Yield Of Ryegrass Research Articles

Temporal changes in genetic diversity and forage yield of perennial ryegrass in monoculture and in combination with red clover in swards.

Agricultural grasslands are often cultivated as mixtures of grasses and legumes, and an extensive body of literature is available regarding interspecific interactions, and how these relate to yield and agronomic performance. However, knowledge of the impact of intraspecific diversity on grassland functioning is scarce. We investigated these effects during a 4-year field trial established with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). We simulated different levels of intraspecific functional diversity by sowing single cultivars or by combining cultivars with contrasting growth habits, in monospecific or bispecific settings (i.e. perennial ryegrass whether or not in combination with red clover). Replicate field plots were established for seven seed compositions. We determined yield parameters and monitored differences in genetic diversity in the ryegrass component among seed compositions, and temporal changes in the genetic composition and genetic diversity at the within plot level. The composition of cultivars of both species affected the yield and species abundance. In general, the presence of clover had a positive effect on the yield. The cultivar composition of the ryegrass component had a significant effect on the yield, both in monoculture, and in combination with clover. For the genetic analyses, we validated empirically that genotyping-by-sequencing of pooled samples (pool-GBS) is a suitable method for accurate measurement of population allele frequencies, and obtained a dataset of 22,324 SNPs with complete data. We present a method to investigate the temporal dynamics of cultivars in seed mixtures grown under field conditions, and show how cultivar abundances vary during subsequent years. We screened the SNP panel for outlier loci, putatively under selection during the cultivation period, but none were detected.

Increasing legume forage productivity through slurry application – A way to intensify sustainable agriculture?

AbstractLegume forages are fundamental in the development of sustainable livestock systems, building soil fertility and providing home‐grown protein for ruminant livestock. Legumes derive N from the atmosphere but defoliation reduces N fixation, reducing yield. Livestock, particularly dairy, systems generate considerable quantities of slurry. There is a lack of knowledge on whether this resource can be used sustainably to improve the dry matter (DM) yield of regularly defoliated legumes. An experiment investigated whether applying slurry to red clover (Trifolium pratense), lucerne (Medicago sativa), or hybrid ryegrass (Lolium hybridicum), managed by frequent cutting, would increase DM and nitrogen (N) yield compared with plots without slurry. Treatments were compared within a randomized block design. Plots were harvested for silage on four occasions. Soil P and K indices were maintained at sufficiency levels throughout. Forage DM yields were higher on all plots treated with slurry than those with zero slurry. Overall, legume forages had higher DM yields than ryegrass, with lucerne having the highest DM yield. DM yields decreased at each cut for all forages (p < 0.001); however, forage N content increased after each cut (p < 0.001). Slurry addition increased ryegrass yield at first cut and red clover yield at second cut (p < 0.05) indicating ryegrass needed the nutrient boost to commence growth, while red clover needed it to aid recovery after defoliation stress. N concentration differed between forages, although for ryegrass and red clover there was no difference between slurry treatments (p > 0.05), N was higher in lucerne grown without slurry. Applying slurry to legumes under frequent cutting regimes increased total DM yield but not N yield. Overall, findings demonstrate the potential to use slurry as a resource to intensify sustainable agriculture by increasing the DM yields of frequently harvested forage legumes.

Effects of rice straw incorporation and N fertilizer on ryegrass yield, soil quality, and greenhouse gas emissions from paddy soil

Ryegrass is usually rotated with rice in southern China. The influences of returning ryegrass residues on rice yield and soil dynamics have been studied extensively, but little is known about the effects of returning rice straw on ryegrass growth and soil variations. We investigated the effect of straw incorporation and the N fertilizer rate on the ryegrass yield, soil quality, and CO2 and N2O dynamics from soils planted with ryegrass. Irrespective of the incorporation rate, N fertilizer promoted ryegrass yield. In comparison to moderate incorporation treatments, high incorporation lowered the ryegrass yield in the low N fertilizer treatments, whereas high straw input increased the yield in the high N treatments. When low N fertilizer was applied, the soil phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and sucrase of straw incorporation treatments were significantly higher than those of non-straw incorporation treatments. Nevertheless, catalase, phosphatase, and β-glucosidase showed no significant differences among straw incorporation treatments in the high N fertilizer groups. In the low N fertilizer treatments, the high incorporation rate increased cumulative CO2 and N2O emissions. However, with low N application, compared with non-straw incorporation treatments, the moderate incorporation had no effect on the cumulative CO2 emissions/ryegrass yield but significantly reduced the cumulative N2O emissions/ryegrass yield. These results suggested that moderate straw incorporation in combination with low N fertilizer could enhance soil activity and benefit both the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and forage yield.

