Use of barley crops, and combinations of lucerne and Wimmera grass, as pasture for grazing sheep in the semiarid zones of Spain

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 452
Author(s):  
A. de Vega ◽  
O. L. Valiente ◽  
G. Olmos ◽  
E. Pérez-Calvo

Taking into account the relationship between rainfall and temperature, 64% of the Spanish territory can be classified as arid (25%) or semiarid (39%). In these areas, vegetal surface includes permanent pastures and drought grasslands (34.0%), fallows (13.4%), winter cereals for grain production (21.2%), forage crops (mainly lucerne, and winter cereals harvested as green forage; 2.6%) and woodland hills. Ruminants in these zones account for 15.4 million head, of which nearly 80% are sheep. In the present paper, the possibilities of integrating sheep in cropping systems are discussed, and an alternative based on the use of permanent sowed prairies (lucerne), self-sowing annuals (Wimmera ryegrass) and winter cereals (barley) will be analysed.

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 691-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Craig ◽  
R. R. Weil

In December, 1987, the states in the Chesapeake Bay region, along with the federal government, signed an agreement which called for a 40% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the Bay by the year 2000. To accomplish this goal, major reductions in nutrient loadings associated with agricultural management practices were deemed necessary. The objective of this study was to determine if reducing fertilizer inputs to the NT system would result in a reduction in nitrogen contamination of groundwater. In this study, groundwater, soil, and percolate samples were collected from two cropping systems. The first system was a conventional no-till (NT) grain production system with a two-year rotation of corn/winter wheat/double crop soybean. The second system, denoted low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA), produced the same crops using a winter legume and relay-cropped soybeans into standing wheat to reduce nitrogen and herbicide inputs. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater were significantly lower under the LISA system. Over 80% of the NT groundwater samples had NO3-N concentrations greater than 10 mgl-1, compared to only 4% for the LISA cropping system. Significantly lower soil mineral N to a depth of 180 cm was also observed. The NT soil had nearly twice as much mineral N present in the 90-180 cm portion than the LISA cropping system.


1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Wilkins

SUMMARYPotential cellulose digestibility, measured by incubation in vitrofor 6 days, decreased during floral development in perennial ryegrass, Wimmera ryegrass, cocksfoot, oat and tall fescue. The rate of decline was slower than for cellulose digestibility measured after incubation in vitro for 2 days only. Morphological fractions ranked in order of descending potential cellulose digestibility – leaf blade, inflorescence, leaf sheath and stem.Lignin content was determined chemically by the method of Van Soest (1963) and lignified tissue was assessed by staining transverse sections of leaf blades and leaf sheaths with safranin and fast green. Both lignin and lignified tissue increased with maturity. Lignified tissue increased mainly through increase in the number of scleren-chyma cells, but was also affected by the formation of lacunae or cavities between the vascular bundles in leaf blades of cocksfoot and in leaf sheaths of all species studied. For 19 samples of leaf blades and leaf sheaths, potential cellulose digestibility had significant negative correlations with both lignin content (r = -0·862) and lignified tissue (r = -0·905). Limitations to the techniques used to assess lignification and further factors which may affect the relationship between lignification and potential cellulose digestibility are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison. J. Frischke ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
Dannielle K. McMillan ◽  
Claire J. Browne

In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 1297-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Teasdale ◽  
Charles B. Coffman ◽  
Ruth W. Mangum

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mujiyo Mujiyo

<span>The research has aims to know ; (1) the velocity of function displace of the rice field to the non rice field during year period 2000, 2004 and 2008, (2) change grain product during year period 2000, 2004 and 2008, and (3) the relationship between the velocity of function displace of the rice field to the non rice field and the grain production during year period 2000, 2004 and 2008. Function displace of the rice field in the Kebabakkramat District known by determining the wide of each land use type in the appointed year, and then comparing it with data in the next year. The first mapping was based on the Map of Rupa Bumi Bakosurtanal which made in 2000. The second mapping was based on the image QUICK BIRD 2004 which published in the internet media Google Earth. And the third mapping determined by field survey in the 2008. Result of the research shows that ; (1) rice field in the Kebakkramat District along period 2000 until 2008 had function displace, 2.571,89 ha (2000) decreased to become 2.153,33 ha (2004), and decreased again to become 2.128,11 ha (2008), (2) grain production in the Kebakkramat District along period 2000 until 2007 shows increasing trend, 39.880 ton (2000) increased to become 40.631 ton (2003), but decreased to become 35.354 ton (2004), and increased again to become 43.062 ton (2007), (3) although wide of the rice field decreased, but the grain production increased, because increasing its land productivity caused by continuity of the rice field intensification program.</span>


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Olmstead ◽  
E. Charles Brummer

AbstractThe transition away from forage-based cropping systems in Iowa to corn and soybean rotations since World War II has corresponded with degraded economic and environmental conditions in the state. Falling net incomes for farmers and concern over global warming and the effects of agriculture-related pollution on water, wildlife and human health have increased interest in diversified cropping systems. This paper reviews the benefits of diversifying Iowa corn and soybean rotations with perennial forage species such as alfalfa and red clover. Perennial forage crops improve soil quality, decrease NO3-N leaching and soil erosion, increase carbon sequestration and decrease pesticide and herbicide needs by controlling weed and insect pests. Forage legumes reduce N fertilizer needs for succeeding corn crops at a higher rate than soybeans, and corn crops following forages have higher yields than after corn or soybeans. Farmers who add alfalfa to corn and soybean rotations could realize significant economic gains. A simulated 5-year rotation in Iowa including corn–soybeans–oats/alfalfa–alfalfa–alfalfa would result in a 24% net income increase over 5 years of corn–soybean–corn–soybean–corn, even with government farm support payments for the row crops. Farm policies that encourage commodity production create little incentive for Iowa farmers to diversify their cropping systems beyond corn and soybeans, despite the clear economic and ecological benefits. We recommend increasing federal support for conservation programs that reward environmentally beneficial farm practices such as the Conservation Securities Program and we encourage land grant universities to hire researchers interested in alternative agricultural systems.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Marraccini ◽  
Marta Debolini ◽  
Claudia Di Bene ◽  
Hélène Rapey ◽  
Enrico Bonari

jpa ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Entz ◽  
W. J. Bullied ◽  
F. Katepa-Mupondwa

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Humphries ◽  
G. C. Auricht

Lucerne is a deep-rooted perennial forage legume with an important role in preventing dryland salinity in southern Australian cropping regions. Annual cereal production has created a water-use imbalance, which is placing the industry under threat through rising saline watertables and resultant dryland salinity. Lucerne is being incorporated into cropping systems to reduce groundwater recharge and improve the sustainability of grain production. Existing lucerne varieties have been developed for the animal industries, primarily for the areas with high rainfall or irrigation. The new challenge is to develop lucernes specifically for southern Australian cropping systems. This paper provides a background literature review of the breeding challenges that are anticipated in the development of these new types of lucerne. Lucerne is intolerant of acidic soils, waterlogging, saline soils, and intensive grazing. Other important attributes covered include the ability of the plant to fix nitrogen with existing rhizobia and be resistant to diseases that affect lucerne and other crops in the rotation. Finally, this paper addresses some of the breeding strategies that will be used to screen lucerne germplasm for tolerances to these soil conditions and diseases.


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