Grass Treatments Research Articles

Nature-based solutions for regulating moisture content in an expansive clay soil

Land degradation in the form of mass movement is a major challenge in the humid tropics, where intense rainfall and tropical cyclones are common. Rainfall increases soil moisture content, which often acts as a triggering factor for mass movement events, particularly in clay soils with expansive minerals, where moisture changes impact structural integrity. Growing evidence suggests that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can regulate soil moisture levels, which can assist in maintaining cohesion and hence reduce slope instability. This paper examines soil moisture changes due to Coconut Matting (CM), Coconut Matting-Natural Vegetation Hybrid (CMNV), Natural Vegetation (NV), and Vetiver grass (VET) and discusses moisture content regulation as it relates to slope stability, with a particular focus on expansive clays. Soil moisture trends were measured for 90 days at four depths (20 cm, 40 cm, 60 cm, and 100 cm) using soil moisture loggers, while precipitation levels were monitored using a rain gauge. GLM ANOVA analysis showed a significant depth*treatment interaction (P < 0.05) on soil moisture. The Vetiver grass treatment had the lowest soil moisture levels, with a (27.62 %) reduction compared to the control (bare plot). The CMNV treatment had the second-greatest-% soil moisture reduction (7.68 %). Contrastingly, CM and NV resulted in limited moisture reduction (1.99 %) and (0.73 %) respectively. The role of Vetiver grass was therefore highlighted in mitigating water saturation towards preventing potential slope instability.

Nutrient and sediment retention by riparian vegetated buffer strips: Impacts of buffer length, vegetation type, and season

Farming activities in watersheds can significantly increase sediment and nutrient loads, threatening aquatic ecosystems. Riparian vegetated buffer strips (RVBS) have emerged as a promising strategy to capture and sequester these pollutants. While previous research highlights the effectiveness of woody vegetation in reducing nutrient loads, an essential knowledge gap exists regarding the comparative efficiency of different vegetation types (woody, shrubs and grasses) in trapping nutrients and reducing transport from watersheds to waterbodies. To address this knowledge gap, a multi-year field investigation was carried out with the following objectives: (a) to evaluate the influences of RVBS length (2, 5, 10, 14 and 18 m) and vegetation type (woody, grass, shrub, and no buffer) on reducing nutrient and sediment concentrations in surface runoff across different seasons, and (b) to compare soil microbiological characteristics among the different buffer treatments. The findings reveal significant insights into the effectiveness of different RVBS configurations in mitigating nutrient and sediment concentrations. Woody RVBS demonstrated exceptional resilience, particularly during snowmelt periods, significantly outperforming non-woody vegetation types. In contrast, RVBS with grasses often showed limited effectiveness in reducing nutrient levels in overland flow. Importantly, the results highlight the remarkable capacity of woody vegetation within 18-metre RVBS, exhibiting 100% sediment trapping efficiency (STE), 89.8% total nitrogen (TN) removal, and 92.82% total phosphorus (TP) removal. Comparatively, grass treatments displayed lower efficiencies (STE:86%, TN:72.3%, TP: 77.8%), followed by shrubs (STE: 62%, 43.9% and 48.8%), and the control with no buffer (STE: 27%, TN: 20.6%, TP: 23.17%). The superior efficacy of woody vegetation can be attributed to its deep rooting systems and higher organic matter content in the soil compared to grass and shrub areas. Additionally, woody treatments exhibited higher levels of organic carbon, nutrients, and microbial activities in the soil, indicating greater potential for nutrient cycling. High-throughput sequencing revealed shifts in bacterial community diversity and biomass in vegetation treatments compared to the control bare soil. These findings underscore the potential of RVBS incorporating woody vegetation or grass to mitigate nutrient and sediment concentrations by enhancing infiltration and plant uptake processes. Nevertheless, RVBS effectiveness may vary, particularly during snowmelt periods. Future studies should explore RVBS design and management approaches in natural systems, with a specific focus on optimizing the effectiveness of grass treatments during snowmelt.

