Hay Management Research Articles

Assessing plastic pollution in farmland: Impact of agricultural practices on bird nesting materials

Farmland, a vital terrestrial environment, has seen significant changes due to intensified agricultural practices and plastic pollution. Assessing plastic pollution in farmed areas remains challenging, and understanding its impacts on agricultural ecosystems is limited. The aim of the was to determine whether plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes depends on the type of crops. We used the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), an indicator bird species and investigated plastic contamination of 122 of its nests. We found plastic waste in 82.1 % of nests, totalling 6234 items weighing 197.2 g. On average, each nest contained 55.7 waste items, constituting approximately 4.3 % of the nest's mass. Plastic string fibres were predominant, making up 95.6 % of the items and 90.7 % of the mass. This variation may be due to different straw and hay management practices and varying levels of vigilance in removing plastic remnants. Contamination levels varied significantly among farmland types, with cultivated fields showing the highest contamination and meadows the lowest.

Selection environment impacts genetic gains for persistence in three temperate perennial forage grasses

Grasses and legumes are regularly grown in association, despite often being unbalanced or incompatible. This study was intended to conduct selection for persistence in three perennial grass species that have compatibility issues with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and are poorly adapted to management-intensive rotational grazing. Five cycles of selection for persistence were conducted over a 24-year period for three grass species (reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass, and timothy) in each of five selection environments: alfalfa mixture, red clover mixture, monocultures with a three-harvest hay management, tall fescue mixture with frequent defoliation, and monocultures with frequent defoliation. Selection in the two legume mixtures led to significant increases in persistence only when evaluated in legume mixtures. Selection responses were strongest when evaluated under the same legume as in the selection environment, indicating some species specificity. Selection for persistence under frequent defoliation was successful under both conditions (monoculture and tall fescue mixture), but led to no changes when evaluated with legumes. For these three grass species, cultivar development for use in mixture with legumes or for use in management-intensive rotational grazing should be based on a selection environment that mimics, as close as possible, the target production environment.

Local traditional ecological knowledge about hay management practices in wetlands of the Biebrza Valley, Poland

BackgroundThe Biebrza Valley is one of the largest complexes of wetlands (floodplain and percolation mire) and conservation sites in Central Europe. Local communities have managed the area extensively for subsistence and farming purposes for centuries; nonetheless, since the 1960s, hand mowing and livestock grazing have been gradually ceasing due to the intensification of farming, and wetlands have undergone natural succession. Currently, the protection of this vast ecosystem is challenging. Despite its remarkable cultural origin, the complexity of the traditional practices and knowledge of local people have never been studied comprehensively. Therefore, we found it urgent to explore if traditional ecological knowledge that could be used in conservation management of the area still exists among the local community.MethodsWe interviewed 42 inhabitants of seven villages located in the Lower Basin of the Biebrza Valley (NE-Poland) in the consecutive years 2018–2020. We applied semi-structured, repeated interviews with farmers (aged 29–89), each lasting several hours. By using different ethnoecological methods (visual stimuli, walks in wetlands, co-mapping of the area), we explored traditional knowledge on the plants, landscape and traditional management of wetlands.ResultsFarmers from the oldest generation, who used to manage wetlands with scythes, shared the deepest ecological knowledge. Local people divided wetlands into zones differentiated by vegetation type and hay quality. Depending on plant composition, people managed wetlands under a mixed regime: mowing once or twice a year during periods that ensured good hay quality and pasturing various livestock: cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and fowl. We identified at least 50 plant ethnospecies, which were described exhaustively by their habitat, morphological features, and mowing and grazing value.ConclusionsThe local community in the Biebrza Valley shared a deep traditional ecological knowledge and had a good memory of traditional farming practices. Research confirmed the unquestionable cultural origin of the local ecosystem, therefore in conservation endeavours the area should be treated first and foremost as a cultural landscape. The documented exceptional local perception of the wetland landscape, elements of traditional knowledge and complex farming practices should be considered for inclusion into conservation management, and cooperation with the local community should also be taken into account.