Influence of ryegrass managements on the physical properties of a Haplohumox

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) managements on the physical properties of a Haplohumox, and on the yields of corn and of ryegrass cultivated in succession to corn. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and three replicates, in which treatments were the different managements of ryegrass under no-tillage for silage, soil cover, and grazing. After nine years of management, samples were collected at 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30-m soil depths, to determine the following soil properties: texture, total organic carbon, soil bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and resistance to root penetration. The index of structural stability was estimated from texture and total organic carbon data. Maximum soil bulk density and permanent wilting point were also estimated from pedotransfer functions. Corn and ryegrass dry matter yields were determined from plants harvested inside the plot area. Total organic carbon content increased as depth increased. The ryegrass managements in no-tillage system, in succession to corn, does not influence the soil physical properties of a Haplohumox, and maintains high corn and ryegrass yields.

Fuzzy Union to Assess Climate Suitability of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

The Law of the Minimum is often implemented using t-norm or fuzzy intersection. We propose the use of t-conorm or fuzzy union for climate suitability assessment of a grass species using annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) as an example and evaluate the performance for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The ORF and ANDF models, which are fuzzy logic systems based on t-conorm and t-norm between temperature and moisture conditions, respectively, were developed to assess the quality of climate conditions for crops. The parameter values for both models were obtained from existing knowledge, e.g., the EcoCrop database. These models were then compared with the EcoCrop model, which is based on the t-norm. The ORF model explained greater variation (54%) in the yield of annual ryegrass at 84 site-years than the ANDF model (43%) and the EcoCrop model (5%). The climate suitability index of the ORF model had the greatest likelihood of occurrence of annual ryegrass compared to the other models. The ORF model also had similar results for alfalfa and sorghum. We emphasize that the fuzzy logic system for climate suitability assessment can be developed using knowledge rather than presence-only data, which can facilitate more complex approaches such as the incorporation of biotic interaction into species distribution modeling.

Effects of mixture ratio and cutting time on forage yield and silage quality of intercropped berseem clover and italian ryegrass

The research was carried out to determine the effects of different mixture ratios and cutting times on dry-matter yield and silage quality of mixtures of bersem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Adana province, Turkey. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications during the years of 2011-2013. The mixture-ratios ( 80% BC + 20% IR, 60% BC + % 40 IR, 40% BC+ % 60 IR, 20% BC + 80 % IR, pure berseem clover (BC) and Italian ryegrass (IR) ) were main plots, and harvest times (beginning of the flowering, mid flowering and full flowering of BC) were sub-plots. From the result of the study, it was concluded that the mixture of 60 % BC +40 % IR harvested at full flowering of BC was superior in terms of dry matter yield and silage quality.

Yield Response and Competition Ability of Italian Ryegrass, Red Clover and Their Mixture to Different Technological Conditions�

The effect of different technological conditions on forage yield, growth behavior and competition ability of ryegrass, red clover and their mixture was analyzed. The results showed that red clover makes better use of the nutrition space in the case of variants sown in mixture with Italian ryegrass than in the monoculture, independent of the density of the plants or fertilization regime. The highest DM production was obtained at the mixture formed by red clover and Italian ryegrass on the variants sown on 12.5 cm distance between rows, the increase of the nutrition space being directly proportional to the decrease of the DM production in the case of this forage mixture.

Modeling Genotype × Environment Correlation Structures in Long‐term Multilocation Forage Yield Trials

Genotype × environment interactions are a critical aspect of field experiments to evaluate yield of forage cultivars. The objectives of this study were (i) to model genotypic effects across establishment years, locations, and harvest years of forage yield trials using variance‐covariance structures, (ii) to predict cultivar performance across different environments, and (iii) to compare the relative efficiency of different cost reduction scenarios according to locations, harvest years, and replicates per sowing year. This study is focused on long‐term ryegrass (Lolium spp.) yield trials conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) in Ireland. Log likelihood responses of different models indicated that unstructured variance‐covariance models were superior in fit to heterogeneous variance structure models. The unstructured variance‐covariance models also improved predictability compared with heterogeneous variance structure models to estimate genetic effects. Among locations, Athenry (representing western Ireland) was consistently clustered with other locations in both first and second harvest years of late‐ and intermediate‐maturity trials. For resource allocation, cost reduction by reducing the number of harvest years was not effective for the DAFM trials. A 20% reduction in cost by excluding one location or four replicates per sowing year resulted in only an 8% reduction in efficiency. Modeling genetic effects using unstructured variance‐covariance models allowed us to group locations on the basis of genetic correlations to improve prediction accuracy of cultivar effects across different locations and to reduce costs associated with future cultivar trials.

