scholarly journals Leaf traits affect the above-ground productivity and quality of pasture grasses

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 844-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. DA S. PONTES ◽  
J.-F. SOUSSANA ◽  
F. LOUAULT ◽  
D. ANDUEZA ◽  
P. CARRÈRE
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Pasture Grasses

An evaluation of the production potential of six tropical grasses under grazing. 2. Assessment of quality using variable stocking rates

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
TR Evans ◽  
JB Hacker
Keyword(s):  
Frost Tolerance ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Setaria Sphacelata ◽  
Digitaria Eriantha ◽  
Kikuyu Grass

The potential quality of the 6 pasture grasses Setaria sphacelata var. sericea cvv. Nandi, Kazungula and Narok and var. splendida, Digitaria eriantha ssp. pentzii (pangola grass), and Pennisetum clandestinum cv. Whittet (kikuyu grass) was assessed in terms of liveweight gain of beef cattle, using a leader and follower grazing system. Pasture management was designed to provide adequate quantities of young leaf to the leaders throughout the year. This was achieved by rotational grazing and weekly adjustment of the number of followers, depending on quantity of feed available. Annual liveweight gain of the leaders (kg/steer.year) ranged from 135 (kikuyu grass) to 159 (cv. Narok) (540-636 kg/ha.year). Differences between grasses on an annual basis and over summer were not statistically significant (P = 0.12), although significant differences in liveweight gain of leaders - - - were obtained during the winter. This was associated with differences between grasses in growth at lower temperatures, and in frost tolerance. Liveweight gain of the follower group was markedly higher for pangola grass and var. splendida (272 kg/ha.year) than for the other varieties (77-140 kg/ha.year). This difference was associated with differences in number of grazing days and in the superior liveweight gain per head of followers grazing pangola grass and splendida. Liveweight gain of leaders per annum was comparable for years 1 and 2 but fell dramatically from February to August in year 3. This was associated with high rainfall, reduced solar radiation, and a decrease in in vitro digestibility of plucked leaf of all setaria varieties but not of pangola or kikuyu grasses. The relatively low liveweight gains obtained in year 3 were not associated with any overall mineral or protein deficiency.

Effect of surface application of benzylaminopurine before and during water deficit on herbage production and quality

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1232
Author(s):  
J. M. Lee ◽  
K. Elborough ◽  
D. Whittaker ◽  
D. J. Donaghy ◽  
J. R. Roche
Keyword(s):  
Water Deficit ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Herbage Quality ◽  
Effect Of Surface

Insufficient water availability is one of the most serious environmental stresses for a plant and can be a major limitation to herbage production in many regions. Plant hormones, such as cytokinins, have been reported to reduce the detrimental effects of low water availability in many different plant species. However, there is little research available concerning the effect on pasture grasses. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of surface applications of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) before and during water deficit on herbage growth and quality of perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures. Pastures fertilised with BAP were compared with unfertilised pastures and pastures receiving nitrogen. Exogenous BAP application did not significantly affect herbage production or quality relative to unfertilised pastures. Nitrogen fertiliser increased total herbage production, but had little effect on herbage quality compared with BAP. The failure of surface applications of exogenous BAP to improve herbage production or quality suggests that it is not an appropriate method to enhance plant tolerance to water deficit at the concentration applied in this study.

THE EFFECT OF TIME OF INITIAL CUTTING ON FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF THREE PASTURE GRASSES AT SHIKA, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
O. S. Onifade ◽  
A. M. Adamu ◽  
E. C. Agishi
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
June July August ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
June July

The effect of time of cutting on yield and nutritive value of three year old pastures of signal (Brachiaria decumbens), green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) and buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris ev. Gayndah) grasses were studied. The pastures were harvested for hay yield on 5th November, 1977 and allowed to rest until subjection to initial cut in June, July, August or September, 1978. Immediately after the July cut, all the plots received 100kg N/ha and 40kg P205/ha. Regrowths from the initial cuts and the control (uninterrupted growth) were all cut on 16th November, 1978. The dry matter (DM) yields of the grasses increased with increasing stage of maturity. Signal grass was more productive (P < 0.05) (17.3t/ha) than the other grasses averaged over the cutting dates. The yields of green panic and buffel grasses were 8.3 and 11.0t/ha respectively. The regrowth DM yields declined with a delay in the initial cut. Except for the increases in CP (6.9%) and IVDMD (50.1%) contents of the primary growth in August, these parameters declined as the grasses aged. Deferring the initial cutting date resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increases in CP and IVDMD contents of the regrowths. Percent increases as a result of cutting at the different date over the control for DM and CP yield were 28 and 74, respectively. Further evaluation of the three species in grazing trial is suggested. 

scholarly journals Treasured exceptions: Association of morphoanatomical leaf traits with cup quality of Coffea arabica L. cv. “Catuaí”

2021 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 110118
Author(s):  
Junior Pastor Pérez-Molina ◽  
Edgard Augusto de Toledo Picoli ◽  
Leonardo Araújo Oliveira ◽  
Bruno Tavares Silva ◽  
Genaína Aparecida de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coffea Arabica ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Coffea Arabica L ◽  
Cup Quality

scholarly journals NUTRITIVE VALUE AND PERENNIALITY 0F PASTURE GRASSES

1970 ◽  
pp. 76-86
Author(s):  
R.J. Clements
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Annual Species ◽  
Plant Survival ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Herbage Quality

In the genera Phalaris and Lolium, annual species have higher herbage nutritive value than perennials, and hybrids between annuals and perennials are intermediate. It is not yet known whether plant breeders will be able to improve the herbage quality of the perennial species without sacrificing some perenniality. Information needed to resolve this question could be obtained in various ways, some of which are discussed. Plant survival is of special importance in P. tuberosa, but in the ryegrasses some loss of perenniality has been tolerated by New Zealand farmers.

