Grassland Crops Research Articles

GWAS for Drought Resilience Traits in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a well-appreciated grassland crop in temperate climates but suffers from increasingly frequent and severe drought periods. Molecular markers for drought resilience (DR) would benefit breeding initiatives for red clover, as would a better understanding of the genes involved in DR. Two previous studies, as follows, have: (1) identified phenotypic DR traits in a diverse set of red clover accessions; and (2) produced genotypic data using a pooled genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach in the same collection. In the present study, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for DR using the available phenotypic and genotypic data. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling was performed using GBS data and the following two red clover genome assemblies: the recent HEN-17 assembly and the Milvus assembly. SNP positions with significant associations were used to delineate flanking regions in both genome assemblies, while functional annotations were retrieved from Medicago truncatula orthologs. GWAS revealed 19 significant SNPs in the HEN-17-derived SNP set, explaining between 5.3 and 23.2% of the phenotypic variation per SNP–trait combination for DR traits. Among the genes in the SNP-flanking regions, we identified candidate genes related to cell wall structuring, genes encoding sugar-modifying proteins, an ureide permease gene, and other genes linked to stress metabolism pathways. GWAS revealed 29 SNPs in the Milvus-derived SNP set that explained substantially more phenotypic variation for DR traits, between 5.3 and 42.3% per SNP–trait combination. Candidate genes included a DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase gene, a P-loop nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase gene, a Myb/SANT-like DNA-binding domain protein, and an ubiquitin–protein ligase gene. Most accessions in this study are genetically more closely related to the Milvus genotype than to HEN-17, possibly explaining how the Milvus-derived SNP set yielded more robust associations. The Milvus-derived SNP set pinpointed 10 genomic regions that explained more than 25% of the phenotypic variation for DR traits. A possible next step could be the implementation of these SNP markers in practical breeding programs, which would help to improve DR in red clover. Candidate genes could be further characterized in future research to unravel drought stress resilience in red clover in more detail.

The importance of multi‐species grassland leys to enhance ecosystem services in crop rotations

AbstractThe ongoing simplification of agricultural production systems has resulted in several negative consequences, ranging from losses in soil organic carbon and biodiversity to a high dependency on external inputs to maintain high yields. We identify how grassland leys in crop rotations may help to mitigate these effects, by conserving soil organic carbon and enhancing nutrient efficiency. In particular, grasslands containing legumes enhance these benefits by providing nitrogen, and displacement of mineral N fertilizer. In crop rotations, these grasslands may transfer some of the acquired nitrogen to arable follow‐on crops, thereby reducing the necessity for external inputs, while at the same time providing additional benefits, such as improvement of soil quality and reduction of weed pressure. However, there are still considerable knowledge gaps about how to optimize the community composition of grassland leys to best enhance the supply of these ecosystem services. Although the benefits of multi‐species grasslands for the grassland crop have been shown repeatedly and across a large gradient of environments, further research is required to determine the benefits for follow‐on crops, particularly across different environmental conditions. Here, we emphasize the importance of multi‐site research, such as in the research network LegacyNet. Finally, we present management techniques that are optimized for both ecosystem services and agronomic performance in mechanically cut and grazed systems. For the latter, we consider how the inclusion of bioactive plant species can enhance animal health and lower methane emissions in grazing ruminants.

Plant species richness increase across crop field–dry grassland edges masks diverging patterns in generalists and specialists

ContextThere is an urgent need to stop the biodiversity loss in European agricultural landscapes. These landscapes, due to their fragmentation, include a lot of edges, many of them between habitats of different quality in terms of biodiversity. ObjectivesHere, we ask how plant species richness is distributed from the interior of protected semi-natural grassland into the interior of adjacent crop fields, and which species groups determine the observed patterns.MethodsAt grassland–crop field interfaces in two German landscapes, we sampled the vegetation along transects extending 32 m into both habitats. Based on theory, we fitted different models to visualize the species richness curve along transects and selected the best model via AIC. ResultsThe best fitting model for all species was monotone over the interface with a minimum in the field and a maximum in the grassland. This shape was driven by the generalists, showing the same pattern, while grassland specialists showed a sigmoid curve with an increase only in the grassland. Arable specialists had a peak at the field edge and decreased towards the grassland. Curves for Ellenberg indicator values for moisture, nutrients and light showed the same shape as the overall species curve, yet with an inverse pattern for light. ConclusionsThis is the first study revealing gradual responses of plant species richness at the grassland–crop field interface with a high spatial resolution. As these adjacent habitats influence each other far into their neighbourhood, attention should be given when conserving biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, particularly in case of often small and scattered protected areas.