Litter mass and nitrogen disappearance in year‐round nitrogen‐fertilized grass and legume–grass forage systems

AbstractPlant litter is an important nutrient pool in grasslands. Most estimates of N return from litter are based on incubation of attached plant material (live or senescent) instead of dead, detached material on the soil surface. Our objective was to quantify mass, chemical composition, and N disappearance from soil‐surface litter for year‐round forage systems based on N‐fertilized grasses (GN) (290 kg N ha–1 yr–1) or legume–grass mixtures (LG) (30 kg N ha–1 yr–1) when grazed or harvested for hay. Litter mass and composition were measured in winter and summer over 2 yr, and litter was incubated for 180 d to quantify N disappearance. Summer litter mass was greater for GN than LG under grazing (2,840 vs. 1,730 kg ha–1) and hay management (2,780 vs. 1,240 kg ha–1). Cool‐season litter mass for GN was also greater than LG (1,990 vs. 1,200 kg ha–1). Initial litter N concentrations for GN and LG were 26 vs. 23 and 21 vs. 20 g N kg–1 organic matter in summer and winter, respectively. Litter lignin concentration and C/N and lignin/N ratios remained relatively constant. At the end of incubation, remaining litter biomass ranged from 63 to 85%. Nitrogen disappearance was greater for GN than LG, averaging 43 vs. 19 kg ha–1 yr–1, respectively, due to greater herbage accumulation and litter mass for GN. We conclude that year‐round forage systems including legumes contribute important quantities of N via aboveground litter decomposition, but amounts are likely less than for grass systems receiving relatively large N fertilizer inputs.

Comparison of soil health metrics for a Cecil soil in the North Carolina Piedmont

AbstractSoil health metric values may vary across soil types and even within the same soil series under different management systems. The goal of this study was to determine the amount of variation present in Cecil sandy loam soils (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) under row crop and hay management systems via field (single‐ring infiltration, Cornell Sprinkle Infiltrometer, and a farmer score card) and laboratory soil health metrics [soil respiration, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, permanganate‐oxidizable C (POXC), β‐glucosidase, β‐glucosaminidase, alkaline and acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, phosphodiesterase, soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), autoclave citrate‐extractable (ACE) protein content, aggregate stability, mean weight diameter, and bulk density]. Soil samples were collected in three hay and three crop fields. ANOVA indicated significant variations between systems, with depth and interactions among system, field, and/or slope position, depending on the metric (p < 0.05). Infiltration measurements were highly variable and the measurement methods produced inconsistent values. The majority of laboratory metrics significantly decreased with depth. Soil respiration was significantly different between systems (crop > hay), whereas arylsulfatase, acid phosphatase, β‐glucosidase, β‐glucosaminidase, ACE, POXC, and aggregate stability had significant system × depth interactions (0–5 cm hay > crop) and POXC had a significant system × pedon interaction. Enzyme assays, PLFA measurements, POXC, TN, SOC, and ACE protein content were also significantly correlated with each other. Unexpected trends and variable results suggest that more data should be collected before effective soil health metrics and baseline values can be established.

A Modified Ingrowth Core to Measure Root‐Rhizome Accumulation of Perennial Forage Species

The ingrowth core method for measuring root accumulation has several advantages over sequential soil cores or mini‐rhizotrons. However, current ingrowth core designs are not well suited for use with rhizomatous perennial forage species or when defoliation occurs during the measurement period. Our objective was to develop a modified ingrowth core device and to evaluate its use for measuring root‐rhizome accumulation of a rhizomatous perennial forage in a hay management context. The modified ingrowth cores were constructed of 4‐mm polyester mesh surrounding a 7.5‐cm diameter cylinder constructed of cage wire. Field testing of the core design involved placing three ingrowth cores in each of four replicates of six treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design. Treatments consisted of six rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) entries, and they were evaluated during 2017 and 2018. The ingrowth core design facilitated ease of placement, maintenance of core structural integrity throughout 100‐d deployment periods, rapid location of cores using a metal detector at the end of deployment periods, and precision to detect differences among treatments. We conclude that this modified ingrowth core design is well suited for measuring root‐rhizome accumulation rate of perennial forage species.Core Ideas Root or root‐rhizome biomass is the dominant C supply to grassland soils. There is little information on root‐rhizome accumulation rates under perennial forage crops. A modified root ingrowth core device was developed and tested in a field study. The modified core maintained structural integrity and successfully detected differences among treatments.

