Permanent Pasture Research Articles

A Tribe is Burnt to the Ground: Reading The Legend of the Thousand Bulls as an Advocacy of Cultural Integrity

The nomads (yörüks) of Anatolia were forced to sedentarisation both during the Ottoman and the Turkish Republican eras. In today’s Anatolia, only approximately one hundred families are left who maintain their nomadic way of life: the Sarıkeçili Yörüks whose inclusion in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is pending. In The Legend of the Thousand Bulls [Binboğalar Efsanesi] (1971), Yaşar Kemal tells, with genuine pathos, the story of the Karaçullu, a sixty-tent pastoralist clan living in the Middle Taurus area of Southern Anatolia. Kemal depicts the Karaçullu as one of the last surviving nomadic groups of the Turkish Republic in the early 1950s and follows their quest, from one spring to the next, to find a permanent pasture upon losing their hopes of the possibility of continuing a nomadic way of life. He demonstrates the correlation between sedentarisation and the tribe’s disintegration over two axes. The first is the process from one stage of capitalism to the other as regards the ending of the nomadic way of life. The second axis is cultural integrity. Yaşar Kemal constructs the story of the tribe over the very intertwinement of the fight for existence and the fight for cultural integrity laying emphasis on the inextricable link between them. Analysing Yaşar Kemal’s emphasis on this link through the representations of nomadism in his novel as well as the connections he makes with historical events that led to the disappearance of the nomadic culture in Anatolia, I hope to contribute to cultural studies related with anthropological research on nomadism and create awareness about the situation of the last nomads of Anatolia.

Mapping Ecological Focus Areas within the EU CAP Controls Framework by Copernicus Sentinel-2 Data

Greening is a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidy that ensures that all EU farmers receiving income support produce climate and environmental benefits as part of their farming activities. To receive greening support, it is mandatory for the farmer to carry out three agricultural practices that are considered environmentally and climate friendly: (a) crop diversification; (b) maintenance of permanent meadows and pastures; and (c) presence of an Ecological Focus Area (EFA). Contributions are delivered and monitored by paying agencies (PP) that ordinarily perform administrative checks and spot checks. The latter are provided through photo-interpretation of high-resolution satellite or aerial images and, in specific cases, through local ground checks (GC) as well. In this work, stimulated by the Piemonte Regional Agency for Payments in Agriculture (ARPEA), a prototype service to support PPs’ controls within the greening CAP framework was proposed with special concern for EFA detection. The proposed approach is expected to represent a valid alternative or supporting tool for GC. It relies on the analysis of NDVI time series derived from Copernicus Sentinel-2 data. The study was conducted in the provinces of Turin, Asti and Vercelli within the Piedmont Region (NW Italy), and over 12,500 EFA fields were assessed. Since the recent National Report No. 5465 stipulates that mowing and any other soil management operation is prohibited on set-aside land designated as an EFA during the reference period (RP) between 1st March and 30th June, a time series (TS) of NDVI in the same period was generated. Once averaged at plot level, NDVI trends were modelled by a first-order polynomial, and the correspondent statistics (namely, R2, MAE and maximum residual) was computed. These were assumed to play the role of discriminants in EFA detection based on a thresholding approach (Otsu’s method), calibrated with reference to the training dataset. The threshold satisfaction was therefore tested, and, depending on the number of satisfied thresholds out of the possible three, EFA and non-EFA plots were detected with a different degree of reliability. The correspondent EFA map was generated for the area of interest and validated according to GCs as provided by the ARPEA. The results showed an overall accuracy of 84%, indicating that the approach is promising. The authors retain that this procedure represents a valid alternative (or integrating) tool for ground controls by PPs.