Agrophysical properties of the soil depending on the crops of the grassland crop rotation

The agrophysical condition of the soil is important for the successful development of agricultural production. The purpose of the study is to study the influence of grassland crop rotation crops on the agrophysical, biological properties of soil fertility and crop productivity in the forest-steppe zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The research was carried out in the field stationary crop rotation of the NCMPARI VSC RAS in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the RNO-A. It was found that at the beginning of the growing season, the lumpy fraction under crop rotation crops varied from 13.34% to 49.45%, in the macrostructure – from 48.42% to 81.77%, on an aggregate 0.25 mm thick – from 1.77% to 7.99%. By the end of the growing season, the proportion of the silt fraction under winter wheat decreased from 8.01% to 1.09%. The structural coefficient ranged from 2.22% (corn) to 2.49% (oats + clover). Surveys have shown that the studied soil has a good structure, since it contains from 46.0% to 66.2% of water-bearing aggregates. On crops of oats + clover (on average 0-30 cm of soil layer), the soil density was 0.95 g/cm3 at the beginning of the growing season, 1.19 g/cm3 during the period of intensive growth, 1.22 g/cm3 at the end of the growing season. This tendency is evident in all crops of crop rotation. It should be noted that rotation grass links are more productive, where food units harvesting (14.49 t/ha) exceeds the indicators of the tilled crop link (13.4 t/ha). In general, the energy value of the grassland link of the crop rotation turned out to be 206.62 MJ more than the tilled one, and amounted to 245.08 MJ/ha.

The role of grassland crop rotation in piedmont zone of North Ossetia-Alania

The purpose of the study is to identify the effect of grassland crop rotation crops on the physical, agrobiological parameters of soils and on crop productivity in the forest-steppe zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Tasks of the experiment: to study the structural and aggregate composition of the soil; to determine the volume mass of the soil under crop rotation crops; to identify the general biological activity of the soil; to identify the effect of crop rotation crops on productivity. The object of the study is the crops of the grassland crop rotation. The research was carried out in the field stationary crop rotation of the NCMPARI VSC RAS in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the RNO-A. The soil of the experimental site is represented by leached chernozems on pebbles, where humus ranges from 3.4 to 4.7%. The experiments were carried out in triplicate. The area of the experimental plots is 100 m2 and registration plot is 96m2. It was found that at the beginning of the growing season, the lumpy fraction under crop rotation crops varied from 13.50% to 50.10%, and soil lumps from 0.25 to 10 mm (macrostructure) – from 49.40% to 82.60%, fraction <0.25 mm – from 1.80 to 8.0%. The index of the structural coefficient ranged from 2.22% (corn) to 2.49% (oats + clover). Studies have proven that leached chernozems contain from 45.0 to 66.5% of aggregates that resist the eroding effect of water, so these soils have a good structure. Over the years of research on oats + clover crops (on average 0–30 cm of soil layer), the soil density was 0.95 g/cm3 at the beginning of the growing season, 1.19 g /cm3 during the period of intensive growth, 1.22 g/cm3 at the end of the growing season. This tendency is evident in all crop rotation crops. In our studies, the best indicators for the collection of forage units were the grass links of the crop rotation and amounted to 15.05 t/ha. In the rowed link of the crop rotation they amounted to 13.12 t/ha. In general, the energy value of the grassland link of the crop rotation turned out to be 216.45 MJ more than the tilled one, and amounted to 255.0 MJ/ha.

Polyphenols in Agricultural Grassland Crops and Their Health-Promoting Activities-A Review.

