Mixtures of native perennial forage species produce higher yields than monocultures in a long-term study

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Serajchi ◽  
Michael P. Schellenberg ◽  
Jenalee M. Mischkolz ◽  
Eric G. Lamb

To evaluate the forage yield and quality of seven perennial native species in monoculture and binary mixtures under a range of climate conditions, a 6-yr field experiment was conducted at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre (SCRDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), in Swift Current, SK. Seven native perennial forage species from three functional groups (C3, C4grasses, and legumes) were seeded in 2010 in monocultures and binary mixtures. Forage yield and quality [crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and copper (Cu)] were measured during the first week of July and last week of August in 2011–2016. Mixtures that included western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Löve] (WWG) tended to produce a greater yield when 90% of the composition within these mixtures was WWG. Adding bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Löve] (BBW), little blue stem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash] (LBS), and prairie clovers (Dalea spp.) to the binary mixtures can increase the positive aspects of species diversity on stability and productivity in seeded pastures. Among the grasses, WWG contained higher crude protein and lower ADF and NDF concentration. Mixtures of forage species produced higher forage yield compared with monocultures. Native forage species can produce stable forage yield across very different climate situations. In mixtures, WWG showed promising results in forage productivity and quality and can be a suitable option for seeded pastures.

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Chapman ◽  
Edward Bork ◽  
Noble Donkor ◽  
Robert Hudson

Field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica napus), turnips (Brassica rapa) and Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) were grown in north central Alberta to assess their potential yield and quality and to evaluate their utilization and preference by white-tailed deer. Herbage DM yield, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), absolute and relative herbage utilization, and dietary preference were the criteria used. The four annual forages produced over 3, 000 to 11, 000 kg ha-1 DM with canola and turnips producing higher DM yields than field pea and berseem clover. Forage CP for the four seeded forages ranged from 140 to 305 g kg-1 DM with canola and turnips having higher CP concentrations than field pea and berseem clover. NDF concentrations ranged from 246 to 480 g kg-1 DM and were lowest in turnips, intermediate in field pea, and highest in canola and berseem clover. Absolute herbage utilization remained similar (P>0.05) among the four forage species. In contrast, relative herbage utilization was greater from berseem clover (66% DM) than field pea (42% DM) or canola (22% DM) or turnips (20% DM). Differences in dietary preference occurred among the four forages (berseem clover ≥ field pea ≥ turnips ≥ canola). These results suggest that annual forages, especially berseem clover and field pea, show promise for increasing forage yield and quality and suitability for late season grazing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Yasin Akinci ◽  
Mahmut Kaplan

Objectives of the present study are to determine the variations in forage yield and quality of soybean cultivars. Experiments were conducted in randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications during the growing season of 2016. A total of 10 cultivars were used as the plant material of the experiments (Bravo, A3127, Traksoy, İlksoy, Mersoy, Nova, SA-88, Arısoy, Safir, Atakişi). Cultivars had a significant effect on yield and chemical composition. Results revealed that green herbage yields varied between 826.39 - 1199.17 kg/da, dry hay yields between 247.71 - 357.90 kg/da, crude protein yields between 16.91 - 39.86 kg/da, acid detergent fiber (ADF) ratios between 26.56 - 34.61%, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios between 38.43 - 44.85%, crude ash contents between 7.20 - 11.22%, crude protein contents between 6.66 - 13.53%, dry matter digestibility (DDM) values between 61.94 - 68.21%, dry matter intake (DMI) values between 2.68 - 3.12% and relative feed values (RFV) between 2.68 - 3.12. The results of the study showed that A3127 cultivar was found to be prominent with green herbage yield (1199.17 kg/da) and dry hay yield (357.90 kg/da) and Safir cultivar was found to be prominent with crude protein yield (39.86 kg/da). It was concluded that the soybean cultivars A3127 and Safir could be recommended for hay production.


Author(s):  
Juan Francisco Zamora Natera ◽  
Celene del Rio Obregón ◽  
Isidro Zapata Hernández Ramón Rodríguez Macías ◽  
Pedro Macedonio García López

The effects of genotype and harvest date on lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) forage yield and quality were evaluated in Zapopan Jalisco, Mexico. Cultivars Haags Blaue, Boregine, Borlu, Probor, Sonate, and Boruta were grown during the 2013–2014 cool season and harvested twice, in January (early harvest) and February (late harvest). Fresh and dry matter (FM, DM) yield, crude protein(CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), minerals, and total alkaloids were measured at each harvest. FM yields varied from 9.1 to 12.2 t ha-1 and from 23.4 t ha-1 to 35.3 t ha-1 at the first and late harvests, respectively. DM yields from early harvest plants varied from 1.2 to 1.7 t ha-1; those from the second harvest (late harvest date) varied from 3.4 to 6.8 t ha-1. The highest CP content for both (early and late harvests) was identified in the Probor cultivar, at 226 and 187 g/kg, respectively. At early harvest, ADF values varied from 291.2 in Sonate to 392.3 g/kg in Borlu; at late harvest, ADF values varied from 417.2 in Sonate to 488.3 g/kg in Borlu. Harvest date and varieties did not influence alkaloid and mineral content.