Trypanosocidal activity of methanolic extract of lemon grass (&lt;i&gt;Cymbopogon citratus&lt;/i&gt;)

This study determined the in vitro trypanocidal activity of lemon grass(Cymbopogon citratus) methanolic extract against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and its bio infectivity in an in vivo study using male albino rat as the experimental animal. Five treatment levels were applied (0.002mg/ml, 0.02mg/ml, 0.2mg/ml, 2.0mg/ml and 0.0mg/ml). Trypanosome was inactive at all treatment levels of lemongrass. PCV was statistically the same at all exposure times whereas the control mice had significantly lower PCV than all treated mice apart from the control, all other treatments gave similar PCV results, but the highest grand mean value (51.87%) was obtained at 0.02mg/ml while week 4 recorded the highest value (51.53%). All treatment levels had equal effects on the mice’s rectal temperature, but exposure time had significant effects on the temperature parameter where the grand mean temperature readings significantly varied from 35.55oC in week 2 to 37.47oC in week 5. The weight of mice varied significantly with both treatment (F=16.01, p&lt;0.05) and time (F=5.10, p&lt;0.05) factors. The highest mean weight recorded was 38.37±2.46g at 2.0mg/ml treatment in week 5 thus, the weight of mice increased as lemon grass treatment concentration and exposure time increased. Treatment concentrations significantly affected mice PCV and weight where the control level had the lowest values for these physical parameters. Also, exposure time significantly affected both the temperature and weight of mice. A general fluctuation but decline in feed intake was observed in mice at different treatment levels of methanolic extracts of lemon grass from weeks 1-7. A strong positive significant correlation exists between PCV and feed intake (r= -0.930, p&lt;0.05) as well as between rectal temperature and weight of mice (r= -0.948, p&lt;0.05). PCV and weight had a strong positive correlation though insignificant (r= 0.728, p&gt;0.05). Therefore, lemon grass extract showed trypanocidal efficacy in the control of trypanosomiasis in Africa.

Biomass conversion and radiocaesium (Rad-Cs) leaching behaviors of radioactive grass in anaerobic wet fermentation systems: Effects of pre-treatments

Persistent concerns regarding environmental hazards arise from the difficulty in disposing of radioactive plant-based wastes originating from the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) in Japan in 2011. In this study, three anaerobic digestion (AD) strategies were proposed: Sole anaerobic wet fermentation, and wet fermentations with either alkaline-heat or ultrasonic pre-treatment, which were employed for long-term anaerobic treatment of a genuine radioactive grass stemming from the FNPP accident. The objectives of this work are to investigate the effects of pre-treatments on biomass conversion efficiency and to gain insight into the leaching behavior of radiocaesium (Rad-Cs) within AD processes. Experimental results indicate that by introducing alkaline-heat and ultrasonic pre-treatments to AD systems, the removal efficiencies of total solids (TS) from the raw grass increased by 60.8 % and 42.5 %, respectively, compared to sole wet fermentation. Pre-treatments have been shown to enhance the stability of AD systems, both in terms of enhancing methane production and mitigating pH fluctuations triggered by the accumulation of organic acids. Remarkably, even though the Rad-Cs leaching rate was highest when the AD system was fed with the alkaline-heat pre-treated grass, it remained unsatisfactory at only 5.77 %. We inadvertently isolated a soil-like component from the raw grass, and analyzed both its proportion in the raw grass and the radioactivity intensity. The results indicate that although the soil constituted only 9.51 % TS of the raw grass, it accounted for a significant 81.35 % of the total radioactivity. The soil, which has a pronounced affinity for ionic Cs, being mixed into the raw grass, was identified as the primary factor limiting the leaching efficiency of Rad-Cs throughout both the pre-treatment and wet fermentation phases.

In-feed Praziquantel treatment ofgrass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) infected with eye flukes.

Praziquantel (PZQ) isadrug effective against several parasitic diseases offish caused byPlatyhelminthes. The study assesses the efficacy ofselected in-feed PZQ doses ineliminating metacercariae Diplostomum pseudospathaceum ingrass carp. The fish were infected with D.pseudospathaceum inlaboratory conditions and subsequently treated with PZQ atdaily doses of30 (PZQ1), 50 (PZQ2), and 100 (PZQ3) mg/kgbwfor seven days. The treatment trial was followed bya23-day observation period during which the fish were parasitologically examined ondays0, 2, 8 and 23. Smaller fish were infected with asignificantly higher (P < 0.05) number ofmetacercariae than bigger fish among three weight groups asfollows: upto7 g > 7 to12 g > 12 g. The in-feed PZQ atdoses of30, 50 and 100mg/kgbwfor seven days was 47%, 84% and 88% effective against metacercariae D.pseudospathaceum, respectively. Asignificant decrease (P < 0.01) inmoving and anincrease (P < 0.01) intheimmotile metacercariae inthe eye's lens were recorded inall the trial groups oneach sampling day. Anincreasing proportion ofmotile metacercariae inthe post-treatment observation period was seen inPZQ2 and PZQ3, indicating adecreasing trend inthe actual efficacy inanenvironment with noreinfection possibility.

