scholarly journals The breeding of 'Grasslands Muster' browntop and other low-fertility grasses for moist hill country

1990 ◽  
pp. 143-146
Author(s):  
W. Rumball ◽  
R.B. Claydon
Keyword(s):  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Holcus Lanatus ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Lower Fertility ◽  
Mowing Regime ◽  
Clover Content

Breeding projects have been carried out in each of five grass species already common in New Zealand moist hill country. Although the source of breeding material varied widely among the five species, the breeding goals in each were for improved amount and seasonal spread of productivity, persistence, disease resistance, palatability, uniform heading, and tolerance of white clover. The projects began around 1973 and were all completed by 1980. From 198 I-85, the selections were evaluated in small plots on sunny and shady slopes of hill country near Palmerston North. In all species except Yorkshire fog, the selections outyielded their respective commercial controls in the first l-2 years. In the two browntop species (Agrostis capillaris and A. castellana) this superiority continued through the trial, despite selective grazing pressure. In Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) and red fescue (Festuca rubra) the selections were more palatable but not as persistent as their controls after 5 years. In crested dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus) neither selection nor control persisted, and the mowing regime applied did not allow natural reseeding. In a further trial on lowland, all five selections except dryland browntop were confirmed as considerably more palatable than the controls, and most had more clover content. The best strategy would probably be to market these selections as a hill country/lower fertility seed package (with suitable clovers), so as to exclude less palatable components. Keywords hill country, breeding, browntop, Yorkshire fog, crested dogstail, red fescue, low fertility grasses

scholarly journals Response of southern North Island hill pasture to nitrogen, molybdenum and lime

1993 ◽  
pp. 63-66
Author(s):  
Zhou Jiayou ◽  
I. Valentine ◽  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Soil Responses ◽  
Clover Content ◽  
Hill Soils ◽  
Mass Accumulation

of molybdenum (MO), lime and nitrogen on steep (>30°) north-facing hill pasture on the Massey University Hill Farm, "Tuapaka". Treatments included application of molybdenum, lime (L), nitrogen (N) alone and together with MO and lime. MO and lime werre applied in mid May at 0.05 kg/ ha and 2000 kg/ha separately, and N fertiliser was applied as urea in August and October at 60 and 20 kg N/ha respectively. Herbage and soil responses were measured over spring and summer 1992/93. Nitrogen fertiliser increased herbage mass accumulation from 3 to 41 kg DM/kg N applied, and the response was increased by the addition of lime or MO. Ryegrass content increased in the sward and the low-fertility-tolerant grass species content decreased. MO application increased the white clover content in the sward and subsequently resulted in the increase in herbage mass accumulation by 0.4% to 32%. The effect of MO application was larger than that of liming but less than that of N alone application. Liming increased soil pH by 0.24-0.3 pH units per 2000 kg lime applied and soil moisture was increased from 2% to 26% over spring/summer, and the potential mineral nitrogen was increased by 94% in November. These resulted in the increase in herbage mass accumulation from 4.4% to 15%. These results indicate that MO and lime applications would be beneficial on these hill soils. Keywords: herbage mass accumulation, hill country, lime, molybdenum, nitrogen, Trifolium repens

scholarly journals The Epichloë festucae Antifungal Protein Efe-AfpA Is Also a Possible Effector Protein Required for the Interaction of the Fungus with its Host Grass Festuca rubra subsp. rubra

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Ruying Wang ◽  
Simin Luo ◽  
Bruce B. Clarke ◽  
Faith C. Belanger
Keyword(s):  
Disease Resistance ◽  
Insect Resistance ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Antifungal Protein ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Effector Protein ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Epichloë Festucae

Strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) is a commercially important low-maintenance turfgrass and is often naturally infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae. Epichloë spp. are endophytes of several cool-season grass species, often conferring insect resistance to the grass hosts due to the production of toxic alkaloids. In addition to insect resistance, a unique feature of the strong creeping red fescue/E. festucae symbiosis is the endophyte-mediated disease resistance to the fungal pathogen Clarireedia jacksonii, the causal agent of dollar spot disease. Such disease resistance is not a general feature of other grass/ Epichloë interactions. E. festucae isolates infecting red fescue have an antifungal protein gene Efe-afpA, whereas most other Epichloë spp. do not have a similar gene. The uniqueness of this gene suggests it may, therefore, be a component of the unique disease resistance seen in endophyte-infected red fescue. Here, we report the generation of CRISPR-Cas9 Efe-afpA gene knockouts with the goal of determining if absence of the protein in endophyte-infected Festuca rubra leads to disease susceptibility. However, it was not possible to infect plants with the knockout isolates, although infection was possible with the wild type E. festucae and with complemented isolates. This raises the interesting possibility that, in addition to having antifungal activity, the protein is required for the symbiotic interaction. The antifungal protein is a small secreted protein with high expression in planta relative to its expression in culture, all characteristics consistent with effector proteins. If Efe-AfpA is an effector protein it must be specific to certain interactions, since most Epichloë spp. do not have such a gene in their genomes.

