Mixture Of Barley Research Articles

Effect of Fertilizers, Seeding Rates of the Legume Component and Weather Conditions on Yield and Accumulation of Plant Residues of LupineCereal Mixtures on Grain in the Center of the NonChernozem Region

On mediumcultivated mediumloamy sod-podzolic soils of the Central NonChernozem region, well provided with mobile phosphorus and potassium (IV–V class), the cultivation of lupine–cereal mixtures for grain with the participation of narrowleaved lupine varieties Ladny, spring wheat, barley and oats varieties of Nemchin breeding after grain precursors in a changing climate ensured grain production in an average of 5 up to 3.0–3.7 t/ha with a share of the legume component of 29–57% and the remaining dry mass of plant residues in the soil up to 6–8 t/ha with the accumulation of total nitrogen in it up to 40–60 kg/ha and biological – 12–17 kg/ha. In arid conditions (GTK = 0.80–0.92), a mixture of lupine and barley was distinguished for the better in terms of yield and weight of plant residues, and in case of waterlogging (GTK = 2.47) – mixtures with oats and spring wheat. The inclusion of liquid micronutrients of organic nature in the technological process with a stimulating effect for non-root top dressing eliminated the need for pre-sowing application of nitrogen fertilizer and, in conditions of moderate aridity, increased grain yield, depending on the composition of the mixture, to 3.9–4.9 t/ha (by 53–59%), the yield of plant residues – up to 7–11 t/ha (by 54–139%) and in them there is an accumulation of symbiotically bound nitrogen – up to 15–25 kg/ha or 5–8 times more than without their use.

UREA TREATMENT OF MATURE WHOLE-CROP CEREAL MIXTURES AS SALVAGE FORAGE FOR SMALL-SCALE DAIRY SYSTEMS IN THE DRY SEASON

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Forage from small-grain cereals is an option to diversify feeding strategies in small-scale dairy systems (SSDS), due to their short cycle and ample adaptation. Mixtures of cereal species may have synergic advantages; however, grazing or ensiling is not always possible due to climatic factors, so forage crops are left to mature and lose quality. Urea treatment of whole-crop mature cereal mixtures may be an option to salvage forage that could not be grazed or ensiled. <strong>Objective:</strong> To evaluate the performance of dairy cows fed urea-treated mature whole-crop forage mixtures of triticale (TRT), rye (RYE), and barley (BLY), in the dry season for SSDS. <strong>Methodology</strong>: Treatment mixtures were TRT+RYE, TRT-BLY, and RYE+BLY. Fully mature cereal mixture crops were treated with 4 - 6% granular urea (plus water) on a fresh basis. Forage variables were analysed with a split-plot design. Whole-crop forage yields were 3.4 ton/ha, with highest yields for RYE-BLY. Crude protein content increased two-fold in treated forages, and dry matter digestibility was moderate with a mean estimated ME content of 7.9 MJ ME/kg DM. Performance was evaluated by an on-farm 3x3 Latin square experimental design repeated 3 times with nine Holstein cows, experimental periods were 14 days, of which 10 days were for adaptation to feeding and 4 days for sampling. Cows were offered daily 9.0 kg DM of urea-treated forage; complemented with 4.4 kg DM of concentrate, day-grazing, and 1.5 kg of cut pasture. <strong>Results: </strong>There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) for any of the animal variables. Urea treatment of whole-crop mature cereal mixtures resulted in a complementary moderate quality salvage forage for the dry season. <strong>Implications:</strong> The present study is presented as an alternative when the crops are in a state of advanced maturation and it is intended to modify the nutritional quality of the forages. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The use of urea can be an alternative to improve the nutritional quality of forages.</p>

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Microbial community response to cover cropping varied with time after termination