Effect of molasses on nutritive value and in-vitro digestibility of elephant grass silage

Abstract Ensiling preserving a forage crop and its nutrients to feed later on as silage. In this study, elephant grass was ensiled with varying levels of molasses as an additive to evaluate its effect on the nutritive value and in-vitro digestibility of the silage. Four treatments of Pennisetum purpureum grass silage were produced with the inclusion of molasses at 0 (T1), 2.5 (T2), 5 (T3), and 7.5 % (T4) inclusion levels. Elephant grass ensiled with higher levels of molasses inclusions (T3, and T4) had significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) dry matter, crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, and lactic acid than T1 and T2 silages. However, T1 and T2 silages had significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) crude fibre and ash contents. Furthermore, silage without molasses inclusion (T1) had significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in most of the fibre fractions compared to other silages in this study. At 6 and 15 hours, there were no significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) in the means of in-vitro gas production. However, gas production was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in silages with the inclusion of additives (T4, T3, and T2) at 9, 12, 18, 21, and 24 hours of incubation. Conspicuously, silages containing graded levels of molasses as an additive had significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) digestibility and organic matter digestibility than the silage without molasses. The methane gas and metabolisable contents were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in T3 and T4 silages than T1 and T2 silages. However, T3 had significantly the highest (p &lt; 0.05) gas volume followed by T2, T4, and T1 silages. It can be concluded that our H1 hypothesis was confirmed and the inclusion of molasses as an additive in elephant grass silage resulted in improved dry matter, crude protein, lactic acid contents, reduced fibre fractions, and superior in-vitro digestibility values as well as relatively better gas production by the silage.

Mulch and Grass Cover Unevenly Halt Runoff Initiation and Sediment Detachment during the Growing Season of Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) in Croatia

Hazelnut orchards are popular for cropping on sloped sites, which are often highly erodible. This study aimed to assess the impact of soil management and season in a hazelnut orchard on soil properties and hydrological response. Three treatments (Tilled, Straw, and Grass) were established in Munije (Croatia) on Stagnosol. In Spring, Summer, and Fall, a rainfall simulation was performed (intensity of 58 mm h−1 for 30 min). Results reveal higher water stable aggregate values were observed for the Straw treatment in all seasons. Higher soil organic matter (SOM) content was noticed for the Grass treatment in all seasons, while lower values were recorded for the Tilled treatment. Sediment loss in Summer was up to 650% and 1300% higher for the Tilled treatment compared with the Straw and Grass treatments. This study strengthens the comprehension of utilizing a permanent ground cover in hazelnut orchards as a sustainable practice, contributing to the mitigation of soil erosion processes and the improvement of soil properties. The Straw treatment is a viable option since it increases soil stability and SOM, consequently preventing high soil erosion.

Evapotranspiration of advanced perennial bioenergy grasses produced on marginal land in the U.S. Midwest

The production of dedicated energy crops for biofuel and co-products can help develop a sustainable and viable bioeconomy under a changing climate. The co-production of perennial bioenergy and commodity crops in an agricultural landscape has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide numerous ecosystem services. However, as production of advanced, higher-yielding cultivars occurs, their impact on water resources needs to be considered. Estimates of evapotranspiration (ET) of perennial grasses compared to commodity crops are not always consistent in the literature. In this study, ET was estimated using an energy-balance model with Landsat satellite imagery and ground-based weather data to compare the large-scale production of advanced switchgrass cultivars (‘Independence’, ‘Liberty’, and ‘Carthage’), predecessor cultivars (‘Shawnee’ and ‘Sunburst’), and other perennial grasses (big bluestem and a low-diversity mixture) to corn grown continuously on marginal soils in the U.S. Midwest. Results showed significant differences in ET between corn and perennial grass treatments at four of the five field sites. However, differences between crop treatments were not consistent across sites, nor were the differences between advanced and predecessor switchgrass varieties. Production year played a large role in daily and cumulative ET across all sites. Differences in crop biomass yield between establishment and post-establishment years may contribute to these interannual differences. Site and interannual variations in precipitation and temperature may also be major contributing factors. Overall, the results of this study indicate that differences in ET between perennial bioenergy grasses and corn are likely dependent upon location of production and weather conditions.

