plants (A = Corn; B = Peanuts; C = Green Beans; D = Soybeans) to increase soil fertility and plant productivity. The experiment was designed in a randomized block design consisting of four treatments, each treatment was repeated four times. Soil fertility analysis was carried out before planting (pH, Carbon (%), Nitogen (%) and C/N ) and after planting (pH, Carbon (%), Nitogen (%) and C/N). Productivity (straw (kg/ha), seeds (kg/ha) and effective nodules. Results: The experimental results showed that the planting of legumes had a significant effect on increasing soil fertility and forage productivity, nodulation but lower legume seed production compared to maize

Regionalized life cycle inventory data collection and calculation for perennial forage production in Canada: methodological best practices and limitations

Abstract Purpose In Canada, 95–99% of produced forages are consumed domestically each year, mainly by beef cattle. Despite their importance, their contribution to the Canadian livestock industry and associated ecosystem services has not been investigated. This study developed a life cycle inventory (LCI) of perennial forage production in Canada averaged from 2009 to 2018. Methods LCI data were sourced or calculated from up-to-date, regionally resolved sources and models. Inputs to perennial forage production included the following: concrete, steel, and plastic usage; machinery fuel consumption; electricity, natural gas, and water use for irrigation; and synthetic and organic fertilizer, lime, and herbicide use. Assessed emissions included ammonia and nitrous oxide (N2O); carbon dioxide from energy use; herbicide, nitrate, and phosphate losses; and soil carbon accumulation. Results were expressed per metric tonne of harvested perennial forage dry matter at provincial and regional scales—Western Canada [British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), Manitoba (MB)] and Eastern Canada [Ontario (ON), Québec (QC)]. Results and discussion Rates of inputs varied, with generally lower nutrient but higher herbicide application in West vs. East. Irrigation was highest in BC, followed by AB and SK; energy consumption was highest in BC and lowest in QC. Higher N2O losses and nutrient losses via leaching and runoff in the East were partially due to greater soil moisture. Although total harvested perennial forage area declined from 6.43 to 5.23 million hectares from 2009 to 2018, these lands continued to accumulate soil carbon. The time period used to calculate average yields affected LCI estimates, as prairie yields were lower 1994–2003/1999–2008 due to drought. Furthermore, soil carbon sequestration estimates were affected by the annual change coefficients employed, underscoring the need for careful interpretation of LCI outputs. Results were compared to other studies and highlighted the importance of the choice of data and methods in creating LCI, and the need for transparency. Conclusions This first national LCI of perennial forage production in Canada provides a baseline for LCI inputs and outputs associated with this sector, highlighting provincial and regional differences. Outputs can be used to conduct future life cycle assessments to assess the environmental impacts of forage production and generate recommendations to improve sustainability, and for education and marketing purposes. This study demonstrates methodological best practices for LCI data mining and calculations, within available data and model limitations, thereby identifying gaps and providing a roadmap for other countries or sectors to develop detailed forage LCI.

Water use efficiency and yield responses of Cenchrus purpureus genotypes under irrigation

AbstractIn tropical regions, water stress is one of the main causes of the reduction in forage productivity, and irrigation strategies can mitigate the problem, especially for highly productive species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of irrigation, genotype and plant size on productive responses and water use efficiency (WUE) of elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus [Schumach.] Morrone), in the rainy and dry season. The experimental design was randomized in blocks, arranged in split plots, the main plots were established based on the use of irrigation and the subplots were the tall-sized genotypes (IRI 381 and Elephant B) and dwarfs (Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Mott). The genotypes were evaluated for two years and harvested every 60 days. Water use efficiency, total forage accumulation per year and harvest, forage accumulation rate and forage density were evaluated. There was a significant difference between the genotypes in terms of total forage accumulated (P &lt; 0.05). The most productive genotype was IRI 381, which showed the greatest total forage accumulation (42 168 kg of DM/ha in two years) in the irrigated plots. During the rainy seasons, IRI 381 stood out in terms of forage accumulated (24 667 kg of DM/ha). Irrigation favoured increases in forage accumulation around 60%, in both years of evaluation. Irrigation and plant size influenced the productivity and WUE of elephant grass harvested in 60-day intervals. Tall genotypes and Taiwan A-146 2.37 (dwarf size) stood out in most of the productive traits analysed, while Mott was highlighted by its forage density.

Optimizing biomass yield of three herbaceous forage legumes through dual inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobia

The production of forage legumes under Sub-Saharan region of Eastern Cape Province (South Africa) had been limited by several factors which includes low levels of soil nitrogen and phosphorus. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium inoculation on growth and yield of three forage legumes, namely, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus and Mucuna pruriens. The field trials were established over two growing seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) to measure growth parameters such as seedling survival, plant height, stem diameter and plant vigor as well as mycorrhizal dependency, nodulation and forage yield. The results showed that the dual inoculation of AMF and Rhizobia bacteria significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) seedling survival, plant height, stem diameter, plant vigor, nodule numbers, active nodulation rate and dry matter yield. However, nodule dry weight and dry matter content of forage legumes were significantly reduced by the dual inoculation of AMF and Rhizobia. In conclusion, the dual inoculation resulted in high forage production compared to single inoculation and un-inoculated forages in both seasons. Therefore, the dual inoculation could be an ideal alternative in attempts to reduce the overreliance of chemical fertilizer application on forage production under semi-arid regions.

