Grass Type Research Articles

Potentials use of leachate for turfgrass irrigation on soil coverage landfill Suwung Bali

Climate change affect water quality and impact water resources and water supply thus using leachate for grass irrigation is hard choice. Suwung landfill is the largest landfill in Bali and was planted with turfrass and arranged as a park. This study aims to determine the potential use of leachate water for irrigation of turfgrass and determine the type of grass that is survive and suitable for landfills cover and irrigated with leachate water. The study was survey of field and observation by purposive sampling to observe the growth of grass and followed by analysis of the characteristics of leachate water and well water and soil. Results showed that using non potable water landfill leachate for irrigation of turfgrass during one year showed local seashore paspalum grew well, local Bermuda and Zoysia matrella showed relatively less growth inhibition than the Bermuda hybrid and Axonopus compressus. Grass growth on top hills is more survival than in slope and foot hill areas.

Productivity and nutrient value of some grasses under shading of rubber tree plantation

This study aimed to determine the productivity and nutrient content of three grasstypes with or without rubber trees shading. It was conducted in May-September 2020at Sangga Buana Village, Seputih Banyak, Central Lampung and Animal Nutrition andFood Laboratory, University of Lampung. This study used nested design with two factorsof rubber trees shaded and grass types with six replications. Both factors were shadedconditions: N0 (land without shade) and N1 (land under rubber trees shade); and grasstypes: elephant grass (A1); setaria (A2); and odot (A3). The results showed the shadeddecreased (P<0.05) leave length of each grass compared to non-shading conditions.Grass under the shade decreased their production and odot grass showed the lowestproduction (P<0.05). The number of tillers and plant height under the shade decreasedsignificantly (P<0.05) on elephant grass and setaria grass. Leaf width under the shadedecreased significantly (P<0.05) on setaria and odot grass. The shaded effected (P<0.05)nutrient content on elephant grass, setaria, and odot. It was concluded that Setariagrass (Setaria sphacelata) had the best productivity under the shaded based on yield.The nutrient content of each grass varied depending on the ability of the grass to adaptto shaded conditions.

Ash transformation during single-pellet gasification of agricultural biomass with focus on potassium and phosphorus

Agricultural biomasses and residues can play an important role in the global bioenergy system but their potential is limited by the risk of several ash-related problems such as deposit formation, slagging, and particle emissions during their thermal conversion. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the ash transformation reactions is required for this type of fuels. The present work investigates ash transformation reactions and the release of critical ash-forming elements with a special focus on K and P during the single-pellet gasification of different types of agricultural biomass fuels, namely, poplar, grass, and wheat grain residues. Each fuel was gasified as a single pellet at three different temperatures (600, 800, and 950 °C) in a Macro-TGA reactor. The residues from different stages of fuel conversion were collected to study the gradual ash transformation. Characterization of the residual char and ash was performed employing SEM-EDS, XRD, and ICP with the support of thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (TECs). The results showed that the K and P present in the fuels were primarily found in the residual char and ash in all cases for all studied fuels. While the main part of the K release occurred during the char conversion stage, the main part of the P release occurred during the devolatilization stage. The highest releases – less than 18% of P and 35% of K – were observed at the highest studied temperature for all fuels. These elements were present in the residual ashes as K2Ca(CO3)2 and Ca5(PO4)3OH for poplar; K-Ca-rich silicates and phosphosilicates in mainly amorphous ash for grass; and an amorphous phase rich in K-Mg-phosphates for wheat grain residues.