Grassland crops are emerging reservoirs of undisturbed, natural antioxidants and phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. The present review will focus on the most commonly cultivated crops, namely Lolium perenne L, Cichorium intybus L, Plantago lanceolata L. and Trifolium pratense L, which have been recognized for their polyphenolic composition. However, these crops are often undervalued and underutilized, yet have the means of potentially creating novel, value-added food and nutraceutical products. Previous studies relating to these crops have identified them as rich sources of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, daidzein, kaempferol, luteolin, and quercetin. The key to harnessing the hidden potential of these species is the recovery, identification, and characterization of the phytochemicals they contain. Considering the upsurge of research studies on alternative plant-based diets for the health of humans and the planet earth, there is a necessity to understand the phytochemical composition and the bioactivity that they possess. This review summarizes recovery methods of phytochemicals from the aforementioned grassland crops and their compositional and functional (antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic) characterization and discusses the potential for grassland crops as an abundant reservoir of health-promoting ingredients which can increase the nutritional composition within novel food innovations or within nutraceuticals.

Развитие учения В.Р. Вильямса по научным основам луговодства (к 160-летию академика Василия Робертовича Вильямса)

The ideas of academician V.R. Williams served as the basis for the development of meadow science and meadow farming in our country. He gave a comprehensive assessment of the meadow as an element of the geographical agricultural landscape. He was interested in studies of meadow flora, its habitat, soils, natural meadows, and ways to improve them. At the Department of Soil Science and Agriculture of the Moscow Agricultural Institute, Professor V.R. Williams taught courses on meadow farming and forage plant culture. Research on meadow science and meadow farming was the foundation for the creation of a demonstration farm, a station, and the State Meadow Institute in 1922. Throughout the history of the Institute's development, they have remained and remain among its most important areas of scientific research. V.R. Williams proved the leading role of perennial grasses in the vital activity of meadow communities, in the productive and soil-forming processes. He introduced the concept of the types of tillering of cereals — rhizomatous, loose and dense. In the conditions of cultivated grassland, due to the long-term preservation of the first and second stages of the development of the meadow (rhizome and loose shrub), stable productive longevity of phytocenoses is ensured. An important merit of V.R. Williams is the study of the sod-forming process — the interaction of meadow vegetation with soil. The teaching of V.R. Williams about the turf process was a prerequisite for the development of a grass-field system of agriculture, as well as for the creation of short-term sown grass stands in grassland crop rotations.

Coupling the benefits of grassland crops and green biorefining to produce protein, materials and services for the green transition

AbstractCompared with annual grain and seed crops, perennial grassland has significantly lower losses of nutrients and low pesticide requirements, whilst also supporting soil carbon build‐up. Until now grassland crops have almost exclusively been fed to ruminants and horses. Our experiments on biorefining forages have produced protein of a quality equal to soybean meal. Forage crops can deliver high yields of biomass as well as protein with a well‐balanced amino acid profile. In grass crops from unfertilised permanent grassland, focus has to be on the fibre part of the grass due to a low protein yield. With current techniques we have recovered up to 40% of the forage protein into a protein concentrate with around 50% protein. In addition, a fibre fraction containing 15%–18% protein of dry matter can be produced and used as ruminant feed, bioenergy, or further biorefined into chemical building blocks or bio‐materials. Our feeding experiments have shown that biorefined grassland protein can provide a substitute for soybean meal for poultry and pigs without negative effects on animal performance. The first industrial scale biorefineries on green biomass for feed and bioenergy are now established in Denmark, although more research is needed in order to evaluate protein quality for both feed and food applications. In addition, a full EFSA approval has to be obtained for the application for food. The green biorefinery concept opens new markets for grassland and opportunities for increasing the grassland area to obtain associated ecosystem services.

Phosphorus Stock Depletion and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry Under Annual Crop Rotations and Grassland Management Systems Over 13 Years

