Hay Crop Research Articles

Potencjał energetyczny biomasy roślinnej i możliwości wykorzystania do celów energetycznych

Zapewnienie bezpieczeństwa energetycznego, uniezależnienie się od paliw kopalnych oraz ograniczenie emisji gazów cieplarnianych skłania do wykorzystywania odnawialnych źródeł energii. Celem badań jest ocena potencjału energetycznego biomasy roślinnej z produkcji rolnej i wskazanie możliwości jej wykorzystania do produkcji energii elektrycznej i ciepła. Do badań wykorzystano dane z Powszechnego Spisu Rolnego 2010. Na podstawie szczegółowej analizy zmian zachodzących w produkcji rolniczej w latach 2010-2015 dokonano aktualizacji danych. Przyjęto założenie, że zmiany w gminach zachodziły w taki sam sposób jak w województwach. Potencjał energetyczny biomasy roślinnej oszacowano uwzględniając: nadwyżki słomy, siana i plantacje roślin energetycznych. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że Polska dysponuje energetycznym potencjałem biomasy roślinnej kształtującym się na poziomie 305,8 tys. TJ rocznie, który może być wykorzystany do celów energetycznych bez zagrożenia dla produkcji żywności.

Organic carbon pools and soil biological fertility are affected by land use intensity in Mediterranean ecosystems of Sardinia, Italy

Soil quality is mainly studied from the chemical and physical point of view, whereas soil biochemical and microbiological parameters are relatively more scarcely explored to assess the effect of management practices. This study aimed to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) and its pools; soil microbial activity parameters; and the Biological Fertility Index (BFI), in six land uses characteristics of the Mediterranean basin in north-eastern Sardinia. These land uses differed in management intensity and consisted of: tilled vineyard (TV), no tilled grassed vineyard (GV), former vineyards (FV), hay crop and pasture (HC and PA), cork oak forest (CO).Significant differences among ecosystems were found in most cases in (SOC), the related pools (total extractable carbon, humic and fulvic acids, not humified, not extractable), humification parameters (degree, rate and index of humification), and soil microbial activity (microbial carbon, respiration, metabolic quotient, and mineralization quotient). Pasture and cork oak forest showed in average a better soil quality for most biochemical and microbial parameters in comparison with the other ecosystems. The index of soil biological fertility (BFI) was higher under cork oak forest which is supposed to be the most sustainable ecosystem in the long term in this environment, able to maintain soil biological fertility and microbial diversity.

Okara as a protein supplement affects feed intake and milk composition of ewes and growth performance of lambs.

Evaluating the feeding value of wet okara as a protein supplement for lactating ewes with twin lambs was the objective. A 4 × 4 Latin square replicated 2× (4 sheep, 4 treatments, 4 periods per square; 2 squares) was conducted to examine the influence of concentrate mix (okara or not) and type of forage (silage or hay) on ewe milk composition and growth of their lactating lambs. Treatment periods were 14 days (7 days adaptation and 7 days collection). Ewes (55 to 74.8 kg BW) were fed 1 of 4 diets: wheat middling and corn concentrate with mixed grass hay (TSH), okara and corn with mixed grass hay (OSH), soybean and wheat middlings with hay crop silage (TSS), and okara and corn with hay crop silage (OSS). Ewes fed hay diets had lower forage dry matter intakes than ewes fed silage. Intake of okara supplement was higher (P < 0.05) with OSH (3.64 kg/d) than with OSS (1.70 kg/d). There was no difference in supplement intake between TSH and TSS. There were no differences among diets for lamb daily gains or in ewe milk compositions among the diets. Okara is an effective source of protein for lactating ewes and their twin lambs.