Evaluation of the Digestibility of Various Types of Swamp Grass in South Sumatra on Pampangan Local Buffalo using the in Sacco Method

This study aims to determine the digestibility value and degradation rate of various types of swamp grass in Sacco in local Pampangan buffalo in South Sumatra. The design used in the study was a completely randomized design consisting of 6 treatments and three replications. The treatments tested were six types of swamp grass which were then coded for each treatment as follows: Hymenachne Acutigluma (HA1), Hymenachne Amplexicaulis (HA2), Oryza Rufipogon (OR), Rhynchospora Corymbose (RC), Eleocharis Dulcis (ED) and Leersia Hexandra (LH). The observed variables in this study were degradation rate and Analysis of fiber fraction content in each grass includes Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Hemicellulose and Cellulose. The results showed that ED grass had the highest total digestibility value for each fiber fraction variable. The rate of degradation shows an interesting pattern where Overall, the value of fractions a, b and c for each observation parameter showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Based on this study, it can be concluded that ED grass has the best fiber digestibility than other types of swamp grass and is very potential for buffalo livestock due to its high degradation rate.

Cereals as a valuable component of pasture grass mixtures

In order to be used in feeding farm animals, perennial cereal grasses are widely cultivated in various soil and climatic zones of the Russian Federation. They are one of the most important sources of raw materials for the production of various types of feed (hay, haylage, silage, grass meal, briquettes and pellets). The grasses harvested in the booting phase (prior to sweeping, hatching) are distinguished by high fodder advantages, good technological properties, and a significant content of basic nutrients. The dry matter of grasses in terms of the yield of feed units is almost as good as that of oat grain. This article presents the results of studying various types of cereal grasses. The most drought-resistant and productive variety of perennial cereal grasses has been identified with the aim of cultivating it in an arid region to create long-term pastures and hayfields resistant to grazing of farm animals.

Cultivation of agricultural crops on overburden rocks

The success of the development of lands disturbed by open pit mining largely depends on the correct selection of the assortment of master plants, which are distinguished by good survival rate and high productivity. Overburden rocks, turned up on the day surface, in the initial years are insignificantly overgrown with natural vegetation. They are affected by water and wind erosion under the influence of climate, environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts. Perennial grasses have the ability to grow rapidly, accumulate a large amount of aboveground and underground mass, improve the physical properties of rocks and accumulate soil fertility in them. When selecting different types of grasses for sowing on overburden rocks, it is necessary to take into account their biological characteristics.

Combination of woody and grass type biomass: waste management, influence of process parameters, yield of bio-oil by pyrolysis and its chromatographic characterization

Extensive concentration has been given to the conservation of environment in order to minimize the emission. Global warming is a long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system due to the emission by burning fossil fuels. Biomass materials are used since millennia for meeting myriad human needs including energy and chemicals. In this study co-pyrolysis of woody and grass type agricultural wastes, namely Borassus flabellifer and Cymbopogon flexuosus have been conducted in a fixed-bed reactor. The yield and chemical characterization of bio-oil and char products obtained from the pyrolysis of the mixture of Borassus flabellifer and Cymbopogon flexuosus under an inert atmosphere have been studied. The effects of operating parameters such as temperature, particle size and heating rate were investigated. In this co-pyrolysis process, the maximum yield of pyrolysis bio-oil of 47.10 wt% have been obtained under the pyrolysis temperature of 500 ºC, 1.0 mm particle size and at the heating rate of 30 ºC/min. The bio-oil product was analyzed for physical, elemental and chemical composition using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC).

Impact of extreme floods on plants considering various influencing factors downstream of Luhun Reservoir, China

Extreme floods caused by dike or dam breaks have led to substantial damage to various types of vegetation, including forests, orchards, grass, and crops. Many factors affect the impacts of extreme floods on plants, e.g., flood parameters, plant characteristics and natural factors. However, these factors have never been systematically analyzed or considered when evaluating the impacts of extreme floods on plants. Firstly, we summarized the main influencing factors and simplified them into six categories: temperature, geomorphic change, plant age, flood velocity, ratio of the flood depth to the plant height, and ratio of the flood duration to the plant waterlogging tolerance time. Secondly, we proposed the two indices of unit risk biomass (URB) and total risk biomass (TRB) to represent the impacts of floods on plants regionally and over the entire inundated area, respectively. In addition, the calculation methods of URB and TRB considering plant biomass and the comprehensive influence coefficient (I) were put forward. To calculate I, we considered the six influencing factors with different weights according to their importance and varying conditions. The flood parameters and geomorphic changes caused by a simulated dam-break flood of Luhun Reservoir in China were then calculated. Furthermore, we divided a year into six time periods according to the species and growth characteristics of the plants in the inundated area. Then we evaluated the impacts of the dam-break flood on the plants during each period. The results showed that: (a) the URB varied with space in the inundated area; (b) because of the large inundation area of crops, the TRB was far greater than that of forests and orchards and affected the TRB of the whole inundated area; and (c) both the URB and TRB changed with time with the changes in crop species, crop parameters and temperature.

УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬ КЛЕВЕРА ПОЛЗУЧЕГО (TRIFOLIUM REPENS L.) В СЕЯНЫХ ТРАВОСТОЯХ В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ИХ СОСТАВА, КРАТНОСТИ СКАШИВАНИЯ И АЗОТНЫХ УДОБРЕНИЙ

The authors carried out studies at the experimental field station of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in 2008–2020. The study aimed to determine the resistance of white clover in mixtures with various types of grasses with two- and three-cut clipping treatments. In the experiment with four to five-component mixtures, the proportion of white clover reached 36–53% in the botanical composition of swards with the content of perennial ryegrass in the fourth year of life. It did not exceed 22–23% in the mixtures with cock’s foot. With the application of nitrogen fertilizers at a dose of N180, the clover content in the second year of swards was only 1–27%. With the aging of the swards, the proportion of clover in the harvest decreased. In the ninth year of life, its amount in swards with the content of perennial ryegrass without nitrogen application decreased to 13–24%, and in agrophytocenoses with cock’s foot and with nitrogen application to 0–14%. The cock’s foot dominated in the four-component grass mixtures, but during the overwintering of 2015–2016, cock’s foot and perennial ryegrass almost entirely dropped out of agrophytocenoses. Tall fescue was a more resistant species. The yield of grass mixtures composed of grass varieties of Russian selection amounted to 4.16–5.52 t/ha of dry weight on average for eight years, and from varieties of Dutch selection, the yield equaled 4.07–5.24 t/ha. There were no significant differences in yield between grass-legume mixtures based on perennial ryegrass and cock’s foot. With the introduction of nitrogen in a dose of N180 on grass/legume herbage, the yield increased by only 31%, and the return on fertilizers by yield increases was low, making up 4.6–8.9 kg of dry matter per 1 kg of nitrogen. The aftereffect of nitrogen fertilizers on the yield of grass-legume mixtures without the additional introduction of phosphorus and potassium was insufficiently effective. In long-term three-component swards, used from the 14th to the 24th years of life, white clover was more stable in the composition of agrophytocenoses after three-fold mowing than with two-mowing. In years with favorable atmospheric moisture conditions, the proportion of white clover in two and three mows reached 20.1–34.7 and 2.2–24.3%, respectively, and with a moisture deficit, it decreased to 0–9%. For 26 years of growing grasses, there was a significant increase in soil acidity – pHKCl decreased from 6.3 to 4.91–5.36, which negatively affected the resistance of clover as the herbage was aging.

Development of learning in conservation education subject based on the natural resources potency in the Taman Wisata Alam Bengkulu City

The aims of this study is to develop conservation education based on the potential of natural resources in the city of Bengkulu to improve scientific writing skills. This type of research is research and development (analysis, design, development). The steps of research are exploring of Taman Wisata Alam (TWA) as area conservation, collecting data of each ecosystem, identifying of biodiversity, make a map of potency TWA area, designing of material teaching. The results of this study are: 1) There is a coastal forest ecosystem that has vegetation types of trees, shrubs, bushes, grass, fungi, pteridophyte, and bryophyte; 2) Mapping the potential of conservation have coastal, swamp, and mangrove 3) Teaching materials developed from potential TWA conservation areas have introduction of TWA, instructions for students to exploring area conservation, guide activity of writing article based on the exploration experience of conservation area. The conclusion of this research is that research can be developed by utilizing the potential of conservation areas and designing teaching materials that guide students to practice writing.