Hard seed breakdown patterns of serradella (Ornithopus spp.) in two contrasting environments of south-eastern Australia

Context There is interest in using serradella (Ornithopus spp.) in permanent pastures of the high rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. However, there is little information concerning levels of hardseededness or patterns of seed softening in these environments. Aim This study quantified seed softening of serradella species in comparison with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in the Southern Tablelands and Central Slopes districts of eastern Australia. Methods Mature seeds were placed in mesh pouches on the soil surface and were retrieved periodically to assess residual hard seed proportions throughout the growing season(s) in four experiments conducted over 2018 and 2019. Key results Patterns of seed softening among adapted cultivars of subterranean clover were consistent: initially high proportions of hard seed, followed by rapid softening from mid-summer to the end of autumn with the remnant portion of seeds remaining hard. In contrast, diverse patterns of seed softening were observed among serradella cultivars, ranging from highly soft-seeded through to high initial hard seed portions that either softened rapidly or softened over a lengthy period. Rates of seed softening were faster in the warmer/drier environment of Cowra compared to the wetter/cooler environment of Canberra. Conclusions The study revealed seed softening patterns among serradellas to be diverse and different to subterranean clover. This will affect management and suitability of serradella cultivars for permanent pastures. Implications In permanent pastures, serradellas that soften slowly over several years are likely to have limited regeneration in the year after pasture establishment with a high potential for weed invasion.

Hydrogeophysical Characterization of Swine Effluent Amended Soils in Mantled Karst

Highlights Animal effluents can be detected in soils after minimal applications using non-intrusive characterization techniques. Swine effluent in soil produces measurable electrical signatures in the absence of chemical signatures. Electrical resistivity imaging can determine soil thickness and identify rapid transport pathways in the subsurface. Dietary additives may be good proxies to detect swine effluent in soils. Abstract. Land application of animal manures is useful for increasing many beneficial properties of soil that include fertility, productivity, and overall soil health, but can pose risks to water quality if not properly applied, especially in karstic formations. A study was carried out to assess the use of electrical resistivity and soil sampling to better characterize the transport of applied swine effluent within a mantled karst system and to assess the potential for rapid transport of swine effluent represented by Zn and other metals commonly found in effluent. This hydrogeophysical investigation was conducted at three sites, all permanent pastures, along Big Creek near Mount Judea, AR, USA, that are underlain by the Boone Limestone formation that is home to the Buffalo National River. To determine if surface electrical geophysics could be utilized to monitor the applied swine effluent within a mantled karst riparian system, this study measured the bulk electrical properties of the subsurface, characterized soil properties at the surface, and used reactive transport modeling. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) showed soils at sites with applied effluent were more electrically conductive than a background site. A comparison of ERI and soil sampling bulk datasets demonstrated strong trends between bulk resistivity and fluid conductance. These results enabled a more accurate definition of soil characteristics, the epikarst zone, and bedrock, along with anticipated subsurface chemical transport. Keywords: Electrical Resistivity Imaging, Epikarst detection, Soil characterization, Swine Effluent.

Biochar increases soil enzyme activities in two contrasting pastoral soils under different grazing management

Context Soil enzyme activities are key regulators of carbon and nutrient cycling in grazed pastures. Aims We investigated the effect of biochar addition on the activity of seven enzymes involved in the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in a Sil-andic Andosol and a Dystric Cambisol under permanent pastures. Methods The study consisted of a one-year field-based mesocosm experiment involving four pastures under different nutrient and livestock practices: with and without effluent under dairy cow grazing on the Andosol, and with either nil or high phosphorus fertiliser input under sheep grazing on the Cambisol. Soil treatments were: (1) willow biochar added at 1% w/w; (2) lime added at the liming equivalence of biochar (positive control); (3) no amendments (negative control). Key results Compared with the Cambisol, the Andosol had higher dehydrogenase, urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase and, especially, nitrate-reductase activities, aligning with its higher pH and fertility. In both soils, biochar addition increased the activity of all enzymes, except for acid phosphatase and peroxidase; lime addition increased peroxidase and nitrate-reductase activity. Conclusions The increased enzyme activity was strongly positively correlated with soil biological activity following biochar addition. Biochar caused a 40–45% increase in cellulase activity, attributed to increased root biomass following biochar addition. The response in acid and alkaline phosphatase activity can be attributed to the impact of biochar and lime addition on soil pH. Implications The results provide more insights in realising the potential benefits of biochar to the provision of ecosystem services for grazed pastures.

