scholarly journals EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS BY YORKSHIRE FOG (HOLCUS LANATUS)

Author(s):  
R.S.Scott A. Hardacre

Two pot experiments compared the yield response and uptake of N and P by five New Zealand, two exotic ecotypes and one bred cultivar of Yorkshire fog and Ruanui perennial ryegrass under varying levels of applied N and P. One experiment was conducted in a heated glasshouse and the other under controlled climate conditions. Of the Yorkshire fog strains examined, the bred cultivar 'Massey Basyn' and an ecotype from Rotorua provided highest yields of dry matter. Their superiority was attributed in part to their ability to extract greater amounts of N and P from the soil. The former was more efficient under high levels of applied N and the latter under high levels of applied P. Under two distinct climatic environments, 'Massey Basyn' Yorkshire fog gave similar yields and uptake of N and P to Ruanui perennial ryegrass. Under a third climate, with higher temperatures and moisture stress, 'Massey Basyn' outyielded Ruanui. This was associated with a greater ability by 'Massey Basyn' to utilize absorbed P.

Author(s):  
C.T. Westwood ◽  
M.G. Norriss

Liveweight changes were measured for lambs grazing six high endophyte perennial ryegrasses, in a grazing experiment run by an independent research organisation in Canterbury, New Zealand. Ryegrass cultivars were sown under code in a binary mix with white clover in February 1997. Plots were strategically irrigated to avoid moisture stress, and stocked at approximately 27 Coopworth ewe lambs per ha in May 1997. Common pasture residual mass was maintained across cultivars by strategic addition of extra lambs, with extra grazing days recorded for each replicate. Lamb liveweight gains and botanical composition of replicates were assessed quarterly. Lamb liveweight gains differed significantly between treatments in Years 1 and 2 of this ongoing 3 year study. Lambs grazing 'Quartet' tetraploid perennial ryegrass gained, on average, 37.4 kg and 36.1 kg liveweight during Years 1 and 2 respectively, and together with 'Aries HD' (35.0 and 35.9 kg) produced significantly greater liveweight gain compared with 'Grasslands Nui' (22.0 and 23.7 kg) and 'Bronsyn' (22.5 and 24.1 kg), LSD0.05 = 6.0 and 7.4. Lambs grazing 'Embassy' gained 31.6 kg and 28.7 kg, and 'Vedette' 29.8 kg and 28.0 kg. Extra grazing days expressed as a percentage of base grazing days were between 3.8 and 6.7% across cultivars for Year 1 and between 2.0 and 6.5% across cultivars for Year 2. This study demonstrated significant differences in animal productivity between perennial ryegrass cultivars that produce comparable yields of dry matter. Differences may reflect variation in forage quality, endophyte toxins, clover content in the sward or other unidentified cultivar characteristics. Keywords: digestibility, endophyte, lamb, liveweight, perennial ryegrass, tetraploid


Author(s):  
H.S. Easton ◽  
M.J. Christensen ◽  
J.P.J. Eerens ◽  
L.R. Fletcher ◽  
D.E. Hume ◽  
...  

The discovery in 1981 that ryegrass endophyte is responsible for ryegrass staggers has required a total revision of our understanding of ryegrassbased pastures. The effects on grazing livestock range from obvious clinical disorders to chronic impairment of productivity. On the other hand, endophyte infection is essential to ryegrass persistence in most of New Zealand, protecting the plant from some invertebrate pests and from over-grazing, and perhaps promoting its tolerance of moisture stress. Vigorous, endophyte-infected pastures sometimes include less clover than pastures relatively free of endophyte. Active compounds produced by the endophyte have been identified, and conditions causing high levels of them have been documented in part. Endophyte strains which do not produce the compounds responsible for livestock toxicoses offer exciting new possibilities in grassland agriculture. Keywords: invertebrate pests, mycotoxicoses, Neotyphodium lolii, perennial ryegrass, ryegrass staggers


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-142
Author(s):  
T. T. Akpensuen ◽  
J. T. Amodu ◽  
R. J. Tanko ◽  
S. B. Abdu ◽  
O. A. T. Namo ◽  
...  