Phytophagous arthropods and silvertop levels associated with post-harvest residue treatments in three turfgrass species grown for seed

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Soroka ◽  
B. D. Gossen
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Creeping Bentgrass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Agrostis Palustris ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
The Impact

Silvertop, which is characterized by whitish, completely sterile seed heads produced on green tillers, is a common symptom in many perennial grasses. A 3-yr study of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) grown for seed production was conducted at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to investigate the cause(s) of silvertop, the impact of residue management strategies on silvertop incidence, and the impact of silvertop on seed yield. Three residue management practices were applied in the fall of the first harvest year and again the next fall, as follows: (i) burned after harvest; (ii) clipped to 1–2 cm in height and the residue removed; or (iii) mowed to 20 cm and the residue retained. Arthropods in each plot were collected weekly from May until July by sweep sampling, counted, and identified to family level or lower, and the incidence of seed heads with and without silvertop were assessed. The majority of arthropods were thrips, leafhoppers, plant bugs, mites, or grass-dwelling flies. Grass species and residue treatment strongly affected the number of reproductive tillers and levels of silvertop. Levels of silvertop were lowest in creeping bentgrass in all 3 yr of the study, while they were similar for Kentucky bluegrass and creeping red fescue. Mown plots had fewer reproductive tillers, fewer heathy seed heads, and higher levels of silvertop than burned or clipped plots. However, arthropod species composition was generally similar across grass species and residue treatments. This indicates that a specific arthropod taxon may not be a critical factor in silvertop expression. The relationship between the number and composition of arthropods found and incidence of silvertop is discussed. Key words: Festuca rubra subsp. rubra, Poa pratensis, Agrostis palustris, seed production, arthropods, silvertop

Germination of Seeds of Turfgrasses as Affected by Glyphosate and Paraquat

Weed Science ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayton L. Klingman ◽  
J. J. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Grass Turf

Effects of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) on turfgrass seed germination were evaluated in the greenhouse. Glyphosate caused little effect on germination of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), and tall fescue (F. arundinacea Schreb.) when applied to the soil immediately before seeding or when applied directly over the seed on the soil surface. Paraquat sprayed directly over the seed on the soil surface prevented germination of most of the seeds of the three grass species. Covering seeds on the soil surface with clippings from grass turf sprayed with paraquat greatly reduced germination. About half of those that germinated either died later or were severely chlorotic. Covering seeds on the surface of the soil with clippings from turf that had been sprayed with glyphosate did not significantly reduce the number of seedlings established.

UPTAKE OF RADIOISOTOPES BY VEGETATION GROWING ON URANIUM TAILINGS

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. MOFFETT ◽  
M. TELLIER
Keyword(s):  
Plant Tissue ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Canary Grass ◽  
Lead 210 ◽  
Uranium Tailings ◽  
Field Plots

An investigation was carried out on the uptake of several long-lived radioisotopes by grasses growing on uranium tailings. Field plots of creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), redtop (Agrostis alba L.) and climax timothy (Phleum pratensis L.) which have been growing for 4 yr were sampled in this study. The tailings and the plant tissue were analyzed for uranium, thorium, radium-226, lead-210 and polonium-210. Sedimentation within the tailings area gave two zones: one of sands and one of slimes. The slimes contained significantly more radium-226, lead-210 and polonium-210 than the sands. There was no difference in uptake behavior by grasses growing in the sands and those growing in the slimes. Creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) showed an anomalous uptake of lead-210, but other than this, all four grass species showed similar uptake behavior. Only uranium and radium-226 were significantly higher in the grasses from the tailings than the control.

Using the n-alkanes of plant cuticular wax to estimate the species composition of herbage mixtures

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1711 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Dove
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Simultaneous Equations ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Holcus Lanatus ◽  
Saturated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Pure Species ◽  
Clover Content

This study examined whether or not between-species differences in the concentrations of saturated hydrocarbons (n-alkanes) in the cuticular wax of pasture species could be exploited to estimate the species composition of herbage mixtures. Six sets of mixtures were prepared, containing either two, three or four species. The levels of cuticular wax alkanes were estimated in samples of the pure species and the mixtures, and used in simultaneous equations to compute species composition. The levels of Lolium perenne and Trifolium subterraneum in mixtures of these two species were accurately estimated from alkane analyses, as were the levels of these two species and Holcus lanatus when all three were mixed. In mixtures of T. subterraneum, L. rigidum and Phalaris aquatica, the first two species were well estimated, but phalaris was under-estimated, perhaps because of its relatively low alkane levels. In mixtures of these three species and Medicago sativa, the amounts of the grass species were estimated accurately, but the two legume species were not well distinguished from each other. However, total legume content was estimated very accurately. The species composition of mixtures of T. subterraneum and the above three grasses was also accurately estimated. It is concluded that the use of cuticular wax alkanes should allow a greater differentiation of herbage mixtures into their component species than was possible in previous studies using other markers. Results are also presented to indicate that ratios of alkane concentrations, especially the ratio of C29:C33 alkanes, can also be used to quantify, or at least rank, the clover content of herbage mixtures.