Variation in flowering time and flowering date stability within a cultivar of French serradella

Context Opportunity exists to expand serradella (Ornithopus spp.) use onto heavier, duplex soil types in permanent pasture environments of south-eastern Australia. This requires cultivars with appropriate flowering times and flowering-date stability (i.e. flowering at the same date in spring regardless of timing of the autumn break). Aim This work examined evidence of variation in flowering date and flowering-date stability in the NSW southern tablelands for a widely-used French serradella (O. sativus) cv. Margurita. Methods Seed (sourced from a commercial supplier) was sown 21 March 2019 (Canberra, ACT) and 231 individual plants were monitored for time to first flower. A subset of plants exhibiting ‘early’ or ‘late’ flowering were identified and their seeds collected. In 2020, seed from ~15 plants from each selection was sown in Canberra in late March and early May to represent an ‘early’ and a ‘later’ break of season (n = 3). Key results In the early-sown treatment, ‘early-flowering’ selections typically reached the median date of first flower (50%-flowering) from mid- to late August, while ‘late-flowering’ selections reached 50%-flowering early- to mid-September. When sown later, the ‘early-flowering’ selections began flowering from mid- to late September, while the ‘late-flowering’ selections flowered mid-September to early October. The ‘early’ selections exhibited greater flowering-date instability than ‘late’ selections and flowered particularly early when sown early. This indicated diversity within cv. Margurita for flowering-time control (e.g. vernalisation and/or photoperiod requirements). Implications Evaluating cultivars of serradellas for flowering date and flowering date stability in their target environment(s) is essential to ensure cultivars are suitably adapted to these environments.

Growth and Instability in the Land Use Categories of different Agro-climatic Regions of Rajasthan

"Land use is complex phenomenon technological change, climatic changes influences land use changes over time period. Rajasthan, the largest state in geography and varied climatic factors makes it important to understand the land use across the state. Present study aimed at understanding the growth and instability in the different land use categories of Rajasthan with special reference to ten agro-climatic regions of the state. Compound growth rate and cuddy della valle instability index was used to analyse the data. Secondary data collected since after the implementation of second land policy (1973 till 2018). Area under forest and non-agricultural uses as well as area under cultivation in all regions has reported significant positive growth rate whereas area under barren unculturable land and permanent pastures & other Grazing land in almost all agro-climatic regions of Rajasthan has significantly decreased. The land uses category under tree crops & groves reported high instability and swollen data in all study regions for the present study period."

Soil methane (CH4) fluxes in cropland with permanent pasture and riparian buffer strips with different vegetation#

AbstractBackgroundMethane (CH4) has a global warming potential (GWP) 28 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100‐year horizon. Riparian buffers strips are widely implemented for their water quality protection functions along agricultural land, but conditions prevailing within them may increase the production of radiative greenhouse gases (GHGs), including CH4. However, a few information is available regarding the dynamics of unintended emissions of soil CH4 in these commonplace features of agroecosystems and how the dynamics compare with those for agricultural land.AimsTo understand the dynamics of soil CH4 fluxes from a permanent upslope pasture and contiguous riparian buffer strips with different (grass, willow, and woodland) vegetation as well controls with no buffer vegetation, an experiment was carried out using the static chamber technique on a replicated plot‐scale facility.MethodsGas fluxes were measured periodically with soil and environmental variables between June 2018 and February 2019 at North Wyke, UK.ResultsSoils under all treatments were sinks of soil CH4 with the willow riparian buffer (–2555 ± 318.7 g CH4 ha–1) having the lowest soil CH4 flux followed by the grass riparian buffer (–2532 ± 318.7 g CH4 ha–1), woodland riparian buffer (–2318.0 ± 246.4 g CH4 ha–1), no‐buffer control (–1938.0 ± 374.4 g CH4 ha–1), and last, the upslope pasture (–1328.0 ± 89.0 g CH4 ha–1), which had a higher flux.ConclusionsThe three vegetated riparian buffers were more substantial soil CH4 sinks, suggesting that they may help reduce soil CH4 fluxes into the atmosphere in similar agroecosystems.

