Relationships between soil cations and plant characteristics based on spatial variability in a forage field

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Gagnon ◽  
G. Bélanger ◽  
M. C. Nolin ◽  
R. R. Simard

Spatial variability within a forage field can be used to assess how soil properties relate to forage characteristics of yield, mineral composition, and nutritive value. The relationship between the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) of the forage and soil cations is of particular interest to dairy farmers because of problems related to hypocalcemia. An experiment was conducted on a dairy farm in southern Québec (Canada) to determine the variability in soil cations (K, Mg, Ca) and forage characteristics (yield, mineral composition, and nutritive value) and to establish relationships between them, primarily with respect to DCAD. A 10-ha field with a tile-drained silty loam soil was seeded in 1998 with a mixture of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Soil samples were collected on a systematic grid in spring (n = 151) and fall (n = 38) 1999. Forage samples were collected at these sampling points at the first harvest in June 1999 and 2000. Soil K and K-related properties (K/CEC, Mg/K, Ca/K) displayed the largest variability among selected soil cation properties in both samplings, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 35 to 58%. Dry matter (DM) yield, plant mineral composition, and forage nutritive value had low to moderate variabilities (8 < CV < 38%). Dry matter yield was not closely related to soil cations. High correlation coefficients were found between plant K and soil K (0.62 < r < 0.67), and between DCAD and soil K (0.67 < r < 0.72). Other plant mineral composition (P, Mg, Ca, S, Cl, and Na), CP, K/(Ca + Mg) and relative feed value showed low correlations and inconsistent trends with soil cations. Considering the importance of DCAD in predisposing dry cows to milk fever, the spatial variability of soil K should be considered to reduce the incidence of this metabolic disorder. Key words: Dietary cation-anion difference, forage, milk fever, spatial variability, soil K

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Kunelius ◽  
K. B. McRae ◽  
S. A. E. Fillmore ◽  
G. Dürr

Late-maturing cultivars of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) may be grown in short-term rotations with other crops and harvested for hay and silage. Harvesting forage in mid-summer is often advantageous for field curing, but the quality of mature forage may be low. We studied how harvests at different developmental stages affected yield, composition of herbage, and species persistence. The late-maturing single-cut red clover cultivar Altaswede and late timothy cultivar Farol were grown alone and in combination with and without applied N. Total forage, and red clover and timothy dry matter yields, increased between the first (27 June) and third (11 July) dates of harvest. Timothy grown alone or combined with red clover and fertilized with N produced greater forage yields than red clover alone or red clover + timothy without applied N. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter declined from 670 to 625 g kg−1 and crude protein from 134 to 109 g kg−1 between 27 June and 11 July. Water soluble carbohydrates in forage were low (36–66 g kg−1) in cuts 1 and 2. Macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations were generally highest at the first date of harvest on 27 June. Nutrient concentrations in cut 2 were similar for the three harvest schedules. We conclude that growing late-maturing single-cut red clover combined with late timothy produced high yields with good nutritional quality even at advanced stages of maturity. Single-cut red clover persisted for the first production year making this combination suited for short-term rotations that involve late harvesting of the primary growth. Key words: Red clover, Trifolium pratense, timothy, Phleum pratense, composition


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. Cranston ◽  
P.R. Kenyon ◽  
S.T. Morris ◽  
P.D. Kemp

Many farmers are sowing mixed swards containing chicory (Cichorium intybus), plantain (Plantago lanceolata), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (T. repens) (hereafter termed herb and clover mix). This herb and clover mix has comparable annual dry matter (DM) production to perennial ryegrass white clover pasture (rye/wc), however, it has a different pattern of growth, producing more DM during summer and autumn. The herb and clover mix also has a higher nutritive value and is able to support greater rates of animal production, especially over summer, than rye/ wc in both sheep and cattle. The herb and clover mix is most suited to a rotational grazing interval of 3-4 weeks to an 8 cm residual height, with no winter grazing. When managed appropriately the herb and clover mix is able to persist for at least 2 years and up to 5 years under both sheep and cattle grazing. Keywords: Cichorium intybus, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, legume, perennial, nutritive value.


