Legume Mixtures Research Articles

Effect of the Solid Fermentation with <i>Rhizopus Oligosporus</i> on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of a Mixture of Legumes to Produce Tempeh: Application of Mixture Design Methodology

Effect of the Solid Fermentation with <i>Rhizopus Oligosporus</i> on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of a Mixture of Legumes to Produce Tempeh: Application of Mixture Design Methodology

THE 4 C APPROACH AS A WAY TO UNDERSTAND SPECIES INTERACTIONS DETERMINING INTERCROPPING PRODUCTIVITY

Modern agriculture needs to develop transition pathways toward agroecological, resilient and sustainable farming systems. One key pathway for such agroecological intensification is the diversification of cropping systems using intercropping and notably cereal-grain legume mixtures. Such mixtures or intercrops have the potential to increase and stabilize yields and improve cereal grain protein concentration in comparison to sole crops. Species mixtures are complex and the 4C approach is both a pedagogical and scientific way to represent the combination of four joint effects of Competition, Complementarity, Cooperation, and Compensation as processes or effects occurring simultaneously and dynamically between species over the whole cropping cycle. Competition is when plants have fairly similar requirements for abiotic resources in space and time, the result of all processes that occur when one species has a greater ability to use limiting resources (e.g., nutrients, water, space, light) than others. Complementarity is when plants grown together have different requirements for abiotic resources in space, time or form. Cooperation is when the modification of the environment by one species is beneficial to the other(s). Compensation is when the failure of one species is compensated by the other(s) because they differ in their sensitivity to abiotic stress. The 4C approach allows to assess the performance of arable intercropping versus classical sole cropping through understanding the use of abiotic resources.

Lamb growth rates and carcass characteristics of White Dorper and crossbred lambs grazing traditional and novel pastures during spring in southern Australia

Context Finishing lambs on pasture and specialist forages is a commonly used production system in southern Australia; however, there is little information properly comparing multiple pasture options for lamb production. Aim We aimed to compare growth rates of lambs when grazing traditional pastures, novel legumes, or a herb–legume mixture. Methods Six pasture and forage treatments were sown in three replicate 0.4-ha plots and with access to irrigation. Treatments were French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.), bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum L.), forage brassica (Brassica napus L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), lucerne + phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), and arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) + chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). The last two treatments were sown in a 1 : 1 alternate sowing-row (tyne) arrangement. All plots were grazed concurrently from 15 October to 2 December 2014, each plot with a mixed-sex group of 13 weaned lambs: five White Dorper, three White Suffolk × White Dorper and five White Suffolk × Merino lambs. During the grazing period, lambs were weighed each week following an overnight curfew. Starting liveweight (mean ± s.d.) was 32.4 ± 5.5 kg. At the completion of the grazing period, lambs were slaughtered and carcass traits recorded. Key results Lambs grazing arrowleaf clover + chicory had the highest average daily growth rates (ADG) (245 g/lamb.day) and those grazing lucerne + phalaris the lowest (119 g/lamb.day). There was a lag in ADG for the forage brassica treatment over the first 14 days of grazing, and lamb growth plateaued for the bladder clover treatment toward the end of the trial. Overall, ADG for the forage brassica and bladder clover treatments was similar to that for lucerne. Lambs grazing French serradella had similar ADG to 18 November compared with those grazing other treatments, except arrowleaf clover + chicory; however, lambs grazing French serradella were withdrawn from the experiment on 26 November after losing weight. The genotype × treatment interaction was significant for final liveweights, with White Suffolk × White Dorper lambs having higher predicted final liveweight on the arrowleaf clover + chicory pasture (45.2 kg) than White Dorper (43.8 kg) and White Suffolk × Merino (44.0 kg) lambs, and higher liveweight on lucerne than White Suffolk × Merino lambs (42.6 vs 41.4 kg). White Dorper lambs had a higher overall sale value owing to their higher dressing percentage. The proportion of lambs reaching the finished weight target was higher for arrowleaf clover + chicory (0.96) than for any other treatment. Conclusions and implications Using a forage option that maintains high levels of production and quality later in spring can increase the proportion of lambs reaching target weights and the final sale weight of lambs.