An experiment was carried out to evaluate two temperate forage legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) and two tropical forage legumes (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle) for hay intake and digestibility in the cool tropical climate of Vom, Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria. The legumes were planted in the month of June, 2016 and harvested at early-podding stage for hay. Sixteen (16) growing male New Zealand White rabbits were used for the digestibility study. The rabbits were arranged in a Completely Randomised Design and in individual cages measuring 55 cm x 39 cm x 40 cm. Nutrient contents, intake and digestibility in rabbits were determined. Crude protein content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T. repens (18.38%) compared to T. pratense (16.50 %), whereas S. guianensis produced the least value of 13.83%. The crude fibre content of the hay was significantly higher (P<0.0I) in S. guianensis (37.29 %) compared to the other forage legumes. Dry matter intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (77.88%) compared to T. pratense (76.57%), and the lowest value of 62.97% was obtained in S. guianensis. Crude protein intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (15.05 g d-1) compared to those fed T. pratense (12.71 g d-1), but S. guianensis had the least value of 8.64 g d-1. On the other hand, rabbits fed S. guianensis hay had a higher (P<0.01) crude fibre intake (23.39%). Trifolium repens was significantly (P<0.01) higher in dry matter and crude protein digestibility (64.79 and 85. 88 %), while S. guianensis had lower values of 56.89 and 71.33%, respectively. Trifolium repens also had a significantly (P<0.01) higher total nitrogen intake and retained compared to the other forage legumes. Nitrogen retained in T. repens was 2.40 g d-1 compared to 1.87 g d-1 in T. pretense, while S. guianensis had the lowest of 1.34 g d-1. The temperate forage legume hays were higher in nutrient content, intake and digestibility compared to the tropical legume hays. Therefore, the forage crops may serve as better supplementary feeds for livestock feeding especially during the dry season.


1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies ◽  
T. E. H. Morgan

SUMMARYHerbage characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) pastures were obtained whilst rotationally grazed by ewes and their single lambs at a fixed stocking rate of 25/ha on an upland site (305 m O.D.) in mid-Wales. Drymatter production of cocksfoot averaged 32·1 kg/ha/day over the 3-year duration of the trial (1975·7) and was 13·3 kg/ha/day lower than that of the other three grass species. This resulted in a 8 kg/ha/day reduction in dry-matter intake on cocksfoot; this was significantly lower (P < 0·05) than that achieved on the other grasses, which were similar to one another around 36 kg/ha/day.In vitro digestibility of the herbage ranked in the order perennial ryegrass > timothy = cocksfoot > tall fescue. Intake of digestible organic matter (DOMI) was lower on cocksfoot than on perennial ryegrass and timothy. Differences were also detected in crude protein, water-soluble carbohydrates and sodium composition between species.Dry-matter intake was positively correlated with herbage growth rates (r = 0·95, P < 0·001) but not to digestibility of herbage on offer (r = 0·18). Both ewe and lamb live-weight gains were positively related to intake of dry matter and DOMI.Reference is made to comparative yield data between the grasses obtained under cutting trials. In the 2nd and 3rd harvest years (1967–1967) growth rates in the grazing experiment were 76, 61, 81 and 80% of the 66·2, 66·7, 67·8 and 65·0 kg D.M./ha/day obtained under a cutting regime on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy swards respectively. This illustrates the danger involved in assessing the potential of grasses based on such information.The results are discussed in relation to the value of the species for use under grazing in the uplands.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Reid

SummaryIn a 3-year experiment on a sward of S. 23 perennial ryegrass 21 rates of nitrogen fertilizer ranging from 0 to 897 kg/ha were applied annually on plots cut three, five or ten times per year. The cutting dates within each frequency were decided on the basis of herbage growth stage. Four-parameter exponential curves fitted to the herbage yield data show that the pattern of response to nitrogen application in the five cuts per year treatment was markedly similar to that reported for a previous experiment (Reid, 1970). Alterations in the cutting frequency affected the pattern of dry-matter yield response to nitrogen, but not that of crude-protein yield response. The combined effects of cutting frequency and nitrogen rate are illustrated by response surfaces fitted to the dry-matter yield results using an extension of the equation for the curves fitted to the individual frequency results. These surfaces show that as the number of cuts per year was increased the total yield and the response to nitrogen decreased, but the response was maintained to an increasingly high nitrogen rate. The practical implications of the results are discussed in relation to intensive grazing managements for dairy cows.


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 285-285
Author(s):  
A.J. Popay ◽  
D. Gunawardana

In February 2010 caterpillars initially identified as a species of Philobota (Lepidoptera Oecophoridae) were found in a nursery area at Ruakura Research Centre in Hamilton The identification was confirmed by MAFs Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) This genus is endemic to Australia where over 400 species are known a few of which are regarded as minor pests of pasture A survey of the Ruakura site found Philobota in three other areas two of which bordered urban areas It was found infesting perennial ryegrass and tall fescue trials in two parts of the campus and in pasture areas in the other two locations suggesting this insect is primarily a grass feeder It is highly likely Philobota is not confined to Ruakura and there is no evidence that the infestation originated at this site Although few live caterpillars could be found by August 2010 observations in 2011 suggest populations have multiplied in at least one trial site Commonly called the pasture tunnel moth this insect is univoltine and weaves characteristic tunnels from grass and debris with chimneys that protrude above ground Caterpillars reared at PHEL yielded only female moths which have been tentatively identified as Philobota nr pilipes