2011 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 515-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Iptas ◽  
A.A. Acar

This study was conducted to determine the effect of row spacing (40, 60 and 80 cm) on forage dry matter (DM) yield and quality of four hybrids grown in the years 2001 and 2002. The highest DM yield was obtained from the Arifiye (24.1 and 22.4 t/ha) while the lowest DM yield was obtained from Pioneer 3163 (19.9 and 19.8 t/ha) in the years 2001 and 2002, respectively. As row spacing increased, DM yield as an average of two years decreased from 27.2 to 16.6 t/ha. No differences were found among row spacing for DM content, harvest index (HI) and ear content. As row spacing increased, whole-plant acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content increased from 214 to 227 g/kg and from 420 to 451 g/kg during the year 2001, respectively. However, ADF content decreased from 281 to 267 g/kg and NDF contents decreased from 530 to 515 g/kg with increasing row spacing during the year 2002. In this study, hybrids showed distinct differences for crude protein, ADF and NDF contents in both years. Forage quality parameter including ADF and NDF of Pioneer 3163, TTM 8119 and Karadeniz Yildizi were higher than Arifiye hybrid.


Weed Science ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles D. Leroux ◽  
Robert G. Harvey

The herbicides 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid], dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid), glyphosate [(N-phosphonomethyl)glycine], paraquat (1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’-bypiridinium ion), and pronamide [3,5-dichloro-(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide] were applied at selected rates and dates to quackgrass [Agropyron repens(L.) Beauv. ♯ AGRRE]-infested alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) sod in 1979 and 1980 to suppress vegetation for subsequent establishment of alfalfa without tillage. The influence of herbicides on weed control, alfalfa seedling density and visual stand, and forage yield and quality was assessed for 3 yr. During establishment, all herbicides except 2,4-D effectively controlled quackgrass. Glyphosate applied broadcast increasingly suppressed the existing sod as the rate was increased from 0.6 to 1.6 kg ai/ha. The effectiveness of herbicides as measured by total (old and new) plant density was closely related to the suppression of the sward. While the substitution of new alfalfa plants for old ones was not necessary under dense (40 plants/m2) alfalfa stands, completely controlling the vegetation with glyphosate resulted in sustained productivity throughout the experimental period. After 3 yr, alfalfa percentage and yield were highest when glyphosate was broadcast at 1.6 kg/ha. Improvement in forage quality, as estimated by the concentrations of crude protein and neutral-detergent fiber, was closely related to grass control.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Alberto Elizondo Salazar

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of cutting height on yield and nutritional quality of three forage species used for feeding dairy cattle. The study was carried out at the “Alfredo Volio Mata” Experiment Station of the University of Costa Rica. The evaluated species were: native corn (Zea mays), black sorghum (Sorghum almum) and king grass cultivar Taiwan (Pennisetum purpureum); these three species were harvested at two different cutting heights (15 and 45 cm above ground). Green forage yield was significantly different (P<0.05) within each of the species and dry matter (DM) yield was reduced between 17 to 42% when cutting height was increased. When cutting height was done at 15 cm above ground, corn, black sorghum and Taiwan yielded 51.3, 31.4 and 70.9 t/ha/ cycle, respectively. With regard to DM, the forage species that yielded the most when harvested at 15 cm above ground was Taiwan grass, with 11.6 t/ha/cycle, while the forage species that yielded the least when harvested at 45 cm was corn with only 5.4 t/ha. Black sorghum signi cantly (P<0.05) improved its nutritive value when cutting height was increased. DM concentration increased from 22.79 to 25.53%, crude protein also increased from 8.24 to 12.90%, meanwhile neutral detergent fiber decreased from 63.69 to 59.47% and acid detergent fiber also decreased from 43.15 to 37.30%. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 1017
Author(s):  
Danúbia Nogueira Figueira ◽  
Mikael Neumann ◽  
Robson Kyoshi Ueno ◽  
Sandra Galbeiro ◽  
Antônio Vinícius Iank Bueno