Sources of valuable traits for perennial grass breeding

Aim. The purpose was to identify collection accessions – sources of valuable traits to use as starting material for creating varieties of perennial grasses in Western Ukraine. Results and Discussion. Perennial grasses play an essential role in improving the efficiency of forage production. They produce a fodder mass that contains major macro- and micronutrients, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients in available forms, with a high energy protein saturation. Practice shows that due to the introduction of varietal crops into production in combination with optimal technologies of their cultivation, which allows revealing the potential of each variety, it is possible to additionally obtain 20-30% higher yields of fodder mass annually and harvest 2 to 3-fold seed yields. In 2016-2020, a search was carried out and 570 new accessions of perennial grasses were recruited, of which 201 were legumes and 369 were graminaceous grasses. The collection contains 1,319 accessions, of which 232 are Trifolium pratense L., 115 are Trifolium repens L., 49 are Trifolium hybridum L., 107 are Lotus corniculatus L., 80 belong to other legume species (Medicago, Galega orientalis L. Galega orientalis L. and Trifolium species), 131 are Phleum pratense L., 187 are Dactylis glomerata L., 146 are Lolium perenne L., 53 are Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) J. et C.Presl., 67 are Festuca rubra L., 28 are Festuca trachyphylla L., 32 are Bromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub, 92 belong to other species of other types of graminaceous grasses (Festuca pratensis Huds., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Agrostis alba L. etc.). Accessions that enter the Department are registered and sown for propagation in the field. After examination, valuable accessions are transferred to the National Depository and registered in the National Catalogue; the rest of the obtained seeds are used in working collections. Conclusions. The best collection accessions were identified by a set of economically valuable traits: sources of daily growth of shoots (30), winter hardiness (28), plant height (22), yield of green mass upon haymaking (28) and pasture (19) use, forage productivity (15), seed productivity (25), foliage (21), and disease resistance (23). They can be recommended as starting material to create varieties of perennial grasses with high yields of forage mass and seeds for various applications.

Differential defense responses of tropical grasses to Mahanarva spectabilis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) infestation.

The spittlebugs Mahanarva spectabilis economically challenges cattle production of neotropical regions, due to its voracious feeding on tropical grasses. Here, we evaluated biochemical responses of the interaction between M. spectabilis and the widely cultivated tropical grasses Brachiaria spp. (i.e., brizantha and decumbens) and elephant grasses (cvs. Roxo de Botucatu and Pioneiro), regarding lipoxygenases, protease inhibitors, phytohormones, and proteolytic activities in the midgut of M. spectabilis. The M. spectabilis-infested grasses increased lipoxygenases activity, except for cv. Pioneiro. The levels of the phytohormones jasmonic and abscisic acids were similarly low in all genotypes and increased under herbivory. Furthermore, salicylic acid concentration was constitutively higher in Brachiaria sp., increasing only in spittlebug-infested B. decumbens. M. spectabilis infestations did not induce increases of protease inhibitors in any forage grass type. The trypsin activity remained unaltered, and the total proteolytic activity increased only in B. decumbens-fed insects. Our findings revealed that most forage grasses exposed to spittlebugs activate the lipoxygenases pathway, resulting in increased abscisic and jasmonic acids. However, greater amounts of these hormones do not induce protease inhibitory activity in response to spittlebug attack. This knowledge certainly helps to guide future projects aiming at reducing the impact of spittlebugs on forage production.

