Soil treatment, plant species and management effects on improved pastures on a solodic soil in the semi-arid subtropics. I. Dry matter and botanical composition

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Russell
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Deficiency ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Hydrated Lime ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
Semi Arid

Pastures of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana), temperate legumes (annual medics) and a tropical legume (siratro) were established on a solodic soil in 1973-74 at Kogan in the semi-arid subtropics of southern Queensland. The effect of soil treatments, sown pasture species and cattle stocking rates on dry matter yields and botanical composition were measured during 1974-79. Nitrogen deficiency was a key factor limiting herbage production. Increased nitrogen in the ecosystem applied as fertilizer increased mean presentation dry matter of Rhodes grass pastures from 990 to 3443 kg/ha. Use of hydrated lime and gypsum (HLG) and annual medics with Rhodes grass increased dry matter yields from 990 to 1773 kg/ha. Where HLG had been applied, the annual medics re-established from seed each autumn and early winter throughout the period studied. Siratro established well at sowing and contributed initially to herbage production but then declined to almost zero. Deep subsoiling had no significant effect on dry matter yields or siratro persistence. Applied phosphorus at 48 kg Plha at establishment significantly increased herbage yields of Rhodes grass compared with 24 kg P/ha but no significant effects at either rate were found with a further 60 kg P/ha applied as 12 kg P/ha.year. Rhodes grass, which is tolerant of high soil sodium and magnesium status, maintained frequencies above 90% in treatments where the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were high and when grazed at 0.62 steers/ha. However, deterioration occurred where nitrogen and phosphorus were lower or grazing pressure was higher, resulting in an ingress of native grasses. Twenty-five volunteer grass species were identified, the main genera being Eragrostis and Chloris. The need for a self-regenerating annual summer-growing legume in this environment is discussed.

scholarly journals Morphoecological characteristics of grasses used to restore degraded semi-arid African rangelands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Mganga
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Basal Cover ◽  
Plant Densities ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Progressive loss of productivity and plant diversity is a major in global rangelands. In African rangelands ecosystems, this process is partly attributed to heavy and uncontrolled grazing by livestock and wildlife, leading to land degradation. Therefore, restoring such degraded rangelands is critical for enhancing ecosystem health and securing the livelihoods of millions of people. Active restoration strategies, e.g. reseeding using indigenous perennial grasses has been identified as a viable ecological solution for restoring degraded African rangelands. Grass species indigenous to African rangelands Cenchrus ciliaris L. (African foxtail grass), Eragrostis superba Peyr. (Maasai love grass), Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Monro ex Benth. (Bush rye grass), Chloris roxburghiana Schult. (Horsetail grass) and Chloris gayana Kunth. cv Boma (Rhodes grass) were established in a semi-arid rangeland in Africa under natural conditions to compare their morphoecological characteristics and suitability for use in ecological restoration. Biomass dry matter yields, plant densities, basal cover, seed production, tiller densities and plant height were measured. Chloris gayana cv Boma and E. superba produced significantly higher dry matter biomass yields and seed production than other species. High biomass and seed production demonstrate their suitability to support livestock production and replenish depleted soil seed banks, respectively. Enteropogon macrostachyus and C. ciliaris displayed significantly higher values for plant densities, tiller densities and basal cover, also a component of establishment and ecological restoration success. Chloris roxburghiana ranked lowest in all the measured morphoecological characteristics. This may be a strong indicator of ecological site-specific characteristic of C. roxburghiana. Successful restoration of degraded African semi-arid rangelands using indigenous grass reseeding can best be achieved through careful selection of grasses to take advantage of their specific morphoecological characteristics. This selection should primarily be informed by the intended use of the rangeland.</p>

A novel approach to planting grass - legume pastures in the mixed farming zone of southern inland Queensland, Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Whitbread ◽  
C. A. Hall ◽  
B. C. Pengelly
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Lablab Purpureus ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Clitoria Ternatea ◽  
Novel Approach

