High-quality Forage Research Articles

Transcriptional Profiling Analysis Providing Insights into the Harsh Environments Tolerance Mechanisms of Krascheninnikovia arborescens

Krascheninnikovia arborescens, an endemic shrub in China, thrives in desertification-prone environments due to its robust biomass, hairy leaves, and extensive root system. It is vital for ecological restoration and serves as a valuable forage plant. This study explored the molecular mechanisms underlying K. arborescens’ adaptation to desert conditions, focusing on its physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic responses to drought, salt, and alkali stresses. The results revealed that the three stresses have significant impacts on the photosynthetic, antioxidant, and ion balance systems of the plants, with the alkali stress inducing the most pronounced changes and differential gene expression. The clustering and functional enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) highlighted the enrichment of the induced genes in pathways related to plant hormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and transcription factors following stress treatments. In these pathways, the synthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene, as well as the flavonoid and lignin synthesis pathways, and transcription factors such as MYB, AP2/ERF, bHLH, NAC, and WRKY responded actively to the stress and played pivotal roles. Through the WGCNA analysis, 10 key modules were identified, with the yellow module demonstrating a high correlation with the ABA and anthocyanin contents, while the turquoise module was enriched in the majority of genes related to hormone and phenylpropanoid pathways. The analysis of hub genes in these modules highlighted the significant roles of the bHLH and MYB transcription factors. These findings could offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms that enable the adaptation of K. arborescens to desert environments, enhancing our understanding of how other desert plants adapt to harsh conditions. These insights are crucial for exploring and utilizing high-quality forage plant germplasm resources and ecological development, with the identified candidate genes serving as valuable targets for further research on stress-resistant genes.

Expression and degradation function analysis of the key genes from Arthrobacter nitroquajacolicus HW08 in Lactococcus lactis for the degradation of swainsonine

In order to mitigate the adverse effects of madrassa poisoning disease on our livestock industry and to fully utilize the potential pasture resources, biodegradation of locoweed can remove swainsonine, the major toxic component of locoweed, so that the locoweed can be used as high-quality forage. Arthrobacter nitroquajacolicus HW08 can stably and efficiently degrade swainsonine. In this study, Lactococcus lactis, as a food-grade microorganism, was used as a vector to express four key degradation genes from A. nitroquajacolicus HW08. Subsequently, liquid chromatography was employed to evaluate the swainsonine-degrading performance. The crude enzyme solution extracted from the L. lactis strain transformed with the ethanol dehydrogenase gene A1R6C3 degraded 323.4 μg of swainsonine in 24 h at 30 ℃. The crude enzyme solutions from the L. lactis strains transformed with the genes encoding glutathione synthase, esterase/acyl hydrolase, and glycosyltransferase did not show any degradation ability for swainsonine when being used alone but degraded about 140.5 μg of swainsonine when being used in mixture. The findings will help the clinical promotion of swainsonine-degrading engineering strains and provide new research ideas for the prevention and treatment of swainsonine poisoning in animals and the detoxification and utilization of locoweed.

The biological function of Urtica spp. and its application in poultry, fish and livestock.

Urtica species is an angiosperm plant in the Urticaceae family. It serves as a traditional food and medicinal herb, possessing high nutritional value and various bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, and polyphenolic compounds. In the realm of animal feeds, Urtica spp. can replace traditional protein feed sources and high-quality forage, thereby reducing feed costs. Moreover, Urtica spp. extract exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and boosts immune regulation. Hence, Urtica spp. plays a beneficial role in enhancing animal performance and improving their immune function. Recently, with the development of sustainable farming techniques, the demand for feed additives that prioritize safety, the absence of drug residues, and environmental friendliness have grown. Consequently, Urtica spp. and its extracts have received widespread attention in animal production. This article summarizes the biological functions of Urtica spp. and its application in animal husbandry while also outlining future prospects for its application. It will provide a scientific basis and reference point for the application of Urtica spp. in animal health and breeding.