Author(s):  
N.V. Ledyayeva ◽  

When establishing polyspecies plant communities with the inclusion of new perennial grass species (cookshead (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), bastard alfalfa (Medicago×varia)and yellow alfalfa (Medicago falcata), Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyrum sibiricum) and tall wheatgrass (Agropyrum elongatum)), along with the species traditional-ly grown in the Republic of Altai (red clover (Trifolium pratense), awnless brome (Bromopsis inermis Leyss.), meadow fescue grass (Festuca pratensis)and common timothy (Phleum pratense)), the following most highly pro-ductive grass mixtures were identified: three-component -common timothy + alfalfa + clover (at the ratio 60:30:10), and timothy + awnless brome+ clover (at the ratio 40:30:30); four-component -awnless brome+ fescue grass+ cookshead + clover (at the ratio 30:30:30:10), and timo-thy + fescue grass+ cookshead + alfalfa (at the ratio 30:20:20:30) that may ensure a reliable gain of dry matter yield from the second year of life to 4.80-5.57 t ha. They make it possible to obtain high-nutritional hay when har-vested during the flowering stage with metabolizable ener-gy concentration up to 9.75-10.75 MJ in 1 kg of dry matter, and with digestible protein content up to 124.2-130.8 g in 1 fodder unit.


Author(s):  
R.G.M. Hurst ◽  
A.D. Black ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
D.J. Moot

Slow-establishing, high quality, pasture species are frequently added to standard ryegrass-white clover seed mixtures in an effort to improve pasture nutritive value. However, intense competition during establishment can suppress these species. Four alternative sowing strategies (Treatment 1: temporal separation of species (clovers sown in November 1998 before ryegrass direct-drilled at 10 kg/ha in March 1999); Treatment 2: substitution of ryegrass with slower-establishing timothy; Treatments 3 and 4: physical separation (alternate drill rows) of slower-establishing species from lower than average ryegrass seeding rates (3.5 kg/ ha or 8 kg/ha)) were used on a commercial North Otago dairy farm. Total dry matter (DM) production after 16 months was greater from pastures initially sown with ryegrass (19.1 t DM/ ha) (Treatments 3 and 4) than when ryegrass sowing was delayed or substituted with timothy (15.2 t DM/ha) (Treatments 1 and 2). The percentage of red plus white clover was similar in all pastures at 16 months of age and averaged 54%, compared with less than 1% for caucasian clover. Timothy sown without ryegrass contributed 42% of production (Treatment 2), compared with 7% when sown with ryegrass (Treatments 3 and 4). Ryegrass composition was similar (43%) regardless of sowing rate (Treatments 3 and 4) and sowing date (Treatment 1). This on-farm study demonstrated successful establishment of red and white clover in all four treatments but timothy and caucasian clover were suppressed by the inclusion of low rates of ryegrass. Keywords: botanical composition, competition, dry matter production, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, seeding rates, Trifolium ambiguum, T. pratense, T. repens


1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. HEANEY

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), first- and second-cut alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hays, and oat (Avena sativa L.) straw were assayed for digestible dry matter (DDM) and dry matter intake (DMI) using sheep with various opportunities for feed selection provided by varying weighbacks between 0 and 30%. Digestible energy intakes (DEI) were also calculated. There was a slight increase in DMI values as the opportunity for selection increased, due to slightly lower DMI at low levels of weighback and higher DMI as weighback approached 30%. There were no changes in DMI due to the opportunity for selection when weighbacks varied only from 5 to 25%. Except for an apparent curvilinear relationship for the first-cut alfalfa, the change in DDM as the opportunity for selection increased was similar to that of DMI. However, the maximum changes in DDM that could be attributed to the opportunity for selection would be barely detectable in normal digestion trials. Changes in DEI attributable to the opportunity for selection were caused primarily by DMI rather than digestibility. DEI showed a slight increase as weighback increased, due to lower values at low levels of weighback and, in some cases, higher values at higher levels of weighback. There were no changes in DEI values that could be attributed to the opportunity for selection when weighbacks varied only from 5 to 25%. The data indicate that, for forage evaluation purposes, DMI and DDM can be assayed with confidence at levels of weighback between 5 and 20%.


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 554-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivera STAJKOVIC-SRBINOVIC ◽  
Dušica DELIC ◽  
Nataša RASULIC ◽  
Dragan CAKMAK ◽  
Djordje KUZMANOVIC ◽  
...  

In the present study the effects of Rhizobium inoculation and lime application on the mineral composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B) of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), in very acid soil were evaluated. Inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii significantly increased shoot dry weight (SDW) of red clover plants (three times greater), as well as N, Mg, Fe, Mn and Cu contents in plants compared to the control. Application of lime and Rhizobium together, depending on the lime rate (3, 6 or 9 t ha-1 of lime) and the cut, increased SDW significantly, but decreased the contents of N, P, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and B in plants. Regardless of the changes, in all treatments in both cuts, contents of N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn in plants were among sufficiency levels (Mg content was elevated in the second cut), while Fe content was mainly high, as well as Cu (in the second cut). Contents of P and B in plants were somewhat lower than sufficiency levels, but above critical level. Therefore, red clover can be grown with satisfactory yield and mineral composition in acid soil with Rhizobium inoculation only, but the application of P and B fertilization is desirable.