Straw Mulch Application Enhanced Soil Properties and Reduced Diffuse Pollution at a Steep Vineyard in Istria (Croatia)

Straw mulching is a sustainable practice used to control soil erosion. However, different doses of mulch affect the efficiency of straw conservation. This study presents detailed research on how soil physicochemical properties and the hydrological response react to different types of vineyard soil management (Tilled, Grass, Low Straw, High Straw) and seasons (spring, summer, autumn) under conventional management on Anthrosols in Mediterranean conditions. To assess soil properties, core samples and disturbed samples were taken from the topsoil layer (0–10 cm). To evaluate erosion rates, a rainfall simulation experiment was conducted (58 mm h−1 for 30 min) with 10 replicates per treatment and season (120 in total). The results show higher water-stable aggregates (WSA) and soil organic matter (SOM) and lower bulk density (BD) in the mulch and grass treatment groups compared with the Tilled treatment group. High Straw treatment successfully mitigated runoff, while other treatments had significantly higher runoff that triggered sediment loss (SL) and translocation of P, K, Zn and Ni down the slope. There were 254% and 520% higher K losses with Tilled treatment in autumn compared with Low Straw and Grass treatments, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a strong association between element loss and SL, which indicates an ecological threat in degraded and endangered vineyards. Mulch application and grass cover reduce the vulnerability of vineyards, reduce evaporation, act as insulation against high temperatures, reduce erosion and suppress weed growth. The mulch dosage varies depending on the goals and conditions of the vineyard; thus, lower mulch dosage (2 t/ha) is appropriate when soil conditions are favourable and there is no significant need for moisture retention, while higher mulch dosage is necessary in dry regions to maintain soil moisture during high-temperature periods, as well as in sloped areas subjected to erosion.

Using state-and-transition simulation models to scope post-fire success in restoring greater sage-grouse habitat

Wildfires are increasingly modifying wildlife habitat in the western United States and managers need ways to scope the pace and degree to which post-fire restoration actions can re-create habitat in dynamic landscapes. We developed a spatially explicit state-transition simulation model (STSM) to project post-fire revegetation and the potential for sage-grouse habitat restoration in sagebrush ecosystems. The model included annual fires, annual grass invasion, conifer encroachment, and projected annual vegetation growth caused by natural regeneration as well as sagebrush seeding and planting. We cross-referenced resulting vegetation maps with greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat needs and evaluated trajectories of potential habitat at three Priority Areas for Conservation in the Great Basin. We compared outcomes among different types of revegetation actions (natural regeneration, seeding, planting), treatment durations, and treatment area sizes. In all scenarios, sagebrush cover was generally insufficient to meet sage-grouse needs for at least a decade post-fire, and the best habitat classes declined or remained at low proportions of landscapes for >50 years post-fire. Under current fire patterns, the pace of habitat restoration is likely to lag behind losses from wildfires. Our results indicate additional efforts beyond sagebrush revegetation actions (e.g., fire suppression, invasive grass treatment) will likely be necessary to maintain and restore areas to meet sage-grouse habitat needs in burned landscapes. Our results also underscore the need for broad-scale habitat restoration strategies that expand the ability to reestablish sagebrush in large, burned areas, as well as strategies for defining which areas should be prioritized for revegetation within the biome. Our landscape models and resulting vegetation maps can be integrated with other restoration prioritization or wildlife monitoring tools that support land manager decision-making. By gauging potential benefits of restoration decisions, our approach can provide information to aid choices on where to invest time, money, and effort and how best to mitigate losses and plan long-term restoration and recovery for landscapes across the sagebrush biome.

Effects of Inner-Row Ground Management on the Volatomics of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' Grapes and Wines in the Region of the Eastern Foothills of the Ningxia Helan Mountains in Northwest China.

