Hay Addition Research Articles

Three years of vegetation development worth 30 years of secondary succession in urban‐industrial grassland restoration

AbstractQuestionsThe restoration of unused urban‐industrial areas has largely been neglected despite their great potential for nature conservation purposes. We applied three plant introduction treatments at a highly degraded industrial area to test whether plant material introduced onto industrial areas initiates plant assemblages similar in composition to those of reference grasslands. We specifically asked (a) Does restoration differ between primary and secondary reference sites in terms of overall species richness and cover three years after the introduction of plant material? (b) What is the sociability of species of the vegetation resulting from different treatments?LocationRestoration and reference grassland sites with acidic sandy soil in the temperate region of the EU, NE Hungary, Nyírség.MethodsAs restoration techniques, we (a) directly seeded a single dominant species, (b) applied a commercial seed mixture, and (c) transferred hay. We compared species composition, cover, species richness and sociability of species in restoration treatments to reference grasslands. Inventories of vascular plant species were made at five randomly placed 2 m × 2 m sampling units per plot.ResultsThe species composition of seeded restoration plots (with a single dominant species and a commercial seed mixture) became similar to that of reference grasslands. Both types of seeding resulted in a similar cover, whereas seeding a commercial seed mixture and hay transfer resulted in a species richness similar to that of reference grasslands. The cover of the natural constituents (NC) of seeded plots also reached that of reference grasslands, while hay addition resulted in a lower cover and a higher number of NC than other methods.ConclusionsThe introduction of propagules in degraded industrial areas can provide communities similar, after three years, to those of secondary reference grasslands that are 30 years of age. We conclude that investing in the restoration of native grasslands at unused urban‐industrial sites can be a great opportunity to enhance biodiversity.

Productivity and Biological Efficiency of Pleurotus eryngii MMIV Cultivation at Laboratory Level

A B S T R A C T The purpose of the study was the identification of competitive substrate formulas to sustain Pleurotus eryngii cultivation, in Romania, in order to recover some cellulolytic wastes easy to procure in rural areas. The experiments conducted in a laboratory greenhouse followed the basidioma size, the productivity and the biological efficiency to use the substrate. Following the addition of rice breach and pumpkin seed husk in beech sawdust, were obtained the highest values, in average by one third higher as against the hay addition values. Although, it favored the fructification, it couldn't sustain a proper productivity that led to a scanty spawn maturation.

Improvement of swelling clay properties using hay fibers

For soil stabilization, lime, fly ash, and different chemicals additives were used to improve the swelling characteristics of the clayey soil. In the present study, the hay of wheat is added to a type of clayey swelling soil to improve and stabilize its characteristics. Old houses in Egyptian villages were built with clay mixed with hay as a cementious agent between clay particles. The hay ratio used in the present study was 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% by weight of the clayey soil. The soil used in the study represents a type of swelling clayey soil. Index, strength and swelling properties tests are carried out on the clay–hay mixture. The results showed that the shear strength increases with the increase of hay ratio till approximately 1% hay addition. The indirect tensile strength for air dried samples increased as well. The deformation due to the swelling potential also decreased to about 20%.

IMPROVEMENT OF SWELLING CLAY PROPERTIES USING HAY FIBERS

Soil stabilization by lime, fly ash, and different chemical additives were used to improve the swelling characteristics of the clayey soil. In the present study, the hay fibers of wheat is added to a clayey swelling soil to improve and stabilize its characteristics. Old houses in Egyptian villages were built with clay mixed with hay fibers as a cementious agent between clay particles. The hay ratio used in the present study was 0.5, 1 and 1.5% by weight of the clayey soil. The soil used in this study represents a type of swelling clayey soil. Index, strength and swelling properties tests are carried out on the clay-hay mixture. The results showed that the shear strength increases with the increase of hay ratio till approximately 1% hay addition. The indirect tensile strength for air dried samples increased as well. The deformation due to the swelling potential also decreased to about 20%.