Spatial Variability and Uncertainty of Water Use Impacts from U.S. Feed and Milk Production

This paper addresses water use impacts of agriculture, developing a spatially explicit approach tracing the location of water use and water scarcity related to feed production, transport, and livestock, tracking uncertainties and illustrating the approach with a case study on dairy production in the United States. This approach was developed as a step to bring spatially variable production and impacts into a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) context. As water resources and demands are spatially variable, it is critical to take into account the location of activities to properly understand the impacts of water use, accounting for each of the main feeds for milk production. At the crop production level, the example of corn grain shows that 59% of water stress associated with corn grain production in the United States is located in Nebraska, a state with moderate water stress and moderate corn production (11%). At the level of milk production, four watersheds account for 78% of the national water stress impact, as these areas have high milk production and relatively high water stress; it is the production of local silage and hay crops that drives water consumption in these areas. By considering uncertainty in both inventory data and impact characterization factors, we demonstrate that spatial variability may be larger than uncertainty, and that not systematically accounting for the two can lead to artificially high uncertainty. Using a nonspatial approach in a spatially variable setting can result in a significant underestimation or overestimation of water impacts. The approach demonstrated here could be applied to other spatially variable processes.

Influences of technologies of cultivation of perennial bluegrass herbs on their transpiration in the conditions of water meadows

This article discusses the process of transpiration in perennial herb crops in the southwest of Bryansk region (Russia) under different technologies of cultivation, using superficial and radical improvement of natural fodder conditions. Experimental field surveys were conducted on the flood plain of the river Iput in 2009–2014. These years were characterized by different phytoclimatic conditions. The amounts of daily values of radiation balance for the period of vegetation in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 constituted respectively 1127, 1126, 1181, 1157 MDzh/m 2 whereas during 2009 and 2011 respectively they came to 963 and 915 MDzh/m 2 . The maximum daily values for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) were observed in 2012 and 2013 and constituted respectively 764 and 710 MDzh/m 2 , the minimum – in 2009 and 2011 – constituted respectively 635 and 592 MDzh/m 2 . During the vegetation period from the first hay crop to the second higher values of radiation balance and PAR were observed than during the period up to the first hay crop. Despite differences in the productivity between different variants of the cultures, a directly proportional linear dependence between productivity and transpiration with a high coefficient of correlation was obtained for every year of the research and stage of the hay crop. The transpiration coefficient for bluegrass herbs which are grown in river flood plains is established for the first time. The transpiraton coefficient doesn’t depend on the type of dose and ratio between different fertilizers, nor on the method of preparing the soil. The transpiration coefficient of crops of bluegrass herbs doesn’t depend on doses and a type of the introduced fertilizers, the method of handling of the soil, and for the first and second hay crops respectively constituted 469 and 486 per dry weight. The increase in transpirational consumption of moisture in dry weight formation during the period from the first hay crop to the second was caused by decrease in bioavailability of moisture during this period. We established that the crops of bluegrass herbs cultivated on alluvial sandy soil without use of mineral fertilizers don’t use the moisture which is accumulated during the autumn and winter and spring period, and the crops of bluegrass herbs cultivated using mineral fertilizers lack moisture during the vegetation period from first to the second hay crop only in drought years. We have experimentally proved that mineral fertilizers raise the relative transpiration and bioavailability of soil moisture to plants. It is suggested that the soluble salts which are a component of fertilizers increase osmotic pressure in the vascular system of plants. It was proved that preseeding working of the soil with a turnover of the layer at a depth of 20 cm increases bioavailability of soil moisture and absorption of solar radiation during the vegetation period in drought years.

