Comparison of Stylosanthes humilis with S. hamata and S. subsericea in the Queensland dry tropics: effects on pasture composition and cattle liveweight gain

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Gillard ◽  
LA Edye ◽  
RL Hall
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Stylosanthes Hamata ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
One Year ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Two new accessions of perennial legumes, Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano and S. subsericea, were compared under grazing with the annual S. humilis (Townsville stylo) at four sites in the dry tropics. One of the new accessions, S. subsericea, was largely eliminated from the comparison because of its susceptibility to anthracnose. Although Townsville stylo was well adapted at two of the sites where average rainfall exceeded 850 mm annually (Lansdown and Wrotham Park), the yield of Verano was significantly more after the establishment year. At these sites the original grasses were replaced by the annuals Diqitaria ciliaris and Brachiaria miliiformis. Where soil fertility was high (Lansdown), these grasses competed vigorously with the legumes; where soil fertility was low (Wrotham Park), the sward remained legume-dominant. The yield of Townsville stylo was low at the two sites where annual rainfall was less than 750 mm annually (Kangaroo Hills and Westwood). Verano produced very high yields at the warmer site (Kangaroo Hills) and became dominant in the third year; in subsequent years there was an increase in the improved grass Urochloa mosambicensis, which responded to the increase in soil fertility. At the cooler site (Westwood) the yield of Verano was poor. Cattle liveweight gains were similar on both the Townsville stylo and Verano pastures at Lansdown, and better on the Verano pasture only in one year at Wrotham Park. At Kangaroo Hills and Westwood, liveweight gains were significantly greater on the Verano pastures. The data suggested that differences in liveweight gain did not occur when the legume yield on both pastures exceeded 600 kg ha-1. This threshold was usually achieved at Lansdown and Wrotham Park, but rarely with Townsville stylo at Kangaroo Hills. Townsville stylo has until recently been the only legume suited to pasture improvement in the dry tropics. The results from this experiment show that the perennial legume Verano can now extend the range of legume-based pasture improvement in the dry tropics of northern Australia.

Effect of times, height and frequency of defoliation on growth and development of Townsville stylo in pure ungrazed swards at Katherine, N.T

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (63) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Development ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Pod Yield ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
One Year ◽  
Complete Fertilizer ◽  
Cutting Height

A one-year experiment was done in the field at Katherine, Northern Territory, to determine the influence of defoliation at different times (January, February, and March) and heights (5, 13 and 20 cm) on the growth and development of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) in ungrazed swards grown with complete fertilizer and irrigation. Townsville stylo withstood repeated defoliation at 5 cm provided that cutting started in January, but, when the first defoliation was delayed, single cuts at 5 cm in either February or March killed 82 and 53 per cent of the swards. Defoliation to 5 cm early in the season reduced total cumulative yield by less than 450 kg ha-1, and did not affect pod yield or nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations at the end of the growing season. Immediately after defoliation nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were reduced, but there was rapid recovery to higher levels with 5-cm and the same levels with 13-cm defoliation. Successive defoliation at 4 3 cm in February and March increased yield of pods. Defoliation at both 5 and 13 cm increased relative growth rate compared with the control and less frequently defoliated treatments. Defoliation to 5 cm each four weeks altered the stand morphology to a dense mat of foliage at cutting height. The ability of Townsville stylo to withstand continued defoliation suggests that sustained grazing during the growing season may be successful in controlling grass weeds vulnerable to grazing without greatly reducing pod yield or total dry matter production of Townsville stylo.

Influence of pasture type and supplement on fertility and liveweight of cows, and progeny growth rate in the dry tropics of northern Queensland

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (120) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Holroyd ◽  
PK O'Rourke ◽  
MR Clarke ◽  
ID Loxton
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
One Year

The reproductive performance of cows and growth rate of their calves to weaning was examined over a four-year period (1973-1977). Cows grazed either native pasture stocked at 1cowl4 ha, or native pasture oversown with Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and fertilized with superphosphate stocked at 1 cow/2 ha. Animals were supplemented on each pasture type with urea-molasses in the dry season, phosphorus all year round plus urea-molasses in the dry season, or were unsupplemented. Mating was for three months from mid-January. Calving began towards the end of the dry season and cows lactated through the following wet season. Cows grazing fertilized legume pasture had significantly higher conception rates and earlier calving dates in one year only. In all years, foetal and calf losses between pregnancy diagnosis and weaning were lower on native pasture than on fertilized legume pasture. Cows grazing fertilized legume pasture were generally in better body condition and heavier throughout and their calves grew faster to weaning than on native pasture. Fertilized legume pasture produced a 2.4 fold increase over that of native pasture in cow and calf liveweight per unit area (382.7 kg/ha vs 159.8 kg/ha) over the four years. Supplementation did not influence liveweight or reproductive performance of cows or calf growth rate except during the final dry season when non-supplemented cows lost significantly more weight than those supplemented with phosphorus and urea.