This two-consecutive-year study aimed to evaluate the effects of ground management methods on the volatomics of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes and wines in Northwest China, in which inner-row crop covering with purslane (GRASS) and mulching with black plastic film (FILM) treatments were carried out, respectively. Compared with clean tillage (CK), the GRASS and FILM treatments changed the microclimates of grapevine fruit zones and rhizospheres, which delayed the ripening of grape berries and affected the accumulation of aroma substances in the mature grapes effectively. GRASS increased the concentration of terpenes and C13-norisoprenoids in berries and gave more floral, fruity, and caramel fragrances to wines, while FILM had the opposite effect of significantly increasing the synthesis of C6/C9 compounds and brought more green leaf flavors, showing that inner-row purslane covering is a potential and stable viticultural practice to improve the wine quality in this booming wine region.

Effects of organic mulching on moisture and temperature of soil in greenhouse production of tomato under unheated greenhouse cultivation in the cold zone of China.

In the cold zone of China, winter is cold and long and has a short duration of sunshine. Unheated earthen-wall solar greenhouses are used for tomato production in winter in this region. This was an experimental investigation of different organic mulching materials (newspaper, bran, and grass) on the soil temperature, soil moisture, tomato yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency. Organic mulching variously improved soil temperature, soil moisture, water use efficiency, and tomato yield, which is very important for greenhouse winter cultivation in this cold zone. Organic mulching regulated the soil temperature, with daily soil temperature ranges of bran, newspaper, and grass treatments being 1.6, 1.9, and 2.1°C lower than for bare land, respectively. Compared to bare land, newspaper mulching had little effect on soil temperature and fruit quality, but increased soil moisture (14.1%) and water use efficiency (WUE: WUEb, 31.3%; WUEy, 30.6%), and greatly increased yield (81.8%) and biomass (82.7%); bran mulching greatly increased soil temperature, moisture (16%), and WUE (WUEb, 60.1%; WUEy, 44.3%) and increased biomass (30.2%) and yield (17.3%); grass mulching greatly increased soil temperature and moisture (20.9%) and increased biomass (17.9%), yield (11.2%), and WUE (WUEb, 20.5%; WUEy, 13.6%). In addition, organic mulching had a good water retention effect on soil layer above 30 cm. The total soil water consumption during tomato growth was in the following order: newspaper (103 mm) > bare (74 mm) > grass (73 mm) > bran (60 mm). Soil water consumption mainly occurred in the 0- to 10-cm soil layers.

Floral enhancement of arable field margins increases moth abundance and diversity

Moth populations have declined across large parts of north-western Europe since the mid-20th century due, in part, to agricultural intensification. Agri-environment schemes (AES) are widely implemented across Europe to protect biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Grass field margins enriched with wildflowers typically out-perform grass-only margins in terms of increasing insect abundance and diversity. However, the effect of wildflower enrichment on moths remains largely unstudied. Here, the relative importance of larval hostplants and nectar resources for adult moths within AES field margins are investigated. Two treatments and a control were compared: (i) a plain grass mix, the control, (ii) a grass mix enriched with only moth-pollinated flowers, and (iii) a grass mix enriched with 13 wildflower species. Abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity were up to 1.4, 1.8 and 3.5 times higher, respectively, in the wildflower treatment compared to plain grass. The difference in diversity between treatments became greater in the second year. There was no difference in total abundance, richness or diversity between the plain grass treatment and grass enriched with moth-pollinated flowers. The increase in abundance and diversity in the wildflower treatment was due primarily to the provision of larval hostplants, with nectar provision playing a smaller role. The relative abundance of species whose larval hostplants included sown wildflowers increased in the second year, suggesting colonisation of the new habitat.Implications for insect conservation.We show that, at the farm scale, moth diversity can be greatly enhanced and abundance moderately enhanced by sowing diverse wildflower margins, providing these insects with both larval hostplants and floral resources, compared to grass-only margins.