Fast restoration of grassland vegetation by a combination of seed mixture sowing and low-diversity hay transfer

Technical reclamation of grasslands is a powerful tool for conserving biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Plant material transfer and sowing seeds of local provenance are used most frequently to recover grassland vegetation in former croplands. The joint application of these methods is rarely used, although it has the potential to gain a predictable and directed vegetation development with effective early weed suppression. We studied the effectiveness of combining low diversity seed sowing and hay-transfer in weed suppression and recovery of perennial grassland vegetation in Hortobágy Puszta, Central-Europe, by testing the following hypotheses: (i) lower weed cover and biomass is expected in vegetation recovered by the joint method of sowing and hay transfer than by seed sowing only. (ii) With sowing and additional hay transfer a higher rate of establishment of Festuca species is expected than with sowing only. Our results supported both hypotheses. We found that the additional application of hay significantly accelerated the development of perennial grassland vegetation and provided a higher weed suppression rate in the first year and onwards in most plots than seed sowing only. A higher establishment rate was detected both in the cover and the biomass of perennial grasses including Festuca species in all plots with hay addition than with sowing only. Our results suggest that a combination of hay transfer and low diversity sowing may provide a cost-effective alternative to the more costly high-density sowing and if proper sources for high-diversity hay are available, it may replace high-diversity seed mixtures.

Will changes in root-zone temperature in boreal spring affect recovery of photosynthesis in Picea mariana and Populus tremuloides in a future climate?

Future climate will alter the soil cover of mosses and snow depths in the boreal forests of eastern Canada. In field manipulation experiments, we assessed the effects of varying moss and snow depths on the physiology of black spruce (Picea -mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the boreal black spruce forest of western Québec. For 1 year, naturally regenerated 10-year-old spruce and aspen were grown with one of the following treatments: additional N fertilization, addition of sphagnum moss cover, removal of mosses, delayed soil thawing through snow and hay addition, or accelerated soil thawing through springtime snow removal. Treatments that involved the addition of insulating moss or snow in the spring caused lower soil temperature, while removing moss and snow in the spring caused elevated soil temperature and thus had a warming effect. Soil warming treatments were associated with greater temperature variability. Additional soil cover, whether moss or snow, increased the rate of photosynthetic recovery in the spring. Moss and snow removal, on the other hand, had the opposite effect and lowered photosynthetic activity, especially in spruce. Maximal electron transport rate (ETR(max)) was, for spruce, 39.5% lower after moss removal than with moss addition, and 16.3% lower with accelerated thawing than with delayed thawing. Impaired photosynthetic recovery in the absence of insulating moss or snow covers was associated with lower foliar N concentrations. Both species were affected in that way, but trembling aspen generally reacted less strongly to all treatments. Our results indicate that a clear negative response of black spruce to changes in root-zone temperature should be anticipated in a future climate. Reduced moss cover and snow depth could adversely affect the photosynthetic capacities of black spruce, while having only minor effects on trembling aspen.

Silage Chop Length and Hay Supplementation on Milk Yield, Chewing Activity, and Ruminal Digestion by Dairy Cows

The effects of whole-plant corn silage (CS) particle size and long unprocessed grass hay (LH) supplementation on milk yield, chewing activity, and ruminal digestion in dairy cows were evaluated in 2 experiments. In Experiment 1, corn silage harvested at fine (6mm; FCS) or coarse (23mm; CCS) theoretical cut length were fed to 22 lactating Holstein cows. Treatments were 2 total mixed rations containing 58% of dry matter (DM) as FCS or CCS. Diet DM intake tended to be higher in cows fed FCS than those fed CCS (23.4 vs. 22.1kg/d). However, milk yield and composition, body condition score, and plasma metabolite concentrations were not affected by the dietary treatments. In the second experiment, 5 cannulated Holstein cows were used in a 5×5 Latin square design to evaluate the effects of the addition of LH to the diets evaluated in Experiment 1 on chewing activity and ruminal digestion. Treatments were 5 total mixed rations: FCS-based diet plus the addition of 0, 5, or 10% LH (DM basis) and CCS-based diet plus 0 or 5% LH. Long hay addition linearly decreased DM intake in cows fed FCS-based diets (25.0 to 21.7 kg/d), but increased DM intake in those fed CCS-based diets (22.7 to 27.1 kg/d). The intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased with LH addition in CCS-based diets (7.6 vs. 9.4 kg/d). Rumination time increased (16.8 to 21.0 min/kg of DM intake) when LH was added to FCS-based diets, but it decreased when included in CCS-based diets (18.8 vs. 12.9 min/kg of DM intake). Ruminal pH was higher (5.9 vs. 5.7) and lag-time for in situ NDF disappearance was shorter (3.5 vs. 8.7h) for cows fed CCS compared with cows fed FCS. The rate of NDF disappearance tended to be higher for the CCS-based diet with 5% LH than for the diet with 0% LH (2.0 vs. 4.4%/h), but solids passage rate was not affected by the treatments. These results suggest that addition of LH to FCS-based diets does not affect ruminal environment or digestion, but depressed DM intake. In contrast, addition of LH to CCS-based diets may improve ruminal NDF digestion, increasing DM intake by reducing filling effect and time needed for rumination.