CONSUMPTION OF COOKIES IN THE SCHOOL LUNCH BOX OF CHILDREN PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL OF THE CITY OF RIOBAMBA-ECUADOR

Malnutrition in Ecuador is present, while malnutrition rates decrease, overweight and obesity are increasing, indicating that a double burden of malnutrition coexists as a new epidemiological profile; to which the national government administers cookies at the school level, but if it improves its biological quality with a contribution of good quality protein such as a mixture of cereals and legumes, it will also improve infant feeding at low cost. The consumption of cookies in the school collation was determined and its nutritional contribution was evaluated; Through a descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study, 1531 children from educational institutions in Riobamba were investigated. The majority (82%) of children consume cookies in their collation, whether for commercial sale or that administered by the government, which allows the hypothesis of the high consumption of cookies in the school collation to be accepted, (P≤0.01); When evaluating the caloric intake of the food consumed, the great energy contribution given by carbohydrates given by sugars is established, but when performing the nutritional analysis, it is established that although the percentage of adaptation for calories and carbohydrates exceeds what recommended (> 110%), in the remaining macronutrients are very deficient especially fat. It is necessary to offer schoolchildren from educational institutions high-quality, low-cost cookies and conduct educational campaigns towards healthy school feeding with a view to improving their nutritional status.

Sparrow Preferences for Winter Cover Crops in California's Central Coast

Agriculture in many regions of the world has reduced bird habitat and abundance, and altered avian community structure. A study was conducted on an organic research farm over two winters (Oct to Mar) in an intensive agricultural region of Salinas Valley, CA to determine how cover crop variety and planting density influenced birds. Cover crops were rye (Secale cereale), a mixture of rye and legumes (Vicia spp., Pisum sativum), and a mustard mixture (Brassica juncea, Sinapis alba). White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophyrs), Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) and Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were observed both years in the study field. Bird droppings in cover crops were quantified and dissected to determine dietary preferences, and sparrow movement when flushed was determined. Dropping number and weight per m2 were at least 10 times greater in mustard than in rye and in the legume-rye mixture. Droppings were dominated by leaf tissue in mustard versus arthropod tissue in rye and legume-rye. Within cover crop variety, plant density did not have a clear or consistent effect on sparrows. Sparrows flushed from cover crops usually settled in mustard. The White-crowned Sparrow fed on mustard leaves and apparently on weed foliage under mustard. The arthropod-dominated droppings in rye and legume-rye cover crops were consistent with the food preferences of Song and Savannah Sparrows. The White-crowned Sparrow’s clear preference for mustard cover crops is likely due in part to their high dietary needs for sulfur-rich amino acids during the prenuptual molt. This paper provides novel information to help farmers and others understand the cover crop preferences of sparrows, and ways that farmers might use mustard cover crops as trap crops to reduce White-crowned Sparrow feeding damage on winter and spring vegetable crops. It also provides evidence of ecosystems services that these sparrows provide by feeding on weed tissue in winter cover crops.

Nitrogen supply and rainfall affect ammonia emissions from dairy cattle excreta and urea applied on warm-climate pastures.

Cattle excreta and nitrogen (N) fertilizer deposited on tropical grasslands are important sources of ammonia (NH3 ) emission. We conducted three field trials (wet, intermediate, and dry conditions) to quantify NH3 emissions from urea fertilizer and simulated excretions of heifer urine and dung on warm-climate grasslands in Brazil. Heifer excreta were derived from pastures of palisadegrass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster 'Marandu'] under three forms of N supply (without or with N fertilization [0 or 150kg N ha-1 yr-1 ] or mixed with forage peanut [Arachis pintoi 'Amarillo']). Cumulative NH3 -N emissions across rainfall conditions were 7.6-16.6% (mean, 11.7%) for urine, 1.4-2.9% (mean, 2.0%) for dung, and 11.2-20.5% (mean, 14.8%) for urea. Ammonia loss from urine was significantly greater than from dung under all rainfall conditions. Emission from urine and dung differed from those when urea was applied on palisadegrass. There were greater NH3 emissions from urine in the wetter times of the year. Heifer excreta from N-fertilized pasture had greater NH3 emission than excreta from the grass-legume mixture and unfertilized palisadegrass. Urea applied on palisadegrass presented greater NH3 emissions in wet rainfall conditions compared with dry conditions but did not differ from intermediate conditions. Our study showed that N-fertilized systems increase N losses as NH3 emission from excreta, and emissions from urea fertilizer must be included in this system. Heifer excreta and urea fertilizer deposited on warm-climate grasslands increased the NH3 emissions mainly under wet conditions.

