Effect of residual leaf area index on spatial components of Tifton 85 pastures and ingestive behaviour of sheep

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 903 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Silva ◽  
J. P. R. Costa ◽  
G. P. Caputti ◽  
A. L. S. Valente ◽  
D. Tsuzukibashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Dead Material ◽  
Point Quadrat ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour

This study compared the effect of residual leaf area index (rLAI) on the spatial distribution of morphological components of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) pastures and the ingestive behaviour of grazing sheep. Also, it was investigated whether any specific correlation could be found between pasture structural characteristics and sheep ingestive behaviour. Four rLAI treatments (0.8; 1.4; 2.0 and 2.6) with four replications were evaluated per period. Sheep grazed under rotational stocking management and they grazed for 4 days in each pasture while pasture regrowth period was determined by the 95% light interception requirement. Pasture structure was evaluated using inclined point-quadrat, LAI estimates, light interception and leaf : stem ratio. The 2.6 rLAI yielded the highest proportion of dead material in the lower canopy. In the post-grazing period the proportion of leaves increased with increasing rLAI, especially on the canopy surface during the rainy season. In the pre-grazing average pasture height ranged between 19 and 26 cm with dead material and stem observed up to the canopy surface in the dry season. The animals grazed longer on the last day (89.72%) compared with the first day (80.25%) in the dry season. However, they spent less time (11.45%) ruminating in the dry season compared with the rainy season (15.38%), regardless of the grazing day. Grazing time decreased and rumination time increased as rLAI increased. Sheep grazing time correlated negatively with pasture height, before and after grazing. The sheep tend to graze longer on Tifton 85 pastures when rLAI was lower and forage supply was possibly less as on the last grazing day and in the dry season.

scholarly journals Numerical Assessments of Leaf Area Index in Tropical Savanna Rangelands, South Africa Using Landsat 8 OLI Derived Metrics and In-Situ Measurements

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Dube ◽  
Santa Pandit ◽  
Cletah Shoko ◽  
Abel Ramoelo ◽  
Dominic Mazvimavi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
National Park ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Area Index

Knowledge on rangeland condition, productivity patterns and possible thresholds of potential concern, as well as the escalation of risks in the face of climate change and variability over savanna grasslands is essential for wildlife/livestock management purposes. The estimation of leaf area index (LAI) in tropical savanna ecosystems is therefore fundamental for the proper planning and management of this natural capital. In this study, we assess the spatio-temporal seasonal LAI dynamics (dry and wet seasons) as a proxy for rangeland condition and productivity in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. The 30 m Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) spectral bands, derived vegetation indices and a non-parametric approach (i.e., random forest, RF) were used to assess dry and wet season LAI condition and variability in the KNP. The results showed that RF optimization enhanced the model performance in estimating LAI. Moderately high accuracies were observed for the dry season (R2 of 0.63–0.72 and average RMSE of 0.60 m2/m2) and wet season (0.62–0.63 and 0.79 m2/m2). Derived thematic maps demonstrated that the park had high LAI estimates during the wet season when compared to the dry season. On average, LAI estimates ranged between 3 and 7 m2/m2 during the wet season, whereas for the dry season most parts of the park had LAI estimates ranging between 0.00 and 3.5 m2/m2. The findings indicate that Kruger National Park had high levels of productivity during the wet season monitoring period. Overall, this work shows the unique potential of Landsat 8-derived metrics in assessing LAI as a proxy for tropical savanna rangelands productivity. The result is relevant for wildlife management and habitat assessment and monitoring.

scholarly journals Components of the leaf area index of marandu palisadegrass swards subjected to strategies of intermittent stocking

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 721-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Aparecida Giacomini ◽  
Sila Carneiro da Silva ◽  
Daniel Oliveira de Lucena Sarmento ◽  
Cauê Varesqui Zeferino ◽  
Júlio Kuhn da Trindade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Early Return ◽  
Index Site