AbstractThis study evaluates cover crop (CC) effects on microbial community structure in a winter wheat–sorghum–fallow rotation with pea, oat, and canola; mixtures of pea and oat; pea and canola; pea, oat, and canola; and six species mixture (SSM) of pea, oat, canola, hairy vetch, forage radish, and barley as CCs, and fallow as treatments. Soil microbial community structure was analyzed at CC termination (phase I), 36 days (phase II), and a year (phase III) after termination using an ester‐linked fatty acid methyl ester analysis. Total microbial biomass (TMB) under oats was significantly greater than under canola (by 47%) in phase I (p ≤ 0.05). The TMB was >48% under pea, pea + canola, and SSM, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was 70%–93% more under pea, canola, and their mixtures than fallow in phase II. While microbial abundance varied with CCs at and after 36 days post‐termination, these effects did not persist for a year. Long fallow period after cropping or cover cropping appears detrimental to microbial community proliferation.

Management impacts on organic carbon under continuous perennial grass, perennial grass-legume mixture, and annual cereals on a thick Black Chernozemic soil

Impacts of annual and perennial pasture management on soil organic carbon (SOC) and equivalent SOC stocks (equal soil mass basis) were investigated in two trials [CAESA (1994–1997) and BMP (2008–2012) trials] conducted on the same experimental paddocks at Lacombe, AB. The original site was broken from perennial grass in 1992, and the CAESA trial established in 1993. Between 1994 and 1997, half of the paddocks included winter triticale and a mixture of triticale and spring barley; half included smooth and meadow bromegrass; and each paddock was light, medium, or heavily grazed. The BMP trial (2008–2012) on the same paddocks included fertilized, direct seeded barley as silage; grazing and haying of unfertilized meadow bromegrass, fertilized meadow bromegrass, and meadow bromegrass and alfalfa mixture; and unfertilized oldgrass that was continuous since 1994. Between trials (1998–2007), all paddocks received no fertilizer. In the 0–15 cm depth, SOC under oldgrass was constant between 1994 and 2012 and averaged 88 Mg C ha−1. Under barley silage, SOC decreased from 89 to 72 Mg C ha−1 by 2012. Between 1994 and 2012, SOC decreased in all treatments re-established on original annual forage (1994–1998) but not to the level of barley silage. Light fraction carbon was the highest under oldgrass and the lowest under barley silage. Overall, oldgrass with no fertilizer inputs maintained a constant SOC, although annuals reduced SOC stocks. Re-establishment of perennial grass with grazing may therefore reduce SOC loss, whereas haying perennial grass may not reduce SOC loss.

Understanding the effect of component proportions on disease control in two-component cultivar cereal mixtures using a pathogen dispersal scaling hypothesis

A field experiment was carried out to determine the importance of component cultivar proportions to spring barley mixture efficacy against rhynchosporium or scald symptoms caused by the splash-dispersed pathogen Rhynchosporium commune. A larger effect than expected was observed of small amounts of one component on another for reducing disease overall, but relative insensitivity to proportion as amounts of each component become more similar. An established theoretical framework, the ‘Dispersal scaling hypothesis’, was used to model the expected effect of mixing proportions on the spatiotemporal spread of disease. The model captured the unequal effect of mixing different proportions on disease spread and there was good agreement between predictions and observations. The dispersal scaling hypothesis therefore provides a conceptual framework to explain the observed phenomenon, and a tool to predict the proportion of mixing at which mixture performance is maximized.

Functional Bread Produced in a Circular Economy Perspective: The Use of Brewers' Spent Grain.

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the main by-product of the brewing industry, corresponding to ~85% of its solid residues. The attention of food technologists towards BSG is due to its content in nutraceutical compounds and its suitability to be dried, ground, and used for bakery products. This work was aimed to investigate the use of BSG as a functional ingredient in bread-making. BSGs were characterised for formulation (three mixtures of malted barley and unmalted durum (Da), soft (Ri), or emmer (Em) wheats) and origin (two cereal cultivation places). The breads enriched with two different percentages of each BSG flour and gluten were analysed to evaluate the effects of replacements on their overall quality and functional characteristics. Principal Component Analysis homogeneously grouped BSGs by type and origin and breads into three sets: the control bread, with high values of crumb development, a specific volume, a minimum and maximum height, and cohesiveness; Em breads, with high values of IDF, TPC, crispiness, porosity, fibrousness, and wheat smell; and the group of Ri and Da breads, which have high values of overall smell intensity, toasty smell, pore size, crust thickness, overall quality, a darker crumb colour, and intermediate TPC. Based on these results, Em breads had the highest concentrations of nutraceuticals but the lowest overall quality. Ri and Da breads were the best choice (intermediate phenolic and fibre contents and overall quality comparable to that of control bread). Practical applications: the transformation of breweries into biorefineries capable of turning BSG into high-value, low-perishable ingredients; the extensive use of BSGs to increase the production of food commodities; and the study of food formulations marketable with health claims.