DIVERSITY OF SOIL BACTERIA AS INDICATOR OF SOIL POLLUTION IN MOLDAVIA REGION, ROMANIA

To evaluate the effects of seasonal fluctuations, soil types, land use and management inputs on the abundance and composition of soil bacteria, twenty soils types from Moldavia region located in north-eastern Romania were compared. Changes in soil microbiota are an early and sensitive indicator of soil pollution and can be used to predict long-term trends in soil quality. The use of microbial properties as indicator of soil pollution is easily measured and can also be measured accurately across a wide range of soil types and conditions. The dynamics of the bacterial community from all soil types were ranked as follows: spring 2012 (164.8 x 106 CFU g 1) > spring 2013 (147.7 x 106 CFU g 1) > autumn 2012 (80.6 x 106 CFU g 1) > autumn 2013 (79.4 x 106 CFU g 1). In case of land use and soil management practices (conventional, organic, and unmanaged) the bacterial abundance increased in the following order: vineyards < permanent grassland < arable land under crop rotation < hardwood forest < vegetable crop < hay crop. Our results suggest that seasonal variation, land use and soil management have a significant impact on bacterial richness and diversity (p < 0.05 in all cases). Extensive use of xenobiotic compounds in agriculture degrades soil microbial communities as they affect microbial abundance and composition, directly, and soil texture and fertility, indirectly.

Correction: Commercial Crop Yields Reveal Strengths and Weaknesses for Organic Agriculture in the United States.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161673.].

Effects of sheep stocking on the plant community and agricultural characteristics of upland Anthoxanthum odoratum–Geranium sylvaticum meadow in northern England

AbstractIn the UK, upland hay meadows (Anthoxanthum odoratum–Geranium sylvaticum grassland) with high plant biodiversity are rare and confined to submontane areas of northern England. We report results from a 5‐year experiment to test suggestions that recent biodiversity declines were attributable to increased sheep‐stocking density and a longer spring stocking period, thus delaying the shut up date for the growth of the hay crop. Longer stocking periods and higher stocking densities decreased the forage mass at 8 July, but they increased herbage N content and digestibility, reduced plant species diversity and reduced populations and seed production of Rhinanthus minor. Compared with unstocked swards, the similarity of the vegetation to Anthoxanthum odoratum–Geranium sylvaticum grassland was reduced by 16·9% when stocking with sheep continued until 27 May each year, and by 8·3% when sward heights were maintained at 3 cm compared with 5 cm. Increased mean sward height and height of R. minor were positively correlated with accumulated temperatures. Results support suggestions that recent reductions in the nature value of these grasslands might be a consequence of high stocking densities persisting until later in the spring, carried out during a 1‐year period with warmer temperatures.

Commercial Crop Yields Reveal Strengths and Weaknesses for Organic Agriculture in the United States.

Land area devoted to organic agriculture has increased steadily over the last 20 years in the United States, and elsewhere around the world. A primary criticism of organic agriculture is lower yield compared to non-organic systems. Previous analyses documenting the yield deficiency in organic production have relied mostly on data generated under experimental conditions, but these studies do not necessarily reflect the full range of innovation or practical limitations that are part of commercial agriculture. The analysis we present here offers a new perspective, based on organic yield data collected from over 10,000 organic farmers representing nearly 800,000 hectares of organic farmland. We used publicly available data from the United States Department of Agriculture to estimate yield differences between organic and conventional production methods for the 2014 production year. Similar to previous work, organic crop yields in our analysis were lower than conventional crop yields for most crops. Averaged across all crops, organic yield averaged 80% of conventional yield. However, several crops had no significant difference in yields between organic and conventional production, and organic yields surpassed conventional yields for some hay crops. The organic to conventional yield ratio varied widely among crops, and in some cases, among locations within a crop. For soybean (Glycine max) and potato (Solanum tuberosum), organic yield was more similar to conventional yield in states where conventional yield was greatest. The opposite trend was observed for barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestevum), and hay crops, however, suggesting the geographical yield potential has an inconsistent effect on the organic yield gap.