Phosphorus (P) nutrition is essential to both plant yield and soil organic matter (SOM) input. However, continuous extraction of P by plants and biomass harvesting can lead to soil P stock depletion, a reduction in crop yields and ultimately a reduction in organic matter input to the soil. In this work, we analysed P, C and N stock trends in the 0-30 cm topsoil layer cultivated with permanent cropland (CC) and mowed permanent grassland (GG) for 13 years. In addition, we characterized the changes in P organic forms by using 31P-NMR. The results showed that the amount of P exported within 13 years was 10% greater in GG than in CC (295 and 268 kg ha-1, respectively). The total P stocks decreased under both the CC and GG management systems (0.30 and 0.25 Mg ha-1, respectively). This depletion was mainly observed in total Pi forms, which recorded reductions of 0.75 and 0.29 Mg ha-1 in GG and CC, respectively. The total Po stock increased by 42.6% in GG; these results were consistent with the increase in C and N stocks in GG (2.6 and 0.19 Mg ha-1, respectively) and their reduction in CC (-4.2 and -0.38 Mg ha-1, respectively). Although P depletion mainly affected the P pool presenting the highest lability (labile P), this depletion did not have a negative effect on plant yield after 13 years due to the buffering capacity of P pools presenting less lability (moderately labile P). Mowing permanent grasslands led to a change in the pool of labile P from inorganic to organic forms and an increase in soil C and N stocks. Based on the 31P-NMR technique, permanent grasslands significantly reduced α-glycerophosphate and increased myo-IHP and adenosine monophosphate more than the permanent cropland. Although there was no significant decrease in productivity, the depletion of available P should be monitored over time, especially in mown permanent grassland crops, to prevent potential nutrient stress.

Создание новых сортов люцерны желтой (Medicago falcate L.) для условий степи Центрально-Черноземного региона

Yellow alfalfa (Medicago falcate L.) is important for feed production in the Central Chernozem region. It can be successfully cultivated in fodder, field and grassland crop rotations, as well as in hayfields and pastures. For the fullest realization of the potential of yellow alfalfa, it is necessary to create varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the region. The limiting factor of the effective economic use of yellow alfalfa in the Central Chernozem region of Russia is the insufficient number of zoned varieties. The zoned alfalfa varieties that exist today do not fully meet the requirements of modern feed production and the tasks of breeding new varieties with a complex of economically valuable signs and properties in conditions of insufficient moisture are becoming urgent. The created varieties should be drought-resistant, with a deep root system, capable of forming a high feed mass and a stable seed yield. Earlier, a highly productive variety of yellow alfalfa Pavlovskaya 7 was created at the Voronezh experimental station. The Pavlovskaya 7 variety is characterized by high resistance to fungal diseases and mycoplasmosis, drought resistance, long (up to 12 years) productive longevity. Breeding work is being carried out at the Voronezh experimental station to breed new varieties of yellow alfalfa. Currently, a new variety of yellow alfalfa has been created and is being prepared for transfer, characterized by increased feed and seed productivity, resistance to mycoplasmosis.

Житняк — ценная кормовая культура для условий степной зоны Центрально-Черноземного региона

Among bluegrass perennial grasses, wheatgrass are one of the most valuable species for the steppe zone. The wheatgrass (Agropyron pectiniforme Roem. et Shult.) in the herbage of many zones occupy one of the leading positions. This is the most common species among wheatgrass in the wild. At the Voronezh Experimental Station for perennial grasses, primary seed production of the Pavlovsky 12 variety is carried out, based on collected wild-growing samples. Wheatgrass variety Pavlovsky 12 withstands grazing well, and is also well eaten by all farm animals in the hay and pasture. It is the main component of grass mix-tures (wheatgrass + alfalfa or sainfoin) in field and grassland crop rotations. An important condition for increasing the productivity of forage crops is the use of zoned breeding varieties adapted to the specific natural and climatic conditions of cultivation, in this regard, a research program has been developed at the station, which includes wheatgrass in the breeding process, as a more drought-resistant species of peren-nial grasses. In 2011, in order to accomplish the assigned tasks, they began to study the wheatgrass. After 4 years of study, a complex hybrid population of wheatgrass called SGP-8 was formed. In 2015, a com-petitive variety testing of samples with increased forage and seed productivity, drought resistance and resistance to stressful effects of abiotic and biotic environmental factors was started. Based on the results of the research, a promising sample variety was identified, which in 2020 was transferred to the State Commission of the Russian Federation for registration by expert assessment in the State Register of Breeding Achievements Permitted for Use.