Cover crop biomass production across establishment methods in mid‐Atlantic corn

AbstractDrill‐interseeding, broadcast‐interseeding, and post‐harvest drilling for establishment of overwintering cover crops after no‐till corn (Zea mays L.) each present distinct challenges and benefits. Experiments were conducted at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (Beltsville, MD) across three growing seasons (2013–2014, 2014–2015, 2015–2016) to evaluate the relative performance of these three establishment methods across four cover crop treatments: (a) cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), (b) annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot], (c) a legume mixture including red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and (d) a grass–legume mixture including annual ryegrass, red clover, crimson clover, and hairy vetch. Both fall and spring biomass showed a significant three‐way interaction effect among cover crop, establishment method, and year. Cereal rye had the greatest biomass with late post‐harvest drilling but produced less fall and spring biomass than other cover crops in the drill‐interseeded treatments in two of the three growing seasons. The drill‐interseeded legume mixture produced less spring biomass than annual ryegrass and the grass–legume mixture when established at a later corn growth stage. Our results highlight potential pitfalls of each establishment method and cover crop, depending on annual variability in weather and management.

Introducing grazeable cover crops to the winter wheat systems in Oklahoma

AbstractFields are typically kept fallow after winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain harvest in the U.S. southern Great Plains (SGP). Introducing summer cover crops to the system could increase soil conservation and farm profitability if grazed. The objective of this research was to evaluate cover crops’ forage yield, residue cover potential, weed suppression, and effect on wheat production. Monocultures and grass–legume mixtures of cover crops were established in mid‐June of 2016 and 2017 near Chickasha and Perkins, OK. At 6 weeks after planting (WAP), three cutting regimes based on stubble height were used: severe (2.5 cm), recommended (legumes: 7.5 cm, grasses and mixtures: 15 cm), and no cutting. Cover crops regrowth was chemically terminated at 14 WAP; winter wheat was no‐till seeded in mid‐October; then harvested in early‐June 2017 and 2018. Cultivar Triple Treat sorghum−sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × S. bicolor var. sudanese] and grass−legume mixtures showed the greatest available forage dry matter. Grasses and grass−legume mixtures had greater forage dry matter residue and weed suppression than legumes. Results indicated that exceeding 6.4 ± 1.2 Mg ha−1 of total dry matter (TDM) produced during the summer, a wheat grain yield penalty of −50.1 ± 15.8 kg ha−1 resulted for each increment of 1.0 Mg ha−1 of TDM produced. Also, a wheat protein content penalty of −1.9 ± 0.5 kg ha−1 resulted in each increment of 1.0 Mg ha−1 of TDM produced when exceeding to 5.7 ± 1.0 Mg ha−1 TDM threshold. Findings suggest N uptake by high‐biomass grasses and mixtures might result in deficient water and N availability for wheat production.

Technosols made from urban and industrial wastes are a good option for the reclamation of abandoned city plots

Rapid urbanization followed by economic crisis frequently results in the presence of degraded abandoned urban plots inside or in the periphery of cities. Urban greening can be a low-cost solution for their reclamation but, inevitably, the necessary plants require an appropriate medium to grow and thrive. In this study, Technosols were explored as a suitable option to simultaneously face two common challenges of many cities, i.e., the reclamation of degraded abandoned city plots and the recycling of industrial and urban wastes. To this purpose, a mesocosm experiment was carried out to assess the suitability of six different Technosols (resulting from the combination of the following four ingredients: CDW: construction and demolition wastes; BIO: bio-stabilized material from a municipal composting plant; BENT: recycled bentonites from a local industry; TS: topsoil from vacant public plots) for the reclamation of abandoned city plots. The six Technosols were prepared in triplicate and then installed in 12 m2 experimental cells. Control cells containing only one of the ingredients (i.e., four controls, one per ingredient) were also included in the experiment. In each cell, four different vegetation treatments were established in quadrants: meadow (a mixture of grasses and legumes), crop rotation (rape, wheat, sunflower), forest (mixture of trees, bushes and shrubs) and tree plantation (willows). For three years after the implementation of the abovementioned treatments, a wide set of parameters (mainly, of physicochemical nature) were monitored in Technosol, Technosol eluate and cell leachate samples, following the applicable legislation. Most of the parameters monitored along the experimental period complied with the limits established by the applicable legislation by the end of the experiment. Nonetheless, the concentration of sulphates in the Technosol eluates exceeded the so-called “inert” legal limit but remained under the “non-hazardous” legal limit. All plant treatments showed a satisfactory growth except for willow trees, most likely due to water limitations. A higher amount of organic matter in the Technosol favoured the growth of meadows and crop rotations. Technosols showed a high heterogeneity, a limitation that should be taken into account when applying them in the reclamation of abandoned city plots. However, it was concluded that Technosols from urban and industrial wastes are a suitable option that promotes urban waste valorization.