Single and Interactive Effects of Unmalted Cereals, Hops, and Yeasts on Quality of White-Inspired Craft Beers

White beers owe their name to their straw yellow colour deriving from the use of unmalted wheat, which also supplies a relatively high protein content causing haze formation. This study aimed to develop white-inspired craft beers made with combinations of three mixtures of barley malt/unmalted wheat (alternatively durum-var. Dauno III, soft-var. Risciola, or emmer-var. Padre Pio), two hop varieties (Cascade or Columbus), and two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (Belgian yeast and a high-ester producing yeast); and assess the single and interactive effects of these ingredients on physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics of the beers. According to the graphical representation of the results for the Principal Component Analysis, most of the samples appear overlapped since they had similar characteristics, but it was possible to highlight two clusters of beers different from the others: those produced with (a) Risciola wheat and Columbus hop and (b) Dauno III wheat, Cascade hop, and the Belgian yeast. The beers of these clusters obtained the highest scores for their overall quality that, in turn, was positively correlated with concentrations of citric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, and epicatechin; alcohol %, colour, amount and persistence of foam, intensity of fruity flavour, and body.

Small-grain forage mixtures for silage: Yield and botanical, morphological and chemical composition

In small-scale dairy systems (SSDS), multispecies pastures and small-grain cereal silages have been shown to be a feasible option to cope with the possible effects of climate change, such as erratic rainfall patterns and temperature extremes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic variables and green forage and silage quality of a binary mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rye (Secale cereale) compared to a ternary mixture of barley, rye, and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) in two zones (San Joaquín and Tixhiñú) in the Mexican central highlands. A complete randomized design with factorial arrangement was used with the two mixtures and two locations as factors. The binary crop showed a 13.3 cm greater height (P<0.05), and forage production was similar between mixtures (P>0.05). The ternary silage had 57.6 g kg-1 DM less neutral detergent fiber, 68.1 g kg-1 DM higher digestibility and higher metabolizable energy content and crude protein (P<0.05). The binary mixture was dominated by rye, a species with a high proportion of stem (74.4%), which influenced the quality parameters. The inclusion of triticale favored the quality of the ternary mixture, and in general, barley performed poorly. The ternary mixture of small-grain cereals did not show major agronomic benefits but did show quality benefits, making silage from this mixture a viable option for use in SSDS.

Determination of probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolated from three lacto‐fermented cereals mixed with whey, citrus, and tomato pomace

AbstractThis study tested the probiotic activities of bacteria and yeast isolates from three lacto‐fermented cereal (LFC) products which were earlier shown high probiotic efficacy in farm animals. LFC products were freshly produced by solid‐state fermentation using fresh whey without a starter culture. LFCa is a mixture of barley, whey, citrus pomace, LFCb of rye, whey, citrus pomace, and tomato pomace and LFCc of LFCb with an addition of ground thyme leaves at the end of fermentation. Six bacteria and two yeast species were isolated from LFC products and tested for probiotic activities. Candida spp and Saccharomyces spp exhibited low probiotic activities. However, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates, namely, Lactobacillus plantarum O33, Pediococcus pentosaceus 10, Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei O54, Enterococcus spp., Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis O3, and Lactobacillus curvatus O32 had overall high survival rates of 76% at pH 4.0, 95% at pH 5.0, 70% at 0.30% of bile salt, high exopolysaccharide production of 85 to 150 mg/L, acceptable aggregation rates of 19% of 4 h co‐aggregation with E. coli and 25% auto‐aggregation, high inhibition zones of 11 to 20 mm in diameter of pathogens and resistance to three antibiotics. Multivariate tests showed that Enterococcus spp. was the one with the highest probiotic efficacy. In conclusion, these LFC products can be used as probiotic supplements.Novelty impact statementThis study determined the probiotic activity of bacteria and yeasts isolated from lacto‐fermented cereals, previously shown to have high efficacy in animal studies. Yeast isolates exhibited low probiotic abilities, while six lactic acid bacteria isolated exhibited strong probiotic properties. Enterococcus spp. was found with the highest probiotic activities. The results showed that the products or isolated bacteria strains can safely be used in food and feed applications for health benefits.