Variations in Primary and Secondary Metabolites of Panicum maximum under Diverse Wastewater Pollution Conditions

Panicum maximum is planted extensively in tropical and subtropical areas, due to its high-quality forage and high biomass yield. This study aims to assess the varied metabolic dynamics of P. maximum subject to different pollution-related wastewater levels, thus providing information for sustainable agriculture and soil restoration. We analyzed the primary and secondary metabolites in P. maximum subject to two different types of polluted wastewater (WW), compared to a control group. The alterations observed in the metabolite profiles were affected by several factors, including nutrient imbalances and oxidative stress induced by heavy metal accumulation. Initially, the increased nutrient availability stemming from wastewater treatment promoted plant growth; however, this positive effect was later diminished by the adverse impacts of heavy metals, which generated oxidative stress, resulting in metabolic disturbances and a decrease in the plant biomass. Importantly, the substantial increase in antioxidant enzymes, related to primary (e.g., sugars) and secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolics and flavonoids), underscores plants’ adaptive strategies to cope with stress. The increased biosynthesis of flavonoids and phenolic compounds is a protective mechanism against oxidative stress, which also improves the antimicrobial activity, following the activation of key biosynthetic pathways involved in their synthesis. These complex interactions among diverse metabolites suggest that plants exposed to polluted wastewater use various biochemical strategies to increase both their survival and defenses against pathogens. Collectively, these findings emphasize the significance of understanding how wastewater management practices can affect plant health, metabolic responses, and the broader implications for food safety and ecosystem stability.

ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО-БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ РАЗНЫХ ОБРАЗЦОВ АМАРАНТА AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS L. В УСЛОВИЯХ ПРЕДГОРИЙ РСО-АЛАНИЯ

The introduction into cultivation of new plant species that combine not only high yields and nutritional benefits, but also resistance to diseases and pests is an important task for the agricultural industry. The main feature of amaranth is its high performance and active growth, which allows it to be used as a crop with a short growing season, and amaranth also has high seed performance, unlike other traditional crops. The studies were carried out at the experimental site of the Research Institute of Biotechnology of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education Gorsky State Agrarian University. The material for the study was collection samples of amaranth, selected in the full flowering phase. Economic and biological indicators of productivity of different samples of amaranth VR-99, K-51, K-61, K-63 of the genus ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) were established. These amaranth samples are mid-season, the growing season of which is on average 125 days. According to biometric indicators, the studied amaranth samples are of medium height, from 157 to 173 cm. On average, the biomass yield of samples K-61 and K-63 was 440-593.4 c/ha, respectively. The yield of amaranth samples ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) K-51, BP-99 was 406-438.9 c/ha, respectively. The dynamics of the assimilating surface area and leaf blade area in the flowering phase for sample VR-99 was 63.75 (thousand m2/g). In the seed ripening phase, the leaf area was 142.8 (thousand m2/g). The total photosynthetic potential of the leaf surface was 2272.05 million m2 day/ha. Amaranth samples of the genus Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. (BP-99, K-51, K-61, K-63), due to their unique properties, are promising for use as a fodder crop, and its inclusion in the agrophytocenosis of the foothill zone of North Ossetia will provide high-quality forage.

PSLBII-13 Bioinformatics of rumen fluid from steers fed alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures in the Deep South

Abstract When harvesting high-quality, high-water content forages like legumes, there is often a greater percentage of nutritive loss due to the drying process. Alternative feeding strategies like baleage provide a way to mitigate these losses. However, there is not much adoption of baleage in the Deep South. Therefore, our objective was to assess the influence of conserved forage type on rumen metabolomes of beef cattle systems in the Deep South. Three treatments including bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) baleage, and alfalfa-bermudagrass baleage were supplied to four fistulated steers with a calculated daily forage allowance based on intake, body weight, and feed refusals. Each diet was allocated to one of three periods in which all four animals received the same diet due to potential feed spoilage. Each period had a 21-d adaptation period followed by a 5-d collection period to analyze rumen fluid, total fecal weight, feed intake, feed refusal, and total urine. This study integrated 16S RNA sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics to evaluate rumen bacterial diversity and metabolome of beef steers. Sequencing data from the rumen fluid samples were then analyzed using QIIME2. Bermudagrass hay had a reduced alpha diversity compared with alfalfa baleage (Shannon: H = 5.19, P = 0.02). Additionally, we saw a change in beta diversity (P < 0.001), measured using the unweighted UniFrac distance, between conserved forage types and distinct clustering in the PCoA analysis. The most abundant taxa in all microbial communities were from the orders Lachnospirales, Bacteroidales, and Oscillospirales. Previous analysis in this study evidenced that baleage had an increased dry matter digestibility (DMD; P = 0.02). The increase in DMD was associated with the increase in diversity of the metabolome which could influence animal health and performance. Thus, baleage can serve as a beneficial conserved forage type that mitigates the losses of high-quality forages and diversifies the gut microbiome of ruminant animals.