Forage pea (Pisumsativum var. arvense L.) landraces reveal morphological andgenetic diversities

The objective of this study was to assess morphological and genetic diversities of 48 forage pea landraces collected from different locations at different altitudes in Turkey. Morphological, quality, and yield features were determined for the landraces and three control cultivars in three subsequent years. Genetic diversities of the landraces and cultivars were also monitored using microsatellite (SSR) markers. Our results revealed that the features of landraces are significantly different. The hay weights and the relative feed values were found to be significantly affected by altitude, with the landraces generally showing significantly higher hay weight and relative feed values at lower altitudes (P < 0.05). At the genetic level, 32 SSR primers led to distinct placement of one of the samples into a different clade of the dendrogram, showing that it is genetically different from the other 47 samples. This genetically different landrace had the highest forage value, suggesting that it shows higher prime forage features than the cultivars and the other landraces. Moreover, altitude and generally flower color were found to be important factors affecting the genetics of the landraces, as the landraces having white flowers or collected at similar altitudes were clustered well in the dendrogram. The results of this study reveal that the morphological and genetic diversities of forage pea landraces collected from different locations at different altitudes show variations. Such information could be used to develop forage pea landraces with improved characters that can be used in hay management.

Orchardgrass die‐off: How harvest management and heat stress may be reducing the persistence of orchardgrass hay stands

Orchardgrass die‐off: How harvest management and heat stress may be reducing the persistence of orchardgrass hay stands

Evaluating patterns of biodiversity in managed grasslands using spatial turnover metrics

Market and policy incentives that encourage agricultural intensification, such as incentives for bioenergy, may contribute to biodiversity decline when they encourage a large-scale conversion of native and semi-natural ecosystems to production fields. In order to appreciate the impact of these incentives on biodiversity, it is imperative to better understand how native and semi-natural ecosystems contribute to plant diversity and composition. We studied the five most common types of managed grasslands in Northeastern Kansas, a region undergoing agricultural intensification. We analyzed plant community data recorded at three spatial scales in 98 managed grassland sites, and examined patterns of diversity and composition of plant species and functional groups; and spatial turnover of species and functional groups measured at different spatial scales. We found reduced soil quality and plant diversity as well as a lack of scale-dependent community patterns on sites that were historically cultivated. Forage management practices (haying or grazing) altered plant diversity and composition in native grassland remnants but not in non-native grasslands. We identified several opportunities where changes to existing management practices could benefit both conservation and bioenergy production objectives. Recommendations to conserve biodiversity include increasing the use of hay management or other biomass collection on native grassland remnants and improving the Conservation Reserve Program by increasing enrollment, adding more native species to seed mixes, and incorporating a periodic biomass collection. We also found that using measures of spatial turnover in community composition added important insights in understanding the effects of management decisions on biodiversity.

Biomass Yield and Quality of Reed Canarygrass under Five Harvest Management Systems for Bioenergy Production

Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea L., produces high biomass yields in cool climates and wetlands. The number and timing of harvests during a growing season directly affect biomass yield and biofuel quality. In order to determine optimum harvest management, seven cultivars of reed canarygrass were planted in field experiments at Ames, IA; McNay, IA; and Arlington, WI in the upper Midwestern USA and harvested once in autumn or in winter, twice in spring + autumn or spring + winter, or three times during the season as hay. Biomass yield varied considerably among harvest treatments, locations, and years, ranging up to 12.6 Mg ha−1. Dry matter percentage ranged from 37% for spring-harvested biomass to 84% for overwintered biomass. The three harvest hay and two harvest spring + autumn managements produced the highest biomass yield compared to other systems, but the advantage, if any, of hay management was small and probably does not justify the cost of additional fieldwork. More mature biomass, such as that found in the single harvest systems, had higher fiber concentrations. Overwintered biomass had superior biofuel quality, being low in P, K, S, and Cl and high in cell wall concentration. However, winter harvest systems had lower yield than autumn harvest and in some years, no harvest was possible due to lodging from snow compaction. The main limitation of a two harvest system is the high moisture content of the late spring/early summer biomass.

Land-use, environment, and their impact on butterfly populations in a mountainous pastoral landscape: species richness and family-level abundance

Extensive grasslands are considered to be of high biodiversity value, but are under threat from intensification and abandonment. We studied butterfly species richness and abundance in 47 hay and grazing meadows in the Picos de Europa, northern Spain in 2004. Nine transects were walked around the perimeter of the meadows from the 1 June to 28 July with butterflies recorded to species or species-group. Land-use, abiotic, and sward variables were also recorded. Change in meadow extent was estimated by comparing a digital map of open meadows with a cadastral map with 1950s provenance. We found: A decrease in open area, mostly attributable to reduction in grazing meadows. 75 or more butterfly species with species richness principally, and positively, influenced by altitude and presence of scrub in the body of the meadow. Hay meadow management was a positive influence on richness of satyrids. When all butterflies were considered together, the only significant factor influencing abundance was Plantago lanceolata (−ve). For sub-groups of the butterfly community there was no consistent pattern, although P. lanceolata was identified as a (−ve) factor in relation to hesperiid, nymphalid, satyrid, and Viola-feeding fritillary groups. Several regression models included components that could be linked to abiotic influences (water, aspect, altitude) but many were indicative of abandonment or relaxation of management intensity (scrub, Pteridium aquilinum, Asphodelus albus), sward components, fragmentation (distance to nearest meadow, number of meadows within 100 m), and land use (hay management, summer grazing). The results are discussed in relation to changing socio-economics, including the potential impact of tourism, and the need for financial instruments to support extensive farming.