How Does Nitrogen Application Rate Affect Plant Functional Traits and Crop Growth Rate of Perennial Ryegrass-Dominated Permanent Pastures?

High doses of nitrogen (N) fertiliser input on permanent pastures are crucial in terms of N surplus and N losses. Quantitative analyses of the response of plant functional traits (PFT) driving crop growth rate (CGR) under low N input are lacking in frequently defoliated pastures. This study aimed to understand the significance of PFTs for productivity and N uptake in permanent grasslands by measuring dynamics in tiller density (TD), tiller weight (TW), leaf weight ratio (LWR), leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), as well as leaf N content per unit mass (LNCm) and per unit area (LNCa) in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-dominated pastures, in a simulated rotational grazing approach over two consecutive growing seasons. Annual N application rates were 0, 140 and 280 kg N ha−1. The phenological development of perennial ryegrass was the main driver of CGR, N uptake and most PFTs. The effect of N application rate on PFTs varied during the season. N application rate showed the greatest effect on TD, LAI and, to a lesser extent, on SLA and LNCm. The results of this study highlight the importance of TD and its role in driving CGR and N uptake in frequently defoliated permanent pastures.

Emerging agricultural expansion in northern regions: Insights from land-use research

Emerging agricultural expansion in northern regions: Insights from land-use research

High‐yielding forage grass cultivars increase root biomass and soil organic carbon stocks compared with mixed‐species permanent pasture in temperate soil

AbstractAgricultural grass cultivars bred for increased forage yield commonly have extensive root systems. As roots are an important input of organic matter into the soil, it follows that such cultivars could lead to important increases in soil organic carbon (SOC), but this, and the mechanisms involved, are poorly understood with little empirical field evidence. We assessed the effect of two cultivars, Lolium perenne L. cv. “AberMagic” and L. perenne L. × Festuca pratensis Huds. cv. “Prior”, in comparison with mixed‐species permanent pasture (“Pasture”) in a field experiment on temperate alluvial soil in the southwest UK. Root and SOC stocks, and specific plant‐derived lipids as mechanistic biomarkers for shoot and root inputs of C, were measured on intact 1‐m volumetric soil cores collected on four dates in 2013–2015. Total grass yields were greater for both grass cultivars (40–43 Mg ha−1) than Pasture (39 Mg ha−1), and by 2015 root stocks in the upper 0.1 m were significantly greater by more than 4.7 Mg ha−1. At 0.1–0.3 m depth, SOC stocks (per 0.1‐m depth) were significantly greater under the two grass cultivars (24–50 Mg ha−1) compared to Pasture (18–32 Mg ha−1). In the full 1‐m profile, mean SOC stocks were 137, 133 and 110 Mg ha−1 for AberMagic, Prior and Pasture, respectively, matching root biomass distribution. Odd‐chain n‐alkane concentrations were significantly greater for shoots than roots (274 vs. 64 mg kg−1, respectively), and roots had significantly greater concentrations than shoots of even‐chain hydroxy fatty acids (1829 vs. 305 mg kg−1, respectively) and diacids (317 vs. 93 mg kg−1, respectively). This confirmed lipids as candidate biomarkers for distinguishing shoot and root inputs into the soil, with roots being the dominant source of SOC. Based on the observations of increased forage yield and SOC stock, high‐yielding forage grass cultivars can contribute to future strategies for climate‐smart agriculture in grassland‐dominated temperate regions.Highlights Selected root traits for increased depth, density and diameter may increase SOC in grassland. The effect of two high‐yielding forage grass cultivars were assessed in a field trial. Fast‐growing, high‐yielding cultivars enhanced root and SOC stocks compared to typical pasture. Lipid biomarkers confirmed that root inputs were the predominant C input to soil.

