High Forage Yield Research Articles

Forage Yield, Chemical Contents, and Silage Quality of Manure Soybean

Use of local leguminous manure crops as forage has become important in southern Asia because regularly producing high‐quality forage legumes is difficult with the high amount of precipitation. This study evaluated whether manure soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] could be used as forage and silage. Two cultivars of manure soybean were produced in two growing seasons and harvested at different growth stages. The highest forage yields were 9.3 Mg ha−1 for soybean cultivar Tainan No. 4 (TN4) at stage R5 (beginning seed) and 13.0 Mg ha−1 for cultivar Tainan No. 7 (TN7) at stage R7 (beginning maturity). Crude protein (CP) content was highest at R5 for TN4 and at R7 for TN7. The CP content of TN7 did not differ between spring and fall crops, but that of TN4 was 5 to 8% higher in the spring than fall. With advanced growth from R5 to R7, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content increased for TN7 but not TN4. The mean Flieg's point for silage was 26.5, 50.7, and 56.1 for ensiling treatments of soybean alone and soybean with Nilegrass (Acroceras macrum Stapf.) or corn (Zea mays L.) meal, respectively. The mean Flieg's point for silage made from soybean harvested at R3 (beginning bloom), R5 and R7 was 38.4, 47.5 and 47.3, respectively. Thus, manure soybean harvested at R5 can produce forage with high yield and good quality. The silage quality of manure soybean can be improved by ensiling with Nilegrass or corn meal.

English

This study has been carried out during the growing seasons of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 in Turkey, to determine the effects of different nitrogen doses on the herbage (150, 230, 310, 390, 470, 550, 630 and 710 kg ha-1) and seed yields (150, 170, 190, 210, 230, 250, 270 and 290 kg ha-1) of and some agricultural characteristics of annual ryegrass cv. “caramba”. Two different trials were established separately for the production of herbage and seed in the research. According to the two-year research, applications of different nitrogen doses are observed to be important for all properties of herbage yield and properties except for plant height of seed yield. As a result, the highest forage yield in annual ryegrass with the aim of green herbage is obtained to be of (54834 kg ha-1) 470 and (54976 kg ha-1) 550 kg ha-1 at nitrogen levels, plant height (71.9 cm), crude protein ratio (21.2%) and the yield of crude protein is (1982 kg ha-1) 470 kg ha-1. It was obtained for the seed production that the highest number of tiller (626 item/m2), fertile tiller number (483 item/m2) and grain yield are (0.54 mg) 210 kg ha-1, spikelet number per grain is (32.7 item) 250 kg ha-1 and (33.6 item) 270 kg ha-1, the highest seed yield is (343 kg ha-1) 250 kg ha-1 from the nitrogen dose application. In the light of information, the highest values were obtained from total 470 kg ha-1 nitrogen application in herbage production and 250 kg ha-1 in seed production. Key words: Crude protein, fodder crops, herbage yield, seed yield, nitrogen doses. &nbsp

INFLUENCE OF TWENTY-THREE ANNUAL APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN AND SULFUR FERTILIZERS, AND ONE-TIME LIMING ON DRY MATTER YIELD OF GRASS AND SOME SOIL PROPERTIES ON A DARK GRAY CHERNOZEM SOIL