Effect of pasture type and supplementary feeding on the reproductive performance of cattle in the dry tropics of north Queensland

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (85) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Holroyd ◽  
PJ Allan ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Conception Rates ◽  
Townsville Stylo

A study was made over a four year period ( 1970-1 973) on the reproductive performance of cows grazing either native pasture stocked at 1 breeder 4.9 ha-1 or native pasture oversown with Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and fertilized with superphosphate, stocked at 1 breeder 2.4 ha-1. Animals were supplemented on each pasture type with combinations of molasses, urea and phosphorus at various times of the year. Mating from September 1 to January 31 resulted in animals lactating during the dry season. At double the stocking rate, lactating cows on fertilized pastures had similar conception rates to those on native pasture. During a prolonged dry season, lactating cows on fertilized pasture had twice the conception rate and fewer required survival feeding. Urea compared with non-urea based supplements produced significant increases in conception rates of cows grazing native pasture especially during a dry year. Calves were born earlier, had shorter intercalving intervals and fewer cows had to be fed a survival ration when urea was available. On fertilized pasture, urea based supplements caused only a marginal increase in conception rate except in a dry year, when there was a significant increase. Over the four years, there was a diminishing response in the conception rate of lactating cows grazing native pasture and supplemented with phosphorus during the wet season compared with the control. On fertilized pasture, there was a variable but non-significant response. The addition of phosphorus either as a wet or dry season supplement to urea caused variable responses on each pasture type, but none differed significantly from that of urea.

The effect of a phosphorus supplement on the performance of steers grazing Townsville stylo-based pasture in north Queensland

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Winks ◽  
FC Lamberth ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Townsville Stylo

The effect of phosphorus supplementation on the performance of steeres grazing unfertilized native pasture and Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) with andwithout superphosphate fertilizer on the subcoastal spear grass region of the dry tropics of north Queensland was studied over a period of 40 months. Liveweight gains in the absence of supplementation on fertilized Townsville stylo pastures were greater than on unfertilized Townsville stylo, where performance was similar to that recorded on untreated native pasture. Phosphorus supplementation increased weight gains during the wet season on both unfertilized Townsville stylo and native pasture but had no significant effect on dry season performance or performance on fertilized Townsville stylo. Fertilized areas became dominated by annual grasses, Digitaria ciliaris and Brachiaria milliiformis, and legume yields were higher on unfertilized than on fertilized areas. Fertilizer improved the quality of available pastures.

Effect of stocking rate and fertilizer on the performance of steers grazing Townsville stylo-based pasture in north Queensland

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Winks ◽  
FC Lamberth ◽  
KW Moir ◽  
PM Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Grass Species ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Native Grass ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Stocking Rates

The performance of steers grazing Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)-native grass pasture, with and without superphosphate fertilizer, was studied at two stocking rate (0.41 and 0.82 beasts ha-1) on the sub-coastal spear grass region of the dry tropics of north Queensland over a period of three and a half years. Fertilizer increased yield and quality of pasture, but invasion of the fertilized areas by annual grass species was occurring by the end of the study. Liveweight gains on fertilized Townsville stylo pastures were greater than on unfertilized Townsville stylo, where performance was similar to that recorded on untreated native pasture at stocking rates of 0.25 and 0.41 beasts ha-1. Liveweight gains at the lighter stocking rate were greater than at the higher level on the Townsville stylo-native grass pasture, but at the stocking rates applied to native pasture there was no significant effect of stocking rate. A stocking rate of 0.41 beast ha-1 on fertilized Townsville stylo was safe in all years. Wastage of material was high owing to mould development on the Townsville stylo which remained as standing hay during the winter.

Establishment, survival, and herbage production of novel, summer-active perennial pasture legumes in the low-rainfall cropping zone of Western Australia as affected by plant density and cutting frequency