Herbage and Silage Quality Improved More by Mixing Barley and Faba Bean Than by N Fertilization or Stage of Harvest

Legume–cereal mixtures are pivotal in yielding a more balanced forage composition compared to the sole crops, due to the well-adjusted equilibrium of carbohydrate and protein. However, great attention is required in choosing the optimal ratio of the components for the mixtures and other agronomic practices (including N fertilization and stage of harvest), because they can sharply change the forage composition and quality. To fill this gap, the present research compared the herbage and silage qualities and key fermentative and nutritional traits of biomasses obtained by: (i) five mixtures (i.e., 100:0; 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) of hybrid barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba var. minor); (ii) two N barley fertilization rates (0 vs. 140 kg N ha−1); and (iii) three stages of harvest (milky, early dough and soft dough). We found that the presence of faba bean improved the forage quality, either herbage or silage, through different mechanisms. In the herbage mixtures, faba bean inclusion increased crude protein (CP), and, when compared to the fertilized barley, also water-soluble sugar (WSCs) concentration, with small effects on the relative feed values (RFV) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). In the silage, the higher the faba bean share in the mixture, the higher the RFV, the non-fibrous carbohydrates, and total and lactic acid concentrations, and the lower the pH and the hemicellulose and cellulose concentrations, particularly at the early and mid stages of harvest. These improvements were likely due to the high ability of faba bean to attain a vegetative status (i.e., low dry matter concentration) by the end of the cropping season, and to improve the organic acid production. Our results suggest that the inclusion of faba bean in a barley-based silage system can widen the window for silage harvesting, thanks to its ability to sustain the fermentation process, despite a lower WSC to CP ratio compared to the unfertilized barley. These results occurred almost irrespectively of the faba bean share in the mixture and barley fertilization. This implies that when designing intercrop mixtures, the effect of crop densities on yield should be considered more than on quality.

Revalorizando un subproducto de cervecería. Desarrollo de un snack pronto para consumir obtenido por extrusión

The aim of this work was to re-evaluate and find a use for human consumption of a by-product of the industrial brewing process, that contributes to the development of the circular economy.Grain powder is a by-product, obtained during the industrial brewing of beer and consists of a mixture of corn and barley, in an undefined proportion. Proximal characterization of the grain powder was performed followed by product development applying extrusion technology. Regarding the proximal characterization (humidity, proteins, ashes, fats and fiber), its high fiber content was highlighted. The development of products (snacks) was carried out taking into account the fiber content to obtain products with the claims “source of fiber” and “high in fiber” on their labeling according to the MERCOSUR regulation. A single screwextruder was used (constant speed of 150 rpm constant, temperature of 130 ℃) varying the humidity of the mixture, and the proportion of ingredients to achieve the highest consumer acceptability. The extruded snack with the highest acceptability was compared with twocereals from the market. It was possible to obtain a product ready-to-consume (product) using a by-product of the brewing process as a functional ingredient, with nutritional value, such as fiber content, beneficial for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Economic and Environmental Assessment of Olive Agroforestry Practices in Northern Greece

