Pasture Seeds Research Articles

Soil Seed Bank Dynamics of Pastures Invaded by Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) in Tropical North Queensland

Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) is threatening crops, pasture species and natural ecosystems in Pacific Island countries and northern Queensland, Australia. To aid future management efforts of this exotic invasive weed, research was conducted to understand the soil seed bank dynamics of pastures invaded by Navua sedge. Six grazing properties were chosen across two landscapes, coastal and inland/upland, with areas that had Navua sedge infestations in Queensland, Australia. At each site, soil was collected from two soil depths, 0-5 and 5-10 cm, and from plots with high and low infestation levels of Navua sedge. It was observed that the soil seed bank dynamics varied significantly between these study sites. Navua sedge was the dominant species in the soil seed bank at all the sites contributing between 62% to 95% of the total seed bank, while pasture seeds occupied only 3% to 24%. Broadleaf seeds were even lower in abundance, showing between 2% to 13% of the total seed count. The abundance of Navua sedge seed present in the soil was significantly correlated with the aboveground biomass of Navua sedge (r=0.53, p=0.006), but no correlation was found with the infestation age of Navua sedge. Based on this work, it is clear that the seed bank of Navua sedge is very large and concentrated within the top 0-5 cm of the soil, with, 83% of total Navua sedge seeds being in this layer. It was also noted that, although, high infestation plots had significantly higher number of seeds than low infestation plots, more than 18,000 Navua sedge seeds/m2 were still found in the 0-5 cm soil layer of plots regarded as low infestation. We suggest that insights achieved from our soil seed bank study may be used to devise management strategies to minimise the impact of Navua sedge weed in critical grazing and agricultural areas.

Are Chilean Pasture Seed End-Users Adopting New Species? Trends and Joinpoint Regression Analysis of the Last 19 Years of Seed Imports

Pastures are important for the agricultural sector as forage, recreational and sports systems. The Chilean pasture seed market is highly dependent on introduced genetics; however, the effect of climate change and market conditions can modify pasture options. The objective of this study was to quantify changes of the pasture seeds sown by Chilean end-users, as metric tons (Mt) or proportion of the total (PT), based on 19 years of imported seed. The Mann–Kendall test and joinpoint regression analysis were used to estimate the overall trends and the average annual percent change (AAPC) for the whole period, respectively. The total imported Mt had an increasing trend and AAPC (+5.7%), wherein a large PT corresponded to ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) (0.681), with increasing trends for Mt and PT. Clovers (Trifolium spp.) had decreasing trends and AAPC (−2.9% for Mt and −9.6% for PT). For PT, the main species was perennial ryegrass (L. perenne L.) (0.357), with increasing trends for Mt. As Mt, a positive AAPC was found for plantain (P. lanceolata L.) (+17.4%) and chicory (C. intybus L.) (+63.2%). Over a period of 19 years, based on Mt but not PT, Chilean end-users have been adopting new pasture species with a decreasing use of Trifolium spp.

Discrimination of Pasture Spices for Italian Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescue Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Hyung Soo Park, Ki Choon Choi, Ji Hye Kim, Min Jeong So, Ki Won Lee and Sang Hoon Lee*National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan, 330-801, KoreaABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) to discriminate between grass spices. A combination of NIRS and chemometrics was used to discriminate between Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue seeds. A total of 240 samples were used to develop the best discriminant equation, whereby three spectra range (visible, NIR, and full range) were applied within a 680nm to 2500nm wavelength. The calibration equation for the discriminant analysis was developed using partial least square(PLS) regression and discrimination equation(DE) analysis. A PLS discriminant analysis model for the three spectra range that was developed with the mathematic pretreatment “1,8,8,1” successfully discriminated between Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. An external validation indicated that all of the samples were discriminated correctly. The discriminant accuracy was shown as 68%, 78%, and 73% for Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue, respectively, with the NIR full-range spectra. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the NIRS- chemometrics combination as a rapid method for the discrimination of grass species by seed. (Key words :Identification, Pasture seeds, Seed quality, Species discrimination)