Integration of remote sensing derived parameters in crop models: Application to the PILOTE model for hay production

The aim of this study is to assess the effects and interests of integrating remote-sensing-derived parameters (LAI, harvest and irrigation dates) in a crop model (PILOTE) that simulates vegetation growth for hay crops. The target variable is the prediction of Total Dry Matter (TDM) production in each of the three growth cycles.Two scenarios are employed to process the available remotely sensed LAI values, predicting TDM values when forcing in PILOTE either the initial and maximal optical LAI-values, or the initial, maximal and daily interpolated LAI values. The predictions show low deviations compared with the in situ TDM values (RMSE of 0.44t/ha, MAPE of 23%).The feasibility of using harvest dates that are derived from optical data is examined by feeding the model with randomly perturbed harvest dates. The magnitude of the perturbations is equal to the revisit times of the current optical sensors. Optical images with revisit times lower than 16days are adequate to feed PILOTE with remotely sensed harvest dates.Emphasis is placed on the forcing of “uncertain” irrigation dates, derived from Synthetic Aperture Radar images either replacing all true irrigation dates by randomly perturbed dates (using 3-day perturbation magnitudes) or hypothesizing one or several irrigations are “missed” (undetected). The results show negligible errors for the TDM predictions when noisy irrigation dates are used (RMSE of 0.17t/ha and MAPE of 4.2%). Disregarding one or two irrigations within a period with important rainfalls does not induce significant errors for the predicted TDM values; however, it causes noticeable underestimations in drier periods (maximum of 1.55t/ha, reference TDM of 3.43t/ha).This study enables the identification of a series of conditions in which remote-sensing-derived parameters are suitable to feed the PILOTE model without endangering the reliability of its predictions.

Soil Contamination of Grass Biomass Hay: Measurements and Implications

A large area of unutilized or underutilized marginal land in the northeastern USA, some of which currently produce a mature hay crop for use as mulch, is potentially suitable for bioenergy crop production. Mature-mixed grass hay bales (n = 1980) were sampled across New York in late summer and fall of 2011 and 2012 from 65 farms. Chemical analysis of 19 parameters, including gross calorific value, fiber, and elemental analyses, was conducted on the samples. In addition, 156 soil samples, representing 67 soil types, were analyzed for 12 to 14 parameters, using two different extraction procedures. Results indicate that hay composition is extremely variable among bales, and that much of the variation is due to soil contamination. Soil contamination reduced energy content of hay, a reduction best estimated from ash content of the hay. Standard plant analyses of contaminated hay samples determine total elemental content, but the same analyses only partially extract soil elements. A subset of samples showed that fiber analysis of soil-contaminated hay is problematic, with results impacted greatly by soil type and gravimetric filtration method. Aluminum, because of its low plant uptake potential, its high concentration in most soils, and its relatively moderate range in concentration across soil types compared to other soil elemental predictors, is the best indicator of soil contamination of biomass when the soil type is unknown. Evaluation of herbaceous plants for bioenergy parameters should include ash and Al analysis to assess soil contamination, which could significantly bias other compositional analyses.

Effects of corn-based reduced-starch diets using alternative carbohydrate sources on performance of lactating Holstein cows

Increases in grain prices have led to renewed interest in feeding reduced-starch diets to lactating dairy cows. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of altering carbohydrate sources and reducing dietary starch on lactational performance, feeding behavior, and ruminal measures of Holstein dairy cows. Fifteen multiparous cows (6 ruminally cannulated) were blocked and assigned to 1 of 5 squares and used in a replicated 3×3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Cows were fed 1 of 3 experimental diets: a control diet containing 20% brown midrib corn silage, 20% conventional corn silage, and 10% hay crop silage (CON); a reduced-starch high-forage diet containing 53% brown midrib corn silage and 10% hay crop silage (HFOR); and a reduced-starch diet containing the same forages as CON with partial replacement of corn meal by nonforage fiber sources (HNFFS). The CON diet contained (% of dry matter) 26.0% starch and 34.7% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), whereas the HFOR and HNFFS diets contained 21.4 or 21.3% starch and 38.3 or 38.0% NDF, respectively. Dry matter intake tended to be greater for cows fed the CON diet (28.2kg/d) compared with those fed the HFOR diet (27.2kg/d). Dry matter intake for cows fed the HNFFS diet was intermediate (27.7kg/d). Milk yield was greater for cows fed the CON diet (51.6kg/d) compared with those fed the HFOR diet (48.4kg/d), but milk fat content tended to increase for cows fed the HFOR diet (3.98%) compared with those fed the CON diet (3.66%). Consequently, fat-corrected and solids-corrected milk yields were unaffected by dietary treatments. Total chewing, eating, and rumination times were similar across all dietary treatments. Rumination time per kilogram of DM was greatest for the HFOR diet, intermediate for the HNFFS diet, and least for the CON diet, whereas rumination time per kilogram of NDF was greatest for the CON diet and least for the HNFFS diet. Mean ruminal pH, NH3-N (mg/dL), and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (mM) were similar across all dietary treatments. Molar proportion of ruminal acetate (mol/100mol) was increased for cows fed the HFOR diet compared with cows fed the CON diet. Microbial N yield measured by urinary purine derivatives was unaffected by dietary treatment. Reduced-starch diets containing greater amounts of high quality, highly digestible forage or nonforage fiber sources in place of corn meal resulted in similar fat-corrected or solids-corrected milk yield for high-producing dairy cows in the short term.