Impact of Reduced Rainfall on Above Ground Dry Matter Production of Semi-natural Grassland in South Gloucestershire, UK: A Rainfall Manipulation Study

In the United Kingdom, agricultural grasslands cover 40% of the land area, make up 89% of the total agricultural area and are an important land use for ecosystem services and food security. Climate change predictions suggest that the United Kingdom will experience more frequent and severe periods of drought that may impact these grasslands. As part of the Drought Risk and You (DRY) project, a field experiment in which rain shelters reduced precipitation reaching the vegetation by approximately 50%, was set up in the South West of England. The experiment ran for 3 years, from October 2015 to October 2018. The study was carried out at two locations in the catchment of the Bristol River Frome. Both sites were species-rich semi-natural pastures that had received no inputs of fertilizer or herbicide for many years. Automatic weather stations recorded environmental conditions, especially rainfall, within the experimental area. The existing agricultural management regimes were approximated by cutting the vegetation in the plots, by hand, at the appropriate times of year. The effect of rainfall reduction on plant growth was assessed by biomass sampling. At both sites, the rainfall reduction treatment had only small effects on total above ground dry matter production (biomass). These effects were much smaller than the year-to-year variation in total biomass. Our results suggested that well-established permanent pastures in the South West of England were able to tolerate a 3-year period of reduced water supply. The observed year-to-year variation in biomass demonstrated how important the timing of dry weather is for biomass production, and this will be reflected in effects on yield and quality of hay.

179 The Effect of Sward Type on the Performance of Co-grazed Cattle and Sheep

Abstract A farmlet study was established to evaluate the effect of four sward types on the performance of heifers and lambs co-grazing: a perennial ryegrass only sward (PRG) receiving 170 kg N/ha each year; a permanent pasture (PP) receiving 135 kg N/ha each year; a six species mix (2 grasses, 2 legumes, 2 herbs) at 70 kg N/ha each year (6SP); and a 12 species mix (3 grasses, 4 legumes and 5 herbs) at 70 kg N/ha each year (12SP). Each farmlet (9 ha) was rotationally grazed with 20 dairy cross heifers (13 months old) and 22 ewes plus lambs from April to November 2020. Heifers and lambs were finished for slaughter from herbage only diets. Heifers were weighed monthly and drafted for slaughter on three occasions when their estimated fat class on the EUROP grid scale reached 3-. Lambs were weighed fortnightly and drafted for slaughter at 42 kg [lambing to weaning (July 7th)], 44 kg (weaning to September) and 46 kg (after September 1st) to obtain a target carcass weight of 21 kg. Average daily gain (ADG) was higher for heifers grazing the 6SP sward (1.13 kg/day) than the PRG (0.99 kg/day) or PP swards (1.03 kg/day; P < 0.05). Kill out percentage (KO%) was higher for heifers grazing the 12SP sward (48.9%) compared to the PP sward (47.2%; P < 0.01). Lamb ADG was higher for lambs grazing the 6SP sward (0.38kg/day) compared to lambs grazing either the PP (0.32kg/day) or the PRG sward (0.29kg/day) (P < 0.01). Lamb KO% was higher for lambs grazing the 12SP sward (49.4%) compared to those grazing the PRG (45.7%) and the PP swards (44.5%; P < 0.01). Lambs grazing the 6SP sward had reduced days to slaughter (109) compared to lambs grazing the PP (137) and PRG (149) swards (P < 0.01). In conclusion, co-grazing multispecies swards improved overall heifer and lamb performance.

PSXIV-21 Performance of hair lambs maintained on stockpiled permanent pasture mixed with Cleome gynandra L. at multiple stocking densities