Exploring Alternative Management Options for Multiyear Perennial Ryegrass Seed Production in Northern Minnesota

ABSTRACTPerennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is grown as a biennial when produced for seed in Minnesota; however, producers desire multiyear seed production. One approach to achieving multiyear seed production could be through improved management practices. In particular, plant growth regulators (PGRs) and fall residue management could help overcome several obstacles hindering multiyear seed production in northern climates. We assessed the impact of fall residue management practices and various PGRs after first‐year harvest on winter survival and second‐year seed yield of perennial ryegrass grown in northern Minnesota. The experiment was conducted for three trial years from 2013 to 2016 in second‐year perennial ryegrass seed production swards. Three fall residue management treatments and five fall‐applied PGR treatments were evaluated in a split‐plot design. Fall‐applied PGRs had no effect on second‐year seed yield and minimal effects on winter survival. Managing residue by open‐burning consistently resulted in significantly higher second‐year seed yields than in the no residue removal control (1064 vs. 680 kg ha−1, respectively). Open‐burning and baling and mowing residue resulted in similar seed yields in 2 out of 3 yr, and both increased yields compared with no residue removal. Winter survival was only moderately affected by residue management, was highly dependent on year, and had an impact on mean seed yields across treatments. This indicates that winter survival and fall residue management are both important in maintaining multiyear seed yield in Minnesota.

Implications of grass–clover interactions in dairy pastures for forage value indexing systems. 5. Southland

ABSTRACTThis experiment, implemented at a Southland site representative of the lower South Island, New Zealand, and monitored for three full years from 2012/2013 to 2015/2016, was one of four throughout New Zealand that investigated the yield and nutritive value rankings of perennial ryegrass cultivars sown with or without white clover and with high (225 kg N/ha/annum) or low (50 kg N/ha/annum) application rates of nitrogen fertiliser. High inputs of nitrogen (N) fertiliser increased annual total dry matter (DM) yields and seasonal yield in 12 out of 18 measurement occasions. Adding white clover increased both annual dry matter yield and seasonal yield in 7 out of 18 measurement occasions. An interaction between clover and N input occurred on 10 occasions. Over time, the low N minus clover treatment became progressively lower yielding compared with the other three treatments. Ryegrass cultivar by clover interactions occurred in the latter half of the experiment. When analysed using ryegrass characteristics, early- and late-heading ryegrass cultivars produced similar yields when sown without clover, but late-heading ryegrass cultivars had a higher yield than early-heading pastures when sown with white clover (P < .001). Tetraploid ryegrasses had lower yields than diploid ryegrasses when sown without clover (P = .001). This difference was reduced when white clover was included. There was no significant interaction with ryegrass morphology when sown with white clover, as dense ryegrass cultivars always had a higher yield than open ryegrass cultivars (P = .005). Interactions occurred between N input levels and ryegrass cultivar. These occurred in early spring or late spring of each year. Analysis by ryegrass characteristics identified consistent interactions. Ryegrass cultivars with a late-heading date were higher yielding than early-heading cultivars at low N inputs (P = .029), but they were not different at high N inputs. Diploid and tetraploid ryegrass cultivars were similar with low N inputs, but diploid cultivars out-yielded tetraploid cultivars at high N inputs (P = .005). Significant interactions between N inputs and white clover addition affected herbage nutritive value but this did not extend to consistent interactions with ryegrass cultivar. Invertebrate pest numbers were generally low and unlikely to have influenced clover/ryegrass interactions or cultivar ranking. Results from this site suggest that ranking of ryegrass cultivars needs to account for both the inclusion of clover and variation in N fertiliser input.

Effect of basic cation saturation ratios in soil on yield of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.)

Effect of basic cation saturation ratios in soil on yield of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.)