Hay crop of boreal rich fen communities traditionally used for haymaking

(c) Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic 2015. This is the authors' accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. Locked until 2016-05-20.

Carbon and nitrogen in a Ferralsol under zero‐tillage rotations based on cover, cash or hay crops

AbstractTo identify crop rotation systems capable of sequestering C and N to 1 metre depth in a subtropical Ferralsol of Southern Brazil managed under long‐term zero‐tillage (21 yrs), we evaluated six crop sequences: wheat (Triticum aestivum)–soybean (Glycine max) [W‐S], the baseline; oat (Avena strigosa, as cover crop)–maize (Zea mays)–wheat–soybean [O‐M‐W‐S]; vetch (Vicia villosa, as legume cover crop)–maize–wheat–soybean [V‐M‐W‐S]; vetch–maize–oat–soybean–wheat–soybean [V‐M‐O‐S‐W‐S]; ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, for hay)–maize–ryegrass–soybean [R‐M‐R‐S]; and alfalfa (Medicago sativa, for hay)–maize [A‐M]. Compared to W‐S and to 1 metre, the hay‐based system of A‐M showed the largest C and N sequestration rates (0.50 and 0.06 Mg/ha/yr, respectively). Alfalfa, being a perennial legume under cut‐regrowth cycles, possibly added more C and N through roots. The other hay system, R‐M‐R‐S, also sequestered C efficiently (0.27 Mg/ha/yr), but not N (0.01 Mg/ha/yr). The legume‐based system of V‐M‐W‐S sequestered significant amounts of both C (0.29 Mg/ha/yr) and N (0.04 Mg/ha/yr). The grass‐based system of O‐M‐W‐S showed the lowest sequestration of C (0.09 Mg/ha/yr). In all systems, a positive relationship (R2 = 0.71) occurred between estimated addition of root C and soil C stock to 1 metre. Whenever C and N sequestration occurred, more than half of that occurred below 20 cm depth. Results suggest that adoption of legume‐based systems, perennially as A‐M or annually as V‐M‐W‐S, is efficient for C and N sequestration in subtropical zero‐tillage soils and that roots possibly contribute more to that sequestration than aboveground biomass.

Application of CarboSOIL model to predict the effects of climate change on soil organic carbon stocks in agro-silvo-pastoral Mediterranean management systems

CarboSOIL model and climate outputs from two GCMs (GISS and HadCM3), three time horizons (2020, 2050, 2080), and two emission scenarios (A2 and B2) according to IPCC were used to study the effects of climate change on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in a Mediterranean region (Northeast Sardinia, Italy). CarboSOIL is an empirical model based on regression techniques and developed to predict SOC contents at standard soil depths of 0–25, 25–50 and 50–75cm. The area is characterized by extensive agro-silvo-pastoral systems, and six land uses with different levels of cropping intensification were compared: tilled vineyards (TV), no-tilled grassed vineyards (GV), hay crop (HC), pasture (PA), cork oak forest (CO), and semi-natural systems (SN). The main objectives were: (i) to validate the model predictions with the measured SOC stocks, and (ii) to predict SOC stocks in future climate projections for the different land use types.The model proved its ability to predict SOC stocks at different soil depths, and can be used as a tool for predicting SOC stocks under different climate change scenarios.The results suggest that future climatic scenarios can have a negative effect on SOC stocks in the upper sections of the soil profile, mainly due to a very low increase in the 0–25cm section and a sharp decrease in the 25–50cm soil section, in particular in a long term perspective (2080) and under the emission scenario A2.Important decreases of SOC stocks were found in the upper soil sections of the vineyards.