Role of livestock-derived amendments in soil organic carbon stocks in forage crops

The use of organic amendments for forage production has been promoted in recent years due to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and the increasing cost of mineral fertilizers. Organic manures can contribute with an extra carbon to the soil to the potential addition of carbon stocks. This study aimed to measure the capacity of different organic amendments commonly available in livestock farms for forage fertilization to influence the rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) under future climate change conditions. For this purpose, on-farm processed exogenous organic matter (EOM) was analyzed for fiber and organic carbon mineralization to obtain the percentage of decomposable EOM and resistant EOM (DEOM and REOM, respectively). The RothC model was run in grasslands and forage maize under different scenarios considering specific DEOM and REOM values. The results showed that the degradability of amendments could influence SOC dynamics. The SOC of grasslands after 38 years of simulation differed by >30 % between compost and the liquid fraction of cattle slurry. Forage crops were simulated under the RCP8.5 scenario and fertilized with amendments at the recommended amounts of nitrogen for these crops. As a result, SOC stocks had a better response to organic fertilization in grassland, except under the application of the liquid fraction, with a decrease in SOC of 16 %. In cropland, only the solid fraction from mechanical separation of slurry and compost applications increased the SOC stock from 13 % to 26 % in the 2020–2090 period. Our study provides insights into how the degradability of EOM can affect simulations of the SOC stock rate over time.

Quantifying the roles of intraspecific and interspecific diversification strategies in forage cropping systems

Increases in extreme weather events from climate change are likely to hinder forage crop production. Cropping system diversification may be a strategy for improving productivity and enhancing yield stability of forage production systems in the face of climate change, yet farmers are often constrained by their operations as to what strategies they can readily adopt. Moreover, the type of diversity necessary to provide desired outcomes and the potential tradeoffs from such outcomes are largely unknown. We compared three strategies to increase cropping system diversity via intercropping in winter annuals, summer annuals, and perennials in a three-year forage crop experiment conducted in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, USA. For each crop type, three diversification strategies, (1) cultivar diversity (Intraspecific), (2) crop species diversity (Interspecific), and (3) both cultivar and species diversities (Intra+Inter), were compared against a control of a single cultivar of a single species (Baseline). Measured responses included yield, weed biomass, forage nutritive value, and yield stability. Across all crop types, yields in Interspecific and Intra+Inter treatments were 15% and 14% greater than the Baseline treatment, respectively. Species diversity had the greatest effect on performance in perennials, which we partially attribute to temporal diversity indicated by differences in biomass composition across harvests within a season. Perennial diversity treatments that contained species diversity had lower weed biomass, lower crude protein, and greater fiber content than the Baseline or Intraspecific treatments. Stability analysis of yields across growing conditions showed that perennial crop yields were consistently greater in the Inter and Intra+Inter treatments than the Baseline treatment. In the summer annuals, yields of the Intra+Inter treatment were greater than yields of the Baseline treatment in sub-optimal environments (20th percentile of the environmental index), whereas, in winter annuals yields in the Intra+Inter treatment were greater than yields of the Baseline treatment in optimal environments (80th percentile of the environmental index). Across crops, strategies of species diversity had a greater impact on responses than cultivar diversity and no additional benefits were detected in strategies that also incorporated cultivar diversity. Benefits of mixtures could be further enhanced by selecting specific traits that maximize both functional and response diversity. Future research should aim to develop guidelines for species and trait compatibility in mixtures and appropriate seeding rates to optimize performance.

Forage Production in India: Bottlenecks and Opportunities by Opening up New Way with an Increase in Fodder Oats Demand: A Review

In India, mixed farming and cattle raising is an essential elements of rural life and these practices are connected with the social structure in cultural, religious and economic ways. India’s production of fodder is very unevenly distributed and how this resource is used depends on the breed of cattle raised, the climate, the socioeconomic context and the crop-growing patterns. Fodder from cultivated regions is regularly fed to cattle and buffalo, with some harvested grasses and top feeds added as supplements. On the other hand within the land area of just 2.3 per cent, India is home to 16.8 per cent of the world’s population and nearly 20 per cent of the world’s cattle. India homes cattle (16%), buffalo (55%), goats (20%) and sheep (5%) of worlds total livestock population respectively. This fact makes it more cumbersome to meet the forage demand by livestock, thus shift in paradigm and opportunity in near future is about to hike for fodder crops with their potentiality in production per unit area. The present Indian scenario of fodder crops in comparison with the livestock population is being described in this article along with the net deficit and surplus availability of green and dry fodder. Further, this review also includes the opening of a new way for oats to contribute to fodder production. The challenges facing India for fodder production and its near opportunity to open up and evolve with various methodologies to tackle the present fodder demand by enhancing the production is described in detail in an article.