453 Fluxes of greenhouse gases from pastures and methane emissions from beef cattle in Australia

Abstract The carbon footprint of beef cattle production may need to consider both the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHG) of pasture ecosystems and cattle enteric emissions because these are the largest contributors to the carbon balance. The objective of the present study was to measure the fluxes of greenhouse gases from pastures and enteric methane (CH4) emissions from cattle throughout long periods of time under commercial conditions. The fluxes of CH4, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) were measured throughout a period of 3 yr in multiple pasture types ranging from native to sown, and from temperate to summer pastures in New South Wales, Australia. A set of 8 dynamic chambers that automatically close for 10 min every 1.5 h were used for this purpose. The chambers measured the change in the concentration of GHG to allow for the estimation of emissions (positive flux) or sinks (negative flux). All data was then summarized to estimate daily fluxes and the global warming potential (CO2e) was calculated multiplying CH4 by 28 and N2O by 265. The final dataset contained 2,709 d of measurements across the 8 chambers. The GreenFeed system was used to measure CH4 production from cattle under varying conditions fed various diets throughout the same period. Cattle categories included weaners, heifers and steers, bulls and cows under both grazing or pen conditions. Cattle were fed a variety of diets ranging from low quality forages to high quality forages, grain supplementation, and grain-based diets. Data were averaged across many days for each animal and the final dataset contained 1,014 measurements. The CO2 flux from pastures ranged from -855 (uptake) to +339 kg CO2ּ ha-1ּ d-1 with a mean of -10.4 ± 2.19 kg CO2ּ ha-1ּ d-1. The minimum, mean and maximum CH4 fluxes were -192 (uptake), 0.015 ± 0.488, 434 g CH4 ּha-1ּ d-1, respectively, whereas NO2 values -146 (uptake), 17.1 ± 1.23, 1,293 g N2O ּ ha-1ּ d-1, respectively. These fluxes resulted in a GWP ranging from -855 (uptake), -5.83 ± 2.222, 445 kg CO2e ּha-1ּ d-1suggesting that pastures were on average a net sink of GHG throughout the present study. The CH4 production from cattle ranged from 43.6 to 404.6, with an average CH4 production of 192 ± 90.3 g CH4ּ animal-1ּ d-1, which is equivalent to 5.37 kg CO2eqּ animal-1ּ d-1. These results suggest that a hectare of livestock pastures offsets more than the CH4 produced by the average beef cattle in the present study. The fluxes of GHG from vegetation may need to be considered when estimating the contribution of livestock production to global warming.

FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF INTERCROPPED ANNUAL RYEGRASS WITH BERSEEM CLOVER SOWN AT DIFFERENT SEED MIXTURE RATIOS UNDER RAINFALL CONDITIONS OF MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

This research was carried out under rainfall conditions of Mediterranean climate with the aim to study the effects of different seed mixture ratios on forage yield and quality characteristics of mixture. Annual ryegrass sown as pure produced higher green forage yield than berseem clover sown as pure and the mixtures. In the mixture of berseem clover at 20% seed rate and pure annual ryegrass, higher hay yields were determined compared to the other mixtures. As the seed rate of berseem clover decreased, the proportion of berseem clover in the mixture yield and the crude protein ratio of the herbage decreased linearly. In terms of total LER, BC80-AR20 and BC20-AR80 mixtures were the two most advantageous mixtures, while the aggressivity value of annual ryegrass showed a positive value and became the dominant species. Pure sown berseem clover had lower ADF, NDF and higher crude protein content than pure sown annual ryegrass and other mixtures tested. According to these results, it can be said that berseem clover can be included in the mixture at low seed rates for high forage yield under rainfall conditions, while berseem clover can be grown as pure for high forage quality.