Manejo de campos de produção de sementes de Urochloa humidicola €˜comum€™: II - Efeito de práticas culturais

Desde a década de 1970, sementes de Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) humidicola €˜comum€™ têm constituído fração importante do mercado brasileiro de sementes de pastagens tropicais cultivadas. Maior parte dessas sementes provém de áreas de pastagens nas quais os animais são excluídos desde a primavera até a colheita, no verão. As produtividades comerciais são baixas e variáveis, principalmente em consequência de falta de manejo apropriado à produção de sementes. A produção é prejudicada em relvados heterogêneos quanto à cobertura do solo, altura e constituição. O método de colheita mais utilizado é o da colhedeira automotriz, de reconhecida ineficiência quanto à recuperação das sementes produzidas. O uso desse equipamento é também limitado nesta espécie pela marcante associação entre o sincronismo floral e a degrana (queda) natural das sementes que resulta em curto período de conexão das sementes às inflorescências, fazendo com que permaneçam disponíveis a esse método de colheita por apenas 5 - 7 dias em cada safra. Antecipações ou atrasos da fase reprodutiva das plantas, obtidas por meio de manejo agronômico diferenciado, talvez possam proporcionar a distribuição temporal da produção na mesma safra. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar efeitos de práticas culturais sobre a produtividade, a qualidade e o período de disponibilidade à colheita de sementes de U. humidicola €˜comum€™. Em área anteriormente utilizada como pastagem nos anos de 1999/2000 e 2001/2002, foram avaliados os efeitos de alturas de corte (5 cm e 15 cm acima do solo, respectivamente, e testemunha [plantas não cortadas] associados ou não à remoção ou queima dos resíduos vegetais deles resultantes. Comparativamente à testemunha, os tratamentos resultaram em atrasos na época de maior disponibilidade de sementes puras germináveis à colheita. O acúmulo de biomassa, constituída por remanescentes de folhas e perfilhos mortos ou estéreis e seus segmentos, reduz a produtividade de sementes puras germináveis em U. humidicola €˜comum€™. Os efeitos de formas de eliminação desse acúmulo dependem da quantidade acumulada. Entretanto, nos dois anos de experimento, corte das plantas a 5 cm do solo no início do período chuvoso, seguido de remoção dos resíduos desse corte possibilitou maiores produtividades de sementes puras germináveis.

Development and implementation of a multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping tool for differentiation of ryegrass species and cultivars

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) are important temperate forage grasses which are closely related, generating fertile interspecific hybrids. All groups are represented by multiple cultivars in the commercial pasture seeds market. Due to the close taxonomic relationship between the two species, differentiation based on morphophysiological criteria is not always readily achievable. In addition, an obligate outbreeding reproductive habit produces high levels of individual heterozygosity and intrapopulation diversity, which presents problems for discrimination between cultivars. Molecular genetic marker polymorphism provides an effective means of addressing these challenges. An iterative process of resequencing from loci distributed across the perennial ryegrass genome was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, which were then validated and formatted in a highly multiplexed (384-plex) assay system. SNP genotyping was then performed across samples of 48–192 individuals from a total of 27 ryegrass cultivars (19 of perennial ryegrass, seven of Italian ryegrass and one hybrid cultivar). SNP markers from perennial ryegrass exhibited a high level of transfer to Italian ryegrass. Data analysis permitted quantification of intra- and inter-species diversity, as well as discrimination between cultivars within each species, including diploid and autotetraploid cultivars of perennial ryegrass. Lower levels of SNP-based diversity were detected in Italian ryegrass than in perennial ryegrass. A neighbour-joining tree based on genetic distance analysis located a hybrid cultivar to an intermediate position between the two species-specific cultivar groups. The resulting catalogue of ryegrass cultivars will provide support for the processes of cultivar accreditation and quality assurance.