Land restoration and socio-economic contribution of bamboo in Ethiopia

Worldwide human activities are the driving force for land degradation; these difficulties will worsen without immediate remedial action. This pressing global issue affects mankind, especially rural communities. The indicators for land degradation is mostly reduction in benefits derived from land. Bamboo is a grass type with a very large woody stem. Bamboo forests are important both for land restoration and socio-economic value. This review paper is aimed to assess land restoration and socio-economic contributions of bamboo in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the leading bamboo resource country in Africa. Assosa, Injibara, Gimbi, Ambo, Gurage, Bale, Masha, Chencha and Hagere-Selam are the known bamboo producing areas of Ethiopia. Basically, bamboo is considered a good plant for restoring degraded land and soil health. Bamboo has great benefits for income diversification and other socio-economic values. Additionally, bamboo plants have so many cultural and medicinal uses in many parts of Ethiopia. Though a variety of studies revealed that bamboo has a unique ability in restoring lands condition, but less attention was given for its biological soil conservation, so concerned body should create awareness regarding the importance of bamboo for soil and water conservation. Ethiopia has numerous hectares of natural bamboo, known in the African continent. But, the real benefits generated from this subsector is insignificant so, the concerned body should improve benefits obtained from bamboo. Bamboo production and processing provides job opportunities and creates economic and social stability, however, there is little attention given, and so concerned body should give special attention for this sub-sector.

Performance of crossbred dairy cattle under commercial farming conditions in the Chattogram district, Bangladesh

The study was conducted in 10 different farms under 6 upazilas, i.e., Hathazari, Patiya, Anwara, Boalkhali, Bakalia and Patenga of Chattogram district. The records of 50 crossbred dairy cattle (CDC) were collected for two crossbred dairy breeds, i.e., Holstein Friesian × Jersey (HF × J) and Holstein Friesian × Local (HF × L) from March to June 2019. Farms having ≥50 CDC with complete records of each cattle were selected for the study purpose. Results indicated that the genotype, supply of green roughage and concentrate, and feeding of CDC immediate before milking had significant (p&lt;0.001) positive linear effect on average daily milk yield (ADMY). Supply of green roughage and concentrate had further positive quadratic and cubic effects (p&lt;0.001) on ADMY. Postpartum period quadratically influenced the ADMY (p&lt;0.05) although linear and cubic effects were nil (p&gt;0.05). Parity and genotype had significant (p&lt;0.05) positive effect on lactation period of the CDC. Among the HF × J crossbreds, 75%+25% genotypes resulted in greater milk yield than the others. Similarly, the 87.5% + 12.5% HF × L produced more milk than the other genotypes. However, the farm type, housing systems, grass type, milking system, parity, service per conception, lactation period, age at puberty, age at first calving, and the dry period had no effect (p&gt;0.05) on ADMY in the CDC. Overall, HF × J performed better than the HF × L. It was concluded that both HF × J and HF × L crossbreds were well adapted under medium-scale commercial farming conditions of Bangladesh.

Effect of maturity stage and processing on chemical composition, in vitro gas production and preference of Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum

The trials arranged in 2 x 2 x 2 factorial completely randomized design to evaluated the selection preference of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum ) of four and eight weeks regrowth served either fresh green chop or pelleted using 12 intact Muturu calves in a 15 min cafeteria. The diets were served to animals either individual or in group. The CP content of the grasses ranged from 105 to 133 g/kg DM with pelleted panicum at 8 weeks old having the highest CP. Pelleted grasses of 4 week old had the lowest (P&lt;0.05) NDF in the trial. Panicum pelleted at 4 weeks old recorded the highest (P &lt; 0.05) sequential in vitro gas volume of 5.25 ml/200g while the volume of gas produced by pelleted grasses was higher (P &lt; 0.01) than the fresh grasses. Pennisetum pelleted at 8 weeks old had the highest (P&lt;0.05) ME of 6.18 MJ/kg DM. Age at harvest influenced preference as forages harvested at 4 weeks old had higher intake. Group feeding also influenced forage preference. Correlation analysis showed that DM, SCFA, and ash contents have poor (P&gt; 0.01) capacity to preference of forages. Forage preference considered in terms of intake rate indicated that growing calves preferred fresh P. maximum 4 week old to the other samples used in this study. It is concluded that in order to optimize DM intake farmers should consider the type of grasses and their age at harvest particularly for Muturu. Pelleting improves acceptability of forages when rejected by animal as fresh forage form due to advanced age.