Abstract Stockpiled forage may extend the grazing season for sheep, reducing feeding costs. Additionally, internal parasites are a problem in sheep managed under grazing conditions. Plants high in phenolic compounds have potential to reduce parasite problems. Cleome gynandra is one such plant that has traditionally been used to treat worms in humans. Thirty-six Katahdin × Dorper lambs (38.8 ± 0.7 kg) were used to investigate the effect of stockpiled forages on lamb performance at different stocking densities: (i) 23 lambs/ha (LOW), (ii) 46 lambs/ha (MED), and (iii) 92 lambs/ha (HIGH). To test C. gynandra for anthelmintic properties, lambs were assigned to (i) permanent pastures (PP), and (ii) PP inter-seeded with C. gynandra (CL). The LOW lambs had the highest ADG (83.8 ± 10.5 g/day), MED lambs were intermediate (48.4 ± 11.6 g/day) and HIGH lambs were lowest (11.0 ± 10.6 g/day; P < 0.001). Lamb BCS did not differ between stocking densities or pasture types (P > 0.10). Fecal egg counts did not differ (P > 0.10) between pasture treatments. In conclusion, stockpiled forages may extend the grazing season for yearling lambs in Southern California. The lack of effect on parasite egg counts may be attributed to grazing C. gynandra at mature stage when nutritional and medicinal values were at their lowest. Future research can clarify the economics of grazing stockpiled forages for sheep at different stages of production, and nutritional effect of C. gynandra on carcass quality.

Original

The Kakodonga river basin covers an area of about 1,113 km2. The average maximum temperature is 28.50C and the minimum temperature is 18.40C. The average rainfall of the basin is 1766 mm. The present paper is an attempt to analyze spatially land-use concentration and land-use efficiency of the Kakodonga river basin. For the preparation of thematic maps, Survey of India topographic sheets and IRS P6 LISS-III imagery (2011) data are used. The land-use categories data has been collected for three years (2012-2014) at the revenue circle level from the Economic and Statistical Department of Assam. To work out land-use concentration Bhatia’s (1965) method was adopted. The major land-use categories are forest cover, area put under non-agricultural use, barren lands, permanent pastures, and other grazing lands, miscellaneous trees and groves, culturable wasteland, current fallow land, other fallow lands, and the net area sown. The land-use efficiency has been worked out taking five positive variables are net sown area, total irrigated area, area irrigated more than once, the intensity of irrigation, and intensity of crops.

Effects of plant spacing and fertilizer level on forage yield and chemical composition of hybrid <i>Urochloa</i> cv. Mulato II grass during the first 150 days of growth under irrigation supplementation, in Chagni Ranch, Awi Zone, Ethiopia

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and N fertilizer application on dry matter yield and chemical composition of Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato II grass for the first 150 days after planting. A factorial experiment with 3 urea fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) and 4 spacings between plants and rows (20 × 20, 30 × 40, 40 × 60 and 50 × 80 cm) with 3 replications was used. Data collected were dry matter yield (DMY), leaf:stem ratio and chemical analyses, i.e. crude protein (CP), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations. Results indicated that DMY, leaf:stem ratio, CP%, NDF% and ADF% were significantly (P<0.05) affected by interactions between plant spacing and fertilizer level. However, ash and ADL were significantly (P<0.05) affected only by main effects. The highest DMYs (9.18 t/ha and 8.93 t/ha) were recorded for narrowest plant spacing (20 × 20 cm) with higher urea fertilizer level (100 kg/ha) and narrowest plant spacing (20 × 20 cm) with medium urea fertilizer level (50 kg/ha), respectively. CP% ranged from 14.6 to 20% and leaf:stem ratio from 1.12 to 1.82:1. Similar studies need to be conducted over longer periods to determine to what extent these findings relate to performance over the life of a permanent pasture.

Correction to: Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Permanent Pastures in Andisols

Correction to: Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Permanent Pastures in Andisols

The Distribution of Soil Micro-Nutrients and the Effects on Herbage Micro-Nutrient Uptake and Yield in Three Different Pasture Systems