scholarly journals Hill country pastures in the southern North Island of New Zealand: an overview

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 289-297
Author(s):  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
I.F. López
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Hill Country

The 4 million ha of hill country pastures in New Zealand grow mostly on steep slopes and soils of naturally low soil fertility. Pastures are based on approximately 25 exotic species introduced within the last 130 years after the forest was cleared and burnt. Despite the environmental constraints and naturalised species, hill country is a major contributor to agricultural exports. The landscape and the pastures are spatially diverse, with slope and aspect strongly influencing the abundance and production of pasture species. The number of pasture species present is relatively stable, but the relative abundance of high fertility grass species (e.g. perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne), low fertility grass species (e.g. browntop, Agrostis capillaris) and legumes (e.g. white clover, Trifolium repens) can be shifted towards high fertility grass species and legumes through the interaction of phosphate fertiliser application and grazing decisions (that is, sheep versus cattle, stocking rate, grazing management). Increased proportions of desirable species and improved soil fertility and structure can support sustainable farming systems. There are challenges such as soil erosion and nutrient loss into waterways, but these are more readily managed when the pastoral system is productive and profitable. Keywords: slope, pasture condition, browntop, perennial ryegrass, soil characteristics

Quantifying the value proposition for white clover persistence on a New Zealand summer-dry hill-country farm

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 199-209
Author(s):  
Mike B. Dodd ◽  
Katherine N. Tozer ◽  
Iris Vogeler ◽  
Rose Greenfield ◽  
David R. Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
The North ◽  
Farm System

The improvement in forage quality and quantity of summer-dry hill country pasture resulting from the introduction of clover is well recognised. However, ensuring the persistence of the commonly availablecultivars is challenging, in the face of seasonal moisture stress, intensive grazing, competition from established well-adapted pasture species, low soil fertility and low soil pH – conditions typical of the East Coast of the North Island. Here we quantify the value proposition associated with the introduction of white clover into a case study on a Gisborne sheep and beef farm, using a six-step process. A topographically explicit approach is taken, using an understanding of the underlying spatial variability, based on a combination of soil and pasture measurements, APSIM simulation modelling of pasture growth and farm system modelling of enterprise performance. We show that from a baseline of a typical low-fertility, diverse species hill country pasture, white clover introduction can increase spring and summer forage consumption by 17%, enabling inclusion of an additional 6-month bull finishing enterprise generating a 32% greater carcass weight production and leading to a 49% improvement in farm system EBIT. This represents a positive net present value of over $360,000 for the original investment in white clover establishment into existing pastures.

ON-FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR NORTHLAND

1986 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
J.S. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Joint Ventures ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Financial Returns ◽  
Farm Forestry ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
On Farm

Agroforests and woodlots offer Northland hill country farmers investment and diversification opportunities. Agroforests have less effect on the "whole farm" financial position than woodlots, especially where a progressive planting regime is adopted and where no further borrowing is required. Establishment and tending costs for agro-forests are lower, and returns come much sooner. The proven opportunity for continued grazing under trees established in this manner, apart from a short post-planting period, further enhances the agroforesty option. Even where there is reluctance on a farmer's part to plant trees on high fertility land, the expected financial returns from agroforests on low and medium fertility land will increase the overall long-term profitability and flexibility of the whole farming operation. Woodlots may be more appropriate on low fertility areas where weed reversion is likely. Joint ventures may be worth considering where farm finances are a limited factor. Keywords: On-farm forestry development, Northland hill country, agroforestry, woodlots, diversification, joint ventures, progressive planting regimes, grazing availability.

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT ON EAST COAST NORTH ISLAND HILL COUNTRY

1984 ◽  
pp. 216-218
Author(s):  
B.J. Arnst ◽  
O.L. Park
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Stock Management ◽  
Hill Country

Large areas of North Island hill country are producing below potential as a result of low fertility and poor pasture composition. Removal of undesirable species and replacement with a higher producing pasture is essential for increased productivity but is difficult to achieve. A development programme is described where the use of glyphosate in close association with oversowing and stock management has allowed rapid pasture establishment, marked increase in carrying capacity and a quick return on investment. Keywords: Pasture establishment, glyphosate, oversowing, white clover, subdivision, productivity.

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