scholarly journals Forage mass, botanical composition and stocking density of bermudagrass overseeded with forage legumes

Revista CERES ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 500-506
Author(s):  
Amanda Nunes Assis dos Anjos ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Denise Pereira Leme ◽  
Priscila Flôres Aguirre ◽  
Franciane de Almeida Pires ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Pastures of the genus Cynodon are being cultivated alone in conventional production with high rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Information and research about its use on mixed-pasture system is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate three grazing systems with coastcross-1 (CC) + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + common vetch; CC + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + arrowleaf clover; and CC + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1. The experiment was carried out from May 2013 to April 2014. The sward height, forage mass, botanical composition, leaf:stem ratio, and animal stocking density were evaluated. Experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments (grazing systems) and three replicates (paddocks) in completely split-plot time (grazing cycles). The average stocking rate was 7.0, 6.8, 6.8 cows ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. Better results were found with coastcross-1 mixed with common vetch + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 in winter and spring and coastcross-1 alone + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 in autumn.

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Nunes Assis dos Anjos ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Caroline Paim Sauter ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Fabiene Tomazetti dos Santos ◽  
...  

Three grazing systems with Coastcross-1 bermuda grass (CC) + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + common vetch; CC + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + arrowleaf clover; and CC + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 were evaluated. Thirteen grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (313 days), with two, five, four and two cycles respectively in winter, spring, summer and fall. Lactating Holstein cows were used in the evaluation. Daily accumulation rate, forage production, rate of forage disappearance, agronomic intake, grazing efficiency, herbage allowance and stocking rate were evaluated. Mean rates of forage yield and stocking rate were 20.8; 17.6 and 19.7 t DM ha-1 and 7.0; 6.8 to 6.8 animal units ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. The mixture Coastcross-1 plus common vetch, fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 and Coastcross-1 fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 provided greater productivity and better distribution of forage throughout the seasons. 


1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. W. Spedding ◽  
J. E. Betts ◽  
R. V. Large ◽  
I. A. N. Wilson ◽  
P. D. Penning

During the last ten years or so, the management of sheep for intensive lamb production has been studied on a considerable scale, and a variety of grazing systems have been investigated (Dickson, 1959; Cooper, 1959; Spedding & Large, 1959; Boaz, 1959). It is still too soon to specify precisely the place that any of these systems should occupy in sheep-production processes, in relation to breed, lambing percentage, weight of lamb at slaughter, stocking rate, botanical composition of the pasture, size of ewe and level of her milk yield. Quite apart from these biological considerations, the full economic implications are by no means clear. What has emerged most clearly, however, is that much higher stocking rates can be tolerated than had generally been regarded as safe and that, at these stocking rates, productivity can be extremely high.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
HL Davies ◽  
EAN Greenwood

For five years, three rates of ammonium sulphate (N0, N1, and N3: 0, 280, and 840 kg/ha/year) were applied as a split dressing to ,a pasture of Bromus mollis L. and Trifolium subterraneum L. which was continuously grazed by wethers set-stocked at 8.6 and 12.4 sheep/ha. The N0 treatment produced clover dominance, N1 a mixed sward, and N3 grass dominance. The higher stocking rate increased the proportion of clover in the mixed sward. These differences in botanical composition produced three significant effects on the relation between liveweight gain and quantity of green pasture on offer. An increase in the proportion of clover in the sward increased: (1) the quantity of herbage dry matter on offer required for liveweight maintenance; (2) the maximum rate of liveweight gain; (3) the quantity of dry matter on offer at the point of 90% maximum liveweight gain. Regressions of those three parameters on botanical composition accounted for over 90% of the variance. The effects of treatments on liveweight at other times of the year are also described. In the first year of grazing ammonium sulphate increased liveweight, apparently because of increased pasture on offer after emergence. In subsequent years the effect of ammonium sulphate was reversed: liveweight was reduced, and this was associated with lower nitrogen concentrations in, and lower quantities of, herbage produced. Wool elongation rates were greatest in spring and lowest prior to the germinating rains in autumn. Elongation rate was unaffected by stocking rate and only slightly affected by ammonium sulphate. From January to April, greatest elongation occurred on the grass-dominant N3 paddocks; from May to December greatest elongation occurred on the clover-dominant N0 paddocks. The implications of the role of nitrogen fertilizer in relation to sheep production in the winter rainfall regions of Australia are discussed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. O. Hill ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
A. D. Moore ◽  
P. Graham ◽  
D. F. Chapman

Botanical composition (basal cover) was measured in 4 replicated pasture treatments based on Phalaris aquatica and Trifolium subterraneum at Hall, ACT (unfertilised with low and high stocking rate; fertilised with low and high stocking rate) and in 2 unreplicated pasture treatments based on native perennial grasses (Austrodanthonia spp. and Microlaena stipoides) and T. subterraneum at Bookham, NSW (unfertilised and low stocking rate; fertilised and high stocking rate). Current economic pressures are encouraging graziers to increase their use of phosphorus (P) fertiliser and to adopt higher stocking rates. The objective of the research was to determine the changes in botanical composition that may result from these changes in grazing systems management. At Hall, annual species differed in their responses to P fertility. Notably, basal cover of Bromus spp. increased significantly with P application, whereas Vulpia spp. decreased significantly. Basal cover of T. subterraneum also increased significantly with P application when stocking rate was high, but was reduced by P application if stocking rate was low. Basal cover of perennial grasses (P. aquatica and Holcus lanatus) was significantly higher at low stocking rate when P was applied. The botanical composition of high stocking rate treatments was relatively stable over time, which contrasted with less stable composition at low stocking rate. At Bookham, fertilised pasture in unreplicated paddocks appeared to have a higher basal cover of productive annual species (i.e. Bromus spp. and T. subterraneum), but native perennial grasses appeared to have lower basal cover in comparison with the unfertilised area. These results indicated that in some cases, the influence of P fertiliser and high stocking rates on botanical composition was favourable (i.e. increased basal cover of P. aquatica and T. subterraneum) and in others it could be detrimental (i.e. lower basal cover of native perennial grasses).