Leaf area index is the main sward characteristic related to the processes of light interception and competition in plant communities. The objective of this experiment was to quantify and evaluate the composition of the leaf area on tillers of marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) subjected to strategies of intermittent stocking. The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, from October/2004 to December/2005. Swards were grazed at 95 and 100% canopy light interception (LI) to post-grazing heights of 10 and 15 cm, following a 2 ' 2 factorial arrangement with four replications in a randomised complete block design. Estimates were made of sward leaf area index, site filling, specific leaf area and the dimensionless ratio between tiller leaf area and volume (R), as well as the relative contribution of basal and aerial tillers to these variables. In early spring, values of leaf area index and specific leaf area were low when compared to the other seasons, and swards grazed at 95% LI presented higher site filling and specific leaf area than those grazed at 100% LI. This resulted in higher tillering activity and increase in leaf area index in late spring, indicating quick recovery and early return of swards grazed at 95% LI to growing conditions. Aerial tillers corresponded to an important morphological adaptation of marandu palisadegrass to increase its competitive ability. Treatment 100/10 resulted in the highest and 95/15 in the lowest R values throughout the experiment, suggesting an allometric pattern of growth of tillers during regrowth in order to compensate low tiller population and optimise the leaf area index. Grazing management practices can benefit from this knowledge by promoting ideal sward conditions to maximise and accelerate growth.

scholarly journals Cluster and Principle Component Analysis of Soybean Grown at Various Row Spacings, Planting Dates and Plant Populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charanjit Singh Kahlon ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
James Board ◽  
Mahendra Dia ◽  
Parmodh Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Principle Components Analysis

Abstract Increased light interception (LI), along with concomitant increases in crop growth rate (CGR), is the main factor explaining how cultural factors such as row spacing, plant population, and planting date affect soybean yield. Leaf area index (LAI), LI, and CGR are interrelated in a “virtuous spiral” where increased LAI leads to greater LI resulting in a higher CGR and more total dry matter per area (TDM). This increases LAI, thus accelerating the entire physiological process to a higher level. A greater understanding of this complex growth dynamic process could be achieved through use of cluster analysis and principle components analysis (PCA). Cluster analysis involves grouping of similar objects in such way that objects in same cluster are similar to each other and dissimilar to objects in other cluster. PCA is a technique used to reduce a large set of variables to a few meaningful ones. Seasonal relative leaf area index (RLAI), relative light interception (RLI), and relative total dry matter (RTDM) response curves were determined from the data by a stepwise regression analysis in which these parameters were regressed against relative days after emergence (RDAE). Greatest levels of RLAI, RLI and RTDM were observed in soybean planted early on narrow row spacings and recorded greater plant population. In contrast, lower levels of these parameters occurred on plants with wide row spacings at late planting dates. For farmers, these results are useful in terms of adopting certain cultural practices which can help in the management of stress in soybean.

CANOPY CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRASTING CLONES OF CACAO (THEOBROMA CACAO)

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Daymond ◽  
P. Hadley ◽  
R. C. R. Machado ◽  
E. Ng
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Theobroma Cacao ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Canopy Architecture ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Extinction Coefficients ◽  
The Relationship

Canopy characteristics (leaf area index, fractional light interception, extinction coefficient) of mature trees of ten clonally propagated cacao cultivars were measured over a period of 14 months at an experiment site in Bahia, Brazil. Differences in leaf area index between clones became more pronounced over time. When an approximately constant leaf area index was reached (after about nine months), the leaf area index varied between clones from 2.8 to 4.5. Clonal differences in the relationship between leaf area index and fractional light interception implied differences in canopy architecture, as reflected by the range of extinction coefficients (mean values ranged from 0.63 for the clone TSH-565 to 0.82 for CC-10). The results demonstrate the potential for breeding more photosynthetically efficient cacao canopies.

The estimation of percentage light interception from leaf area index and percentage ground cover in potatoes

1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Burstall ◽  
P. M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Leaf Surface ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Potato Crops ◽  
Visual Observations

Since Monteith (1977) proposed that growth can be analysed in terms of the amount of energy intercepted by the leaf surface and the efficiency of its use, there has been much interest in the measurement of light interception in potato crops (Scott & Wilcockson, 1978; Milford et al. 1980; Allen & Scott, 1980). This can be measured directly using tube solarimeters placed horizontally above and below the canopy. However, this method suffers from three major drawbacks: (a) in an experiment with many plots it becomes expensive in terms of equipment, (b) a single solarimeter samples only a very small part of the plot canopy, and (c) the solarimeter cannot distinguish between living leaves and other material. Thus, when the crop lodges and/or starts to senesce, visual observations suggest that the area over the solarimeter may not be representative of the plot as a whole.

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