Remediation of a spill of crude oil and brine without gypsum

The empowerment of small independent oil and gas producers to solve their own remediation problems will result in greater environmental compliance and more effective protection of the environment, as well as making small producers more self-reliant. Here, we report on the effectiveness of a low-cost method of remediation of a combined spill of crude oil and brine in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County, Oklahoma. Specifically, we have used hay and fertilizer as amendments for remediation of both the oil and the brine. No gypsum was used. Three spills of crude oil plus produced water brine were treated with combinations of ripping, fertilizers and hay, and a downslope interception trench in an effort to demonstrate an inexpensive, easily implemented, and effective remediation plan. No statistically significant effect of treatment on the biodegradation of crude oil was, however observed. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction clearly proceeded in the presence of brine contamination. The average TPH half-life considering all impacted sites was 267 days. The combination of hay addition, ripping, and a downslope interception trench was superior to hay addition with ripping or ripping plus an interception trench in terms of rates of sodium and chloride leaching from the impacted sites. Reductions in salt inventories (36 months) were 73% in the site with hay addition, ripping, and an interception trench, 40% in the site with hay addition and ripping only, and less than 3% in the site with ripping and an interception trench.

Efeito da adição de feno de catingueira (Caesalpinea bracteosa) na ração sobre o balanço de energia e de nitrogênio em ovinos morada nova

Objetivando avaliar o efeito da adição de feno de catingueira (FC) sobre os balanços de nitrogênio e de energia em ovinos Morada Nova, foram utilizados 15 animais machos, castrados, durante 22 dias. O delineamento estatístico foi inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de 0, 50 e 100% de FC à ração, na base da matéria seca. Os níveis de inclusão do FC às dietas não influenciaram nenhum dos parâmetros de balanço de nitrogênio. A perda média total de nitrogênio foi de 75,60% do ingerido e através da urina, de 61,31%. Não se observou efeito dos níveis de inclusão de FC sobre os parâmetros de balanço de energia, exceto para a energia bruta perdida pelas fezes, que diminuiu linearmente, à medida que se aumentou a participação do FC às dietas. A perda média total de energia foi de 58,40% da ingerida. Os resultados permitem indicar o feno de catingueira como fonte estratégica de alimento para os animais do semi-árido nordestino, sobretudo no período seco.

Associative effects of supplementing barley straw diets with alfalfa hay on rumen environment and nutrient intake and digestibility for ewes

The objectives of these experiments were to study the positive associative effects of supplementing barley straw-based diets with different levels of alfalfa hay on nutrient intake, rumen environment, and nutrient digestibility and to evaluate the minimal amount of alfalfa hay needed to produce such an effect in ewes. In experiment one, 15 Awassi ewes (five ruminally fistulated; body weight=54 kg±1.5 ) were fed five barley straw-based diets in a 5×5 Latin square design with 3-week periods. Dietary treatments were as follows: diet 1, barley straw (no supplement), diet 2, barley straw supplemented with 1% urea (dry matter basis), diets 3, 4, and 5 barley straw supplemented with 150, 300, and 450 g of alfalfa hay, respectively. In experiment 2, the same experimental diets were fed to 50 ewes (10 ewes/diet) for 50 days in a complete randomized design. In experiment 1, dry matter intake (DMI) was increased ( P<0.05) by the addition of alfalfa hay compared with diets that had no alfalfa. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) increased linearly ( P<0.05) with the increasing amounts of alfalfa hay, being highest ( P<0.05) for diet 5. Diets that contained alfalfa hay had greater ( P<0.05) dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and crude protein (CP) digestibilities. The extent of barley straw NDF digestibility was also increased ( P<0.05) with the alfalfa addition (67 versus 60.5%). Rumen ammonia and VFA concentrations were higher ( P<0.05) in diets that contained alfalfa, however, rumen pH was not affected by the diet (avg. 6.64). In experiment 2, the effect of alfalfa hay addition to barley straw-based diets had similar effects on DMI as observed in experiment 1. Straw intake increased ( P<0.05) with the 150 g addition of alfalfa hay compared with unsupplemented diet (725 versus 650 g −d per day) with no further improvement with the higher amounts of alfalfa. It seems that the minimal amount of alfalfa hay needed to produce the positive associative effect on barley straw is 150 g per day for maintenance diets of ewes.