Pasture micro-nutrient concentrations are often deficient for herbage productivity and the health of livestock. The aim of this study was to investigate soil and herbage micro-nutrient content and the effects on yield on the three pasture systems of the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP): high-sugar grass + legume mix minus nitrogen (N) fertilizer (blue/HSG + L); permanent pasture plus N fertilizer (green/P + N); high-sugar grass plus N fertilizer (red/HSG + N). The locations with high soil total micro-nutrient concentrations had a greater slope and higher soil organic matter (SOM) content. Herbage micro-nutrient concentrations were often greater at the locations with high soil total micro-nutrient concentrations. The concentration and uptake of nearly all micro-nutrients was greatest in the herbage of the green/P + N system, which had the highest SOM content, whereas they were often lowest in the red/HSG + N system, which had the lowest SOM and the highest yield, indicating biomass dilution of micro-nutrients in the herbage. At the locations with high soil micro-nutrient concentrations, yield was higher than at locations with low micro-nutrient concentrations, and was equal across the three pasture systems, regardless of fertilizer N treatment. Variation in micro-nutrient uptake/yield in the blue grass–legume system was predominantly explained by the soil molybdenum (Mo) concentration, possibly relating to the requirement for Mo in biological nitrogen fixation. There was, therefore, a trade-off in ploughing and re-seeding for higher yield, with the maintenance of SOM being important for herbage micro-nutrient content.

Estimating soil organic carbon of sown biodiverse permanent pastures in Portugal using near infrared spectral data and artificial neural networks

Grasslands in Portugal are key managed ecosystems, supporting and providing a diverse number of ecosystem services. Here, we developed a procedure for rapid estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soil samples of sown biodiverse permanent pastures rich in legumes (SBP) in Portugal. We combined laboratory NIR spectral data analysis with artificial neural networks (ANN) to estimate the SOC content of SBP soil samples. To train and test the ANN, we used more than 340 soil samples collected in the 0–20 cm topsoil layer from three farms in 2018 and 2019 and two other farms in 2019 only. The number of bands of the spectra (800–2778 nm) was reduced using two different approaches: (a) aggregation to Sentinel-2 (S2) bands using the average reflectance within each bandwidths; and (b) principal component analysis (PCA). For the S2 approach, we considered the six S2 bands that overlap with the spectral range of the instrument used. For the PCA approach, we considered the five first principal components. Additional covariates were used for prediction, including weather and terrain attributes, e.g. accumulated precipitation, average temperature, elevation, and slope. To test for transferability of the models to different farms, we used an eight-fold leave-one-out cross-validation approach to calculate estimation errors. Each fold is a unique combination of farm and year and is used to assess the model's performance calibrated from the seven other folds. The ANN was able to estimate both low and high SOC contents without systematic errors and with similar estimation errors for both full and reduced spectral data approaches. The average root mean squared error (RMSE) for the S2 approach was 1.95 g kg−1 (0.45 – 2.33 g kg−1 depending on the hold-out fold) and for the PCA approach was 1.81 g kg−1 (0.74 – 2.42 g kg−1) (compared to the average SOC content of 12 g kg−1). These RMSE values were similar to the RMSE obtained using the full spectra, suggesting that the original spectral resolution could be reduced without losing information. These results suggest the potential for using remotely sensed data to estimate the variation of SOC content for SBP. They are a first step towards developing algorithms that can alleviate the cost and time of soil sampling and chemical SOC laboratory analysis through indirect estimation.

The association between foot temperature and hoof lesions in sheep

Lameness, predominantly caused by footrot and interdigital dermatitis, is a common issue in sheep flocks with negative consequences for animal welfare and productivity. Simple and cheap methods to prevent and monitor lameness are desirable to decrease prevalence within flocks. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a high foot temperature threshold can be used as an early warning for the development of hoof lesions and lameness in sheep. A flock of 47 pregnant ewes and seven non-pregnant ewe lambs were randomly allocated into two equal groups and placed in two different but similar permanent pasture fields for the duration of the study. Foot temperature was measured with a temperature probe placed on the interdigital skin on three dates over approximately 4 weeks. This study showed that increased foot temperature was associated with higher lesion scores (recorded lesions covered a scale of 0 to 3), with healthy feet having a mean temperature of 20°C and feet with severe lesion scores having a mean temperature of 31°C. Also, back feet had a higher foot temperature and lesion score than front feet (P<0.001). This study suggests that a threshold of 26.5°C in the back feet of sheep (mean foot temperature for a lesion score of 1 in back feet) could be used as an indication of when to foot bath or treat feet, and minimise hoof lesions in sheep.