Nutritive value and herbage mass in hybrids of Paspalum plicatulum × Paspalum guenoarum fertilized with nitrogen or in mixture with temperate legumes

AbstractRecent efforts placed on breeding Paspalum species made available novel genetic resources for livestock production systems. Nitrogen (N) is an important factor to increase warm‐season grass nutritive value and production, either as anthropogenic supply or in mixture with legumes. Dry matter yield (DMY) and nutritive value in Paspalum plicatulum Michx. × Paspalum guenoarum Arechav. hybrids in response to different rates of N or in mixture with temperate legumes were evaluated for two years. The experiment was a randomized complete block design in split‐plot arrangement with three replications. Treatments were six N supply systems: 0, 60, 120, 240, 480 kg N/ha and grass–legume mixture [white clover (Trifolium repens L.) + birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)] as whole plots, and six genotypes (hybrids: 1020133, 102069, 103084, 103061, P. guenoarum ecotype ‘Azulão’ and Megathyrsus maximus cv. ‘Aruana’ used as controls) as subplots. Higher N rates increased DMY and provided variability among genotypes. In general, grass–legume mixture showed greater crude protein and digestibility, and lower neutral and acid detergent fiber than N fertilized grass (p < .05). Hybrid 1020133 had DMY similar to Aruana and Azulão in years 1 and 2. Hybrids 103084 and 103061 exhibited higher nutritive value than Aruana and Azulão in year 1 (p < .05), and similarly in year 2. These three hybrids were identified as potential releases. Supplying N by fertilization or mixture with legumes increased DMY and improved nutritive value in Paspalum pastures.

Herbage responses and nitrogen agronomic efficiency of bahiagrass–legume mixtures

AbstractBahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is the most utilized forage in Florida and requires N fertilization to optimize production. Integrating legumes into bahiagrass pastures may reduce N fertilizer inputs and improve forage nutritive value. This 2‐yr, 2‐location, on‐farm study established two legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.), in mixtures with bahiagrass. We compared bahiagrass–legume mixtures + 45 kg N ha−1 harvest−1 with their non‐N fertilized monocultures and with bahiagrass + 90 kg N ha−1 harvest−1 (N‐fertilized bahiagrass). Treatments were bahiagrass, N‐fertilized bahiagrass, bahiagrass–alfalfa, bahiagrass–RP, alfalfa, and RP. Variables analyzed included herbage accumulation (HA), botanical composition, forage N concentration, forage total N aboveground (TNAG), and N agronomic efficiency. Mixtures and N‐fertilized bahiagrass resulted in similar cumulative HA (10,400 kg dry matter [DM] ha−1 yr−1, on average) and they were greater than all other treatments (4,190 kg DM ha−1 yr−1, on average). Alfalfa and RP represented low proportions of the mixed swards, with alfalfa proportion being as high as 16.1% and as low as 1.6%. Rhizoma peanut greatest proportion was 2.1% and the lowest was 0.5%. Mixtures and N‐fertilized bahiagrass maintained similar N concentrations, but they were consistently lower than legume monocultures. The N‐fertilized bahiagrass and mixture treatments resulted in the greatest TNAG in four out of the six sampling dates. The AEN of mixtures was typically greater than N‐fertilized bahiagrass. Since legumes had low proportion in mixtures, 45 kg N ha−1 harvest−1 was the upper limit for reaching maximum HA in bahiagrass.