Most soils in the Prairie Provinces of Canada are deficient in plant-available nitrogen (N), and many soils in the Parkland region also contain insufficient amounts of plant-available sulfur (S) for high crop production. A field experiment with perennial grass stand was conducted to determine the effects of long-term annual N (112 kg N ha−1), S (11 kg S ha−1) and potassium (K) (40 kg K ha−1) fertilization, and one-time lime application on forage dry matter yield (DMY) and soil properties [pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and N (TON), and light fraction organic C (LFOC) and N (LFON)] on a Dark Gray Chernozem (Boralfic Boroll) loam at Canwood in north-central Saskatchewan, Canada. The experiment had surface-broadcast annual treatments of no fertilizer (Nil), N, S, NS, and NSK fertilizers from 1980 to 2002, and one-time lime application in 1992 to bring soil pH to about 7. Application of N or S alone had only a little effect on DMY compared to unfertilized Nil treatment, while application of both NS together substantially increased DMY, and forage yield was further increased when K was also applied (NSK). The DMY following one-time liming was greater in limed plots than in unlimed plots for at least 10 years. Decline of soil pH by fertilization mainly happened in the 0–10 cm depth with N only, and in the 0–5 cm layer with NS treatment, whereas these treatments tended to increase soil pH in layers below 10 cm. One-time surface application of granular lime increased soil pH, mainly in the 0–5 cm layer, and the effect was maintained for at least 9 years. Mass of TOC, TON, LFOC, and LFON in different soil layers increased with combined applications of N and S fertilizers (NS), but the effect was much more pronounced in the 0–7.5 cm soil layer, and also varied with organic fraction. Light organic fractions were more responsive to applied NS than total organic fractions. The findings suggest that application of N and S together was effective in sustaining high forage yield and increasing C and N sequestration in a soil deficient in both N and S.

Forage Yield and the Quality of Perennial Legume-Grass Mixtures under Rainfed Conditions

This study was performed to determine suitable perennial forage species and their mixtures for the establishment of short-term artificial pastures under rainfed conditions in Turkey. The study was conducted from 2008 through 2010. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa Lam.), brome grass (Bromus inermis Leys.), intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host). Beauv.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) and their binary and ternary mixtures were used as experimental material. The study found significant differences in yield and quality among the forage mixtures investigated. Sainfoin + bromegrass + crested wheatgrass and sainfoin + crested wheatgrass mixtures gave the highest dry matter yield (8.36 and 7.75 t/ha, respectively). Binary and ternary mixtures of alfalfa + grasses had higher crude protein levels and lower values of ADF and NDF content than mixtures of sainfoin + grasses. Pure alfalfa (56.64%) and binary mixtures of alfalfa + grasses (53.53 to 54.28%) had the highest TDN values. The relative feed values of the mixtures ranged from 95.64 to 112.58. The results of the study indicated that alfalfa and sainfoin binary mixtures with grasses may both be used to establish artificial pastures in similar ecologies owing to their high forage yield and quality.

Produção agronômica de uma coleção de acessos de Paspalum nicorae Parodi

Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar uma coleção de 53 acessos de Paspalum nicorae, estabelecidos em duas regiões fisiograficamente distintas durante dois anos, buscando caracterizar a produção e qualidade de forragem dos acessos para etapas subsequentes em programa de melhoramento de plantas forrageiras. Os acessos foram estabelecidos em linhas, num delineamento de blocos casualizados com três repetições, e as avaliações foram realizadas de outubro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2009 por meio de cortes. Houve variação da produção de forragem entre os acessos ao longo do tempo e entre os locais. A maioria dos acessos de P. nicorae apresentou elevado rendimento de forragem em comparação à testemunha (P. notatum cv. Pensacola) e alguns acessos apresentaram desempenho bem expressivo. Os percentuais de proteína bruta obtidos nos acessos da coleção foram semelhantes aos encontrados na testemunha. Os acessos 28B e 26A de P. nicorae são indicados para etapas subsequentes de um programa de melhoramento de plantas forrageiras.

‘AU Red Ace’, a Red Clover for the Lower South

‘AU Red Ace’ (Reg. No. CV‐30, PI 657696) double‐cut red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was developed and released in 2008 by Auburn University and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. It was released because it has a consistently high forage yield. Restricted phenotypic recurrent selection was used in the first cycle of selection in the development of this cultivar. Subsequent cycles of selection used mass selection with male‐ and female‐plant selection. Initial selection criteria were individual plant biomass, vigor, 2‐yr survival, and susceptibility to northern anthracnose [caused by Kabatiella caulivora (Kirchn.) Karak.], southern anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum trifolii Bain), and powdery mildew (caused by Erisyphe polygoni DC). Subsequent cycles focused on selecting for mid‐ to late‐summer plant survival and plant vigor. Thus, selected plants were those that survived southern anthracnose and stress caused by high temperatures and/or drought. The cultivar ‘Cherokee’ was the standard of comparison. Forage was harvested when about 20% of the stems had flowers, and additional cuttings were made when the plants began to flower again. On the average, AU Red Ace had a total forage dry‐matter production 12 to 26% higher than Cherokee and has the potential to provide high levels of forage throughout the spring and often into the summer season. AU Red Ace plants are erect with pubescent stems that flower in the seeding year. Flowering can be the same as or up to 6 d earlier than Cherokee. AU Red Ace is well adapted to Alabama and probably other southern states in the Deep South region.