Ecosystem services in mountain pastures: A complex network of site conditions, climate and management

Mountain pastures offer a multitude of ecosystem services (ES) such as fodder for ruminants, habitat for pollinators, climate change mitigation, aesthetic landscape for recreation, and biodiversity conservation. We aimed at analysing to which extend these ES are influenced by small-scale gradients of climate, site conditions and management – and to disentangle relationships among ES and the factors influencing them. Therefore, we quantified ES on six mountain summer farms in two contrasting regions in Switzerland: the Northern Alpine Foothills (lower elevation, higher precipitation, calcareous bedrock) and the Eastern Central Alps (higher elevation, lower precipitation, silicious bedrock). We measured six ES indicators (forage quantity, forage quality, carbon storage, colour abundance, resources for pollinators, plant diversity) and related them to explanatory factors of climate (temperature and precipitation), site conditions (soil fertility, soil acidity, terrain slope) and management (local grazing intensity, remoteness) in 66 study plots, i.e., 11 per farm. A holistic picture of the complex relationships among these factors was drawn by various statistical approaches: allometric line fitting, variance partitioning, and structural equations modelling. We found a huge heterogeneity of ES indicators and explanatory factors on each farm: the variability within farms was even higher than between regions. Variance partitioning and structural equations modelling demonstrated strongest influence of climate and site conditions and revealed trade-offs among ES indicators: High forage quantity and quality were associated with low plant diversity and grassland aesthetics, whereas diversity, aesthetics and pollinator resources were positively correlated with each other. ES indicators were explained by a range of climatic and topographic factors: High precipitation reduced plant diversity, whereas temperature increased forage quantity and quality; slope reduced soil fertility, forage quantity, forage quality and carbon storage; soil fertility in turn increased forage quantity; the farther away a pasture was from the main farm building, the lower was the forage quantity and the higher the plant diversity. Although allometric relations among local grazing intensity and ES indicators were strong, the direct influence of the management factors measured on ES was surprisingly small: Cattle preferred areas of high forage quantity and quality, and carbon storage was higher in these areas. On the other hand, places less visited by cattle offered more pollinator resources, and showed higher aesthetics and plant diversity. Trade-offs among ES prevent the realisation of all ES at the same place, but heterogeneity of mountain pastures allows to realise a broad bundle of contrasting ES on each individual summer farm.

Demonstration of Selected Improved Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Varieties with their Agronomic Management Practices at Ura District in Assosa Zone

Tef is a foremost staple cereal crop with substantial contribution in the GDP of Ethiopia. Tef grain is highly nutritious gluten-free as well as high quality forage. However, lack of improved tef varieties reduced the production and productivity of tef in Assosa areas. Hence, the objective of this study is to demonstrate and create awareness about the recently released improved tef varieties for target area. The three recently released improved tef varieties (Dursi, Ebba, Areka-1) and standard check Quncho variety was evaluated on plot size 10m by 10m at adjacent plots. The highest grain yield (1413.68 kg per ha) was obtained by Dursi variety while the lowest grain yield (894.24 kg per ha) was recorded by Quncho variety. The demonstrated tef varieties were Dursi, Areka-1 and Ebba had yield advantage over standard check (Quncho) variety by 36.74%, 14.33% and 9.63%, respectively. Based on selection criteria such as grain yield, plant height, panicle length, diseases resistance and seed color farmers were selected Dursi variety. Based on grain yield obtained and farmers’ selection criteria we recommended that Dursi tef variety will give better yield for target area.

Effects of Grazing and Leaf Spot Disease on the Structure and Diversity of Phyllosphere Microbiome Communities in Leymus chinensis.

Leymus chinensis is a high-quality forage with wide distribution. Disease is an important factor affecting the yield and quality of L. chinensis. To investigate the effect of grazing on the phyllosphere microbiome community and leaf spot disease in L. chinensis, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the differences in the composition and structure of the phyllosphere fungal and bacterial communities of healthy and diseased leaves under different grazing intensities. The results showed that grazing significantly reduced leaf spot disease incidence and severity. There were significant differences in the phyllosphere microbiome composition between healthy and diseased leaves, and interestingly, diseased leaves showed more complex microbial activity. Grazing altered the relative abundance of micro-organisms and affected microbial dispersal and colonization either directly through behavior or indirectly by altering plant community structure. In this study, we found that the phyllosphere microbiome responded strongly to pathogen infection, and that plants recruited beneficial microbes to protect themselves after disease development. Grazing could regulate microbial community composition and structure, either directly or indirectly, and plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of L. chinensis.