Author(s):  
J. Hodgson

Recent assessments of the relative importance of stocking rate. stocking policy and grazing management on the output from pastoral systems are used as a starting point to argue the need for objective pasture assessments to aid control of livestock enterprises to meet production targets. Variations in stocking rates, stocking policy and other management practices all provide alternative means of control of pasture conditions which are the major determinants of pasture and animal performance. Understanding of the influence of pasture conditions on systems performance should provide a better basis for management control and for Communication between farmers, extension officers and researchers. Keywords: Stocking rate, pasture condition, pasture cover


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Izabela Aline Gomes da Silva ◽  
Jose Carlos Batista Dubeux ◽  
Alexandre C Leão de Mello ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Mércia Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Silvopasture systems (SPS) area management option to enhance delivery of ecosystem services and diversification of income. This study evaluated productive responses of signalgrass (UrochloadecumbensStapf.) in monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil during six months of the rainy season. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were signalgrass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (SPS-Mimosa); signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) (SPS-Gliricidia); and signalgrass monoculture. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Response variables included herbage mass (HM), herbage accumulation (HA), stocking rate (SR), average daily gain (ADG), and gain per area (GPA). Herbage mass (HM) was greater (P < 0.0001) on signal grass monoculture (2045 kg DM/ha) than in SPS (1370 kg DM/ha, average for both SPS). Herbage accumulation rate was similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia (avg. 61 kg DM ha-1 d-1), and both were greater than SPS-Mimosa (37 kg DM ha-1 d-1). Average daily gain was greater(P < 0.0001) for SPS-Gliricidia (1.1 kg head-1 d-1), followed by signalgrass in monoculture (0.9 kg head-1 d-1), and SPS-Mimosa (0.3 kg head-1 d-1). Stocking rate ranged from 0.6 animal units (1AU = 450-kg animal) per ha in April to 2.2 AUha-1 in June. Stocking rate and animal performance per area were similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia, and both greater than SPS-Mimosa. Gliricidia enhanced animal performance and provided ecosystem services. Mimosa, however, reduced animal performance likely due to the competition with signalgrass. Mimosa trees, however, are an important source of income (timber used for fence posts) and that might overcome the losses in animal performance.


1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Ozanne ◽  
KMW Howes

The applied phosphorus requirement of a pasture sown to subterranean clover was measured with and without grazing. Under moderate grazing pressure, in the year of establishment, the pasture required about 50 % more phosphorus than when ungrazed. In the following season, at a higher stocking rate, the grazed areas needed twice as much phosphorus as the ungrazed to make 90% of their maximum growth. In both years this difference in requirement between stocked and unstocked treatments was present throughout the growing season. Increased phosphorus requirement under grazing is associated with the need for greater uptake of phosphorus under conditions where redistribution of absorbed phosphorus within the plant is prevented by defoliation. It does not appear to be due to effects of defoliation on root size. Nor does it depend on differential light interception or on changes in botanical composition.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 27-28
Author(s):  
Izabela Aline Gomes da Silva ◽  
Jose Carlos Batista Dubeux ◽  
Alexandre C Leão de Mello ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Mércia Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Silvopasture systems (SPS) area management option to enhance delivery of ecosystem services and diversification of income. This study evaluated productive responses of signalgrass (Urochloadecumbens Stapf.) in monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil during six months of the rainy season. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were signalgrass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (SPS-Mimosa); signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) (SPS-Gliricidia); and signalgrass monoculture. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Response variables included herbage mass (HM), herbage accumulation (HA), stocking rate (SR), average daily gain (ADG), and gain per area (GPA). Herbage mass (HM) was greater (P < 0.0001) on signal grass monoculture (2045 kg DM/ha) than in SPS (1370 kg DM/ha, average for both SPS). Herbage accumulation rate was similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia (avg. 61 kg DM ha-1 d-1), and both were greater than SPS-Mimosa (37 kg DM ha-1 d-1). Average daily gain was greater(P < 0.0001) for SPS-Gliricidia (1.1 kg head-1 d-1), followed by signalgrass in monoculture (0.9 kg head-1 d-1), and SPS-Mimosa (0.3 kg head-1 d-1). Stocking rate ranged from 0.6 animal units (1AU = 450-kg animal) per ha in April to 2.2 AUha-1 in June. Stocking rate and animal performance per area were similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia, and both greater than SPS-Mimosa. Gliricidia enhanced animal performance and provided ecosystem services. Mimosa, however, reduced animal performance likely due to the competition with signalgrass. Mimosa trees, however, are an important source of income (timber used for fence posts) and that might overcome the losses in animal performance.


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