Combining ability and mode of inheritance of stem thickness in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) F1 hybrids

Aim of this research was determination of mode of inheritance, gene effects components of genetic variance, combining abilities, average contribution of lines and testers and their interactions in expression of stem thickness in forage sorghum F1 generation. Method line x tester was applied. Material comprised of eight genetically divergent A-inbred lines of grain sorghum three R lines-testers of Sudan grass and twenty-four F1 hybrids obtained by crossing lines with testers. Among tested genotypes there were significant differences in mean values of stem thickness. Analysis of variance of combining abilities showed that there were highly significant differences for general combining abilities (GCA) and specific combining abilities (SCA) non-additive component of genetic variance (dominance and epistasis) had greater portion in total genetic variance for stem thickness. During the first research year, interaction between inbred maternal line with testers had the largest contribution in expression of stem thickness of F1 hybrid at both locations, while in the second year at location Rimski Šančevi the largest contribution belongs to lines and at location Mačvanski Prnjavor the largest contribution belongs to testers. Assessment of combining abilities showed that these inbred lines of grain sorghum can be used as mothers: SS-1 646, SS-1 688 and S-8 682 in breeding forage sorghum for thicker stem. According to SCA, promising forage sorghum hybrids are S-8 682 x ST-R lin H and P-21 656 x C-198. This research can be of importance for developing new high-yielding forage sorghum hybrids.

Impact of Inter-Row Spacing on Yield and Yield Components of several Annual Medics Species

A field study was conducted in Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran to evaluate the effects of three within-row spacing treatments (20, 30 and 40 cm) on forage and seed production of five species of annual medics ( Medicago scutellata cv. ‘Sava’; M. littoralis cv. ‘Herald’; M. polymorpha cv. ‘Santiago’; M. minima cv. ‘Orion’ and M. truncatula cv. ‘Mogul’). The experiment was carried out in Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. The results of the experiment indicated that M. polymorpha had the highest forage yield out of the highest plant population. Latter with average 443.09 Kg ha -1 and M. scutellata with average 409.99 Kg ha -1 produced the highest seed yield. Also, the last species with 1306.78 Kg ha -1 had the highest pod yields. The highest seed yield and pod yield were produced at 20 cm within-row spacing because there were not adequate plants for maximum seed and pod yields in 30 and 40 cm within-row spacing. The tested plant densities did not affect on seeds number per pod, 1000 seeds weight and seeds to burr pod weight ratio. The M. truncatula and M. minima have the highest seeds number per pod. In addition, M. scutellata had the highest 1000 seeds weight with an average of 12.57 g. The highest seeds to burr pod ratio was observed in M. polymorpha. The most pod numbers were obtained in 20 and 30 cm within-row spacing and M. polymorpha while, the least pod numbers was observed in M. scutellata. Plant densities did not affect on pod numbers of the mentioned species. The highest dry forage yield was produced in 20 cm within-row spacing. Among the tested tested species, M. truncatula had the highest forage yield with average 870.07 Kg ha -1 . This experiment indicated that there is possibility for seed and forage production of tested annual medics in the mentioned zone with the considering suitable plant densities.

