A grazier survey of the long-term productivity of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)-grass pastures in Queensland

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Radrizzani ◽  
S. A. Dalzell ◽  
O. Kravchuk ◽  
H. M. Shelton
Keyword(s):  
Leucaena Leucocephala ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Livestock Productivity ◽  
Grass Growth ◽  
Changes Over Time

Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata (leucaena)-grass pastures are productive, perennial and long-lived (>40 years). However, little is known about changes in the productivity of these pastures as they age even though they are grazed intensively and are rarely fertilised. A postal survey of beef cattle producers in Queensland who grow leucaena pastures was conducted. The questionnaire gathered information regarding: property location; extent and age of leucaena pastures; soil type; leucaena and grass establishment methodology; grazing and fertiliser management; and grazier perceptions of changes over time in leucaena productivity, grass growth and ground cover, prevalence of undesirable grasses and weeds, and livestock productivity. Graziers were asked to report on both young (≤10 years old) and aging (>10 years old) pastures under their management. Eighty-eight graziers responded describing 124 leucaena paddocks covering 11 750 ha. The survey results described the typical physical and management characteristics of leucaena pastures in Queensland. Graziers reported a decline in leucaena productivity in 58% of aging pastures, and declines in grass growth (32%) and livestock productivity (42%) associated with declining leucaena growth. Leucaena decline was greater in soil types of marginal initial fertility, particularly brigalow clay, soft wood scrub, downs and duplex soils. Maintenance fertiliser was not applied to most (98%) leucaena pastures surveyed despite significant amounts of nutrient removal, particularly phosphorus and sulphur, occurring over prolonged periods of moderate to high grazing pressure. It is predicted that large areas of leucaena pasture will continue to suffer soil nutrient depletion under current management practices. Research is needed to develop ameliorative actions to reinvigorate pasture productivity.

2011 BEEF FORAGE SURVEY RESULTS

EDIS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja C. Crawford ◽  
Christa L. Kirby ◽  
Tycee Prevatt ◽  
Brent A. Sellers ◽  
Maria L. Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Organizational Development ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
South Florida ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
County Extension ◽  
Ranch Management ◽  
The University

The University of Florida / IFAS South Florida Beef Forage Program (SFBFP) is composed of county Extension faculty and state specialists.  The members, in conjunction with the UF/IFAS Program Evaluation and Organizational Development unit, created a survey in 1982, which is used to evaluate ranch management practices.  The survey is updated and distributed every 5 years to ranchers in 14 South Florida counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Polk, and Sarasota.  The responses are anonymous.  

scholarly journals Exploring the variability of soil nutrient outflows as influenced by land use and management practices in contrasting agro-ecological environments

2021 ◽  
pp. 147450
Author(s):  
Temesgen Mulualem ◽  
Enyew Adgo ◽  
Derege Tsegaye Meshesha ◽  
Atsushi Tsunekawa ◽  
Nigussie Haregeweyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Land Use And Management

scholarly journals Effect of Weed Management on the Parasitoid Community in Mediterranean Vineyards

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Gabriella Möller ◽  
Tamar Keasar ◽  
Idan Shapira ◽  
Daniella Möller ◽  
Marco Ferrante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Parasitoid Species ◽  
Parasitoid Community ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Conservation Biocontrol ◽  
Suction Sampling

Enriching agroecosystems with non-crop vegetation is a popular strategy for conservation biocontrol. In vineyards, the effects of specific seeded or planted cover crops on natural enemies are well-studied, whereas conserving spontaneously developing weeds received less attention. We compared parasitoid communities between matched pairs of vineyard plots in northern Israel, differing in weed management practices: “herbicide”, repeated herbicide applications vs. “ground cover”, maintaining resident weeds and trimming them when needed. Using suction sampling, we assessed the parasitoids’ abundance, richness, and composition during three grape-growing seasons. Ground cover plots had greater parasitoid abundances and cumulative species richness than herbicide-treated plots, possibly because of their higher vegetation cover and richness. Dominant parasitoid species varied in their magnitude and direction of response to weed management. Their responses seem to combine tracking of host distributions with attraction to additional vegetation-provided resources. Parasitoid community composition was mildly yet significantly influenced by weed management, while season, year, and habitat (weeds vs. vine) had stronger effects. Vineyard weeds thus support local biocontrol agents and provide additional previously demonstrated benefits (e.g., soil conservation, lower agrochemical exposure) but might also attract some crop pests. When the benefits outweigh this risk, weed conservation seems a promising step towards more sustainable agricultural management.