Salicornia sinus-persica: a high-yielding species for fodder production with seawater

A replicated field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth, biomass yield, and quality of Salicornia sinus-persica Akhani compared to the Salicornia bigelovii Torr. Both species were planted in saline soils irrigated with seawater (60 dS/m) from the Persian Gulf. Results showed that under the experiment conditions, the biomass yield of S. sinus-persica was 1.8 times more than S. bigelovii. The plant height of S. sinus-persica was also higher by 27% than S. bigelovii. While the ash content was lower by 15% in S. bigelovii, the protein content did not differ significantly between the two species. In contrast, the neutral detergent fiber in S. sinus-persica biomass was significantly lower than in S. bigelovii. Likewise, the dry-matter intake, relative feed value, and forage quality of S. bigelovii were lower by 20%, 21%, and 30%, respectively, when compared to S. sinus-persica. Despite higher ash content in S. sinus-persica than in S. bigelovii, S. sinus-persica could be used as a high-yielding species for alternate forage production under seawater irrigation in coastal lands of arid and semi-arid regions.

Effects of rabbit production on income and livelihood of rural households in Nigeria

AimsMore effort and actions are needed to combat the rising levels of food insecurity and poverty in developing countries, particularly among rural households. Rural households can significantly contribute to reducing poverty, enhancing their nutritional condition, and enhancing their standard of living by engaging in rabbit production but there are few empirical studies on the contribution of rabbit production to households’ livelihood and income. Therefore, this study examines how producing rabbits affects rural farmers' income and household livelihood in Nigeria. Methods and resultsMultiple regression and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data gathered from 240 rabbit farms. The findings demonstrated that rabbit farming is a male-dominated enterprise (male 77.5%). According to the regression analysis, the income of rural households was positively and significantly impacted by the income from rabbits. Farmers' ages, interactions with extension agents, credit they accessed, and assets were further determinants of their income. Additionally, rabbit production improved the level of living of rural households. Access to forage, the prevalence of diseases, scarcity of veterinary, and the high cost of medication, were the severe constraints faced in rabbit production. ConclusionsIt may be concluded that rabbit production had a significant contribution to the economic situation, way of life, and well-being of rural households. Although there were some constraints with the operation. Females are to be encouraged in rabbit production as livelihood diversification. Also, it is crucial that banks, governments, and non-governmental organizations offer farmers easily accessible and reasonable loan facilities as this will boost their revenue. Training on forage production and storage is also recommended. Significance and the impact of the studyParticipation will be improved by having an understanding of how rabbit farming affects the income and way of life of rural dwellers. As a result, the findings of this study would enable policymakers to intervene in enhancing its production thereby encouraging more farmers to be involved in the production and also, enhancing the well-being of rural households.

Evaluation of commercial traits in the accessions of the wheatgrass genus (&lt;i&gt;Agropyron&lt;/i&gt; Gaertn.) under the conditions of Central Yakutia

Studying plants of the wheatgrass genus as a unique and valuable fodder and phytomeliorating perennial arid xerophytic crop is of great interest to plant breeders, geneticists, biologists, ecologists, agriculturists, and forestry experts in southern regions of Russia, the ex-USSR republics, a number of European and Asia Minor countries, the U. S., Canada, and China. Accessions from the VIR collection representing five wheatgrass species were studied for the first time under the harsh conditions of extremely continental climate in the northern region of Central Yakutia. Introducing wheatgrass, widespread in this region, into cultivation, and releasing new cultivars adapted to local conditions are urgent tasks in forage production. Agropyron Gaertn. incorporates polyploid series, which expands the possibilities of using its accessions in hybridization. The aim of this study was to analyze and select promising accessions as sources for further use in breeding practice to develop a new cultivar for hay and pasture purposes, and identify genotypes with the best agronomic characteristics. Results of a three-year (2018–2020) study involving 22 wheatgrass accessions of various ecogeographic origin are presented. The accessions identified over a two-year period for their average yield of green fodder biomass were k-52382 (143.7 g/plant) from Pavlodar Region of Kazakhstan, and the Kazakh cultivar ‘Batyr’ (142.5 g/plant); for the yield of dry fodder biomass, crested wheatgrass k-52382 (on average 65.8 g/plant), k-51330 from Chelyabinsk Province (56.1 g/plant), and cv. ‘Batyr’ (53.2 g/plant); for high seed yield, Siberian wheatgrass accession k-52440 (28.4 g/m2), wild crested wheatgrass k-51330 (25.2 g/m2) and k-52380 (19.4 g/m2), and Kerch wheatgrass k-48705 (17.3 g/m2). Nutrients and energy in the tested accessions were assessed.