Ecosystem service delivery by cover crop mixtures and monocultures is context dependent

AbstractWhile cover crops and mixtures are increasingly used to provide ecosystem services in agroecosystems, some fundamental questions remain about how cover crop performance and composition vary in different conditions, limiting optimal cover crop use. We conducted a field experiment at a research farm in New York, including a subset of treatments in three working farm fields. We selected two common cover crops, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a legume, and common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a grass, with multiple cultivars of each. We looked at the effect of cover crop composition spanning intraspecific and grass–legume mixtures on five ecosystem services: cover crop productivity, weed suppression, total biomass nitrogen, soil N retention, and long‐term N supply via legume fixed N. We did not find intraspecific diversity to have an effect on any ecosystem services we measured, nor was that response context dependent. We did observe significant ecosystem service improvements in the grass–legume mixture, though this was context dependent and the performance of the mixture varied relative to the monocultures at different farm sites. Regardless of this interaction however, the grass–legume mixture was as good as or better than either monoculture for all services and sites, except soil N accrual at one site. Consequently, increasing complexity in cover crops through grass–legume mixtures is a low risk practice that may have the potential to deliver ecosystem service outcomes greater than those of monocultures across a range of growing conditions.

YIELD, QUALITY AND COMPETITION PROPERTIES OF GRASS PEA AND WHEAT GROWN AS PURE AND BINARY MIXTURE IN DIFFERENT PLANT DENSITIES

Mixtures of annual forage legumes with winter cereals for forage are practiced traditionally in the Mediterranean conditions. The objectives of this study were to compare grass pea and wheat pure stands as well as their mixtures in different plant densities under two seeding ratios for forage yield and quality and to estimate the effect of competition between the two species used in the intercropping systems. The experimental design was split plot in a randomized complete block with three replications. The main plot treatments were plant densities (350, 500 and 650 plant m-2) and sub-plots treatments were four sowing norm (pure grass pea (GP), 60% GP+ 40% W, 70% GP+ 30% W and pure wheat (W)). The results of the present study showed that plant densities do not have a significant effect on forage yield and quality, while the effect of mixture and pure stands on forage yield and quality were significant. According to the two-year average results, 60% GP + 40% W mixture gave the best results in terms of yield and quality. Calculated LER values showed that wheat+grass pea mixtures were more advantageous than pure stand of both species. As result of this research, 350 plant m-2 plant density and 60% GP + 40% W mixture can be recommended.

Agronomic response of forage mixtures in a silvopastoral system of the Colombian dry tropic

Mixtures of forage grasses and legumes were established on 9.7 ha, using the following treatments: Brachiaria hybrida cv. Cayman,Brachiaria hybrida cv. Toledo, Panicum maximum cv. Mombaza, Brachiaria hybrida cv. Cayman + C. brasiliensis, Brachiaria hybridacv. Toledo + C. brasiliensis, Panicum maximum cv. Mombaza + C. brasiliensis. The following variables were evaluated: vigor, height ofthe plant, coverage, incidence of pests and diseases at the four-week mark and production of forage and dry matter were recorded at the six-week mark. Statistical differences were found for plant height, which evidenced which of the treatments behaved best in terms of growth. Non-combined treatments were found to perform best for the production of dry matter variable. C. brasiliensis contributes to the growth of the combined grasses during the first four weeks of establishment, but after this time the legume begins to compete for space and light, affecting the development of the other forage species.

Grass–Legume Forage Systems Effect on Phosphorus Removal from a Grassland Historically Irrigated with Reclaimed Wastewater