2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. RINNE ◽  
A. NYKÄNEN

The effects of partition of growth time between primary growth and regrowth of organically grown mixed (mainly timothy and red clover) leys were studied over two years in Juva, Finland. Primary growth was harvested at three different dates and regrowth on a single occasion from all plots. Dry matter (DM) yield of primary growth increased by 116 kg per ha per day by delaying harvest (P


Author(s):  
Denes DEAK ◽  
Ioan ROTAR ◽  
Florin PACURAR ◽  
Anca BOGDAN

Seeded lawns is one of the most important links in the process of improving the forage base, ensure feed quality with high productivity. Mixtures of red clover crops (Trifolium pratense) with perennial grasses (Lolium multiflorum, Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis) has high productivity due to better utilization of ecological niches of the biotope (ROTAR I.et al.). These crops has advantages like high content of protein because of the red clover, economy-based fertilizer nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen fixation by bacteria Rhizobium spp. located in the root of legumes. These seeded pastures get a balanced feed nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids), have a high palatability. The species Trifolium pratense has a greater capacity to restore the soil structure and also the enrichment of the macro-elements, like phosphorus and potassium (CARLIER L., et. al). Our experience took place in the village Simonesti, Cobătesti village of the Harghita county. The experimental field was located respecting the experimental technique rules in randomized blocks with a technique that includes three variants based on red clover plus a perennial grass (Lolium multiflorum, Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense). Every version was fertilized with two types of fertilizer: one liquid (gull) and one solid (stable manure) in four different doses in all three variants. The doses were: V1 = 0 gull; V2 = 5 t / ha gull; V3 = 10 t / ha gull; V4 = 20 t / ha gulle and V1 = 0 stable manure; V2 = 10 t / ha stable manure; V3 = 30 t / ha stable manure and V4 = 50 t / ha stable manure. In our studies we present the influence of fertilization with gull and stable manure on yield of green mass of all three variants. In general, both gull fertilization with manure favors grasses at the expense of installing legumes. The higher doses of fertilizer increase, the share of participant of grasses increases.


2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Portella Montardo ◽  
Miguel Dall'Agnol ◽  
Nilton Rodrigues Paim

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is one of the most important temperate legume species, used to lessen the lack of forage during the critical fall-winter period in Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. However, its utilization has been restricted mainly because of its lack of persistence. This work evaluates the dry matter yield and persistence of red clover half-sib progenies in two physiographic regions of RS: "Depressão Central", in Eldorado do Sul and "Encosta Superior do Nordeste", in Veranópolis. Experiments were carried out for two growing seasons and results were compared to two red clover commercial checks, Qüiñequeli and Estanzuela 116. The region of Veranópolis was more adequate for red clover forage production, enabling better yield and persistence. The best check for both locations was cultivar Estanzuela 116. At Eldorado do Sul persistence was highly affected and some progenies were superior to the best check. At Veranópolis the best check was very productive, with good persistence. The best progenies at both locations were selected to be propagated and submitted to additional recurrent selection cycles.


1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ames ◽  
A. R. McElroy ◽  
J. Erfle

Improving the nutritive value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) through breeding is dependent on selecting for genetic traits which directly contribute to ruminant digestibility. The identification of these traits is the goal of many forage researchers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the leaf and stem digestibility of six timothy genotypes under different temperature conditions using two methods of estimating digestibility. Correlations between leaf and stem digestibility were not significant, suggesting that separation of these components is nessessary to clearly evaluate genotypic differences. Temperature had an important effect on digestibility, particularly for the stem fraction. Isolating leaf from stem and evaluating genotypes individually across temperatures may permit the identification of more simple genetic factors which control digestibility in timothy. Genotypic differences were observed at all temperatures. The rumen fluid digestion resulted in a much greater range within and among genotypes for both stem and leaf fractions. Genotypes tended to follow the same trends with respect to temperature using both techniques suggesting that only a portion of the dry matter digested by rumen fluid is available to the cellulases used in these experiments. Lignin content was measured for two of the most variable genotypes and the results showed that while levels increased with higher growth temperature, differences between genotypes are more pronounced at 10 °C for both leaf and stem. Key words: Digestibility, forage quality, lignin, temperature, timothy, Phleum pratense L.


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