Preservation and promotion of agroforestry systems entails the ideology for more ecosystem services, additional biodiversity benefits and climate change mitigation. Furthermore, farmland and forest landscapes and the consequent benefits to the environment from their combination, enhance the importance of agroforestry systems towards sustainable environmental policies. Nevertheless, traditional agroforestry systems face significant adaptation problems, especially in the EU, due to continuous economic reforms and strict agri-environmental measures. In this context our main goal is to assess the current managerial framework of two agroforestry systems and more specifically the olive agroforestry practices in Northern Greece. The economic and environmental implications of four different production plans are highlighted following the Life Cycle Costing and the Life Cycle Assessment protocols. The production plans include the simultaneous cultivation of annual crops, such as vetch and barley, along with olive groves. Potential environmental impacts are depicted in CO2 equivalents, while the economic allocation of costs is divided in targeted categories (e.g., raw materials, labor, land rent, etc.). The results indicate significant deviations among the four production plans, with the combination of olive trees and barley being heavily dependent on fertilization. Furthermore, the open-spaced olive trees intercropped with a mixture of barley and commonly depicted the lowest CO2 eq. emissions, though the economic cost was significantly higher than the other agroforestry system intercropped with barley only. The authors suggest that the formulation of a decision support system for agroforestry systems should be taken into account in order to preserve current agroforestry systems.

Unexpected high suppression of ammonia volatilization loss by plastic film mulching in Korean maize cropping system

Plastic film mulching (PFM) as an agronomic practice was rapidly expanded to improve crop yield and quality, mainly due to improving soil water and temperature condition. PFM has been known to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but its influence on ammonia (NH3) volatilization loss was not properly studied. To determine the impact of PFM on NH3 emission loss, PFM and no-mulching were designed as the main treatment. In addition, chemical (NPK) and organic fertilization plots as the sub-treatment were placed under the same mulching condition. In the NPK, the recommendation level (N-P2O5-K2O=186–35–74 kg ha-1) of chemical fertilizers was only applied for maize cultivation. In the organic fertilization, the mixture of barley and hairy vetch was cultivated during the fallow season and its whole biomass as green manure was incorporated for maize cultivation. PFM considerably improved average soil water and temperature regimes during cropping season by 0.02–0.05 m3 m-3 and 0.8–1.4 ℃ over no-mulching, respectively. These improved soil properties enhanced maize grain yield by around 95–270 and 80–300% in NPK and organic fertilization plots over no-mulching, respectively. The emission loss of NH3 gas which is highly water-soluble was 70–215% higher in NPK than organic fertilization under the same mulching. However, PFM significantly decreased seasonal NH3 emission loss by approximately 40–45% over no-mulching, probably due to physical trapping in water drops under the plastic film. To verify the suppression mechanism of NH3 emission loss by PFM, the emission rates of nitrous oxide (N2O) which is a water-insoluble gas were simultaneously monitored using the closed chamber method. Different from NH3 emission loss, PFM slightly increased N2O emission without a statistical difference, regardless of fertilization background. In conclusion, PFM could be a very useful cropping practice to decrease NH3 emission loss, as well as improve soil properties and crop productivity.

Water uptake patterns of pea and barley responded to drought but not to cropping systems

Abstract. Agricultural production is under threat of water scarcity due to increasingly frequent and severe drought events under climate change. Whether a change in cropping systems can be used as an effective adaptation strategy against drought is still unclear. We investigated how plant water uptake patterns of a field-grown pea–barley (Pisum sativum L. and Hordeum vulgare L.) mixture, an important fodder intercrop, responded to experimental drought under four cropping systems, i.e. organic intensive tillage, conventional intensive tillage, conventional no tillage, and organic reduced tillage. Drought was simulated after crop establishment using rain shelters. Proportional contributions to plant water uptake from different soil layers were estimated based on stable water isotopes using Bayesian mixing models. Pea plants always took up proportionally more water from shallower depths than barley plants. Water uptake patterns of neither species were affected by cropping systems. Both species showed similar responses to the drought simulation and increased their proportional water uptake from the shallow soil layer (0–20 cm) in all cropping systems. Our results highlight the impact of drought on plant water uptake patterns for two important crop species and suggest that cropping systems might not be as successful as adaptation strategies against drought as previously thought.

