scholarly journals CHEMICALS FOR PASTURE RENOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HERBAGE QUALITY

Author(s):  
W.F. Leonard ◽  
S.J. Bruce ◽  
A.J. Russell ◽  
M.R. Cook

Research into chemical pasture renovation was pioneered by NZ scientists in the 1960's but the technique was not widely adopted at that time. Subsequent work has confirmed that white clover (Jrifolium repens L.) is a poor competitor against browntop (Agrostis capillaris L.) for phosphate. This has implications regarding nitrogen fixation. Pasture renovation also provides an opportunity to introduce preferred pasture grasses, free of competition from resident grass species. White clover is now recognised as a high-quality feed for livestock. Work is reviewed showing the correlation between liveweight of ewe hoggets and subsequent breeding performance and that white cloverdominant pasture was superior i0 ryegrass-dominant pasture for flushing breeding ewes. In field-scale testing, the plant growth regulator mefluidide suppressed seedhead formation in pasture grasses and gave substantial, though regionally variable, liveweight gains in lambs, beef cattle and deer. In limited evaluation with dairy cows changes in pasture herbage have not been matched by improved milk or milkfat yield. Keywords: Chemical pasture renovation, fertiliser utilisation, pasture quality, chemical plant growth regulator

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R.G. QUEIROZ ◽  
A.C. SILVA JR. ◽  
D. MARTINS

ABSTRACT: This study has aimed to evaluate the effect of prohexadione-calcium as a plant growth regulator on growth and quality of Japanese lawn grass, Broadleaf carpet grass and Bermudagrass. The treatments and doses of the prohexadione-calcium tested with two three reapplications were 27.5, 55.0, 110.0, 165.0 and 165.0 g a.i. ha-1, and a control without application of a growth regulator. Visual injury evaluations were performed using a scale of scores and plant height and chipping dry matter were determined. We have evaluated the total thickness of the sod grass, root length and dry matter of this material at the end of the experimental period. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. The results were submitted to analysis of variance by F-test and the averages of the treatments were compared by t test at 5% probability. The prohexadione-calcium plant growth regulator was visually selective and reduced shoot growth of the three species of grass and can thus be used in the management of lawns in gardens and sports areas. As for the production of sod grass, the prohexadione-calcium can be recommended for Japanese lawn grass and Broadleaf sod grass, especially doses 165.0+165.0 and 55.0+55.0+55.0 respectively, because they have provided a better quality sod grass. For Bermudagrass, the effect of the treatments was harmful for the quality of sod grass and is not recommended for production purposes.


Planta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 250 (6) ◽  
pp. 2033-2046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Li ◽  
Bizhen Cheng ◽  
Bin Yong ◽  
Ting Liu ◽  
Yan Peng ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 993-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulejman Redžepović ◽  
Sanja Sikora ◽  
Josip Čolo ◽  
Mihaela Blažinkov ◽  
Marija Pecina

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Rath ◽  
A. J. Prentice

The effects ReTain Plant Growth Regulator (830 g in 1000 L water/ha) applied to a commercial block of 'Arctic Snow' nectarines 7 days before the first harvest was assessed in relation to harvest delay, fruit size, fruit quality (flesh firmness and brix), as well as the quality of the fruit following export to Taiwan. The untreated block (0.87 ha) and the ReTain-treated block (1.0 ha) were harvested according to the orchard's standard maturation criteria of background colour, size and percent blush colour. Based on picking schedules, the maturation of the ReTain block was delayed by 2.75 days (P<0.05). The fruit continued to grow during this delay and resulted in a 12.3% increase in yield and an increase of 393 packed cartons/ha. There were more (P<0.001) cartons of ReTain-treated fruit packed in grade sizes 69–78 mm diameter and less of smaller size classes (51–66 mm) compared with untreated fruit. The increase in both the number of cartons of class 1 fruit and fruit size on the ReTain block resulted in a Return on Investment (ROI) of 14.7 : 1 with an additional net return of AU$17 655/ha over the untreated block. There was a correlation between fruit size and flesh firmness with larger fruit being firmer than smaller fruit (P<0.001), however, packed ReTain-treated fruit was 3.2 N firmer on average (P<0.001) than packed untreated fruit for all size grades and from all harvests and packs. Brix levels increased (P<0.001) with fruit size but there was no difference (P = 0.568) between ReTain-treated fruit and untreated fruit. Two containers of fruit (early and late picks) were exported to Taiwan. The containers held a temperature of 0.5–2.0°C for the 14–15 day transit time from Australia to Taiwan. ReTain-treated fruit in both containers was 1.7 N firmer (P = 0.022) than untreated fruit upon arrival in Taiwan. After ambient storage (23°C) of fruit from container 1 for 45 h, fruit firmness declined (P<0.001) from an average of 65.7 to 43.2 N and there was no difference (P = 0.826) between treated or untreated fruit. It is concluded that ReTain application to 'Arctic Snow' nectarines can increase financial returns to growers through increased fruit size and quality benefits as well as maintain a higher flesh firmness following export.


Crop Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 1801-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Reasor ◽  
J. T. Brosnan ◽  
J. P. Kerns ◽  
W. J. Hutchens ◽  
D. R. Taylor ◽  
...  

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