Low viability and germinability of commercial pasture seeds ingested by goats

Endozoochory by domestic ruminants has been proposed as a method to disseminate pasture seeds for rangeland rehabilitation in Mediterranean regions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether seeds of two common Mediterranean forage species: Trifolium subterraneum (legume) and Lolium rigidum (grass) were able to pass undestroyed through the gut of the goats and germinate afterwards and thus if the goats can disseminate these two forage pastures. The seeds were fed on a single dose to six individually housed goats, mixed with different meals in order to see if the passage of the seeds through the goat's gut had any effect. Faeces were collected every 24h after seed ingestion for five days. Seeds not eaten by the goats along with seeds retrieved from faeces were tested for viability and germinability. The effect of being embedded in faeces on germination and seedling growth was also tested. Very few seeds of both species were retrieved from faeces (1.5% in T. subterraneum and 2% in L. rigidum). They were less viable, between 40% in T. subterraneum and 70% in L. rigidum, and germinated less, around 30% in T. subterraneum and 60% in L. rigudum, than the seeds not eaten by the goats. The latter ones showed percentages of viability and germination over 90%. These results support those obtained by other researchers that currently available commercial seeds are not suitable for endozoochorus seed dispersal. Seedling emergence was significantly lower in intact dung pellets than in broken-down dung ones in both species, specially in L. rigidum. The dung inhibited seed germination in L. rigidum, where seedling emergence was lower than seed germination. Seedlings grown in dung were significantly larger than those grown in vermiculite, showing the fertilizing effect of dung. Trampling of grazing animals, rainfall and coprophagous insects that break up the dung are needed for seedling establishment, specially for species that cannot emerge from intact dung. Dung is a fertilizer but also can inhibit germination of some species, as L. rigidum.

Priming 처리시간 및 온도가 목초종자의 발아특성에 미치는 영향

종자의 priming은 종자의 발아율 향상과 유식물의 초기정착에 중요한 기술 중의 하나이다. 본 시험에서는 목초의 주요 초종인 tall fescue, orchardgrass, alfalfa 및 white clover의 발아율 향상과 발아 균일도를 증가시키기 위하여 priming 처리기간과 처리온도에 따라서 목초의 발아율을 조사하였다. 본 시험은 분할구 배치법으로 주구는 priming 처리시간으로 화본과 목초는 2일, 4일, 6일 및 8일을 두었으며, 두과목초는 1일, 2일, 3일 및 4일을 두었다. 세구는 priming 온도로 화본과 두과 목초 모두 10, 15 및 <TEX>$20^{\circ}C$</TEX>를 두었다. Priming후 발아세, 발아율, 평균발아소요일수 및 T50은 초종과 priming 처리기간 및 온도에 따라 다르게 나타났다. Priming 처리기간에서는 화본과 목초인 톨 페스큐와 오차드그라스는 6일에 발아율이 높았으나, 두과목초인 알팔파와 화이트 클로버는 2일에 발아율이 높았다. 한편 priming 처리 온도에서는 오차드그라스는 온도가 낮아짐에 따라 발아율이 증가하였으나, 두과목초인 알팔파와 화이트 클로버는 온도가 <TEX>$10^{\circ}C$</TEX>에서 <TEX>$20^{\circ}C$</TEX>로 증가함에 따라 발아율이 증가하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면 목초의 priming은 초종에 따라 적정 처리시간 및 온도가 달랐다. Seed priming is an useful technique for increasing germination and early establishment of seedlings. In this experiment, the conditions for priming of pasture seeds (tall fescue, orchardgrass, alfalfa and white clover) have been optimized to ensure an early germination and more uniform growth of seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications. The main plots consisted of four different priming duration such as 2, 4, 6 and 8 days for grass, and 1, 2, 3 and 4 days for legume. The subplots were consisted of three priming temperature such as 10, 15 and <TEX>$20^{\circ}C$</TEX>. Effects of priming duration and temperature were different in all four pasture seeds examined. The germination of primed grass (tall fescue and orchardgrass) was the highest on 6 days in priming duration, whereas that of legume (alfalfa and white clover) was the highest on 2 days. In priming temperature, the germination of primed orchradgrass increased as decreasing temperature, however that of legume increased as increasing temperature. These results suggest that seed priming induced earlier and higher germination for all four pastures tested. However, the degree of priming effectiveness on pasture species depending on the priming duration and its temperature.