ЗИМОСТІЙКІСТЬ РОСЛИН ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ПОПЕРЕДНИКІВ БОБОВИХ БАГАТОРІЧНИХ ТРАВ

The article is devoted to solving the problem of increasing the winter hardiness of winter wheat crops when it is grown after the predecessors of six types of perennial legumes. The features of the passage of the growth and development phases of winter wheat plants in the autumn, depending on the predecessors, are shown. The dynamics of plant height in the autumn-spring period is analyzed. The change in the density of winter wheat plants during the period of full germination and during the spring renewal of vegetation was studied. The winter cutting of winter wheat plants, the area of damage to the leaf surface, the proportion of damaged plants and the percentage of their height decrease during the winter period were calculated. The level of grain yield of winter wheat, depending on the predecessors, was investigated, and correlation-regression relationships between it and the factors influencing wintering were revealed. A close correlation has been proved between grain yield and the percentage of damaged winter wheat plants during the winter period and their height at the beginning of spring regrowth. It is shown that the most favorable conditions overwintered and the level of grain yield of winter wheat when grown after various types of leguminous perennial grasses is observed after the predecessor of meadow clover, where damage is observed by unfavorable conditions, only 16.7 % of the plants overwintered and their height at the time of the spring renewal of vegetation is 6 cm. This makes it possible to obtain a grain yield of winter wheat of 5.8 t/ha without the use of mineral fertilizers. The use of leguminous perennial grasses as precursors of winter wheat that develop over two to three years (meadow clover, white melilot, sand sainfoin) contributes to the formation of a significantly higher yield of winter wheat grain compared to predecessors of perennial legumes that vegetate for a long time period – five to eight years (horned lily, sowing alfalfa, eastern goat's rue). The yield of winter wheat after the predecessor of horned clover was the lowest – by 30.5% less than after the predecessor of meadow clover.

Synchronization Protein-Energy Index of Various Forages for Dairy Livestock: an In Vitro Study

The present study inventoried the protein-energy synchronization (PES) index of various types of grass. The study was conducted using in vitro techniques with material 5 types of grass (elephant, king, dwarf elephant, guinea, and setaria) and rumen fluid of the Friesian Holstein (FH). The PES index is calculated based on the average degradation of g protein and Kg organic matter (OM) per hour at the time of observation of 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours. The hourly degradation rates were analyzed by linear regression to obtain the average hourly degradation rate. The results were included in the PES index calculation formula and discussed descriptively. This study found that all five grass had almost uniform nutritional value. Regression analysis results show a different equation, but with a high coefficient of determination (&gt; 90%) on all types of grass. The PES index obtained in elephant, king, dwarf elephant, guinea, and setaria grass are 0.72, 0.66, 0.69, 0.58, and 0.68. The study concluded that elephant grass has a PES index at a high level, while king, dwarf elephant, guinea, and setaria grass at medium level for compiling dairy rations.

Evaluation of Mineral Contents in Milk of Dairy Cattle Fed Elephant Grass Planted at Ex-Coal Mining Land

The growth of several types of grass in the area of ​​mine re-vegetation is rapidly providing an opportunity to be used as forages despite the possibility of heavy metal contamination. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of treatment of different levels of elephant grass (EG) (Pennisetum purpureum) planted at ex-coal mining reclamation on milk productivity and mineral contents of dairy cattle. This study used four lactating (second lactation) dairy cattle using Latin Square Design of 4 (treatments) x 4 (replications). Each period was 21 days consisted of 14 days of preliminary for feed adaptation and 7 days for observation. Treatments were P0 (0% ex-coal mining (EEG)+60% Farmer’s EG (FEG)+40% Concentrate), P1 (15% EEG+45% FEG+40% Concentrate), P2 (30% EEG+30% FEG+40% Concentrate), and P3 (60% EEG+0% FEG+40% Concentrate). The study observed variables of feed intake and efficiencies, milk production, milk quality, and mineral contents of milk. Results showed that EEG treatment at different levels did not affect fresh and dry matter intake. The highest fresh and dry matter intake was found in P0 treatment. There was no significant difference in giving EG planted at the ex-coal mining and the farmer’s land on the milk production and milk quality. The only significant differences (p&lt;0.05) were found in mineral Fe and Mg contents of milk. The study concluded that giving EG planted at the ex-coal mining area until 60% of forage affected Fe and Mg contents of milk, but they are still in the safe limit.