Evaluation of source material for selection Dactylis glomerata in Primorsky Region conditions

Dactylis glomerata is an upland loose-flattened perennial herb, the most shade-tolerant of the common grasses. Low winter hardiness is an obstacle to the wide use of Dactylis glomerata as a grassland crop and a limiting factor for the release of varieties in the Primorsky Region. The devel- opment of highly winter-hardy intensive types of dwarf Dactylis glomerata is an important area of breeding work. The study aims to study promising source material of Dactylis glomerata for further use in creating new winter-hardy, high-yielding varieties. The authors have identified types for the yield of intensive varieties by studying the collection of Dactylis glomerata for the period 2018-2020 in the conditions of the Primorsky Region. The Dactylis glomerata plants reach full development and the highest yields in the third year of life. In terms of green matter yields in the two years of use, several Dactylis glomerata exceed the standard by 29-34%. These are variety samples 41821 Wild (Norway), 40280 Wild (Altai), and Sverdlovchanka 86 (Ural Agricultural Research Institute). The va- rieties Sverdlovchanka 86 (Urals Agricultural Research Institute), Dikorastushchaya (Primorskaya local) and 32028 Dikorastushchaya (Arkhangelskaya region) were distinguished by seed yield in the two years of use, having exceeded the standard by 113-153%. The winter hardiness of plants in the first winter is a limiting factor for Dactylis glomerata in Primorsky Krai conditions. The identified differences in the winter hardiness of plants allow the best of them to be used in selection. In the col- lection nursery of Dactylis glomerata, a variety of varieties with 100% winter hardiness of plants in the first winter after sowing were: 48113 Aukstuole (Lithuania), 41821 Wild (Norway), 40896 Wild (Kazakhstan), Sverdlovchanka 86 (Agricultural Research Institute), Wild (Primorsky Region).

Soil erosion dynamics on a cultivated slope in the Western Polish Carpathians based on over 30 years of plot studies

Soil erosion is one of the most important processes affecting land degradation, especially in mountainous areas. The main aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of surface runoff and soil erosion in the Carpathians (Poland), based on data from over 30 years of plot studies, determine the threshold of extreme soil erosion on agricultural slopes, and estimate the cover-management factor (C-factor) of the flysch mountains. The field research was carried out in the Bystrzanka catchment on experimental plots with potato, cereals and grassland crop. The average annual soil erosion on the potato plots was 25.67 Mg ha−1 year−1, which was 95.4 and 99.7% higher than the soil erosion on the cereal and grassland plots. Principal component analysis was used to identify the factors determining soil erosion in the Carpathians, taking into account precipitation parameters, soil conditions, plant growth phases and agricultural practices. There were positive statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) between soil erosion and precipitation sum and surface runoff. Precipitation thresholds for soil erosion of various magnitudes were determined, and the extreme soil erosion threshold was calculated (8.79 Mg ha−1 for a single soil erosion event and 59.37 Mg ha−1 for the annual total soil erosion). In addition, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation was used to show the role of the C-factor (calculated based on long-term plot studies, and proposed for Poland in the literature) in soil erosion studies. Different C-factors reflect changes in average soil erosion of up to 69%. Long-term plot studies are key to agricultural production and sustainable development in mountainous areas.

Effectiveness of grassland crop rotation in the submontane area of the Republic of North Ossetia Alania

In conditions of the submontane zone of The Republic of North Ossetia Alania the investigated cultures of grassland crop rotation made positive effect on structurally-aggregate properties of soil, water stability of soil aggregates, and also on fruitfulness and energetic potential of cultivated crops. The most favorable impact on soil structure was made by clover and winter wheat, which are having more lengthy periods of vegetation, well developed root system, ensuring the better protection of soil in autumn and spring from the destructive effect of atmospheric precipitation. Intertilled cultures had low evaluation in this context. The capacity for structure formation is more weakly expressed in potatoes. In result of research it was revealed that the soil under study has good structural condition because it contains from 52.1 to 55.8% of water-stable aggregates. It was established that the weight by volume kept changing in all cultures of crop rotation. By the end of vegetation, the tendency of increasing weight by volume has been observed practically in all variants. In general, the average soil density under all cultures has been optimal during the whole period of research. The maximum output of feed units was marked among the following options: oat + clover – 9.83 t/ha, clover – 9.49 t/ha, corn – 9.49 t/ha. The more quantity of digested protein was contained in the crop of clover, for the rest of the cultures the index was approximately at the same level. The grass rotation where the pickup of feed units and digested protein was credibly exceeding the indices of intertilled rotation, was the more fruitful (7.96 t/ha – rotation grass and 6.33 t/ha – intertilled rotation).