Reliable establishment of pasture systems with a desirable composition of grasses and legumes remains a challenge in the highly variable climates of the northern grain belt of southern inland Queensland. In this paper, an alternative system is proposed whereby legumes and grasses are planted simultaneously in alternative strips. A 4-year study tested the establishment, production, and botanical composition of the tropical legume species Macroptilium bracteatum cvv. Cardaga and Juanita, Lablab purpureus cv. Endurance, and Clitoria ternatea cv. Milgarra sown as pure stands or with grass strips. The grass strips, and a grass-only treatment, both contained a mix of Panicum maximum cv. Petrie, Dichanthium aristatum cv. Floren, and Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Bisset. L. purpureus was relatively unproductive, yielding ~2000 kg/ha dry matter (DM) produced in each of the first 2 years. M. bracteatum produced 2050 and 3300 kg/ha DM in Years 1 and 2, with declining plant populations and DM in subsequent years. C. ternatea produced 960 kg/ha DM in Year 1, 2730 kg/ha DM in Year 2, and continued to persist throughout the trial, albeit at low DM production levels. The grass-only treatment was dominated by the sown grass species, while the legume-based treatments were dominated by a colonising native species, Dichanthium sericeum, in the fourth and final year. Sowing grass strips adjacent to the legume areas proved a successful strategy, with the proportion of sown grasses in the legume strips increasing to >20% of total DM by Year 4. Soil carbon changes did not differ between treatments, but total C in the top 0.15 m increased from 0.99% in Year 1 to 1.13% in Year 4, representing a net gain of 6.5 t/ha in C over 3 years.

Grass-white clover relationships during pasture development. 1. Effect of superphosphate

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (64) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
EC Wolfe ◽  
A Lazenby
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Clover Content

The effects of superphosphate (0, 42, 125, and 375 kg ha-1 year-1), grass species (tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and phalaris) and grass seeding rate (0, 1.1, 4.5, and 17.9 kg ha-1) on the productivity and botanical composition of grass-white clover pastures were investigated from 1967 to 1970 on a previously unfertilized site at Armidale, New South Wales. In all years, total pasture yields were increased by each additional increment of superphosphate applied. During the establishment year, the addition of 375 kg ha-1 superphosphate increased clover dry matter yield by more than 3500 kg ha-1, whereas grass production was low (< 1500 kg ha-1) on all treatments. Thereafter, the increases in grass yields at each level of superphosphate were the equal of, or exceeded, the clover responses, which were mainly linear throughout the experiment. Neither grass seeding rate nor grass species had a major effect on total pasture productivity. Their effects on the relative yields of the grass and clover components were most evident at the highest rate of superphosphate. At SP0, grass and clover percentages declined from 1967 to 1970 and at SP125 the proportions of grass, clover and weeds were about equal in all years. At SP375, the strong overall trend from clover-dominance in 1967 to grass-dominance in 1970 was most rapid in treatments sown with 4.5 or 17.9 kg ha-1 grass and least rapid in phalaris-white clover pastures. In 1969 and 1970, when most pastures at SP375, had reached the grass-dominant stage of their development, within-year fluctuations in grass and clover content were least in the fescue-white clover pastures.

A comparison of the yield of three grass species at various levels of nitrogenous fertilizer sown alone or in a mixture

1968 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Cowling ◽  
D. R. Lockyer
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Antagonistic Effect ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pure Species ◽  
Fertilizer Nitrogen ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Nitrogenous Fertilizer ◽  
The Mean

SummaryThe production of herbage dry matter harvested from a mixture of S. 24 perennial ryegrass, S. 37 cocksfoot and S. 48 timothy is compared with the yields of the same species sown alone. Various levels of fertilizer nitrogen were applied to the grasses which were harvested by cutting fourteen times over a 3-year period.The possibility that the mixture produced a greater yield than swards of pure species (after taking into account that the three species are not present in equal proportions in herbage harvested from the mixture) was examined using the concept of ‘the sum of the relative yields’. There was no evidence of a beneficial or antagonistic effect of one species on another; rather, the species seemed to be ‘mutually exclusive’ (de Wit & van den Bergh, 1965).The botanical composition of the mixture changed through the course of the experiment, e.g. cocksfoot became increasingly dominant, particularly at the highest level of nitrogen. Changes in composition accounted for any tendency for the yield of the mixture to deviate from the mean of the pure-sown swards.Some of the advantages and disadvantages of using mixtures are discussed and it is concluded that a rational approach to grassland husbandry should be based on swards sown to a single grass variety.

scholarly journals Exploring nutrient limitation for polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis by newly isolated strains ofAeromonassp. using biodiesel-derived glycerol as a substrate

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Możejko-Ciesielska ◽  
Tomasz Pokoj
Keyword(s):  
Crude Glycerol ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Nitrogen Deficiency ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Pure Glycerol ◽  
Biodiesel Industry

Aeromonasspp. strains isolated from activated sludge in a municipal wastewater treatment plant were found to be able to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) utilizing pure and crude glycerol. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolates exhibited similarity toAeromonas hydrophila,A. aquatica, andA. salmonicida. Our results confirmed that the adequate supply of nitrogen and phosphorus during culture in 250-ml shake flasks did not stimulate the synthesis of PHAs. The results indicate that the PHA content of cells was higher under a phosphorus-limiting environment compared to nitrogen starvation. In the two-stage cultivation using glucose (in the first step) and crude glycerol from biodiesel industry (in the second step) as a component of the growth medium, the analyzed strains grew to 3.06 g/l of cell dry weight containing up to 22% of PHAs. Furthermore, during the same culture strategy up to 42% of PHAs were extracted, when in the second step of the process,Aeromonassp. AC_03 was grown on pure glycerol under phosphorus limitation. The purified biopolymer was confirmed to be polyhydroxybutyrate.Aeromonassp. AC_02 was also capable to accumulate the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer when pure glycerol was added as a substrate under nitrogen-deficiency one-step bioprocess. Our results confirm that due to the biopolymer productivity, newly isolated strains could be exploited for obtaining valuable biopolymers using wastes generated from biodiesel industry.