Integrated Responses of Grassland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Properties to Hay Management: A Field Experiment

We examined effects of fertilization and haying on grassland biodiversity, primary production and other ecosystem properties in a hay management experiment conducted in northeastern Kansas. We examined relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity across our experimental landscape and evaluated relationships of biodiversity and ecosystem properties to a remotely-sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Fertilization increased production, measured as standing crop biomass and seasonally integrated NDVI and altered a range of ecosystem traits above- and belowground. Shifts at the ecosystem level in response to fertilization were accompanied by declines in plant and arthropod diversity, and negative relationships of both to gradients of standing crop and NDVI, the magnitude of which was altered by haying disturbance in the case of plants. Bacterial diversity showed no response to fertilization, but was increased by haying. In contrast to plants and arthropods, bacterial diversity...

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Prairie hay meadows are important reservoirs of grassland biodiversity in the tallgrass prairie regions of the central United States and are the object of increasing attention for conservation and restoration. In addition, there is growing interest in the potential use of such low-input, high-diversity (LIHD) native grasslands for biofuel production. The uplands of eastern Kansas, USA, which prior to European settlement were dominated by tallgrass prairie, are currently utilized for intensive agriculture or exist in a state of abandonment from agriculture. The dominant grasslands in the region are currently high-input, low-diversity (HILD) hay fields seeded to introduced C3 hay grasses. We present results from a long-term experiment conducted in a recently abandoned HILD hay field in eastern Kansas to evaluate effects of fertilization, haying, and native species sowing on community dynamics, biomass, and potential for restoration to native LIHD hay meadow. Fertilized plots maintained dominance by introduced grasses, maintained low diversity, and were largely resistant to colonization throughout the study. Non-fertilized plots exhibited rapid successional turnover, increased diversity, and increased abundance of C4 grasses over time. Haying led to modest changes in species composition and lessened the negative impact of fertilization on diversity. In non-fertilized plots, sowing increased representation by native species and increased diversity, successional turnover, and biomass production. Our results support the shifting limitations hypothesis of community organization and highlight the importance of species pools and seed limitations in constraining successional turnover, community structure, and ecosystem productivity under conditions of low fertility. Our findings also indicate that several biological and functional aspects of LIHD hay meadows can be restored from abandoned HILD hay fields by ceasing fertilization and reintroducing native species through sowing. Declines in primary production and hay yield that result from the cessation of fertilization may be at least partially compensated for by restoration.

Prediction and mitigation of undesirable change in semi-natural grassland due to extreme droughts and hay management

Prediction and mitigation of undesirable change in semi-natural grassland due to extreme droughts and hay management

Prediction and mitigation of undesirable change in semi-natural grassland due to extreme droughts and hay management

This article was submitted without an abstract, please refer to the full-text PDF file.

Alfalfa Leaf Protein and Stem Cell Wall Polysaccharide Yields under Hay and Biomass Management Systems

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been proposed as a biofuel feedstock in which the stems would be processed to produce ethanol and the leaves sold separately as a livestock feed. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of management strategy on leaf crude protein (CP), and stem carbohydrate concentrations and yields of alfalfa germplasms differing in genetic background. Two hay‐type and two biomass‐type alfalfas were established at 450 plants m−2 and harvested at early bud (hay management system) and at 180 plants m−2 and harvested at green pod (biomass management system) in three environments. The biomass‐type alfalfas under the biomass management had lower leaf CP, higher stem cell wall polysaccharide, and higher stem lignin concentrations, comparable leaf CP yield, and 37% greater stem cell wall polysaccharide yields compared to the hay‐type alfalfas under the hay management treatment. The impact of altered stem cell wall composition and increased stem dry matter yield of a biomass‐type alfalfa under the biomass system compared to a hay‐type alfalfa under the hay system increased the theoretical potential ethanol yield by 99%.

