scholarly journals Management of browse plants as drought fodder for sheep: a preliminary study

Author(s):  
S. Oppong ◽  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
G.B. Douglas ◽  
B.T. Bulloch

Two experiments were designed to provide practical guidelines to improve the effective use of browse plants as ruminant feed, especially during dry summers. The effects of planting stock and cutting management on forage yield and quality of Tangoio hybrid willow (Salix matsudana x alba), Kinuyanagi willow (Salix kinuyanagi) and erect dorycnium (Dorycnium rectum), a small leguminous shrub, were determined over one summer from 1- and 3-year-old trees. Experiment 1 was arranged as a 2×2 factorial with 2 species and 2 planting stock in 5 randomised complete blocks. Experiment 2 was also arranged as a split plot design with cutting heights allocated to main plots and species × frequency to sub-plots in 3 randomised complete blocks. At the hill country site (Ballantrae), the yields of Tangoio (66 g DM/tree) and Kinuyanagi (27 g DM/tree) were low, owing probably to the low soil nutrient status and the harsh climatic conditions. Poor regrowth after the summer harvest at Ballantrae suggested that willows can be utilised only once during the growing season in such environments. At the lowland site (Aokautere), Tangoio was higher yielding (P

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 239-244
Author(s):  
G.B. Douglas ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
M.B. Dodd ◽  
C.M. Lloyd-West ◽  
R.A.J. Gray

Development of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a widespread problem on pastoral hill country and is associated with reduced fertiliser inputs and grazing pressures. Using mānuka as a source for specialty products offers a potentially new, profitable enterprise alongside livestock and forestry. However, there is a lack of quantitative information on the optimum soil nutrient status and associated fertiliser programme to encourage presence and growth of this species. In a survey across 324 grazed sites, mānuka had greatest presence on steep slopes (>25o) and soils with Olsen P


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
Sanjay- Swami ◽  

In the North Western Himalayas, particularly Jammu region, where 85% of people depend on agriculture and allied sectors, 70% of agriculture is rain-fed. Various factors, especially land use pattern and variations in climatic conditions affect the soil fertility and nutrient contents. However, information on essential nutrients in the soil across the region is meager. An attempt has been made to study the soil nutrient status under different agro-climatic zones of Jammu region. Seven hundred seventy surface soil samples (0-15 cm) from sub-tropical, intermediate and temperate zones of Jammu region were collected and analyzed for soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), CaCO3, CEC, available macro nutrients (N, P, K, S) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn). The results indicated large variation within the soils of each zone. The amount of all the available nutrients was more in the soils of temperate zone than those of other zones. The soils of sub-tropical zones were low in available N, P, S and Zn and to some extent in K. Organic matter content, clay and silt content of the soil vis-à-vis cation exchange capacity were found to be the main factors controlling the available nutrient content of the studied soils.


Author(s):  
Gwen Donohoe ◽  
Don Flaten ◽  
Faith Omonijo ◽  
Kim Ominski

The impact of winter bale grazing on forage productivity and nutrient cycling was determined near Winnipeg, MB. Variable distribution of nutrients and forage yield within bale grazed plots on a perennial grass-legume forage field was identified using an intensive grid sampling method. In bale-grazed plots, mean dry matter (DM) yield of forage decreased 68% in year one following bale grazing, with no difference in DM yield in year two following bale grazing, relative to an untreated control. Decreased yield was attributed to the large mass of waste feed and feces (21% of feed delivered) that remained at the centre of each bale-grazed plot, where each bale was placed. Concentrations of crude protein, total digestible nutrients, phosphorus (P), and potassium in forage increased in the first growing season following winter bale grazing compared to the control, particularly at the centre of each bale-grazed plot. Concentrations of residual nitrate-nitrogen and Olsen P in soil were 15 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, at the centre of the bale-grazed plots compared to untreated control plots. Dispersion of waste feed packs when bale grazing in sub-humid climates on clay soils is recommended to minimize smothering and encourage rapid decomposition of waste feed and feces. Long-term studies are needed to determine the potential benefits and risks of bale grazing to forage productivity and soil nutrient status in the eastern Canadian prairies.


1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Gibson

Primary production of four species of alpine cushion plants were studied over a 2-year period. The climate of these areas was found to be severe but with a high degree of variability on a seasonal and yearly basis. The growing season at the higher altitude sites generally exceeded 6 months. Net above ground primary production of the four cushion species ranged from 282 to 709 g m-2 year-1. Reproductive effort fluctuated between species and years, ranging from 0 to 30% of net above ground production. Patterns in dry matter accumulation suggest no individual species would show consistently superior growth rates under present climatic conditions. Soil moisture and soil nutrient status was found to be similar between all sites. Altitude of the sites (830-1400 m) was found to be strongly correlated with the timing of flowering and/or seed set but appeared to have little effect on net primary production.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Scrimgeour

This paper provides a stocktake of the status of hill country farming in New Zealand and addresses the challenges which will determine its future state and performance. It arises out of the Hill Country Symposium, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, 12-13 April 2016. This paper surveys people, policy, business and change, farming systems for hill country, soil nutrients and the environment, plants for hill country, animals, animal feeding and productivity, and strategies for achieving sustainable outcomes in the hill country. This paper concludes by identifying approaches to: support current and future hill country farmers and service providers, to effectively and efficiently deal with change; link hill farming businesses to effective value chains and new markets to achieve sufficient and stable profitability; reward farmers for the careful management of natural resources on their farm; ensure that new technologies which improve the efficient use of input resources are developed; and strategies to achieve vibrant rural communities which strengthen hill country farming businesses and their service providers. Keywords: farming systems, hill country, people, policy, productivity, profitability, sustainability


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Kanatas ◽  
Ioannis Gazoulis ◽  
Ilias Travlos

Irrigation is an agronomic practice of major importance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L), especially in the semiarid environments of Southern Europe. Field experimentation was conducted in Western Greece (2016–2018) to evaluate the effects of irrigation timing on weed presence, alfalfa yield performance, and forage quality. In a randomized complete block design (four replications), two cultivars (“Ypati 84” and “Hyliki”) were the main plots, while three irrigation timings were the subplots (split-plot). The irrigation timings were IT-1, IT-2, and IT-3, denoting irrigation 1 week before harvest, 1 week after harvest, and 2 weeks after harvest, respectively. IT-1 reduced Solanum nigrum L. density by 54% and 79% as compared to IT-3 and IT-2, respectively. Chenopodium album L. density was the highest under IT-2. IT-3 resulted in 41% lower Amaranthus retroflexus L. density in comparison to IT-2, while the lowest values were observed under IT-1. Stand density and stems·plant−1 varied between years (p ≤ 0.05). Mass·stem−1 and alfalfa forage yield were affected by the irrigation timings (p ≤ 0.001). Total weed density and forage yield were negatively correlated in both the second (R2 = 87.013%) and the fourth (R2 = 82.691%) harvests. IT-1 and IT-3 increased forage yield, leaf per stem ratio, and crude protein as compared to IT-2. Further research is required to utilize the use of cultural practices for weed management in perennial forages under different soil and climatic conditions.


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