Türkiye, Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi ve Muş İlinde Çayır Mera Yem Bitkileri ve Hayvancılığın Bugünkü Durumu

Hayvancılıkta karlı bir üretim için, yem maliyetlerinin düşürülmesi gerekmektedir. 2018 yılı Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TUİK) resmi verileri üzerinden yapılan hesaplamalara göre, Türkiye 18,6 milyon büyükbaş hayvan birimine (BBHB) denk gelen hayvan varlığının toplam kaba yem ihtiyacı 85 milyon tondur. Ancak Türkiye‘nin toplam kaba yem üretimi toplamı 59 milyon ton olup, bunun 10 mil. tonu çayır meralardan, 18 milyon tonu yem bitkilerinden, 31 milyon tonu diğer bitkisel artıklardan karşılanmaktadır. Ülkedeki toplam kaba yem açığı 26 milyon ton olup, bu da toplam ülkenin toplam kaba yem ihtiyacının %30‘una tekabül etmektedir. Kaliteli kaba yem açığı ise bunun çok üzerindedir. Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde ise kaba yem açığı 3,5 milyon ton (% 19) olarak hesaplanmıştır. Muş‘ta ise üretilen kaba yemin, mevcut hayvan varlığına yeterli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Hayvancılığın genel olarak meraya dayalı olarak yapıldığı Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde üretilen yem bitkileri miktarı da Türkiye ortalamasının üzerindedir. Türkiye kaba yem açığının kapatılması için mera alanlarının ıslahı ve tekniğine uygun kullanılarak bu alanlardan daha yüksek verim alınması, tarla tarımı içerisinde yem bitkileri ekim alanlarının artırılması gerekmektedir. Kaba yem açığının kapatılması ile daha yüksek hayvansal üretim elde edilebilecek, girdi maliyetleri düşebilecek ve hayvan üreticilerin gelir seviyesi artacak ve hayvansal ürünlerin fiyatı düşebilecektir. Çalışmada Türkiye, Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi ve Muş İli çayır mera yem bitkileri durumu, kaba yem üretim durumu, kaba yem açığı konuları irdelenmeye çalışılmıştır.

VINOS BURYANAMI COMPANY NPK FOR DIFFERENT HUSBAND OF PLANTS OF PROCEED PRTROPODYBNOGO

Goal. To establish the factors of negative influence of weeds on plants of culture in the process of their joint vegetation. Task: to determine volumes of absorption of compounds of mineral nutrition by weeds.&#x0D; Methods. Common and special methods: Field - study of the influence of conditions of cultivation and agro measures on productivity indicators of millet; laboratory - definition of quantitative and qualitative characteristics; statistical - the establishment of mathematical models and statistical dependencies between the investigated factors and processes.&#x0D; Results On average, over the years of research, weed plants yielded 95 kg / ha of nitrogen for the density of crops of millet, 50 pct/m2, and the increase in the density of cultivated plants to 100-150 pct/m2 contributed to reducing the removal to 45-32 kg/ha . At the same time, the minimum indices of nitrogen weeds planting on the wheat grassland crops were 200 pct/m2 - 24 kg/ha, respectively. The removal of phosphorus at the density of crops of millet crops of 50 pct/m2 was 57,7 kg/ha of phosphorus, and from an increase in the density of cultivated plants to 100-150 pct/m2, the reduction of the removal was reduced to 27.8-19.9 kg/ha. At the same time, the minimum indices of removal of phosphorous weeds by plants on the crops of millet were the density of 200 pct/m2 - 14.4 kg/ha, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion. The conducted studies allowed to determine that, on average, over the years, weeds of plants per hundred cubic meters of poppy-stalks produced 109 kg/hectare of potassium, while increasing the density of crops to 100-150 pct/m2 contributed to a decrease in take-off to 51.8 -37.1 kg / ha. At the same time, the minimum parameters of the removal of potassium weeds by plants on millet crops were 200 pct/m2 - 27.2 kg/ha respectively

Growth characteristics and Productivity of Italian Ryegrass (&lt;i&gt;Lolium multiflorum&lt;/i&gt; Lam.) New Variety, ‘Green Call’