Mechanical and biotic reclamation strategies for a post‐mine temperate grassland

AbstractGlobal energy production is in high demand and is expanding its development into new landscapes, including grasslands. This expansion has intensive impacts on aboveground and belowground components of grasslands which need to be addressed during reclamation to promote long‐term ecological integrity. This study was conducted to ascertain how alternative reclamation practices may improve soil structure (i.e., compaction) while aiding in the creation of conditions that are conducive to both the establishment and continued growth of native grassland plant species. The grassland was reclaimed with different combinations of seeding mixtures (grass or grass and forb), ripping techniques (subsoil ripping or topsoil ripping), and the integration of mulch into the soil profile. Year, seed mixtures, and ripping techniques and their interactions significantly affected community composition and species diversity. Topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment had a higher association with native, perennial grasses while subsoil‐ripping and grass treatment favor more short‐lived species. Similar trends persisted across penetration resistance and soil moisture readings where topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment were different from subsoil‐ripping and grass treatments (p ≤ 0.10). Additionally, Kentucky bluegrass, an invasive grass species, increased by 76% over 1 year and was more common in the topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatments. While early in the reclamation process, results suggest topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment are promising combination reclamation practices that can establish a native grassland community and initiate the improvement of compacted soil conditions.

Soil management and seasonality impact on soil properties and soil erosion in steep vineyards of north-western Croatia

Abstract In order to mitigate vineyard degradation, we study different soil management to obtain the most suitable practices. To study the effects of water erosion on vineyards, a rainfall experiment (58 mm h-1 for 30 min) was applied on Anthrosols in humid conditions to assess the impact of treatment (Tilled, Straw and Grass) and season (Spring and Summer). Higher bulk density (BD) and soil water content (SWC) were on the Straw treatment in the Spring period. Also, the Tilled and Grass treatment noticed higher mean weight diameter (MWD) and water-stable aggregates (WSA). In the Summer, BD, SWC and MWD were significantly higher on the Grass treatment. Higher values of time to ponding (TP) and time to runoff (TR) in Spring were recorded on the Grass treatment, Runoff was higher on the Straw treatment. Higher sediment concentration (SC) and soil loss (SL) were noticed during the Tilled treatment. In the Summer period, TP was higher on the Straw treatment, while TR and Runoff were higher on the Straw, SC and SL on the Tilled treatment. This study confirms the positive effects of grass cover and straw mulching as a sustainable agricultural practice in sloped vineyards of north-western Croatia.

The effects of forage grasses and legumes on subsequent potato yield, nitrogen cycling, and soil properties

To balance economic potato production with environmental risks, it is crucial to understand the effects of forage crops preceding potatoes on soil nitrate (NO 3 - ) leaching potential, soil quality and potato yield. This study compared a legume forage (red clover, RC), a grass forage (timothy, T), and a red clover-timothy mixture (M) over two cycles of a 3-yr rotation (barley underseeded with forage-forage-potato) from 2013 to 2018. The forage crops were grown under low input maintenance system receiving only starter N fertilizer during the establishment year. Legume-based forages (i.e., RC and M) had greater dry matter accumulation and lower C:N ratio, and therefore added a greater quantity and quality of organic matter inputs to the soil compared with the grass-based forage (T). This resulted in increased soil N supply to the subsequent potato crop, and improved soil quality as indicated by increased aggregate stability, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C), autoclaved citrate extractable soil protein (ACE), and flush of CO 2 upon rewetting a dried soil for legume- than grass-based forages. Under N limited conditions (i.e., no N fertilizer applied) forage legumes were associated with higher potato yield than forage grass. However, tuber yield was not increased when N fertilizer was applied, a finding attributed to a better synchrony between potato N uptake and soil N supply in the presence of N fertilizer with the forage grass treatment. The legume-based forages improved soil quality, increased soil N supply as well as NO 3 - leaching losses. Results of this study suggest that there may be a trade-off between selecting forage crops to reduce NO 3 - leaching and to enhance soil quality. • Compared forage legumes and grasses on soil quality, N cycling, and potato yield. • Soil quality improved, soil N supply and nitrate leaching increased with legumes. • Higher potato yield with legumes than grasses only under N limiting conditions. • Trends towards higher potato yield with forage grasses with N fertilizer applied. • Trade-offs between improving soil quality and potato yield and reducing N leaching.