The utilization of reclaimed wastewater is a suitable and sustainable approach to agriculture production in water-scarce regions. However, even though the wastewater is treated to reduce nutrient concentration such as phosphorus, the 10,600 to 14,006 m3 of water applied ha−1 year−1 on grass and alfalfa hay crops in Nevada can lead to soil phosphorus buildup over an extended period. This study evaluated the effectiveness of forage systems (FS) of monoculture grass, monoculture legume, and their mixtures on herbage accumulation, tissue phosphorus concentration, and quantity of phosphorus removed from a grassland under wastewater irrigation. The study was carried out at the Main Station Field laboratory in Reno, Nevada, USA. A total of 23 FS using tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in monocultures or grass–legume mixtures (25:75, 50:50, and 75:25) based on seeding rate were used. The response variables were herbage accumulation (HA), tissue phosphorus concentration, and phosphorus removal. Forage systems means were considered different P ≤ 0.05. Herbage accumulation, tissue phosphorus concentration, and phosphorus removal differed among FS and year. Herbage accumulation was similar for the grass monocultures (10.5 Mg ha−1; SE = 1.1) and the majority of the grass–legume mixtures (9.0 Mg ha−1; SE = 1.1) but both systems had greater HA than legumes monoculture (4.3 Mg ha−1; SE = 1.1). The legume monocultures of alfalfa and white clover had the greatest phosphorus concentrations (10.9 g kg−1 dry matter; SE = 0.44) among all FS. Total phosphorus removed was least among legume monocultures (34.0 kg P ha−1; SE = 6.2) in this study and generally similar for grass monocultures (67.4 kg P ha−1; SE = 6.2) and grass–legume mixtures of 75:25 (61.7 kg P ha−1; SE = 6.2). Based on the response variables, agronomic, and environmental considerations a grass–legume mixture that includes 75:25 or even a 50:50 seeding rate ratio will be suitable options for phosphorus removal from phosphorus enriched grasslands in semiarid ecosystems that utilized wastewater for irrigation.

The contribution of nitrogen fixed by annual legume pastures to the productivity of wheat in two contrasting Mediterranean environments in central Chile

Annual legume pastures exhibit high resilience and productivity in Mediterranean climate regions and can be an important source of nitrogen (N) for temperate cereals in integrated livestock production systems. This work seeks to evaluate the inputs of N fixed by annual legume mixtures (composed of 3–4 species and cultivars) grown for one, two or three years in a cropping sequence, and their contribution to soil N availability, N uptake and the grain yield of wheat, and compares this with the cereal rotation of oats and wheat with and without N fertilizer. Two field experiments comprising annual legume-wheat rotations were carried out in two contrasting Mediterranean environments in central Chile, the interior dryland in the eastern part of the coastal mountain rage, and the Andean foothills, over four growing seasons (2008–2011). At both experimental sites two mixtures of annual legumes were used in rotation with wheat. The duration of the pasture phase was between one and three years. In the interior dryland, the shoot DM of mixture M1 (T. subterraneum + M. polymorpha + T. michelianum) was higher than M2 (T. subterraneum + B. penicilius + O. compressus), and in the Andean foothills M4 (T. subterraneum + T. vesiculosum + O. compressus) was more productive than M3 (two cv. of T. subterraneum + T. incarnatum). The amount of N2 fixed by the legume mixtures, estimated by the 15N natural abundance technique, ranged between 28 and 87 kg N ha−1 in the interior dryland, and between 176 and 385 kg N ha−1 in the Andean foothills, representing respectively around 25 and 23 kg N ha−1 fixed for every Mg of shoot DM accumulated by the annual legumes. Wheat grain yields following legume mixtures represented 53–104 % of the 3.39 Mg ha−1 produced after oats with N fertilizer in the interior dryland, and between 68 and 101 % of 6 Mg ha−1 attained after oats in the Andean foothills, in 2011. N use efficiency (NUE) of wheat was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in legume-based crop rotation than after oats with or without N fertilizer, at both sites. Legume mixtures also improved the N uptake (NUPE) and N utilization (NUtE) efficiencies of wheat compared to those observed after oats with N fertilizer, at both sites. Important differences among legume mixtures and the duration of the pasture phase were observed at both sites.

Seasonal performance of shared silage combine harvesters in a machinery ring

The article presents the results of monitored operation of combines during the first season of their joint use for silage preparation in the northern part of Montenegro in machinery rings in the municipalities of Bijelo Polje, Berane and Pljevlja. The seasonal performance was determined for a total of 6 combines, of which only one was used for the preparation of silage from whole corn plants, one combine was used for preparing silage from cuts, and four combines were intended for direct mowing and ensiling of grass. The research included 7 machinery rings and 45 farmers, of which 11 (24.44%) shared harvesters for the preparation of silage from grass, alfalfa, a mixture of legumes, and grain. During the season, the shared harvesters worked 45 days and achieved an output of 23.95 ha and 687.75 t of silage. For the preparation of silage from whole corn plants in 2 machinery rings, a joint combine was used by 9 farmers. The total seasonal performance of the combine was 14.9 ha of harvested land, and 468.45 t of corn silage for 19 days of work. The extent of use of shared silage combine harvesters depends on plot size, area under fodder plants, organization of work, output of the combine, optimal dates for cultural operations, and weather conditions i.e. the number of days suitable for work, etc.