The effect of cutting interval and associate grass species on the growth of Stylosanthes species near Ingham, north Queensland

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (93) ◽  
pp. 546 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG McIvor
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Stylosanthes Guianensis ◽  
Cutting Interval

Five Stylosanthes guianensis accessions (cvv. Schofield, Cook and Endeavour, CPI 33706 and 40294), four S. scabra accessions (cv. Seca, CPI 34925,40205 and 40289), two S. viscosa accessions (CPI 33941 and 40264 B) and Centrosema pubescens (Common centro) were grown in small, fertilized swards with either Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk or Panicummaximum near lngham in northern Queensland. The swards were cut every 4,8,12 or 16 weeks to 10 cm above the ground for three years and herbage yield and botanical composition measured. Herbage yields of all Stylosanthes accessions declined over the three years while those of C. pubescens and the sown grasses increased after the first year. In the final year S, viscosa accessions yielded 200 kg ha-1 of dry matter or less, S. scabra accessions less than 2000 kg ha-1 and S. guianensis accessions and C. pubescens more than 2000 kg ha-1. The yields and proportions of legume and miscellaneous species were lower in B, decumbens plots than P. maximum plots. After the first year, cutting interval had no effect on legume yield. Grass yields were similar with cutting intervals of 12 or 16 weeks, but when plots were cut every 4 or 8 weeks B. decumbens outyielded P. maximum. The legume content of the S, guianensis plots cut every 12 or 16 weeks was higher than that of those cut every 4 or 8 weeks. The proportion of C, pubescens in the swards increased linearly as cutting interval increased. S. guianensis cvv. Schofield and Cook, and CPI 40294 had high growth rates early in the growing season while S. guianensis cvv. Schofield, Cook and CPI 33706 had high growth rates late in the season. B, decumbens had a higher growth rate than P. maximum during both the early and late growing season periods. S. guianensis cv. Cook was the best legume accession but S. guianensis CPI 40294 and S. scabra require further testing. None of the new accessions was more compatible with B. decumbens than existing cultivars.

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on vegetation dynamics of a degraded native grassland in semi-arid south-eastern Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Hacker ◽  
I. D. Toole ◽  
G. J. Melville
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Dynamics ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Semi Arid

The roles of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in controlling vegetation transitions in a degraded semi-arid grassland were investigated in a factorial experiment that combined two initial levels of perennial plant density (low and high), three levels of N (N+, N0 and N–) and two levels of P (P+ and P0). Increased levels of both N and P were achieved by fertiliser addition while sucrose was used to reduce the level of N. Vegetation dynamics were driven primarily by soil N rather than P. Addition of sucrose, which was inferred to result in the immobilisation of mineral N, reduced the growth of annual species and facilitated the establishment and growth of native perennial grasses. Addition of P generally had no significant effect on dry matter production, either in total or for species grouped as forbs, annual grasses and perennial grasses, or on recruitment and mortality of perennial grasses. However, at some times of observation addition of P increased ground cover and/or the basal circumference of some perennial grass species. Basal circumference for Enteropogon acicularis was also increased by addition of N. Soil biological activity, measured by decomposition of cotton strips, was increased by addition of N, which maintained vegetation in an annual-dominated condition, and was not affected by addition of P. Carbon addition has the potential to assist restoration of this grassland. However, the capacity of some native grass species to respond to increased fertility suggests that once restoration is achieved some increase in fertility may be beneficial for pastoral production.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF THREE MOWING ON PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRITION AND BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF LEGUMES-CEREALS AGROPHYTOCENOSES