Changes in microbial dynamics and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa silage: A potent approach to mitigate greenhouse gas emission through high-quality forage silage

Feeding ruminants with high-quality forage can enhance digestibility and reduce methane production. Development of high-quality silage from leguminous plants with lactic acid bacteria can improve digestibility and it mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we developed a high-quality alfalfa silage with improved fermentation index and microbial dynamics using Levilactobacillus brevis-KCC-44 at low or high moisture (LM/HM) conditions and preserved it for 75 or 150 days. Alfalfa fermentation with L. brevis enhances acidification and fermentation characteristics primarily due to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) L. brevis (>95%) compared to alfalfa fermented with epiphytic LAB. The inoculant L. brevis improved the anaerobic fermentation indexes resulting in a higher level of lactic acid in both high (10.0 ± 0.12 & 8.90 ± 0.31%DM) and low moisture (0.55 ± 0.08 & 0.39 ± 0.0 %DM) in 75 and 150 days respectively, compared to control silage. In addition, the marginal amount of acetic acid (range from 0.23 ± 0.07 to 2.04 ± 0.27 %DM) and a reduced level of butyric acid (range between 0.03 ± 0.0 to 0.13 ± 02 %DM) was noted in silage treated with LAB than the control. The LAB count and abundance of Levilactobacillus were higher in alfalfa silage fermented with L. brevis. Microbial richness and diversity were reduced in alfalfa silage treated with L. brevis which prompted lactic acid production at a higher level even for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, this L.brevis is an effective inoculant for producing high-quality alfalfa silage since it improves fermentation indexes and provides reproducible ensiling properties.

Alpine wetlands degradation leads to soil nutrient imbalances that affect plant growth and microbial diversity

Alpine wetlands degrade rapidly due to climate change and human activities. Studying degradation effects on flora, soil, and microbes, and their mechanisms, can aid wetland management and global carbon dynamic insights. Here, we conducted transect surveys across various levels of degradation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, ranging from non-degraded to severely degraded alpine wetlands. Severe degradation reduced aboveground biomass by 72.5%. As degradation intensified, the abundance of high-quality forage plants, especially Cyperaceae, gradually declined. Degradation resulted in soil nutrient deficiencies and stoichiometric imbalances, which significantly affected plant growth and soil microbial diversity. These changes ultimately led to a decline in carbon sequestration. The diversity of microbial and plant communities’ response to degradation aligned with the “intermediate interference hypothesis.” The altered bacterial community composition, which favors oligotrophic dominance, and its nonlinear response to soil stoichiometry and pH, could explain the maintenance of diversity and species richness of microbial communities under intermediate disturbance.

Evaluating effectiveness of clonal plant selection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) in mixtures: Mean performance and stability in a multi‐environment trial

AbstractAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ‐ grass or alfalfa ‐ sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) mixtures are commonly used for pastures in western Canada because of their high forage quality and their low risk of causing frothy bloat in grazing animals. However, the proportion of these two legumes declines in mixed forage stands over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selecting superior genotypes from clonally propagated alfalfa or sainfoin under plant competition in different growth environments. For this study, around 100 genotypes of each legume were cloned and transplanted into meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Relm.) or alfalfa swards at Saskatoon, SK and Lethbridge, AB, Canada in 2017. Genotype‐environment (G x E) interactions of alfalfa and sainfoin genotypes were analysed by an additive main‐effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. Significant variations in plant height, spring vigour and total dry matter yield (TDM) were observed for both species. Among the measured traits, plant height was a more highly heritable trait (H2 = .16 for alfalfa and H2 = .18 for sainfoin), while TDM was the least heritable (H2 = .08 for alfalfa and H2 = .04 for sainfoin). In the AMMI Analysis of variance for TDM, the genotype explained <12% of the variation for both species, suggesting a direct selection of yield would result in a low genetic gain. The biplot mean performance (Y) x weighted average of absolute scores from the singular value decomposition of the matrix of BLUPs stability index (WAASB) identified several promising genotypes with superior performance and stability across different environments that were selected for producing synthetic lines. However, the synthetic lines of both alfalfa and sainfoin did not consistently exhibit superior performance in mixtures compared to their respective check cultivars.