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cutting height and harvest time on forage yield and quality in elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cv. Pioneiro. Experimental plots were arranged in a randomized block split-plot design. The treatments consisted of four residual heights (30, 40, 50, and 60 cm)and three successive harvest times (January, March, and May 2011). There was a significant interaction between residual height and harvest time for the proportion of stems (P<0.05) and leaves (P<0.01) in the forage. A similar result was observed for fresh (P<0.01) and dry (P<0.01) forage yield at the first and third harvests. There was a quadratic relationship between dry forage yield and residual height, with a maximum yield of5738 kg ha-1ataresidual height of 50.17 cm in the second harvest. The increase in residual height from 30 to 60 cm, regardless of harvest time, reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF)and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and increased crude protein content. Forage yield and quality were highest at 40-50 cm residual heights.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenalee M. Mischkolz ◽  
Michael P. Schellenberg ◽  
Eric G. Lamb

Mischkolz, J. M., Schellenberg, M. P. and Lamb, E. G. 2013. Early productivity and crude protein content of establishing forage swards composed of combinations of native grass and legume species in mixed-grassland ecoregions. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 445–454. We evaluated the early establishment productivity of forage swards of native, perennial, cool and warm season grasses, and legumes as they have the potential to provide non-invasive, productive, and drought resistant rangelands. Seven species with agronomic potential and a broad native geographic distribution were selected for testing including: nodding brome [Bromus anomalus (Coult.)], blue bunch wheatgrass [Pseudoregneria spicata (Pursh)], western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.)], side oats grama [Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.)], little blue stem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.)], purple prairie clover [Dalea purpurea (Vent.)], and white prairie clover [Dalea candida (Willd.)]. Forage swards, including all seven monocultures, 21 two-species mixtures and a mixture with all species, were planted in two sites, Saskatoon and Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Western wheatgrass (WWG) had the highest overall plant density and the strongest effect on the forage yield of the forage swards; however, productivity and crude protein content were not reduced when other species were also included in the forage sward. Dalea spp. did not establish as well as the other species, but had the highest crude protein concentrations. This work provides insight into forage sward development at the establishment stage; additional work is required to determine long-term species impacts for well established forage swards.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Mandic ◽  
Zorica Bijelic ◽  
Vesna Krnjaja ◽  
Aleksandar Simic ◽  
Maja Petricevic ◽  
...  

Maize is the very important silage source in the world. Timely harvesting ensure high maize forage yield and quality. Therefore, the study focused on the effects of four harvesting times (starting at the 12 August every 7 days) on yield and qualitative parameters of forage green mass of maize hybrid ZP 677. The experiment was set in Vojvodina Province, Serbia, during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, ear percentage, forage yield, dry matter content and crude protein content were higher, while stem percentage was lower in 2014 with favorable climatic condition. Forage yield, crude protein content, ADF and NDF decreased, while dry matter content significantly increased with delay in harvesting. The maize hybrid should be harvested when the milk line is three-quarter of the way down the grain that is in the third decade of August.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e95991110508
Author(s):  
Hosnerson Renan de Oliveira Santos ◽  
Mauro Pereira de Figueiredo ◽  
Ingrid Thalia Prado de Castro ◽  
Mário Henrique Melo e Lima ◽  
Luiza Maria Gigante Nascimento ◽  
...  

The objective was to evaluate agronomically nine sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudanense) and the nutritive value of their respective hays. The experimental design used was randomized blocks in a 3 × 9 factorial scheme, with three replications. Three cuts were made: 42 days after germination, 29 days after regrowth, and 28 days after the second regrowth. All hybrids showed a higher number of plants ha–1 (P < 0.05) in the second cut. For the green matter and dry matter production of the hays, the values ranged from 49.16 to 62.07 t ha–1 and 9.07 to 11.43 t ha–1, respectively. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in dry matter, mineral matter, or ether extract. The hybrids 1013020, BRS 810, 1013016, and 1624F016 showed higher values of crude protein (CP) of 16.49, 16.17, 16.08, and 15.88%, respectively. Differences were observed (P < 0.05) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. The hybrids 1013020, BRS 802, 1013021, 1013016, BRS 810, and 1624F006 presented lower levels of NDF (60.57, 60.74, 62.15, 62.37, 62.58, and 64.70%, respectively). The hybrids BRS 802, 1013016, BRS 810, and 1624F006, stood out above the others, presenting high forage yield and adequate nutritive value (CP content >13% and NDF content <65%).


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