Priming 약제의 종류와 농도가 목초종자의 발아에 미치는 영향

Seed priming is a useful technique for early establishment of seedling. In this experiment, the conditions for priming of pasture seeds (tall fescue, orchardgrass, alfalfa and white clover) have been optimized to ensure an early germination and more uniform growth of seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications. The main plots consisted of five different materials such as and PEG. The subplots were consisted of three chemical concentration groups such as 500mM (or 10%), 100mM (or 20%) and 200mM (or 30%). Effect of priming materials and its concentrations were different in all four pasture seeds examined. Chemical concentration did not show any significant effects on the germination of tall fescue, however, germination of tall fescue primed with materials were higher than the others. The concentration of prime materials did not affect on the germination of orchardgrass, but germination of orchardgrass primed with was showed better result than the other materials examined. The seeds of alfalfa and white clover primed with PEG showed better germination capability than the other priming materials. In addition, chemical concentration of primed seeds also showed significant difference on the germination of alfalfa and white clover. These results suggest that seed priming induced earlier and higher germination for all four pastures tested. However, the, degree of priming effectiveness on pasture species depending on the priming materials and its concentrations.

The range of pasture species in New Zealand and their use in different environments

The 29 different species of pasture plants, now commercially available to farmers in New Zealand, may make the choice of pasture seeds and seeds mixtures much more complicated, but their particular features can add significant value to farming. The suitability of these species is presented for the main categories of New Zealand's pastoral land: summer-moist lowland, cast coast dryland, hill country, and the South Island's high country. Important features of each species are summa&amp;d. Invested returns from animal production on modem pastures can be more than 200%. However, farmers are advised to seek specialist advice before they invest Keywords species, environment, suitability, compatibility

Effects of Fermentation Product by Lactobacillus acidophilus on Germination Processes of Several Pasture Seeds

Effects of Fermentation Product by Lactobacillus acidophilus on Germination Processes of Several Pasture Seeds

Recovery of pasture seed ingested by ruminants. 1. Seed of six tropical pasture species fed to cattle, sheep and goats

This study examined the effects of different species of ruminants and pasture plants on the passage of ingested seed. Penned cattle, sheep and goats were fed a basal diet of 80% lucerne hay and 20% milled wheat. After 14 days on the basal diet a mixture of known numbers of pasture seeds (Brachiaria decumbens, Axonopus afinis, Neonotonia wightii cv. Tinaroo, Trgfolium semipilosum cv. Safari, Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano and S. scabra cv. Seca) was fed on 1 day. Faeces were collected for 6 days after feeding the seed while animals remained on the basal diet. Seed samples of each species were tested for germination and hardseededness (or dormancy) both prior to feeding and on seed washed from a subsample of the faeces. Other subsamples were kept moist and emerging seedlings were removed over a 104 week period. Cattle digested less seed than did sheep and goats, but the germination characteristics of the recovered seed were similar for the different animals. The mean recovery of viable seeds ingested was 42, 10 and 19% for cattle, sheep and goats, and 39, 39, 23, 21, 12 and 8% for Safari, Tinaroo, Seca, Axonopus, Brachiaria and Verano. Most of the seeds excreted were recovered on the second and third days following feeding. For sheep and goats, the percentage recovery of ingested legume seed as emerging seedlings was similar to recovery calculated from washing out seed followed by germination testing. However, there was a lower recovery, as seedlings, for the seeds ingested by cattle. This was partially due to the larger number of hard seeds remaining in cattle faeces after the 104 week germination period.