Fallow Replacement Crop (Cover Crops, Annual Forages, and Short-Season Grain Crops) Effects on Available Soil Water

Producers are interested in growing cover crops and reducing fallow. Limited information is available on growing crops in place of fallow in the semiarid Great Plains. Between 2012 and 2015, spring cover, annual forage, and grain crops were grown in place of fallow in a no-till wheat-grain sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation in southwest Kansas. Growing a cover, hay, or grain crop in place of fallow reduced the amount of stored soil moisture at wheat planting. On average, cover crops stored slightly more moisture than hay crops, but this soil moisture difference did not affect wheat yields. Soil moisture after grain crops was less than after cover or hay crops, and this difference resulted in reduced wheat yields. These results do not support claims that cover crops increase soil moisture compared to fallow. Soil moisture storage from fallow crop termination to wheat planting was greatest among those treatments that were most dry at termination and produced the most aboveground biomass. On average, cover crops had a 28% precipitation storage efficiency (PSE) and hay crops had a 22% PSE between termination and wheat planting. Fallow during the full-fallow period (sorghum harvest to wheat planting) had an 18% PSE. Crops grown in place of fallow must compensate for the expense of growing the crop plus the reduction in soil moisture for the next crop.

Integrating Sheep Grazing into Cereal‐Based Crop Rotations: Spring Wheat Yields and Weed Communities

Crop diversification and integration of livestock into cropping systems may improve the economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. However, few studies have examined the integration of these practices in the semiarid areas of the Northern Great Plains (NGP). A 3‐yr experiment was conducted near Bozeman, MT, to compare the effects of crop rotation diversity and weed management practices imposed during fallow periods [sheep (Ovis aries) grazing, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage] on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields and weed pressure. Management treatments were applied to replicated whole plots, within which the split‐plots received crop rotation treatments [continuous spring wheat (CSW) and a 3‐yr rotation of annual forage, fallow, and spring wheat, where each phase was present in each year]. In the initial 2 yr, the realized rotational treatments were wheat–fallow and CSW. In the final year, wheat was grown following all phases of the diversified rotation. Yields were similar among management treatments within the wheat–fallow and CSW rotations. Weed pressure was generally low but perennial weeds were more abundant in grazing‐managed, wheat–fallow systems. The integration of livestock into the annual hay crop–fallow–spring wheat rotation was associated with a nearly 30‐fold increase in weed pressure and a yield reduction of 51.2% compared to conventional management. The results suggest that although targeted sheep grazing is a viable alternative to conventional fallow management in CSW and wheat–fallow rotations, successful integration of livestock in diversified cropping systems requires more effective weed management practices.

NFLUENCE OF SALTED ENVIRONMENT ON FODDER HERBS EFFICIENCY OF PASTURABLE PHYTOCOENOSES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN CASPIAN LOWLAND