Variation in leaf quality of two oak species: implications for stand susceptibility to gypsy moth defoliation

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1445-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl W. Kleiner ◽  
Michael E. Montgomery ◽  
Jack C. Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Gypsy Moth ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Condensed Tannin ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Leaf Quality ◽  
Moth Population ◽  
Red Oaks ◽  
Protein Binding Capacity

Variation in phenolic leaf traits was measured for red oaks (Quercusrubra L.) and chestnut oaks (Quercusprinus L.) growing in a resistant stand (on a mesic lowland) and in a susceptible stand (on a xeric ridgetop). Chestnut oak foliage had significantly greater measures of protein binding capacity, total phenolics, and hydrolyzable tannins than red oak, regardless of stand location. Foliage from both species in the susceptible stand had significantly greater measures of condensed tannin than did foliage from the resistant stand. Seasonal changes in phenolic content were the largest sources of intraspecific variation. Chestnut oak was more abundant in the susceptible stand than in the resistant stand. Species and site factors thus result in high tannin levels in oak foliage in susceptible stands compared with resistant stands. The significance of this in relation to gypsy moth population dynamics is discussed.

scholarly journals Invasive Alien Vines Affect Leaf Traits of Riparian Woody Vegetation

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateja Grašič ◽  
Mateja Piberčnik ◽  
Igor Zelnik ◽  
Dragan Abram ◽  
Alenka Gaberščik
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Reflectance Spectra ◽  
Radiation Environment ◽  
Salix Caprea

The vines Echinocystis lobata and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are spreading over the natural vegetation in riparian zones, which may significantly affect riparian vegetation properties and the quality of litter for aquatic organisms. We examined leaf morphological, biochemical and optical traits of these invasive alien species, each paired with its host, the willows Salix caprea and S. fragilis, respectively. The vines altered the host radiation environment and the amount of photosynthetic pigments. Both vines had significantly higher specific leaf area and lower leaf tissue density compared to the willows, even though the leaves of P. quinquefolia were significantly thicker. Leaf optical properties varied significantly between vines and willows in some spectral regions. Compared to the willows, the vines reflected less light as UV, and more as green, and transmitted more light as green, yellow and red. The overgrowth of the willows with vines affected the reflectance of the willow leaves. Redundancy analysis of the relationships between leaf biochemical traits and reflectance spectra showed that chlorophyll a, anthocyanins, and UVB- and UVA-absorbing substances explained 45% of the reflectance spectra variability, while analysis with morphological traits revealed that specific leaf area, leaf thickness and upper cuticle thickness explained 43%. For leaf transmittance, UVB- and UVA-absorbing substances, carotenoids and anthocyanins explained 53% of the transmittance spectra variability, while analysis with morphological traits revealed that specific leaf area explained 51%. These data show that invasive alien vines can be discerned from each other and their hosts by their spectral signatures. In addition, the differences in the leaf functional traits between the vines and their hosts indicate significant differences in the quality of the plant litter entering the river.

Seasonal changes and the effect of temperature and leaf moisture content on intrinsic shear strength of leaves of pasture grasses

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Henry ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
R. H. Macmillan
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Chemical Constituent ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Green Leaves ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Pasture Grasses

The intrinsic shear strength of leaves of 6 temperate pasture grasses was measured using a guillotine. The intrinsic shear strength of the leaves was represented as the force required to shear a leaf corrected for the length of cutting blade in contact with the material. When green leaves were maintained at 100% relative humidity, their moisture content was maintained and their intrinsic shear strength remained constant over a 24-h period. Shear strength increased when leaves were allowed to dehydrate. Shear strength varied significantly over a growing season, with strength generally higher in summer and lower in winter. When grown in a constant regime with day/night temperatures ranging from 14/6˚C to 34/26˚C, no consistent effects of temperature on shear strength were observed across species; however, higher temperatures did increase lignin content of the leaves and decreased in vitro dry matter digestibility. Any one chemical constituent of the leaves (e.g. lignin, cellulose) did not appear to contribute significantly to their strength. The intrinsic shear strength of senescent leaves of Phalaris aquatica was significantly higher than that of green leaves, but there was no correlation between the strength of green leaves and that of senescent leaves. Hence, mature forages during the summer period will exhibit increased intrinsic shear strength at a time of the year when the digestibility of the feed also declines and the quality of feed begins to limit animal production.

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