Phosphorus in agricultural constructed wetland sediment is sparingly plant‐available

AbstractAgricultural constructed wetlands (CWs) are intended to retain sediment and phosphorus (P) carried off with runoff and drainage water. The accumulated sediment, with adsorbed P, is often advised to be recycled to agricultural land, but little is known about the fertilizer value of sediment‐associated P. This study examined the effects on P adsorption characteristics and P plant availability of mixing CW sediment into soil. Although the total P content in the sediment was approximately equal to that in catchment soil and the NaOH‐extractable P content was higher to that in catchment soil, in adsorption‐desorption tests sediment P solubility decreased and affinity for P increased with increasing addition rate of CW sediment to soil. Already the lowest sediment addition rate (12.5% of dry weight) decreased the equilibrium P concentration (EPC0') by 60% on average compared to unamended catchment soil. In a greenhouse pot experiment, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) yield was largely unaffected by CW sediment application, but P uptake systematically decreased when the rate of sediment application to soil increased. When 12.5% dry weight of sediment was added, plant P uptake decreased by 6–50% in P‐unfertilized pots and by 6–17% in P‐fertilized pots (150 mg P kg−1) compared with P uptake of ryegrass grown in unamended field soil. Our other results suggest that the plant availability of P in CW sediments is very low due to high clay content and high concentrations of aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) (hydr)oxides in the sediment. Thus, if applied to agricultural fields in large quantities, dredged CW sediment may impair crop P supply.

Perennial Ryegrass Yield Performance under Abiotic Stress

Breeding of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for forage is mainly aimed at increase in herbage yield. However, abiotic stresses such as drought and winterkill threaten persistence and ability to produce stable aerial biomass of the plant. Field experiments, performed under natural conditions, rather than dissection of abiotic stress factors under artificial or semiartificial conditions, offers opportunity to evaluate the effect of complex of abiotic stresses on the plant performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dry matter yield and tolerance to winter kill and drought of perennial ryegrass ecotypes and cultivars differing in their ploidy level during a 2‐yr period. The field experiment was located in Akademija, Lithuania (55°40′ N, 23°87′ E) in 2015 and 2016. The germplasm consisted of 128 diploid and 25 tetraploid perennial ryegrass populations. Winterkill, spring growth and regrowth after cuts, drought damage, and dry matter yield were assessed. Short periods of lower than −10°C temperatures with slim snow cover determined low damages of the perennial ryegrass after winters. Medium correlation was estimated between drought damages and dry matter yield. Tetraploid genotypes of perennial ryegrass demonstrated higher tolerance to cold and drought stress conditions, better spring growth and regrowth after cuts, and higher dry matter yield.

Investigate the influence of halloysite and activated carbon mixtures in phytostabilization of Pb-contaminated soil with Lolium perenne L.

Abstract A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of halloysite and activated carbon mixtures on the biomass and distribution of macronutrients (Mg, K, Ca, Na, P) in ryegrass grown in Pb-contaminated soil. The soil was spiked with four different levels of lead contamination, i.e. 0 (control), 200, 400, 800 mg·kg−1 were applied in an analytical grade Pb(NO3)2 solution mixed thoroughly with the soil. Raw halloysite (3%) and activated carbon (1% relative to soil mass) mixtures were used to reduce the effect of soil lead contamination. Ryegrass of the Bokser variety was harvested after 42 days, and soil samples were collected for laboratory tests. The mixture of sorbents applied in the experiment which turned out to be most effective at doses of lead amounting to 400 and 800 mg·kg−1 of soil, with the increase in the yield of ryegrass being the highest. Increasing contamination of soil with lead in the series without the mixture of sorbents increased the contents of phosphorus, sodium, calcium and magnesium in ryegrass. The applied mixture of halloysite and activated carbon changed the macronutrient concentration in ryegrass, with the greatest changes found in that of potassium and sodium.

Yield, preference, and forage nutritive value of winter hardy perennial ryegrass under equine grazing

Yield, preference, and forage nutritive value of winter hardy perennial ryegrass under equine grazing

Impact of Intercropping System on Yield and Quality of Lolium Multiflorum and Trigonella foenum-graecuml