Production of annual winter forage sown before and after soybean harvest under different nitrogen fertilization levels

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect on forage yield of sowing winter forage species before and after soybean harvest, at different nitrogen application levels. The experiment was set out in a randomized block design with a strip-split plot arrangement, and three replicates. Sowing methods (18 days before soybean harvest and six days after soybean harvest) were allocated in the main plots, and the combination among forage species (Avena strigosa cv. IAPAR 61 + Lolium multiflorum; A. strigosa cv. Comum + L. multiflorum; A. strigosa cv. Comum + L. multiflorum + Vicia villosa; A. strigosa cv. Comum + L. multiflorum + Raphanus sativus; and L. multiflorum) and nitrogen levels (0, 140, 280 and 420 kg ha-1) in the plots and subplots, respectively. Forage sowing before the soybean harvest made it possible to anticipate first grazing by 14 days, with satisfactory establishment of forage species without affecting forage production. This method permitted a longer grazing period, preventing the need for soil disking, besides allowing the use of no-tillage system. The mixture of forage species enables higher forage yield for pasture in relation to single species pastures, with response to nitrogen fertilization up to 360 kg ha-1.

Forage Yield, Growth Rate, and Nitrogen Uptake of Faba Bean Intercrops with Wheat, Barley, and Rye in Three Seeding Ratios

ABSTRACTAnnual cool‐season grain legumes like faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown in mixtures with winter cereals such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), or rye (Secale cereale L.) may offer advantages over cereal‐alone crops grown for forage production. A 2‐yr field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of intercropping faba bean with each of the above cereals in three seeding ratios (i.e., 75:25, 50:50, and 75:25) on growth rate, plant height, chlorophyll content, forage yield, and N uptake. Growth rate of faba bean and cereals was lower in the mixtures than in the monocultures, especially in the faba bean–barley mixtures because of the strong competitive ability of barley. Chlorophyll content was lower in faba bean compared with the cereals, and there was no difference among seeding ratios. Plant height of faba bean was higher in the intercrops compared with its monocrop at 3 wk after tillering (WAT), whereas at 6 WAT, the trend was different since faba bean plants in the monocrop were higher than in the intercrops. Rye monocrop and rye–faba bean intercrops provided the greatest forage yield. Although the three intercrops of faba bean with rye had lower crude protein (CP) content than the faba bean monocrop, they provided the highest CP yields per hectare because of their higher forage yield than the faba bean monocrop.

Yield, Quality, and Water and Nitrogen Use of Durum and Annual Forages in Two‐Year Rotations

Annual spring‐seeded forage crops use less water than cereal grains, including durum (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum), and may be suitable to replace summer fallow. We conducted an experiment from 2002 through 2006 comparing yield, quality, and water and N use of durum and three annual forages, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), barley interseeded with pea [Pisum sativum L. ssp. arvense (L.) Poir.], and foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] in 2‐yr rotations. Durum in rotation with summer fallow and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were included. Averaged over 5 yr, alfalfa had higher forage yield and quality, water use, and N accumulation compared to annual forages. Annual forages had similar preplant and postharvest soil water contents, but barley and barley–pea had higher yields and water use compared to millet. Barley–pea intercrop had superior forage crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and N accumulation compared to barley and millet, but acid detergent fiber (ADF) and nitrogen recovery index (NRI) were similar among annual forages. Averaged over 4 yr, preplant soil water and residual N content were greater for durum following fallow than for durum following annual forages, resulting in reduced fertilizer N requirement and greater yield, water use, grain N accumulation and NRI following fallow. Replacing summer fallow with annual forages reduced durum grain yield by 727 kg ha−1 but provided forage yield of 4.9 Mg ha−1 Annualized net returns in annual forage‐durum systems were $127 ha−1, $77 and $34 ha−1 greater than for fallow‐durum and alfalfa, respectively. Replacing summer fallow with annual forages reduced durum yield but improved profitability.

Registration of Kura1 Trifolium ambiguum (M. Bieb) Germplasm

Kura1 is a broad‐based autohexaploid (2n = 6x = 48) Trifolium ambiguum (M. Bieb) germplasm (Reg. No. GP‐280; PI 643168) selected for aggressive rhizomatous spreading ability and plant vigor in a southern Wisconsin environment. Kura1 was developed jointly by the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDA–ARS), Madison, WI, and released jointly by the USDA–ARS and the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station in December 2006. Few improved kura clover breeding populations exist in North America with even fewer named varieties. Kura1 germplasm is a very competitive addition to the improved germplasm base available to breeders. Kura1 was developed by selecting 69 parents for persistence, vigor, and spreading ability out of a common space plant nursery of 35 kura clover plant introductions, breeding populations, germplasm, or varieties. Syn1 seed was produced in Wisconsin in 2004 and Syn2 seed was produced in Wisconsin in 2008. In southern Wisconsin, Kura1 has 12% higher forage yield and 100% better spreading than ‘Cossack’ and 29% higher forage yield and 33% better spreading than ‘Rhizo’. Kura1 also has extensive additive variance for important traits of seedling establishment and vigor, general plant vigor, rhizomatous spreading ability, and seed yield.