scholarly journals Improving Habitat Quality at the Local and Landscape Scales Increases Wild Bee Assemblages and Associated Pollination Services in Apple Orchards in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panlong Wu ◽  
Piaopiao Dai ◽  
Meina Wang ◽  
Sijie Feng ◽  
Aruhan Olhnuud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Wild Bee ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bee Diversity ◽  
Landscape Scales

Bees provide key pollination services for a wide range of crops. Accumulating evidence shows the effect of semi-natural habitats at the landscape level and local management practices on bee diversity in fields. However, most of the evidence is derived from studies in North America and Europe. Whether this paradigm is applicable in China, which is characterized by smallholder-dominated agricultural landscapes, has rarely been studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate how bee diversity affected apple production, and how landscape and local variables affected bee diversity and species composition on the Northern China Plain. The results showed that bees significantly increased apple fruit set compared to bagged controls. Wild bee diversity was positively related to apple seed numbers. Higher seed numbers reduced the proportion of deformed apples and thus increased fruit quality. Wild bee abundance was positively correlated with flowering ground cover, and both the abundance and species richness of wild bees were positively affected by the percentage of semi-natural habitats. We conclude that apple quality can benefit from ecological intensification comprising the augmentation of wild bees by semi-natural habitats and flowering ground cover. Future pollination management should therefore reduce the intensification level of management at both the local and landscape scales.

scholarly journals Cashew Growth and Canopy Dynamics as Influenced by Manuring in a Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecology of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 80-88
Author(s):  
Beatrice Abanum Nduka ◽  
Olorunfemi Sunday Ojo Akanbi ◽  
Idrisu Mohammed ◽  
Seun Adewale Adeosun ◽  
Osasogie Ugioro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Canopy Development ◽  
Canopy Volume ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Soil Status ◽  
Physical And Chemical

A two-year experiment was conducted to study the response of manuring on growth and canopy development on three-year-old Cashew trees. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. Soil characteristics including the chemical and physical properties were analyzed before and after the experiments. Fecti-plus organic pelletized fertilizer was applied at different rates of 0,750.6 and 1,501.2 kg/ha-1 respectively around the circumference of the tree. Before the application, the fertilizer sample was also analyzed. Data collected were plant height, stem girth, canopy dynamics which includes: Canopy diameter, canopy radius, canopy spread (North-South and East-West directions), canopy volume, canopy ground cover and percentage ground cover. The results from the pre soil sample show a relatively low status but were significantly enhanced after the application of the pelletized organic fertilizer (Ferti-plus). The soil nutrient composition of Oc, Om, N, K, Na, Ca and Mg+ was significantly highest in the plots having 1,501.2 kg/ha-1 treatments. Generally, there was a significant increase in the soil nutrient with the addition of pelletized fertilizer in respective of the rate of application. Also the results on the canopy dynamic in terms of canopy volume, spread and diameter revealed better development with the use of 1501.2 kg/ha-1 pelletized fertilizer and significantly different to 750.6 kg/ha-1 and those in the no-manure (control)plots. Meanwhile, the use of pelletized organic fertilizer gave superior growth and canopy development. It also influenced the growth of the Cashew plants, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the soil status.

Do soil properties with elevation affect alpine "grass-line"? Findings from Haibei, northern Tibetan Plateau

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuonan Cao ◽  
Zhenhuan Guan ◽  
Peter Kühn ◽  
Jinsheng He ◽  
Thomas Scholten
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Northern Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Grass Growth