Recovery of pasture seed ingested by ruminants. 3. The effects of the amount of seed in the diet and of diet quality on seed recovery from sheep

We determined how the recovery, rate of passage and viability of pasture seeds fed to sheep were affected by the quality of the associated diet and by the proportion of seeds in the diet. Penned sheep were fed basal diets of low (45%), medium (60%) and high digestibility (70%). A proportion of each diet (20%) was milled, and on 1 day half of the milled feed was replaced by a mixture of seeds of carpet grass (Axonopus afinis), Pensacola Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum), Kenya white clover (Trifolium semipilosum) cv. Safari and shrubby stylo (S. scabra) cv. Seca. Seed was fed at 3 levels; 12 000, 18 000 and 24 000 seeds of each species. Faeces were collected for 5 days after feeding the seed and germination tests carried out on seed washed out from the faeces. The proportion of seed in the diet had no effect on percentage seed recovery or on the viability of recovered seed. However, only 10% of ingested seed was recovered with the low quality diet, compared with 28% with the medium and high quality diets. Less Seca seed was still in pods with the low quality diet (6%) than with the medium and high quality diets (11%).

The role of seed testing

An account is given of the place of seed testing in New Zealand agriculture. The functions of the Government Seed Testing Station are outlined, including sections on the role of testing in the Government seed certification scheme, testing seed for export, seed importation. noxious plants, Rhizobium testing, surveys and research. Also discussed are the procedures and aspects of seed quality testing relevant to New Zealand pasture seeds, including sampling, purity, germination, seed health. seed vigour, cultivar and tolerances. Key words: Seed testing, New Zealand, noxious plants, Rhizobium.

A note on the elemental concentrations of New Zealand pasture seeds

Abstract Pasture seeds from commercial seed stores were dried overnight, digested with a nitric-perchloric acid mixture, and the digests were analysed for manganese, zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, boron, molybdenum, and nitrogen. Legumes were higher in nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, iron, boron, and molybdenum, but lower in calcium and manganese, than grasses. Red clover cultivars contained more nitrogen, magnesium, zinc, and copper, but less sodium and molybdenum than other legumes. Browntop was lower in sodium and potassium, but higher in all the other elements (not boron) than the remainder of the grasses. The results indicate that, except for molybdenum, the concentrations of nutrient elements in pasture grass and legume seeds fall within a narrow range despite being grown under different management and fertiliser practices. Molybdenum concentration, however, can be increased by raising the molybdenum status of the soil.

Predictions of likely theft by ants of oversown seed for the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

At Armidale, New South Wales, ant theft rates of pasture seeds at sites that had been topdressed with 10 kg ha-1 seed immediately before a four day observation period averaged 27 per cent less than on areas where no such application was made. Strong regression relationships were established between theft rates of the various seed types and both air and soil temperatures, but no relationship was found between either relative humidity or soil water availability and theft rate. High theft rates recorded in the first 24 hours after seed placement were not sustained over longer periods of time. A relationship between the decline in theft rate and the quantity of seed available was established. A series of predictions have been made of the proportion of seed likely to remain during fine weather following oversowing in the Armidale environment. These predictions incorporate seed type, time since sowing and prevailing air temperatures. It is predicted that during winter 70 to 80 per cent of bare seed and 90 to 97 per cent of coated seed could remain 30 days after oversowing. During summer the comparable figures are 7 to 30 per cent and 22 to 36 per cent respectively.

THE POTENTIAL OF LOTUS spp. FOR HILL LAND IN WALES

Thirty‐four introductions of Lotus corniculatus and L. uliginosus, obtained from Europe, North America and New Zealand, were grown in plots with Aberystwyth S23 ryegrass at three centres in Wales (230–400 m a. s. 1.) to assess their potential as legumes for poor acid hill soils. The control white clover varieties were generally successful in these difficult conditions, whereas all the Lotus introductions were poor in two experiments and in the third experiment gave way to volunteer white clover by the third harvest year. These results indicate that none of the numerous Lotus varieties tested would be a useful addition to pasture seeds mixtures for hill lands in Wales.

The Comparative Studies of Broadcast Seed Sower and Hand Sowing on Various Pasture Seeds

The Comparative Studies of Broadcast Seed Sower and Hand Sowing on Various Pasture Seeds

Mixed Arable Farm on which Seed Production is Prominent

The demand for an ample supply of pasture seeds has always existed in areas where arable farming is practised and the demand for good seed has increased with the knowledge of the influence of strain and its effect on the production and life of pastures.