Possible utilization of high-salinity waters and application of low amounts of water for production of the halophyte Kochia scoparia as alternative fodder in saline agroecosystems

Production of halophytes using saline waters and soils and feeding them to livestock is one of the most sustainable methods of conservation in desert ecosystems, in addition to accomplishing food production for the people living in these areas. Therefore, to study the possibility of irrigating Kochia ( Kochia scoparia L. Schrad) with minimum quantities of highly saline water for use as a fodder crop in arid environments stretching across saline waters, two experiments were carried out in the Research Farm of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. In the salinity experiments, two populations of Kochia, including the Sabzevar and Indian genotypes, were irrigated with ground water having electrical conductivity (EC) of 5, 15, and 20 dS m −1 . In the irrigation-treatment experiments, two local populations of Kochia, including Sabzevar and Borujerd, were subjected to four irrigation regimes as follows: complete irrigation (100%), 80%, 60%, and 40% of the water requirements using a saline ground water with EC = 5 dS m −1 . Because, the Indian genotype is preferred as an ornamental plant , it is not suitable for increased dry-matter production under high-salinity irrigation water compared to the local genotype (Sabzevar), which is suitable for forage. The Sabzevar genotype produced a large amount of dry matter (7530 kg ha −1 ), even when irrigated with 20 dS m −1 saline water. The best time for harvesting Kochia for fresh feeding is at the end of flowering (88 days after sowing or DAS), when the biomass is relatively high (6500 kg ha −1 ) and the leaf-to-shoot ratio, as a quality index, is approximately 50%. The highest green-area index was observed at 15 dS m −1 and decreased at high levels of salinity. Photosynthesis and transpiration rate did not decline significantly with increasing external salinity four weeks after salinization , but increased in both genotypes at 15 dS m −1 , indicating that the salinity-tolerance threshold of Kochia for both photosynthesis and transpiration reduction is above this salinity level. The Indian genotype also showed a very low seed yield (210 kg ha −1 ) at low levels of salinity, whereas Sabzevar produced 1120 kg ha −1 seed under the same conditions. Different irrigation regimes had a significant effect on the biomass and seed production of Kochia. The highest forage yield was obtained from complete irrigation, with 11.1 Mg ha −1 dry material. Sabzevar local population represented a better performance in terms of all characteristics, except accumulation of inflorescence dry matter, and no significant effects were recorded. In conclusion, Kochia's high foliage production capacity in the presence of salinity and limited irrigation make this plant suitable for use as an alternative forage crop in harsh environmental conditions. There is a wide range of intraspecific variation in K. scoparia, but more investigation is needed to introduce it as a cash crop.

Living Mulch Forage Yield and Botanical Composition in a Corn‐Soybean‐Forage Rotation

Managing forages as living mulches during row crop production requires suppressing the forages to produce economical crop yields. The objective of this research was to identify forage plants with varied growth habit, persistence, and yield potential to provide desirable ecosystem functions in a multifunctional cropping system. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) were evaluated in sole seedings, binary mixtures, and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were included in three‐way mixtures in a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–forage rotation. The forages functioned as cover crops in corn and soybean and were suppressed using a 25‐cm glyphosate band over the row. In the forage year, treatments containing alfalfa produced the highest yields (7824 kg ha−1 average dry matter 2005–2007). Three‐way mixtures provided greater weed suppression in the interrow than sole seedings or binary mixtures in 2 of 3 yr (80 vs. 127 weeds m−2, 2005–2006 average). Kura clover provided greater weed suppression than alfalfa in the former row (108 vs. 186 weeds m−2). Reed canarygrass exhibited better stability in sward composition (20% in 2005 and 22% in 2007) than orchardgrass (58% in 2005 and 16% in 2007). Consequently, the best combination of species to use as living mulches to provide high forage yields and lower weed densities includes alfalfa, kura clover, and reed canarygrass. Seeding a nondormant alfalfa in the spring of the forage year will supplement yield and suppress weeds in the former crop row.