This experiment was conducted to breed a very early maturing variety of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Grassland and Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan 2015-2017. The new variety of Italian ryegrass, ‘Green call 2ho’ is a diploid variety with green in leaf color and has semi-erect growth habit in late autumn and erect growth habit in early spring, ‘Green call 2ho’ was in heading date as a early-maturing variety April 24. Also ‘Green call 2ho’ was narrower by 2 mm in flag leaf width, longer by 2.5 cm in flag leaf length and shorter by 3 cm in plant height than those of the control variety, ‘Florida 80’, respectively. ‘Green call 2ho’ was also thicker by 0.33 mm in stem thickness and strong in winter hardness. Dry matter (DM) yield (11,688 kg/ha) of ‘Green call 2ho’ was 7% higher than that of ‘Florida 80’. Total digestible nutrient (TDN), crude protein (CP) and relative feed value (RFV) of ‘Green call 2ho’ were 61.3 %, 9.8 % and 98.2, respectively which are 2.6, 0.6, and 8.4 % higher, respectively than those of ‘Florida 80’, respectively. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of ‘Green call 2ho’ were 34.9 and 58.5 % which are 3.3 and 2.7 % lower than those of ‘Florida 80’, respectively.

Effects of renewal time, taproot cutting, ploughing practice, false seedbed and companion crop on docks (Rumex spp.) when renewing grassland

Docks (Rumex spp.) are a considerable problem in grassland production worldwide. We investigated how different cultural management techniques affected dock populations during grassland renewal: (I) renewal time, (II) companion crop, (III) false seedbed, (IV) taproot cutting (V), plough skimmer and (VI) ploughing depth. Three factorial split-split plot experiments were carried out in Norway in 2007–2008 (three locations), 2008–2009 (one location) and 2009 (one location). After grassland renewal, more dock plants emerged from seeds than from roots. Summer renewal resulted in more dock seed and root plants than spring renewal. Adding a spring barley companion crop to the grassland crop often reduced dock density and biomass. A false seedbed resulted in 71% fewer dock seed plants following summer renewal, but tended to increase the number of dock plants after spring renewal. In some instances, taproot cutting resulted in less dock biomass, but the effect was weak and inconsistent, and if ploughing was shallow (16 cm) or omitted, it instead increased dock root plant emergence. Fewer root plants emerged after deep ploughing (24 cm) compared to shallow ploughing, and a plough skimmer tended to reduce the number further. We conclude that a competitive companion crop can assist in controlling both dock seed and root plants, but it is more important that the renewal time is favourable to the main crop. Taproot cutting in conjunction with ploughing is not an effective way to reduce dock root plants, but ploughing is more effective if it is deep and a skimmer is used.

Synthesis of soil carbon losses in response to conversion of grassland to agriculture land

The conversion of grassland to cropland is one of the major changes in land use, and it accelerates both soil erosion and the loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the general patterns of SOC loss after grassland cultivation are rarely assessed, and the potential mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a meta-analysis of 81 case studies was performed to show that SOC decreased with soil depths of 0–60 cm after grassland conversion, but no significant differences were found at depths >60 cm. SOC also declined significantly with the duration of grassland conversion. The response ratio of SOC changes tended to reach equilibrium after 20 years of grassland cropping. Our results indicate that reduction in SOC mainly depended on changes in precipitation, soil physical-chemical properties and soil microbes. These conclusions highlight the importance of improving the accuracy of predictions on SOC losses and on the global carbon cycle in the face of land-use changes worldwide.

РОЗВИТОК ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ТРАВОСІЯННЯ І ТРАВОПІЛЬНИХ СІВОЗМІН В ОРГАНІЧНОМУ ЗЕМЛЕРОБСТВІ УРСР У ПЕРШІЙ ПОЛОВИНІ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ

It is determined, that in the ХХ-th century organic agriculture was based on introduction of complex of scientifically reasonable natural and agro-technical measures, which was based on an ecological approach to its management. It is set that in the first half of the ХХ-th of century in Ukrain took place considerable distribution of the use of grass sowing and grass system of agriculture, worked out by an academician V. R. Viliams. It is found out, that cultivation of perennial legumes in grassland crop rotations provided for improvement of soil fertility, quality of agricultural products, improvement of the phytosanitary condition and the environment.