Labile soil carbon fractions as indicators of soil quality improvement under short-term grassland set-aside

Grassland set-asides (GLSA) are fields that are taken out of intensive annual crop production and seeded with a mixture of grasses and legumes for one to four years to improve soil quality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) the relationships among soil organic carbon (SOC), permanganate oxidisable C (POXC), dilute-acid extractable polysaccharides (DAEP) and aggregate stability to determine if they may be used as proxies for one another, (ii) whether these indicators could be used to predict aggregate stability, (iii) if differences in soil quality after short-term GLSAs, detected with aggregate stability, could instead be detected with POXC or DAEP and (iv) potential use of diffuse Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-MIR) to predict POXC, DAEP and aggregate stability in the Fraser River Delta region of British Columbia, Canada. There were strong relationships among SOC, POXC and DAEP, but the relationship between DAEP and SOC (R2 = 0.60, P < 0.0001) was less strong than that observed between POXC and SOC (R2 = 0.71, P < 0.0001). All three soil C fractions were significantly predicted with the 2–6 mm aggregate size fraction but the correlations for DAEP (R2 = 0.43) and POXC (R2 = 0.36) were stronger than that for SOC (R2 = 0.29). Predictions of soil quality indicators using FT-MIR produced R2 = 0.92 for POXC, R2 = 0.93 for DAEP and R2 = 0.62 for the 2–6 mm aggregate size fraction. These results suggest that FT-MIR holds promise as a low-cost method to determine labile soil C fractions that are better proxy soil quality indicators for aggregate stability than SOC.

Herbage mass, botanical composition, forage nutritive value, and preference of grass–legume pastures under horse grazing

AbstractCool‐season perennial grasses are the foundation of productive horse pastures in the north‐central United States. The addition of legumes in pastures can increase forage mass and digestible energy content, yet little research has investigated grass–legume pastures under horse grazing. The objectives of this research were to evaluate herbage mass, botanical composition, forage nutritive value, and preference of grass–legume pastures under horse grazing. Plots consisting of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) were planted in monoculture and in binary mixtures with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and grazed by horses in Minnesota during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 grazing seasons. Herbage mass, weed mass, and forage nutritive values were determined prior to grazing, and horse preference was evaluated following grazing. When evaluating herbage mass, the inclusion of alfalfa resulted in a consistently higher mass than grass monoculture. Kentucky bluegrass mixtures resulted in a decreased mass of non‐sown (weed) species and an increase in horse preference. Improved forage nutritive values were also observed with the inclusion of legumes regardless of grass species, including higher crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility at 48 h and lower neutral detergent fiber. As a result, using grass–legume mixtures in pastures can provide benefits for grazing horses and pasture productivity.

Agronomic performance of interspecific Paspalum hybrids under nitrogen fertilization or mixed with legumes

AbstractNitrogen supply and mixtures with legumes affect agronomic performance of pastures, and both practices can guide breeding decisions in Paspalum hybrids. The goals of this study were: (a) quantify herbage accumulation (HA), leaf accumulation (LA), cold tolerance, and N use efficiency (NUE) in P. plicatulum × P. guenoarum hybrids subjected to N fertilization or grown in a mixture with legumes; (b) compare the grass–legume system to a grass–N fertilizer system; and (c) select the best hybrid for future cultivar releases. A randomized complete block design with three replications and a split‐plot treatment arrangement was used for 2 yr, with five N rates (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg N ha−1) and a grass–legume mixture [grass + white clover (Trifolium repens L.) + birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)] as whole plots, and six genotypes as subplots (hybrids: 1020133, 102069, 103084, 103061; and controls: P. guenoarum ‘Azulão’ and Megathyrsus maximus ‘Aruana’). Higher N rates increased HA, LA, and cold tolerance. Higher NUE was obtained between 60 and 120 kg N ha−1. In the grass–legume mixture HA was similar to the rates of 60 and 120 kg N ha−1. Hybrid 1020133 had HA similar to the controls, LA greater than Aruana, and greater cold tolerance and NUE at 60 kg N ha−1 than Azulão and Aruana. Hybrid 1020133 should be selected for further animal performance studies. The agronomic performance of perennial pastures can be improved through N management, and NUE should be a selection criterion in forage breeding.