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda ◽  
Daniel Real ◽  
Michael Renton ◽  
Hans Lambers ◽  
Megan H. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Herbaceous perennial legumes that can provide forage in the summer–autumn dry period are urgently required in Mediterranean climates to complement annual pastures and the perennial legume lucerne (Medicago sativa). This study evaluated the establishment, survival, and herbage production of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) and Cullen spp. native to Australia. Two experiments were replicated at Buntine (warmer site) and Newdegate (cooler site) in the low-rainfall cropping zone (<350 mm average annual rainfall) of Western Australia from June 2008 to September 2010. In the first experiment, established by transplanting seedlings, survival and herbage production of two accessions each of B. bituminosa and C. australasicum were studied under densities of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 plants/m2 with 0, 1, 2, or 3 cuts in summer–autumn in addition to a winter–spring cut. In the second experiment, established from seed, emergence and survival of several accessions of B. bituminosa, C. australasicum, and M. sativa were studied, along with C. pallidum and C. cinereum. In the first experiment, B. bituminosa survived better than C. australasicum (70–80% v. 18–45%), especially at Buntine, but there was little impact of density or cutting frequency on survival. Plant death was highest during summer. Shoot dry weight (DW) accumulation varied greatly with site, year, and plant density. When rainfall was close to average, shoot DW was greater at Newdegate (B. bituminosa ≤7.4 t/ha, C. australasicum ≤4.5 t/ha) than at Buntine (≤2.3 t/ha), and both species produced much of their shoot DW in summer–autumn (e.g. 6 t/ha for B. bituminosa and 3 t/ha for C. australasicum at Newdegate). An early-summer cut reduced the DW that could be harvested later in summer–autumn. In the second experiment, emergence of B. bituminosa was either similar to, or higher than, emergence of the other species, being 43% at Buntine and 44% at Newdegate. Survival of B. bituminosa, compared with M. sativa, was similar at Buntine (13%) and slightly lower at Newdegate (14%). Emergence and survival of Cullen spp. varied among species and accessions, with survival of the best performing accession of C. australasicum (SA4966) similar to that of B. bituminosa and M. sativa at both sites. We conclude that B. bituminosa shows promise as a perennial summer forage for low-rainfall zones, with a density of 8–16 plants/m2 and cutting frequency of 3 cuts/year (i.e. cut twice in summer–autumn), while C. australasicum and C. pallidum warrant further study.

Stability of the Townsville stylo-annual grass pasture ecosystem on cleared Tippera clay loam

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (76) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
BWR Torssell
Keyword(s):  
Land Development ◽  
Vegetation Pattern ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Stylosanthes Hamata ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Main Period ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
Pasture Area

Competition was measured between the annual self-seeding legume Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and each of the annual grass weeds Digitaria ciliaris, Brachiaria pubrigera, Echinochloa crus-galli and Brachyachne convergens. Digitaria was the most competitive of the grasses, all of which were stronger competitors than the legume in the main period of growth. The results of the competition experiments assisted in interpretation of nine years' observations of vegetation pattern in a Stylosanthes pasture sown in a cleared woodland on Tippera clay loam at Katherine, N.T. An apparently stable situation was reached in the eighth year, when the legume occupied 14 per cent, palatable grasses (primarily annuals) 3 per cent and unpalatable grasses (Brachyachne, Aristida) and bare ground 83 per cent of the pasture area, the corresponding dry matter yields being 12, 35 and 53 per cent respectively of the total pasture yield. The Townsville stylo-annual grass pasture ecosystem is basically unstable in cleared and ploughed woodland where it will persist only under careful grazing management. It is suggested that, for the situation studied, Stylosanthes humilis should be replaced by Stylosanthes hamata, since in other experiments it has proved more competitive than Stylosanthes humilis. The implication of the results for further land development and experimentation in the Katherine area is briefly discussed.

Superphosphate and stocking rate effects on a native pasture oversown with Stylosanthes humilis in central coastal Queensland. 5. Bone phosphorus levels in grazing cattle

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (101) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Little ◽  
NH Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
First Year ◽  
Potassium Fertilizer ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Rate Effects ◽  
Townsville Stylo ◽  
One Year ◽  
Phosphorus Levels

The influence of fertilizer on bone phosphorus levels in grazing cattle was examined on native spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) pastures in central coastal Queensland oversown with Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis). The first experiment compared superphosphate at nil, 125 or 250 kg ha-1 annually (F0, F1, F2, respectively), at three stocking rates. In the eighth and final year of this experiment, bone samples from Brahman-cross cattle obtained by rib biopsy were analyzed for their phosphorus content. Analyses of pasture samples indicated that Fo provided a diet deficient in phosphorus, but that F1 and F2 were adequate. Animals on F0 grew slowly, and after one year bone from the twelfth rib contained 121.5 mg P cm-3 In contrast, bone samples from cattle on F1 and F2 contained over 150 mg P cm-3 . At the end of the year there was no difference in bone phosphorus levels between animals on F1 and F2, although a significant advantage of F2 over F0 became apparent earlier in the year than that for F1. It is suggested that levels around 120 mg P cm-3 in bone from the twelfth rib indicate a deficiency of phosphorus, and that levels over 150 mg P cm-3 indicate adequacy. The diet selected from F0 was apparently deficient in protein for six months of the year. However, the quality of herbage selected from the fertilized pasture was much higher throughout the year, probably mainly through the consequent availability of much greater amounts of Townsville stylo. A second experiment, involving potassium fertilizer plus superphosphate, was run for three years following the development of potassium deficiency in the legume. During the first two years only small changes in bone phosphorus were observed, but in the third year, highly significant increases in bone phosphorus occurred in all fertilizer treatments. In a third experiment, changes in bone phosphorus were measured in animals grazing pasture dressed with superphosphate for the first time. After the first year, F2 produced higher levels of bone phosphorus than did F1, but no difference occurred in the second year. The results suggested that for the promotion of bone phosphorus storage, the higher rate of fertilizer application was of only short-term advantage.