Effect of Hay and Molasses on the Utilization of Broiler Litter-Based Diets by Beef Cattle

Rude, B.J. and Rankins, Jr., D.L. 1999. Effect of hay and molasses on the utilization of broiler litter-based diets by beef cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 15: 41–52. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental hay and (or) molasses addition on the utilization of diets containing broiler litter (BL) and corn. Trial 1: 48 steers (initial body weight = 200±13 kg) were allotted to one of the following four diets (four steers/pen; three pens/diet) (1) 530 g/kg cracked corn and 470 g/kg BL (dry matter basis) fed free-choice, 2) diet 1 + hay daily at 5 g/kg of body weight, 3) diet 1 + hay fed on Mondays and Thursdays to equal 5 g/kg of body weight per day, and 4) diet 1 + free-choice hay. Total daily intake by steers fed hay ad libitum or on a daily basis was greater (P<0.05) than that by those offered no hay. Daily gains were greater (P<0.05) for steers consuming hay ad limitum or on a daily basis than steers that were offered no hay or hay twice per week. Trial 2: 16 steers (initial body weight = 299±29 kg) were allotted to receive one of four diets for 72 days following a 20-day adaptation period: 1) 530 g/kg corn and 470 g/kg BL (dry matter basis); (2) diet 1 supplemented with 1.7 kg hay/d; (3) 473 g/kg corn, 343 g/kg BL and 183 g/kg molasses; (4) diet 3 supplemented with 1.7 kg hay/d. Hay supplementation resulted in greater total dry matter intake and average daily gain (P<0.05) compared with steers not supplemented. However, when expressed as a proportion of body weight, hay suplementation did not affect intake (P>0.05). Apparent nutrient digestibilities, blood urea, nitrogen and ruminal ammonia were not different (P>0.05) among diets. However, steers receiving hay had greater (P<0.05) acetate and lower propionate concentrations in the rumen compared with those not receiving hay.

The Effect of Dry Matter Level on Effluent Loss and Quality Parameters of Potato Based Silage

Potato by-products represent a significant ruminant livestock feed resource in potato growing regions. Three studies were conducted to determine the effect of dry matter (DM) and storage system on silage quality and effluent loss of potato silage. The storage treatments were either: contained system (CS) or a system where effluent was allowed to escape (ES). Dry matter treatments (hay addition on a wt:wt basis) were: (1) 100% potato; (2) 92% potato: 8% hay; (3) 85% potato: 15% hay; and (4) 77% potato: 23% hay. The ES silage had a higher pH than CS indicating enhanced fermentation in the contained system. Dry matter also affected pH with treatment 1 having the highest and treatments 3 and 4 the lowest pH at day 60. However, treatment 4 had the slowest decline in pH through the second week of the trial. Ash content was lower in ES than CS. Ca, P, K and CP were generally higher in CS than ES with a significant interaction between DM and storage treatment. Cumulative effluent losses represented 45.5, 15.5, 9.2 and 1.2% of the initial weight. Effluent losses in the ES system for treatment 1 represented an excessive loss of nutrients.

Effects of Harvest Time and Grass Hay Addition on Composition and Digestion of High- and Low-Glucosinolate Rapeseed Forage

(...) Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of high (HG) and low (LG) glucosinolate rapeseed forage (RSF) varieties. An in vitro trial evaluated forage from an HG and an LG variety sampled before (BF) and after (AF) fall frost, and before (BI) and after (AI) inflorescence. Rapeseed forage dry matter (DM) was extremely fermentable, averaging 76.3, 73.8. 59.9 (P<0.01), and 55.2% (P<0.05) disappearance after 24 h of incubation for BI, AF, BF, and AI samples, respectively. (...)