<p>Many species showed that their richness and distribution shifts climate-driven towards higher elevation in Tibetan Plateau. However, vegetation and soil data from alpine grassland elevational gradients are rare (Huang et al., 2018). It is mostly unknown how the "grass-line" will respond to global warming and whether soils play a significant role in the vegetation pattern in high-altitude regions. At a local scale, the growth and distribution of vegetation at its upper limit may depend on nutrient limitation, as shown for treelines from the Himalayas. For example, the limited nutrient supply of soil N, K, Mg, and P becomes more intense with elevation, which declines in nutrient supply spatially coincides with abrupt changes in vegetation composition and growth parameters (Schwab et al., 2016). And low soil nutrient availability could affect tree growth in the Rolwaling Himal, Nepal treeline ecotone (Drollinger et al., 2017). To better understand the interrelationship between soil properties and grass growth at this upper limit, we took random soil samples in 3 altitudes, 3 geomorphic positions with 3 depth increments from Haibei grassland, northern Tibetan Plateau. Soil properties, like texture, bulk density, total C, N, and P fractions, were analyzed and compared to vegetation data.<br>Further, soil and vegetation data from open-top chambers (OTC) experiments to simulate global warming were analyzed better to understand the role of temperature for grass line-shift. The first results show that species composition change with altitude towards grassland plant communities with lower demands for P, which can be compared with the nutrient addition experiment that P addition alone significantly affects species diversity and biomass in the same area (Ren et al., 2016). We suppose that specific combinations of soil properties could limit grass growth and be even more marked than the warming, which controls biodiversity and biomass production in high mountain grassland ecosystems. </p>

A survey of pain assessment and management practices among critical care nurses

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Gujol
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Medication Decisions ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is one of the major obstacles in the prevention of complications during patient recovery. Pain and its management have gained great interest among researchers, clinicians and policy-makers. PURPOSES: To explore the relationship between two variables in pain assessment (length of time after surgery and ventilator status) and medication decisions made by critical care nurses, and to identify nurses' concerns about opioid use. METHODS: A convenience sample of 71 critical care nurses participated in the survey. RESULTS: Certain patient conditions such as length of time after surgery and ventilator status affected nurses' assessment and management of pain. Nurses' knowledge about pain assessment and management may affect patient care and outcomes.

scholarly journals Rice-Residue Management Practices of Smallholder Farms in Vietnam and Their Effects on Nutrient Fluxes in the Soil-Plant System

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dao Trong Hung ◽  
Harold Hughes ◽  
Markus Keck ◽  
Daniela Sauer
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Nutrient Cycles ◽  
Nutrient Balances ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Direct Incorporation ◽  
Rice Residues

In Vietnam, approximately 39 million tons of rice (Oryza sativa) residues accrue every year. In this study, we quantified soil nutrient balances of paddy rice fields under different crop-residue management practices in northern Vietnam. On twelve farms, we calculated nutrient balances for the four prevalent rice-residue management practices, i.e., (1) direct incorporation of rice residues into the soil, (2) application of rice-residue compost, (3) burning of rice residues on the field, and (4) the use of rice residues as fodder for livestock. Soils under practices (1) to (3) showed a positive nutrient balance, which indicates that soil fertility can be maintained under these practices and that the amounts of chemical fertilizers can be considerably reduced. If not, there is a risk of eutrophication in the surrounding surface waterbodies. Practice (4), in contrast, resulted in a negative nutrient balance, which indicates the need for returning nutrients to the soils. From our findings we conclude that knowledge about the effects of rice-residue management practices on nutrient cycles may help to optimize the use of fertilizers, resulting in a more sustainable form of agriculture.

scholarly journals Effects of Growing-Finishing Pig Stocking Rates on Bermudagrass Ground Cover and Soil Properties

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1666
Author(s):  
Silvana Pietrosemoli ◽  
Charles Raczkowski ◽  
James T. Green ◽  
Maria Jesús Villamide
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Finishing Pig ◽  
Stocking Rates

This study compares four stocking rates (37, 74, 111 and 148 pigs ha−1) for growing to finishing pigs (18.4 ± 0.5 kg and 118.5 ± 2.0 kg and 35.7 ± 2.1 kg and 125.7 ± 2.3 kg initial and final BW for grazing periods 1 and 2, respectively) and their effect on ground cover and soil traits in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers) pastures, over two 14-week grazing periods (July–September and May–August). The study was conducted at the Center for Environmental Farming systems at the Cherry Research Station, Goldsboro North Carolina. A continuous stocking method was implemented to manage the pasture. The percent ground cover was estimated with a modified step point technique. Soil samples were collected in three sampling positions (center, inner and outer areas of the paddocks) and two soil sampling depths (0–30 and 30–90 cm). The experimental design was a completely randomized block with three field replicates. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS/STAT ® Version 9.4. Greater ground cover and lesser soil nutrient concentrations were registered in bermudagrass paddocks managed with 37 pigs ha−1. The results of this study also validated the existence of a spatial pattern of soil properties, which differed among sampling positions and depths.

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