scholarly journals Simulation and Assessment of Groundwater for Domestic and Irrigation Uses

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 1877-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majed Rodhan Hussain ◽  
Basim Sh. Abed
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Water Quality Assessment ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Specific Yield ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Steady State Condition ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
One Year

The alluvial fan of Mandali located between latitude 30˚45’00” N longitude 45˚30’00” E in east of Diyala Governorate, Iraq. Thirty-five wells were identified in the study area with average depth of 84 m and estimated area of 21550 ha. A three-dimensional conceptual model was prepared by using GMS program. From wells cross sections, four geological layers have been identified. The hydraulic conductivity of these layers was calculated for steady state condition, where the water levels for nine wells distributed over the study area were observed at same time. Afterward, PEST facility in the GMS was used to estimate the aquifer hydraulic characteristics. Other characteristics such as storage coefficient and specific yield have been determined from one year field observations that were collected by General Authority of Groundwater, Diyala Governorate. Also, the observations were used for calibration of unsteady state model. Then wells were hypothetically redistributed and increased to 103 wells, assuming a distance of 1500 m between the wells, a well productivity rate of were 7 l/s, annual rainfall rate was used for recharging. Three different wells operating times were suggested and these 6, 12, and 18 hr/day with total discharge of 150, 300, 450 m3/day and maximum drawdown of 7, 11, and 20 m respectively. For water quality assessment, the collected groundwater samples were analysed at the laboratory.  Results showed that the TDS in all wells was ranged from 1000-3000 mg/l but TDS in well number 18 was exceeded 3000 mg/l which indicate that the groundwater in this well is not recommended to be used for irrigation. According to Iraqi standard for drink (IQS 2009), it can be used for drinking if saline treatment units were provided.

scholarly journals Influence of hydrothermal conditions on the productivity of perennial grasses in South Steppe of Ukraine

2019 ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Petrychenko ◽  
L. K. Antypova ◽  
N. V. Tsurkan
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Bromus Inermis ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Hydrothermal Conditions ◽  
Green Mass ◽  
Melilotus Albus ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Favorable Weather ◽  
Perennial Legumes ◽  
Similar Yield

The purpose is to determine the productivity of perennial legume and cereal grasses under conditions of natural moisture supply in South Steppe of Ukraine. Method. The studies were conducted during 2016—2018 using conventional methods, and the output of feed units, digestible protein per unit of area was determined by reference books. Results. On average over three years of research, the highest yield of leaf-stem mass of cereals was formed by Bromus inermis and Elytrigia medium tender – 11.6 and 11.2 t/ha, respectively. The lowest yield was formed by Agropyrum pectiniforme – 7.6 t/ha. Among the all legume grasses, Melilotus albus prevailed (14.8 t/ha). Medicago sativa and Onobrychis arenaria were able to form a similar yield (14.5 and 13.5 t/ha, respectively) under the arid conditions of South Steppe of Ukraine. Insufficient rainfall in 2017 caused a decrease in the productivity of the studied crops. Thus, in 2017 the average yield of green mass in the experiment was 10.3 t/ha, while in 2016 under more favorable weather conditions this figure was 13.2 t/ha or 28.2 % more. The highest output of feed and protein units (FPU) per unit of area under cereal grasses was provided by Bromus inermis (2.35 t/ha). The lowest one was recorded in Agropyrum pectiniforme (1.60 t/ha). FPU output per unit of area under legume grasses increased respectively. Lotus corniculatus provides less green mass and therefore dry matter and forage and protein units. Perennial cereals grasses do not prevail over legume grasses, so they do not spread in South Ukraine. Conclusions. The productivity of perennial grasses in the south of Ukraine significantly depends on the type of plants, weather (hydrothermal) conditions of the year. The most effective is the cultivation of perennial legumes, namely Melilotus albus, alfalfa, Onobrychis arenaria. Bromus inermis and Elytrigia medium prevail among cereal grasses.

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