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-20
Author(s):  
Nadezhda Konovalova ◽  
Svetlana Konovalova
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Experimental Site ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
North West ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
European North ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article presents the results of research on the influence of agrotechnical techniques on the formation of legume-cereal agrophytocenoses. The research method includes conducting a field experiment on the experimental field of North-West Research Institute of Milk and Grassland Agriculture in the Vologda region. The soil of the experimental site is drained, medium cultivated, sod-podzolic, medium loam. The following varieties have been chosen for carrying out the experiment: Permskiy mestnyy red clover, Dymkovskiy red clover, Vega 87 variegated alfalfa, Sverdlovskaya 37 meadow fescue, Losinka reed fes-cue, Leningradskaya 204 timothy, SibNIISKHOZ 189 awnless brome, VIK 66 pasture ryegrass. As a re-sult of research in 2017–2019, it was found that the share of sown grass species was high regardless of the species composition and method of sowing and ranged from 82.9 to 98.5%. The content of weed vegeta-tion was 1.4–2.0 times higher in grass stands sown under the cover of barley compared to those sown without cover. The yield of grasses was affected by the composition of agrophytocenoses and the number of bites. On average, for two years of use, a grass mixture of the third option was distinguished, including red clover, timothy and reed fescue. It significantly exceeded the yield of the control variant by 0.39 t/ha of dry matter. The method of sowing did not affect the yield of herbage. When you get three grass mow-ing, protein collection increases by 8–24%, and its content in the plant mass — by 20–32% compared to double mowing. Scope – agricultural enterprises of the European North of the Russian Federation.

Estimates of nitrogen fixations by legumes in alternate cropping systems at Warra, Queensland, using enriched - 15N dilution and natural 15N abundance techniques

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 493 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Hossain ◽  
SA Waring ◽  
WM Strong ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
EJ Weston
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
15N Dilution ◽  
A Value ◽  
Annual Medics

Nitrogen fixation was measured using two isotopic techniques over 2 years as part of a long-term field experiment established to test alternative management strategies for restoring fertility in a vertisol at Warra, Southern Queensland. Treatments containing legumes were: grass- legume ley (purple pigeon grass and Rhodes grass, lucerne and annual medics) for 4 years followed by 4 years of wheat; a 2-year rotation of lucerne and wheat; a 2-year rotation of medic and wheat; and a 2-year rotation of chickpea and wheat. For the enriched-15N procedure, the proportion of N derived from air (% Ndfa) for the grass-legume and lucerne and medic leys ranged from 67 to 97%, and averaged 85%, with little evidence for effects of season, pasture establishment, time or species. The % Ndfa for chickpea was significantly lower (62%). Values for the natural abundance 15N procedure were mostly lower and more variable than for the enriched method, ranging from 62 to 91% for the grass-legume, lucerne and medic leys, and averaged 76%. It was concluded that the enriched procedure provided more reliable estimates of N2 fixed by the legumes. N2 fixation measured by the enriched-15N dilution method in the grass-legume ley averaged 80 kg N ha-1 during 2 years. A similar amount of N was fixed by the lucerne ley during 1 year (83 kg N ha-1 but medic ley fixed less (56 kg N ha-1 The amount of N2 fixed by chickpea was 72 kg N ha-lyear-1. The dry matter yield of the legumes in leys, mainly lucerne, was closely associated with the amount of N2 fixed, with a value of 28 kg of N2 fixed for each tonne of dry matter produced.

A comparison of twenty-seven introduced grasses in two dry-tropical environments in northern Queensland

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 788 ◽  
Author(s):  
LA Edye
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Tropical Environments ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Fertilizer System

In a grazed sward trial to compare dry matter production from 25 grass accessions fertilized with 250 kg ha-1 urea annually over a period of four years at 'Lansdown', the highest yielding grasses were Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) cvv. Nunbank and Biloela. Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) accession 16059, Panicum maximum (green panic) cv. Petrie and C. gayana cv. Callide in that order. Several species failed to persist and some accessions of Chloris, Paspalum and Melinis were virtually non-existent by the end of the second season. In another experiment comparing dry matter production under grazing of 23 accessions sown with a standard legume mixture at two sites ('Lansdown' and 'Fanning River') over periods of five and four years respectively, the highest yields were obtained from Urochloa mosambicensis 6559, C. ciliaris cv. Tarewinnabar and accession 18019 at both sites. Urochloa was top yielder in the higher rainfall site at 'Lansdown' and the two buffel grasses were best at the drier site 'Fanning River'. Of the 23 accessions sown, only 12 at 'Lansdown' and only 7 at 'Fanning River' were persisting strongly when the experiment was completed. Grasses common to both experiments at 'Lansdown' were higher in nitrogen when grown with associated legumes than when grown alone and fertilized with urea. Grass nitrogen levels were low enough to reduce intake by cattle of nearly all accessions throughout the growing season under the urea fertilizer system and phosphorus levels in the grass were generally below that considered adequate for animal nutrition in the legume plots; however, the legumes would probably supply sufficient to meet the animal's requirements for at least part of the year. At 'Fanning River' the accessions were generally lower in nitrogen and phosphorus than at 'Lansdown'.

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