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
G. N. Ward ◽  
G. Kearney

A study in south-western Victoria determined effects of 3 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (Vedette, Impact and Nevis) with differing maturities, duration of lock up and nitrogen (N) application on the dry matter yield and nutritive characteristics of pasture for silage. Treatments were cultivar (3), N (0 and 50 kg N/ha) and duration of lock up (5–10 weeks) arranged in a completely randomised design in 3 by 5 m plots replicated 3 times. Plots were mown to a uniform height (5 cm) on 14 September 1998 (first day of lock up) and 1 week later N was applied as urea (46% N) at either 0 or 50 kg N/ha to the respective plots. Weekly sampling commenced on 19 October (week 5 of lock up), and continued until 23 November. For each treatment and harvest date, dry matter yield and botanical composition were determined, and samples of total pasture and the ryegrass fraction were collected and chemically analysed for dry matter digestibility, concentrations of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, water-soluble carbohydrates and minerals. Metabolisable energy was derived from dry matter digestibility. All pasture types were predominantly ryegrass (>90%) with no differences in the nutritive characteristics of total pasture swards or the respective ryegrass fraction. Nitrogen at 50 kg N/ha significantly (P<0.05) increased dry matter yield for all cultivars. Metabolisable energy (MJ/kg DM) of the pasture declined with time for all treatments, with Vedette having a significantly (P<0.05) greater rate of decline than the other cultivars. Vedette reached early ear emergence about 3 weeks earlier (week 7) than the other cultivars. The harvestable metabolisable energy yield (MJ/ha) at ear emergence was highest for Impact, followed by Nevis and Vedette. In conclusion, there is potential to use later-maturing cultivars of ryegrass in south-eastern Australia to allow for later harvesting of forage for silage, while maintaining metabolisable energy and maximising dry matter yields. Furthermore, the use of N fertiliser can also increase dry matter yields without impinging on pasture quality provided the time between N application and harvest date does not exceed 5–6 weeks.


1968 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Margaret Wolton ◽  
J. S. Brockman ◽  
D. W. T. Brough ◽  
P. G. Shaw

SUMMARYThe effects of annual applications of up to 300 lb/acre of N, 100 lb/acre of P2O5 and 200 lb/acre of K2O on cut swards of S. 24 ryegrass, S. 37 cocksfoot and S. 215 meadow fescue were measured in an experiment lasting 3 years.There were some differences between species in their dry-matter and nutrient yield response to nitrogen and potash applications, but not to phosphate. These differences were inconsistent and over the 3-year period were negligible.A large response to nitrogen was only fully maintained when phosphate and potash were also applied. There was no response above 50 lb/acre of P2O5 in any year. In the second year, 100 lb/acre of K2O was sufficient, but more than this was necessary in the other years. Symptoms of phosphate and potash deficiency were seen where high rates of nitrogen were applied without phosphate and potash respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.F. Chapman ◽  
P.D. Muir ◽  
M.J. Faville

Persistence of herbage yield is an important productivity trait of grass species and cultivars in New Zealand pastures. However, relatively little is known about genetic variation in this trait, principally because few studies comparing yield have continued beyond 3 years. This paper reports results from a comparison of 25 perennial ryegrass cultivars representing a wide range of functional types and genetic backgrounds conducted under sheep grazing in a summer-dry environment. Dry matter (DM) yield was measured for the first 3 years after sowing, then again in years seven and eight post-sowing, and in year ten post-sowing. Endophyte DNA fingerprinting conducted mid-way through year seven confirmed that, with one exception, ryegrass populations remained true-to-type in the cultivars sown with novel endophyte strains. The cultivar effect on DM yield was statistically significant in all measurement periods. Differences in yields among cultivars in years seven and eight were significantly and positively correlated with yield differences in years one to three (r=0.685 to 0.831 depending on which year contrasts were used). Thus, high-performing cultivars in the early years of the trial were also generally highperforming cultivars in years seven and eight, and vice-versa, indicating a high degree of yield stability in perennial ryegrass cultivars. Yield differences did not appear to be related to differences in cultivar heading date, ploidy, endophyte status, or genetic background. The relationship between yield in year ten and yields in years one to three was much weaker (r=0.392) than the relationship in years seven and eight. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Keywords: Perennial ryegrass; traits; persistence


1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Goudriaan ◽  
H.E. de Ruiter

The effect on plant growth of doubling the normal aerial CO2 content was studied in lucerne, faba bean, perennial ryegrass, wheat, maize, poplar and potato. Because nutrients often limit growth, the effect of CO2 under N or P shortage was also studied. Doubling CO2 had the largest effect on DM yield with a good nutrient supply, but with N shortage part of the CO2 effect was retained even in non-leguminous spp. Except for faba bean, no CO2 effect existed with P shortage. Maize showed a small positive CO2 reaction under good nutrient supply but a negative one with nutrient shortage. Potato showed a small negative reaction to CO2 enrichment. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


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