Plant species, nitrogen status and endophytes are drivers of soil microbial communities in grasslands

Context There is concern that the introduction of ‘novel’ plant germplasm/traits could outpace our capacity to measure and so assess their impacts on soil microbial communities and function. Aim This study aimed to investigate the effects of plant species/functional traits, nitrogen (N) fertilisation and endophyte infection on grassland soil microbial communities within a short time span of 2 years. Methods Two field experiments with monoculture plots were conducted in a common soil. Experiment 1 compared grasses and legumes, using two cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) that varied in fructan content, along with the legumes white clover (Trifolium repens) and bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) that varied in tannin content. Grass treatments received high and low N application levels. Experiment 2 compared the presence/absence of Epichloë strains in ryegrass, tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix) and meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis). Soil microbial communities were analysed by using high-throughput sequencing of DNA isolated from bulk soil cores. Key results Higher abundance of ligninolytic fungi was found in grass soils and pectinolytic fungi in legume soils. Levels of N fertilisation and fructan in ryegrass had only minor effects on soil fungal communities. By contrast, N fertilisation or fixation had a strong effect on bacterial communities, with higher abundance of nitrifiers and denitrifiers in high-N grass soils and in legume soils than in low-N grass soils. Epichloë affected soil microbiota by reducing the abundance of certain fungal phytopathogens, increasing mycorrhizal fungi and reducing N-fixing bacteria. Conclusions Chemical composition of plant cell walls, which differs between grasses and legumes, and presence of Epichloë in grasses were the main drivers of shifts in soil microbial communities. Implications Impacts of farming practices such as mono- or poly-culture, N fertilisation and presence of Epichloë in grasses on soil microbial communities should be considered in pasture management.

Histopathological Alterations in Ovarian and Uterine Treated with Extract and Fraction of Kebar Grass (Biophytum petersianum)

Kebar grass (Biophytum petersianum) is being used traditionally by the people of West Papua to increase fertility. The effects of extracts and fractions of Kebar grass on the estrus cycle duration and estrus phase in rats were evaluated. The present work was designed to investigate the effects of administration of kebar grass extract and its fraction on the histopathological changes in the ovaries and uterine of rats. The female rats were treated with carboxy methyl cellulose sodium (CMC sodium) 1 % (group I), ethynile estradiol (group II), extract kebar grass (group III), n-hexane fraction (group IV), ethyl acetate fraction (group V), and water fraction (group VI) of kebar grass via gavage daily for 7 days. At days 7th and 14th, 3 rats in each group were euthanized. Uterine and ovarian collected and weighed. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and the paraffin technique were used for histological preparation. Data were analyzed by One Way ANOVA followed by the Duncan test. The Kebar grass has an effect to increase ovarian and uterine weight, increasing most of the number of follicles especially primary follicle and uterine thickness. The treatment with ethyl acetate fraction of kebar grass (group V) constantly showed more effective results than the other kebar grass treatment.

Оценка влияния обработки семян газонных трав некоторыми стимуляторами роста

The article discusses the influence of the treatment of lawn grass seeds with «Bona forte», «GreenFuse root», «Nitrozym», «Бутон» and root dressing with «Formulex» to create a lawn covering of excellent quality. The research was carried out in vegetative - field conditions. The presented preparations were used on a universal lawn grass mixture of the company «Зелёный уголок». As a result of the research a reliable effect of the use of growth stimulants on the plant-growing ability was established. The article presents the positive results of the action of growth stimulants to improve the decorative qualities of lawn covering. The best ratings for the considered indicators were assigned to the Bona forte stimulant. Keywords: LAWN, SHOOT FORMATION, GRASS COVERING, GROWTH REGULATORS, DECORATIVE, GRASS MIXTURE

The influence of grass competition and soil moisture on the growth and phenology of Karoo shrubs in the Eastern Upper Karoo

Rainfall in the Nama-Karoo is sporadic and a plant’s ability to access and utilise available soil moisture will determine its ability to persist in the system and to successfully recruit. When summer rainfall in the Eastern Karoo increases, grassiness increases at the expense of shrub canopy cover. This may drive a transition from shrubland toward grassland. The effect of grass–shrub competition on shrub growth and phenology in the Eastern Karoo is not adequately explained by the root–niche separation hypothesis or the succession hypothesis. In an experiment, we measured shrub growth and phenology in the absence (clipping treatment) and presence (control treatment) of grass over the 2017/2018 rainfall season. Grass clipping changed grass species composition over this period, but grass clipping did not benefit shrubs. We found no competitive effect of grasses on shrubs. However, shrub canopy cover showed a strong linear response to soil moisture, as did canopy cover to temperature. Similarly, soil moisture and temperature were important for stem growth and shrub phenology. Patterns of shrub growth and phenology in response to summer and winter rainfall provide important insight for land managers for optimising production while enabling phenological processes that allow recruitment to take place.