Quality of Red Clover Forage in Different Organic Production Systems

The aim of this study was to determine the quality of organically grown red clover herbage and silage after being influenced by supplementary mineral fertilization. The experimental treatments were as follows: control treatment without fertilization (group C), treatment where kalimagnesia (Patentkali) was applied (group P), and treatment where potassium sulfate (SOP) was applied (group S). In each year of the experiment, first-cut herbage was harvested at the beginning of flowering and ensiled. The year of the study had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on the analyzed parameters of herbage and silage, excluding the content of calcium (Ca), acetic acid (AA), and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3). The organic production system exerted a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on the concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent lignin (ADL), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), minerals (P, K, Ca, Na), lactic acid (LA), ethanol, and N-NH3. The pattern of fermentation was affected by both experimental factors. True protein (TP) content was determined at 70–84% CP in herbage and 53–65% CP in silages. The energy value and the protein value of herbage varied significantly across years of the study and in response to the combined effects of both experimental factors (p ≤ 0.05). Red clover grown in organic production systems supplied high-quality forage.

Perbedaan Kepadatan Benih dan Nutrisi Organik terhadap Produktivitas Green Fodder Jagung

Hydroponic green fodder is a method for producing forage for livestock in a short time (approximately 7–8 days) without soil. It can be an alternative source of high–quality forage to increase the productivity of ruminant livestock. This research aims to compare differences in seed density and the addition of organic nutrients in the form of shallot skins to the productivity of maize green fodder. Fodder planting is done using a hydroponic system with an automatic watering system. The variables measured were fresh and dry biomass production, conversion of green fodder to seeds, plant height, and nutrient content in corn seeds and green fodder. The experimental design used was a 3 x 2 completely randomized factorial design with treatment factors in the form of seed density (1,25; 1,5; and 1,75 kg/m2) and organic nutrition (soaking with tap water and soaking with shallot skin). The results showed that the production of fresh biomass, dry biomass, and plant height were significantly different (P<0,05) influenced by seed density. Total fresh and dry biomass increased with increasing seed density (P<0,05). Plant height increases as seed density decreases (P<0,05). Soaking seeds using shallot skins did not have a significant effect on the productivity of corn green fodder. A seed density of 1,5 kg/m2 produces the best productivity in green fodder corn

Diversification of Intensively Used Grassland: Resilience and Good Fodder Quality across Different Soil Types

In Central Europe, grasslands for dairy production are typically characterised by monocultures with high input rates of artificial fertilisers. However, it was suggested that biodiversity could reduce the need for anthropogenic inputs in functionally diversified grassland mixes while maintaining or enhancing yields and fodder quality. To investigate this hypothesis, we developed five consecutively diversified grassland mixes consisting of ryegrass, legumes, a non-leguminous forb, and additional grass species for intensive fodder production, and tested them under regular agricultural conditions in a three-year experiment on sandy soil, marshland, and bog soil at one-hectare per mix and site. All mixtures produced similar high-quality forage in terms of utilisable crude protein content and net energy lactation rate, even under challenging climatic conditions. However, a high abundance of Dactylis glomerata can decrease these values, although factors such as seasonality and rainfall affect them to a greater degree. The seasonal composition changes between the functional groups, such as strong spring growth of grasses and strong summer growth of legumes, show complementarity rather than competition between the groups, resulting in consistent biomass production during the growth period. The results were consistent over the three soil types and provide the basis for further adaptation of mixes and breeding.