Microbial Quality and Growth Dynamics in Shameta: A Traditional Ethiopian Cereal-Based Fermented Porridge

Shameta is a traditional, Ethiopian, cereal-based fermented porridge exclusively prepared for lactating mothers. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial quality of Shameta samples collected from households of lactating mothers and to determine microbial dynamics and physicochemical changes during laboratory fermentation of Shameta. Isolation and characterization of the dominant microbes and analysis of the physicochemical properties of samples were done following standard microbiological methods and analytical techniques. Results of this study showed that the highest mean count of lactic acid bacteria (8.33 log cfu/g) was recorded in a sample from laboratory-fermented barley-based Shameta, and the lowest (5.88 log cfu/g) in Shameta made from a mixture of barley and maize (BMS). In both barley-based and maize-based laboratory-prepared Shameta, the microflora were dominated by LAB, followed by yeasts. The dominant LAB were the genus Lactobacillus (74.85%), followed by Enterococcus (15.79%). It could be concluded that Shameta collected from households of lactating mothers are fairly safe for consumption, as the stringent physicochemical conditions of the final product could inhibit the growth of pathogens. However, as Shameta is a traditional fermented porridge fed to lactating mothers, we call for a further improvement to the fermentation process by using defined starter cultures.

Ground vegetation covers increase grape yield and must quality in Mediterranean organic vineyards despite variable effects on vine water deficit and nitrogen status

In the context of a warming climate and widespread soil degradation, successful soil management practices in Mediterranean vineyards should combine environmental (e.g., soil health) and productive (yield and must quality) objectives. With this objective, we tested five soil management practices in two organic farms in Chianti Classico (Italy) across three years. Five treatments were compared: conventional tillage (CT), spontaneous vegetation (S), soil-incorporated cover crop of pigeon bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor (Peterm. em. Harz) Beck. L.) (PBI), a cover crop mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and clover (Trifolium squarrosum L.), either mulched (BCM) or incorporated in soil (BCI). We explored the effects of soil management practices on vine stress (SPAD and stem water potential), grape production (yield per plant; number of clusters per plant; cluster weight; berries weight) and must quality (titratable acidity; malic acid; pH; sugar concentration; yeast assimilable N; potential anthocyanins and total polyphenol index). Soil variability was taken into account in the statistical analysis, by testing two sets of soil covariates. A first dataset included the “raw” electrical conductivity and gamma ray total counts. The second dataset consisted in a set of soil covariates obtained by combining data collected by the proximal sensors with the results of the chemical analyses. We found that soil management affected SPAD and stem water potential with variable effects between farms and years. Mulched cover crops showed lower vine SPAD values than tilled treatments at both farms, especially in 2019 and 2020, while spontaneous vegetation effects varied considerably across farms and were comparable to tillage. Conventional tillage also decreased vine water stress compared with S, especially at the colder site in 2020. Mulched cover crops and tillage treatments had similar vine stem water potential at the warmer site. Significantly higher grape yields were found under PBI and S (about +30% compared with the other treatments), mainly due to higher cluster weight. The most productive treatments (PBI and S) also showed higher pH and malic acid concentration but lower anthocyanins and total polyphenol index as compared with the other treatments. Conventional tillage increased yeast assimilable N in 2019 while S showed the lowest values, probably due to a drop in the abundance of N-fixing plant species. On a methodological side we found that including soil parameters as covariates, instead of ECa readings and gamma ray total counts, improved regression models for all the dependent variables studied except for juice pH. Overall, our results indicate that groundcovers induced only a moderate and temporary stress that affected grape production and quality differently. While the barley-clover mixture significantly reduced grape production irrespectively of termination type, S and PBI were associated with higher grape yields. Overall, this study demonstrated that groundcovers can be profitably introduced in vineyards also in Mediterranean climates with positive effects on yields and quality.