Determinants of fire intensity in working landscapes of an African savanna

BackgroundAn often cited rule of savanna fire ecology is that early dry-season fires burn less intensely than late dry-season ones; however, few studies base their experimental design on the practices of fire managers in working landscapes. The objective of this research was to study the factors influencing fireline intensity, combustion, and patchiness for a West African savanna under common vegetation and land management practices. We conducted 97 experimental fires by selecting burn plots and seasonal timing (early, n = 33; middle, n = 44; or late, n = 20) based on local practices in a typical working landscape. We collected data for biomass consumed, grass type, scorch height, speed of fire front, visual efficiency (patchiness), fire type, and ambient air conditions. We used multiple regression analysis to determine the key factors affecting fire intensity.ResultsMean intensity was lowest for the middle season fires and highest for the late season fires. Minimum fire intensity increased over the fire season except for a sharp drop mid season, while maximum intensity progressively decreased. Seasonal values were highly variable. Fire intensity was moderately positively correlated with scorch height and more modestly correlated with visual efficiency, but only marginally correlated with combustion completeness. Average combustion completeness increased weakly as the dry season progressed. Intensity of back-fires was determined primarily by seasonal timing and the associated ambient humidity and wind and, to a lesser extent, grass characteristics. Head-fire intensity was only feebly responsive to wind speed.ConclusionsWe found that, at the peak time of West African savanna burning, the intensity of fires decreased. Fire behaviors in working West African landscapes were more dependent on fire type and wind than seasonality. Finally, we found that fire intensity values were lower than those reported elsewhere due to the more representative conditions of the fire setting (under lower afternoon winds) and fuel loads (lower biomass on working landscapes). Future research should focus on the ecological impacts of fires set under such conditions on growth and death rates of savanna trees.

Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of lemon, sweet, and cereal grasses

Total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant and antibacterial activity of ethanol, water, and water:ethanol (50/50 vol/vol) extracts from wheat, spelt, rye, barley, sweet, and lemon grasses were studied. Both grass type and solvent used significantly (p < .05; MANOVA) affected the extracts’ properties. The water:ethanol extract from lemon grass showed the highest TPC (107.24 ± 2.22 mg GAE/g d.m.), DPPH radical scavenging activity (87.8% inhibition), and FRAP value (1,445.2 ± 14.1 µmol Trolox/g d.m.). Rye and barley grass extracts also exhibited strong antioxidant potential. Spelt and lemon grass demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity among the ethanol and water:ethanol extracts, whereas among the water extracts, only rye grass showed antibacterial activity against all of the tested indicator microorganisms. Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) were inhibited by extracts at a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml, whereas gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) needed higher extract concentrations (5–20 mg/ml). Grass extracts are thus a potential source of biologically functional compounds. Practical applications There is an ongoing, extensive search for natural ingredients that either prevent or retard undesirable changes, such as oxidation or microbiological contamination, which take place in food products. In this study, extracts from different types of grasses exhibited strong and moderate antioxidant and antibacterial activities, which thus makes it possible to use them as additives (antioxidants or preservatives) in the design of novel beverages and food products. The results obtained in this study could be an important asset to the food industry, as they provide new insight into plant extracts that have the potential to be used in food supplements, health drinks, or food products with enhanced health properties.