Initial Evaluation of the Merit of Guar as a Dairy Forage Replacement Crop during Drought-Induced Water Restrictions

Dairy is the largest sector of the agricultural industry in New Mexico, but the sector’s need for high quality forage in the face of ongoing drought and climate change causes concern. The economic merit of using guar to replace alfalfa under imposed constraints in irrigation water availability is evaluated. Nutritional quality of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) grown at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Clovis was estimated using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis. Results show that 45.6 percent of analyzed samples were comparable to Supreme or Premium alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay using Relative Feed Value index, and 23.7% met this criteria using crude protein. While alfalfa uses 4.4 acre-feet of water (approximately 5400 cubic meters) per season, the guar sampled used 5 inches (500 cubic meters) of applied irrigation. Microsoft Excel Version 2404 LP Solver was used to identify an optimum crop mix of alfalfa and guar under different levels of irrigation water constraints. With increasing levels in modeled irrigation restrictions, the use of guar increased the potential forage production by 3% under a 0.4 acre-foot restriction up to almost 59% under a 1.5 acre-feet irrigation water limit. Our results merit additional research, including forage trials to determine the impact of guar forage on milk production and further agronomic research into growing guar to maximize forage yield.

Deer in the agriculture-forest matrix: Interacting effects of land uses on browsing pressure on trees

Cervids inhabit mosaic landscapes that are strongly influenced by human land use and actions. Forestry and agriculture influence both the foodscape and the risk landscape, thus influencing how cervids respond to resource-risk trade-offs. Furthermore, these land use types interact to shape cervid use of the landscape. For example, cervids can forage in open agricultural fields providing high quality forage during the night, while using nearby forest patches to reduce risk during the day. Hence, actions conducted in one of these land use types will likely influence the use of the other by cervids. In this study, we investigate how agricultural and silvicultural practices interact to shape cervid use of the forest and their impact on commercially valuable trees. More specifically, we investigate the effect of growing nutrient dense crops in mixed forest-agriculture landscapes. We hypothesized that the sowing of such crops may not only attract cervids to the agricultural parts of the landscape, but also lead to increased browsing levels in adjacent forest areas where cervids seek cover. Moreover, such high quality crops may not only influence the number of animals, but also increase the intake rate of fibrous tree saplings of individual cervids to nutritionally balance the high input of easily-digestible macronutrients from the crops. We tested these ideas by conducting a large landscape-scale experiment where we manipulated the foodscape by growing two crop types on 28 fields (14 fields with high-quality oat versus 14 fields with lower-quality grass) and measuring cervid use of tree saplings in the forest patches adjacent these fields. We also investigated how forage availability in the forest patches and the distance from field edge affected browsing on tree saplings. Finally, we compared the effects of crop type and forest forage availability on the browsing pressure on coniferous versus deciduous tree species. We studied this in a multispecies ungulate system, where four cervid species occur sympatrically. We show that the type of crop sown influenced browsing pressure on tree saplings in nearby forests, with higher browsing levels in forests surrounding oat compared to grass fields. Moreover, browsing pressure in these forests was influenced by the availability of young trees in the forest stands, where more young trees led to reduced browsing pressure on individual saplings. Our study emphasizes that human practices that shape features of the foodscape in one land use type will influence the impact cervids have in another land use type. Hence, our study highlights the importance of considering the actions and impacts of different land uses simultaneously for predicting cervid foraging patterns in mixed forest-agriculture landscapes.

Evaluating Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Improve the Productivity of Forage Pearl Millet.

India's livestock industry is grappling with a shortage of green fodder, necessitating concerted efforts to boost organized production and ensure a sufficient supply of high-quality forages, crucial for formulating nutritionally balanced, cost-effective, and rumen-healthy animal diets. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the plant growth-promoting characteristics of liquid microbial inoculants and their impact on the yield of forage pearl millet. The bacterial cultures utilized included Sphingobacterium sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and an isolate from vegetable cowpea, subsequently identified as Burkholderia seminalis. These cultures were initially characterized for their plant growth-promoting traits at different temperature and physiological conditions. All the bacterial cultures were found promising for PGPR traits over varied temperature conditions and the optimum activity was recorded at 40°C, with tolerance to saline and drought stresses as well as wide pH and temperature ranges. A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2020 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda, involving combinations of liquid microbial inoculants along with 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF). It was observed that the treatment including B. seminalis + S. maltophilia along with RDF yielded the highest green fodder and dry matter yield, In conclusion, it is evident that the utilization of these liquid microbial inoculants holds significant potential for playing a pivotal role in the integrated nutrient management of forage pearl millet, thereby contributing to heightened productivity and sustained soil health.