Biodiversity for multifunctional grasslands: equal productivity in high-diversity low-input and low-diversity high-input systems

Abstract. Modern grassland management seeks to provide many ecosystem services and experimental studies in resource-poor grasslands have shown a positive relationship between plant species richness and a variety of ecosystem functions. Thus, increasing species richness might help to enhance multifunctionality in managed grasslands if the relationship between species richness and ecosystem functioning is equally valid in high-input grassland systems. We tested the relative effects of low-input to high-input management intensities and low to high plant species richness. Using a combination of mowing frequencies (1, 2 or 4 cuts per season) and fertilisation levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha−1 a−1), we studied the productivity of 78 experimental grassland communities of increasing plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 species with 1 to 4 functional groups) in two successive years. Our results showed that in both years higher diversity was more effective in increasing productivity than higher management intensity: the 16-species mixtures had a surplus of 449 g m−2 y−1 in 2006 and 492 g m−2 y−1 in 2007 over the monoculture yields whereas the high-input management resulted in only 315 g m−2 y−1 higher productivity in 2006 and 440 g m−2 y−1 in 2007 than the low-input management. In addition, high-diversity low-input grassland communities had similar productivity as low-diversity high-input communities. The slopes of the biodiversity – productivity relationships significantly increased with increasing levels of management intensity in both years. We conclude that the biological mechanisms leading to enhanced biomass production in diverse grassland communities are as effective for productivity as a combination of several agricultural measures. Our results demonstrate that high-diversity low-input grassland communities provide not only a high diversity of plants and other organisms, but also ensure high forage yields, thus granting the basis for multifunctional managed grasslands.

Long-term effects of balanced fertilization on grass forage yield, quality and nutrient uptake, soil organic C and N, and some soil quality characteristics

Many soils in the Parkland region of the Canadian Prairie contain insufficient amounts of plant-available S and N for high crop yields. Two field experiments (Experiment 1 1980–2005 and Experiment 2 1996–2005) were conducted on a Dark Gray Chernozem (Boralfic Boroll) loam soil at Canwood in north-central Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of long-term N, S and/or K fertilization to grass on mean forage dry matter yield (DMY), nutrient (N, S and K) concentration and nutrient uptake (averaged over years), and root mass, soil pH, total organic C (TOC) and N (TN), light fraction organic matter (LFOM), C (LFC) and N (LFN), mineralizable C and N, and extractable ammonium-N and nitrate-N in May 2006 (after 26 or 10 growing seasons). Experiment 2 additionally compared the effects of ‘hay-on’ (cut hay not removed) versus ‘hay-off’ (hay removed) on the plant and soil parameters. Experiment 1 had annual treatments of no fertilizer, N, NS and NSK fertilizers from 1980 to 2005, and Experiment 2 received no fertilizer, N, S and NS fertilizers from 1996 to 2005 under ‘hay-on’ and ‘hay-off’ conditions. While DMY, nutrient uptake and root mass were little affected by application of N or S alone compared with the unfertilized treatment, they were substantially increased by application of both N and S together. Co-application of N, S and K fertilizers increased DMY, nutrient uptake and root mass compared with NS application in Experiment 1. Nitrogen concentration in forage was highest in the N only treatment, followed by NS, and then nil, S or NSK treatments. The concentration of K in forage decreased in the order of treatments: NSK > nil or S treatment > N or NS; and of S: NS or S treatment > NSK treatment > nil treatment > N only treatment. Nutrient uptake was influenced more by forage DMY than nutrient concentration. In Experiment 2, DMY and N and K uptakes were greater under ‘hay-on’ than ‘hay-off’ conditions. Soil pH to 15-cm depth was decreased by NSK fertilization. The amounts of TOC, TN, LFOM, LFC, LFN, and mineralizable C and N in the 0–10 cm soil were increased considerably by the co-application of N and S fertilizers. The increase in soil C correlated well with the increase in DMY or root mass resulting from balanced fertilization. Not removing hay resulted in substantially increased LFOM, LFC and LFN contents in soil. The accumulation and downward movement of nitrate-N in the soil profile was decreased with NS application compared with N alone. In conclusion, application of N and S fertilizers together to soil deficient in both N and S produced high forage yield, nutrient uptake and root mass while also reducing soil pH, increased C and N sequestration in soil, and minimized accumulation and downward movement of nitrate-N in the soil profile.