Comparison of haymaking strategies for cow‐calf systems in the Salado Region of Argentina using a simulation model. 3. Exploratory risk assessment

AbstractRisk and cost estimates, calculated using a weather‐driven farm simulation model, were used to evaluate the impact of different haymaking strategies in dryland cow‐calf systems such as those in the Salado region of Argentina. Based on a 100‐ha farm, each strategy was simulated using twenty sequences of 50 years of random weather. A risk‐efficiency methodology was used, using calf live weight sold and considering the economic value of the live weight produced per year minus the cost of haymaking, as a simple measure of profit. The analysis highlighted both production and risk advantages in using hay, especially when a flexible hay management approach was implemented, although some haymaking strategies performed worse than not using hay. When calf live weight sold was considered alone, the risk‐efficient set included strategies with large proportions of the areas being harvested (0.42–1.05; paddocks could be cut more that once a year in some of the strategies) and high proportions of hay not being used. The amount of hay for maximizing risk efficiency for profit was notably lower than that for maximizing cattle production. When haymaking costs were included, the proportion of area harvested for risk‐efficient profit ranged from 0.28 to 0.52, depending on the target stocking rate.

Half‐sib family selection for forage yield in orchardgrass

AbstractGenetic variation for forage yield of orchardgrass is abundant, but there are few reports of progress from selection for increased forage yield. The objective of this study was to estimate direct effects of selection from one cycle of half‐sib family selection for forage yield in orchardgrass. Eleven selected populations were compared with their parent populations within three maturity groups. Populations were evaluated under hay management at three locations and management‐intensive rotational grazing at two locations. Nine of the 11 selected populations differed, by an average of 7.4%, from their parent population in forage yield. Nine of the selected populations also showed changes in Drechslera leafspot reaction, all indicating a negative genetic correlation with forage yield. Selection for high forage yield tended to result in greater ground cover and later relative maturity. However, changes in net herbage accumulation (NHA) under rotational grazing were generally not significant and were uncorrelated with changes in forage yield, indicating that forage yield of hay plots is not correlated with the NHA of grazed plots. Although genetic gains in forage yield measured under hay management were very favourable relative to other reports from the literature, the lack of correlated progress under grazing management indicates that directed selection for NHA of orchardgrass should be conducted under grazing management.

Genetic Progress from 40 Years of Orchardgrass Breeding in North America Measured under Hay Management

There has been considerable activity in breeding orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars in North America during the latter half of the 20th century, but little effort devoted to quantification of breeding progress. The objectives of this study were to quantify changes in mean cultivar performance for that time compared with the progress achieved from one cycle of half‐sib progeny selection within the USDA population of orchardgrass accessions. Forty‐two cultivars (32 North American cultivars and 10 European cultivars) were tested at three locations (Arlington, WI and Rock Springs, PA, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in 1995 through 1997. Cultivars were grouped into three experiments by maturity class: early, medium, and late. North American cultivars averaged 3, 9, and 12% higher in forage yield than European cultivars for early, medium, and late maturity groups, respectively. Between 1955 and 1997, forage yield and ground cover of early‐maturity cultivars increased by 2.5 Mg ha−1 decade−1 and 4.0% decade−1, respectively. Forage nutritional value of medium‐maturity cultivars increased during that time, although this was probably not due to direct selection. Significant gains were made in forage yield and Drechslera spp. leafspot reaction of cultivars derived from two individual breeding programs, although the majority of orchardgrass cultivars lack improvements in forage traits.

Harvest management and N-fertilization effects on protein yield, protein content and nitrogen use efficiency of smooth bromegrass, crested wheatgrass and meadow bromegrass

There is a lack of information on the interaction of harvest management, grass species and N-fertilizer interaction on forage quality and nitrogen use efficiency of dryland grasses. In a 3-yr field trial, harvest management (2 cut, hay management vs. a 3–4 cut simulated pasture management system) and nitrogen fertilizer (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg N ha−1) were examined for their effects on protein yield (PY), protein content (PC), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen recovery (NR) and soil test nitrate-nitrogen (STN) under crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertn.; CWG), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem &amp; Schult.; MBR) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.; SBR) swards. Generally, grasses managed under a two-cut hay system had lower (P &lt; 0.05) PC than grasses managed under a 3–4 cut simulated pasture system (and occasionally higher NR and NUE) but harvest management did not consistently affect PY. There were few consistent differences between grass species for PY, PC, NUE and NR with relative ranking and significance changing between site-years. Generally, MBR responded to N-fertilizer in a similar manner to previously studied dryland grasses such as CWG or SBR. N-fertilization increased PY and PC but did not consistently affect NUE, NR and STN. Key words: Protein yield, protein, nitrogen recovery, nitrogen use efficiency, hay, pasture