FORAGE YEILD AND COMPITITION INDICES OF CEREALS MIXED INTERCROPPING WITH FORAGE LEGUMES IN SULAIMANI REGION

The present study was conducted in Sulaimani region at two different locations, Kanipanka and Qlyasan during winter season of 2019-2020 to estimate the response of forage yield and some competition indices to the effect of crop pure stands and their mixtures of barley and triticale intercropped with narbon vetch and grass pea with some different patterns. The experiment was designed according to Completely Randomized Block Design with three replications. As the average of both location the maximum green forage yield was produced by pure narbon vetch 32.610 ton ha-1, while pure barley produce maximum dry forage yield and dry matter % reached 5.506 ton ha-1 and 8.55% at booting stage respectively, but the crop mixture barley/grass pea at a rate 2:1 produce maximum green and dry forage yield 32.083 and 5.616 ton ha-1 respectively at booting stage. The crop mixture barley/vetch 1:1 gave maximum dry matter% 17.88% at the same stage. The highest value for total LER was 1.401recorded by the mixture of triticale/grass pea at elongation stage, while the highest relative crowding coefficient was 1.285 recorded by the same mixture at a rate 1:1 at the same cutting stage. Maximum competitive ratio for cereals was 3.652 recorded by barley in the mixture barley/grass pea 1:2 at elongation stage, while for legume it was 2.292 for narbon vetch in the mixture triticale/vetch 2:1 at booting stage.

Optimizing Yield and Quality of Silage and Hay for Pea–Barley Mixtures Ratio under Irrigated Arid Environments

The changing climate, water scarcity, reduction in the land area under forage crops, expanding ruminant population, burgeoning demands for milk and meat production and food security concerns all insist on a necessary increase in forage production and quality. Cereal–legume mixed intercropping offers a biologically superior option to boost herbage yield and quality of preserved fodder (hay and silage), provided that rationalization of the component crop’s proportional ratio is performed. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the forage yield and quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) mixtures at the ratios 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100. The experiment was laid out in the regular arrangement of a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results exhibited that forage quality was significantly affected by the mixture ratio. There was a significant improvement in protein, fiber rate and digestibility from the mixture. The ratios of barley and pea with 50:50 and 25:75 produced the maximum productivity and the best quality of forage. Regarding forage preservation, silage recorded higher contents of crude protein, ash and lower fiber contents than hay. Among seed mixtures, 0:100 ratio of barley–pea yielded the highest quality of silage with the maximum crude protein, ash and digestibility with lowest fiber contents.

PSVII-18 Change in the taxonomic composition of ruminal microflora against the background of copper and plant extract

Abstract Plant extracts are used in cattle diets to stimulate growth and immunity, while the unstable biochemical composition of plants contributes to the search for effective compositions that exhibit a synergistic effect. Objective of the study is the effect of an aqueous extract of oak bark (0.7 ml/kg of live weight) - group I, copper particles specific surface area 24 m2/g; 0.06 mg/kg of live weight - group II, their compositions (group III) on the taxonomic composition of the bacterial community of the rumen of cattle. Bulls had rumen fistulas Bos taurus at the age of 13 months (n = 5). Test samples of feed components were given with a concentrated portion of the main diet. Diet contain 60% - roughage (hay of Sudanese grass and alfalfa), 35% - concentrated feed (mixture of barley, wheat, sunflower husk, bran). The taxonomic composition of ruminal content was determined by NGS sequencing on a MiSeq device (Illumina, USA). It was found that the combined use of the extract and copper UFPs increases the concentration of representatives of Bacteroidetes in the rumen by 5.6%, the separate use of copper UFPs is by 20.7% (P ≤ 0.05), at the same time the values of representatives of Firmicutes decreased - by 7.2 and 24.7% (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison with the control. At the taxon level, the following classes prevailed: Bacilli (2.6%) in group I; Bacteroidia (17.0%) in II, in III - Bacteroidia (5.0%) in comparison with the control. In the experimental groups, at the genus level, a lower content of Streptococcus and the absence of Faecalibacterium were registered. Thus, the composition of plant extract and copper has an inhibitory effect on certain representatives of pathogenic bacteria. The results obtained indicate that the combined use of these substances is promising. This research was performed with financial support from the RSF (20-16-00088).