Veldt cicer milkvetch

Veldt cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) was developed by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta. This synthetic cultivar, tested as LRC 94-1 in Western Forage Trials, was developed for improved seedling vigor and high forage yield. Veldt cicer milkvetch produced 19% more dry matter yield in western Canada than Oxley (check cultivar). Under non-irrigated conditions the dry matter yield of this cultivar was 15% greater than Oxley, while under irrigation the dry matter yield was 21% greater. Veldt is well suited for pasture and hay production in western Canada in both pure and mixed stands with grasses and other legumes. The seed size and seed yield of the new cultivar are about 12% higher than Oxley.Key words: Cultivar description, cicer milkvetch, Astragalus cicer L., seedling vigor, forage yield

The effect of nitrogen levels on forage yield and some attributes in some hybrid corn (Zea mays indentata Sturt.) cultivars sown as second crop for silage corn.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of four nitrogen levels on forage yield and some attributes three corn cultivars under irrigated conditions in Mustafakemalpasa, Bursa, Turkey in 2005 and 2006. The field experiments were set up according to randomized complete block experimental design with three replications. Three varieties were used (LG 2687, PR34N43 and H 2547) and four rates of nitrogen (0, 150, 300 and 450 kg ha -1 ) were applied. The plant height, first ear height, stem diameter, the number of leaf and ear per plant, ear percentage in green herbage, forage yield and dry matter yield were determined. The effects of different nitrogen levels were not significant on all attributes, except forage and dry matter yield. It was determined that 300 kg N ha -1 was suitable for high forage and dry matter yield. The forage yields of cultivar were obtained between 81457 and 92913 kg ha -1

Caracterización forrajera de un sistema silvopastoril de vegetación secundaria con base en la aptitud de suelo

Tree and shrub forage production were evaluated during the dry season in three soil within a silvopastoral system (SPS) complementary to traditional, local cattle systems in Yucatan, Mexico. Soils were Epileptic cambisol (CMlep, 24 %), Endoskelectic cambisol (CMnsk, 21.3 %) and Rodic luvisol (LVro, 28.4 %). Three, 100 m2 quadrants were set in each soil and vegetation with >1.0 cm maximun tree diameter at breast height inventoried in each quadrant. Experimental design was a stratified block arrangement with each soil being a block. Nine forage species were identified within the SPS. Bauhinia divaricata was the most abundant overall with 1,148 individuals and had the largest population (577 individuals) in the LVro. Piscidia piscipula (n= 495) had the largest basal area (1.8 m2) of the forage species. After standardization cut, only three species produced new shoots: Leucaena leucocephala, P. piscipula and B. divaricada. Considering these three species, the highest forage yield was observed in the CMlep. In this soil, L. leucocephala produced higher amounts of DM per plant than B. divaricata and P. piscipula. L. leucocephala and P. piscipula had better overall yield in the CMlep. B. divaricata did not perform differently in the three studied soils but had greater yield, better cut response and a higher number of plants than L. leucocephala and P. piscipula. These three species are potentially useful as forage producers during the dry season and their yields could be improved by considering regional pedodiversity.

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on phytic acid concentration and vigor of oat seed (var. Saia) in Mexico

Oats cereal is a worldwide significant crop. It is grown in restrictive climates and in rainy regions of temperate areas. Cultivation of oats produces high forage yields and grain quality, which gives it a wide variety of use... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on Tech Science Press