The changes in the intensity of biological processes in the vegetation and productivity of forage grasses depending on the degree of soil salinity of the North-West Caspian Lowland were studied. Salination factors are specific. They are formed because of their adaptive nature, providing for species the opportunity to get the certain position in the relevant biocenosis. As a result each species produces its own strategy of life. Development of saline processes of soil in the growth and development of the plant mass, biological and agronomic salt resistance is clearly seen. Biological salt resistance is characterized by the ability to maintain the viability of the plant body at the upper limit of salinity. Agronomical salt resistance is determined by the value of crop and productivity. Adaptive possibilities of different plant species with different biological characteristics were also examined. Subject, objective of the work. Productivity of vegetation of semidesert ecosystems and dynamics under the influence of salinity forage grass pasture phytocenoses of the North-West Caspian Lowland were studied. Test method. We studied fodder crops: wheat grass long ( Elytrigia elongata ), ctenoid wheatgrass ( Agropirum cristatum ) and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ). The crop from each significant area was weighed; it was taken from the average sample weighed in at 1 kg in a gauze bag for drying at a temperature of 60–65 °C in airing cupboard where brought to constant weight. Accounting for phytomass was carried by laying mowing area 8–10 times. Dimensions of mowing fields are 0.25 m2, that ensured coverage of all dominant plants. Results. At mid-saline meadow-chestnut soil of the North-West Caspian Lowland wheatgrass long gives the highest yield of green mass – 18,1 tons per hectare of dry weight average for 2003–2010. Alfalfa crop is in the second place, that is less than bluegrass by 18.0 % (2.9 tons per hectare). The least yield of these crops is ctenoid wheatgrass, which is less than other grasses by 4.8 tons per hectare (26.1 %) and 1.7 tons per hectare (11.3 %). Therefore, wheatgrass long is hardier to mid-saline soil than other species. High yield of alfalfa depends on frequent mowing of this grass. In the sowing year there were three hay crops, the second and subsequent years - 4 mowing. The share of the first mowing in the sowing year alfalfa has 33.0 %, the second 42.3 %, the third 24.7 %. In the second and subsequent years the share of the first mowing in the total yield of green mass increases up to 28,3–28,8, the third to 19,0–20,6, the fourth to 8,8–10,7 %. Area of application. The research results can be used by the economic organizations and enterprises for the phytomelioration of saline soils. The obtained data can be used to enhance and achieve high productivity of forage grasses and to restore the productivity of saline lands and use them for agricultural purposes. Conclusions. Adaptability to the saline soil and the productivity of forage grasses differ according to biological characteristics and extent soil salinity and ecological conditions.

Contrasting land uses in Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral systems generated patchy diversity patterns of vascular plants and below-ground microorganisms

The aims of this paper were (i) to define how contrasting land uses affected plant biodiversity in Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral-systems across a gradient of disturbance regimes: cork oak forests, secondary grasslands, hay crops, grass covered vineyards, tilled vineyards; (ii) to determine whether these patterns mirrored those of below-ground microorganisms and whether the components of γ-diversity followed a similar model. The disturbance regimes affected plant assemblage composition. Species richness decreased with increasing land use intensity, the Shannon index showed the highest values in grasslands and hay crops. Plant assemblage composition patterns mirrored those of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Richness in Basidiomycota, denitrifying bacteria and microbial biomass showed the same trend as that observed for vascular plant richness. The Shannon index pattern of below-ground microorganisms was different from that of plants. The plant γ-diversity component model weakly mirrored those of Ascomycota. Patchy diversity patterns suggest that the maintenance of contrasting land uses associated with different productions typical of agro-silvo-pastoral-systems can guarantee the conservation of biodiversity.

The relationship between Saskatchewan hay yield and changing cropping practices

Jefferson, P. G. and Larson, K. 2014. The relationship between Saskatchewan hay yield and changing cropping practices. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1157–1160. A previously reported decline in Saskatchewan hay yield statistics was re-examined with additional data. The decline in hay yield was confirmed in the new analysis, but the rate of decline was lower than previously reported. Several agronomic and economic variables were examined for their relationship to hay yield and precipitation use efficiency. Precipitation use efficiency for hay yield was correlated to summerfallow area, which has declined by 75% in Saskatchewan during the study period. Perennial hay crops are deep-rooted and therefore able to exploit soil water and nutrients at depth in previously summerfallowed land that was unavailable to grain and oilseed crops. We suggest that declining hay yield is due to less summerfallow land in modern Saskatchewan crop rotations.