Due to the ever increasing pressure on cultivated land the importance of intercropping in farming practices has been recognized. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of intercropping ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum lam) with fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). For this purpose, a field experiment was arranged based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the experimental farm of faculty of agriculture Cairo University at Giza, Egypt during two seasons of 2015 and 2016. The experimental treatments were planting patterns (sole crop of rye or fenugreek and intercropping ratios of 1 rye: 1 fenugreek, 2 rye: 1 fenugreek and 1 rye: 2 fenugreek). Results showed that intercropping system had positive effects on ryegrass yield. Moreover, the planting ratio of 2 rye: 1 fenugreek gave the maximum values of ryegrass fresh and dry yield in both cuts compared with the other treatments of the sole crop and the other intercropping ratios in the first and second season, respectively. The application of sole crop had the highest fenugreek fresh and dry yield and seed yield too in both seasons compared with other treatments, respectively. While, the maximum significant levels of chemical contents (oil and protein percentage) of fenugreek seeds were found with the sole fenugreek crop and the intercropping ratio of 1 rye: 2fenugreek, respectively as compared with the other treatments but the differences between the fenugreek sole crop and the other studied intercropping system in the percentage of trigoniline were insignificant in both seasons, respectively. The maximum significant values of competitive ratio (CR) and aggresivity (A) for rye grass crop was found in the pattern ratio of 1rye: 2 fenugreek in both seasons, respectively. While the same situation was recorded with fenugreek crop in the pattern ratio of 2 rye: 1 fenugreek in both seasons, respectively. The highest total land equivalent ratio (LER) (3.08 and 2.98 for the first and second seasons, respectively) was obtained by sowing the crops in the intercrop ratio of 2 rye: 1 fenugreek and the lowest total LER (2.57and 2.48 in both seasons, respectively) was obtained by using the intercrop ratio of 1 rye: 1 fenugreek. In addition, all intercropping treatments in both seasons, respectively gave values of LER for rye grass or fenugreek or both of them more than one. These findings suggest that intercropping of fenugreek and ryegrass increased the total productivity per unit area.

Influence of Pseudomonas and Bacillus Strains Isolated from Lolium perenne Rhizospheric Soil in Vojvodina (Serbia) on Planth Growth and Soil Microbial Communities.

The aim of this study was the isolation of Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. strains from rhizospheric soil and monitoring the impact of two isolates denoted as P12 (Pseudomonas sp.) and B1 (Bacillus sp.) on the parameters of English ryegrass (Lolium perenne) yield and activity of the soil microbial communities. During 2012-2014, a plot experiment was set up following the randomized block system. Better effect on the plant growth was recorded with the use of Pseudomonas sp. P12 isolate than with Bacillus sp. B1. Positive effect on the increase in the total number of microorganisms, aminoheterotrophs and azotobacter was also achieved. Bacillus sp. B1 increased only the number of actimycetes. Both isolates positively affected dehydrogenase activity (DHA).

Evaluating Dairy Manure as Initial Fertility Driver for Mudflat Soil Amendment

The mudflats along the East Coast of China can be important alternative sources for arable lands if amended by large amount of organic fertilizers. Rich in organic matter and other nutrients, dairy manure has been considered as the economic choice for an initial fertility driver. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of dairy manure amendment (DMA) as an initial fertility driver at application rates of 0, 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha–1 on soil physicochemical properties, biomass and growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in mudflat soil. The results showed that the DMA decreased soil bulk density in comparison to the unamended soil. The organic matter (OM) content in mudflat soil increased with increasing DMA rates. The salinity of mudflat soil decreased with increasing DMA rates, and the salinity at 30, 75, 150 and 300 t ha–1 DMA rates, corresponded to decreases of 26.1%, 35.8%, 37.8% and 45.4%, compared to 8.63 g kg–1 in the unamended soil. Electric conductivity (EC) of mudflat soil decreased with increasing DMA rate, while cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased duo to DMA. The contents of total N, total P, alkaline N, and available P in mudflat soil increased with increasing DMA rates. The increment of green herbage yield of ryegrass at 210 DAS at 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha–1 DMA rates were 257.7%, 303.5%, 414.8%, and 516.6%, compared to the unamended soil (p < 0.05). Soil total Cu and Zn increased while total Mn, Ni, and Cr remained unchanged in response to DMA due to the high Cu and Zn content in the dairy manure. However, The DMA increased most of available metals except for Ni. In summary, land application of dairy manure as initial fertility driver could be an effective and safe way to amend mudflat soil, due to the rapid development of soil initial fertility, which enhanced green manure ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth.

Growth Characteristics and Dry Matter Yields of Domestic and Foreign Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) Cultivars in Cheonan Region

Growth Characteristics and Dry Matter Yields of Domestic and Foreign Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) Cultivars in Cheonan Region

Effect of Different Fertilizer Levels, Split Application Rate, and Seeding Methods on Dry Matter Yield and Forage Quality of Italian ryegrass in Early Spring on Paddy Field

Effect of Different Fertilizer Levels, Split Application Rate, and Seeding Methods on Dry Matter Yield and Forage Quality of Italian ryegrass in Early Spring on Paddy Field