Effects of including dry polyacrylamide gel with seed on establishment of alfalfa and Russian wildrye

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Waddington

To examine the possible benefits of crosslinked polyacrylamide gel when establishing forages in a semiarid environment, applications of dry gel in fine, medium and coarse granular forms were made at rates from 0.25 to 4.00 g m−1 of row with seed of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski] in each year 1992–1994 at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The gel had no effect on seedling year establishment or first year forage production on a sandy-loam soil. On a nearby sandy-clay loam soil, in one of 3 yr with alfalfa, and 2 of 3 yr with Russian wildrye, the lowest gel rate decreased establishment compared with the check, with a further reduction as the rate of gel increased. Alfalfa forage yields were not affected. Gel application decreased Russian wildrye forage yield in 1 of 3 yr. Key words: Medicago sativa, Psathyrostachys juncea, forage yield, soil texture

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
A. J. Leyshon ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
J. Waddington

Widely seeded rows (>60 cm) of perennial grasses have exhibited greater long-term yield stability, but allow weed invasion in the first years after establishment. A 9-yr study was conducted at a semiarid site at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of intercropping oats (Avena sativa L.) and slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners] between rows of Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], and Altai wildrye [Leymus angustus (Trin) Pilger] seeded in 90-cm spacings either alone or in alternate rows with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Two rows of oats depressed grass forage production in the year following establishment. Slender wheatgrass intercrops reduced grass forage yield and alfalfa forage yield. However, slender wheatgrass contributed to increased total forage yields while it persisted in the mixture. By the fifth year, it had disappeared from the Russian wildrye plots but persisted 2 more years when intercropped with Altai wildrye. Interseeded companion crops, either annual or short-lived perennials, for forage will give short-term yield gains, but long-lived perennial forages may not recover from the competition in the long-term. Key words: Avena sativa, Elymus trachycaulus, Psathyrostachys juncea, Leymus angustus, Medicago sativa, forage yield


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. W. Holt ◽  
P. G. Jefferson

Forage grasses need to be evaluated in pasture trials in the Great Plains region of North America. The objective of this study was to compare four grass–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) mixtures for productivity and persistence when grazed during spring and summer. The grasses were Altai wildrye (Leymus angustus [Trin.] Pilger), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia [Host] Nevski), meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm. syn. B. biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.) and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys junceus [Fisch.] Nevski), with grass rows seeded perpendicular to the alfalfa rows. Two sites, 4 km apart, were grazed with yearling beef cattle from 1987 to 1993. Forage yield differed among grass treatments in 4 of 5 years, but differences were inconsistent over time. Five-year mean forage yields and total livestock production were not significantly different among the four grasses. Mean annual forage yields ranged from 800 to 8170 kg ha−1 and were related to the amount of growing season (April–August) precipitation. Carrying capacity ranged from 35 steer grazing days per hectare in 1992 to 176 in 1991. Grasses in the mixtures did have a significant effect on the grass–alfalfa ratio and on ground cover. Alfalfa content was highest when grown with Altai wildrye and lowest when grown with Russian wildrye. Percentage of ground cover by the grass plus alfalfa increased from an average of 3.8% in 1987 to 16.1% at one site and 31.9% at the second site by 1993. Russian wildrye contained the least alfalfa and weeds after 7 yr. Intermediate wheatgrass and Altai wildrye did not compete with invading weeds at one site, or with alfalfa at the other, and should not be recommended for spring–summer pastures in semiarid regions. Meadow bromegrass maintained a balance of grass and alfalfa and further research should confirm its persistence in semiarid climates. Key words: Leymus angustus, Elytrigia intermedia, Bromus riparius, Psathyrostachys junceus, Medicago sativa, grazing with cattle


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Jefferson ◽  
G. Andrew Kielly

Previous research in the semiarid prairie at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, indicated that optimum row spacing for forage production was 60 or 90 cm for crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertner) and Russian wild ryegrass (Psathyrostachys juncea [Fisch.] Nevski). However, recent research suggested that harvest method affects forage yield estimates from row spacing experiments. An experiment with three row spacings of mixtures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with crested wheatgrass and Russian wild ryegrass was harvested mechanically and by hand. Yield differences between methods of harvesting were affected by row spacing; larger differences were observed at 15 cm than at 60 cm spacing, particularly for Russian wild ryegrass. The highest hand-harvested forage yield estimates were observed in the narrowest row spacing. In a second experiment, plant density was evaluated for the same grasses using square grid spacings of 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 cm. Decreasing plant density was associated with decreased hand-harvested forage yield in both species. In a third experiment, 60- and 90-cm row spacing resulted in more seed heads and lower leaf content than 30-cm row spacing. Leaf digestibility increased slightly with increased row spacing. These results suggest that 30-cm row spacing should be recommended to producers for sustainable pastures in the semiarid prairie region. Key words: Forage yield, forage quality, leaf:stem ratio, plot technique


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.


Author(s):  
В.Ф. Кадоркина ◽  
М.С. Шевцова

Исследования проводились в сухостепной зоне Республики Хакасия в 2018–2020 годах с целью оценки и отбора перспективных селекционных образцов ломкоколосника ситникового по хозяйственно ценным признакам. Материалом исследований служили 16 образцов, высеянных семенами, и 8 сортообразцов вегетативного способа размножения, отобранных из питомника исходного материала 2015 года посева и в дальнейшем проанализированных в селекционных питомниках. В качестве стандарта взят сорт селекции Якутского НИИСХ Манчаары. В период вегетации проводились учёты и фенологические наблюдения за развитием растений. Работа проведена в соответствии с методическими указаниями по селекции кормовых культур. Исходя из биологических особенностей ломкоколосника ситникового, с целью увеличения урожайности семян для дальнейшей селекционной работы при вегетативном размножении их можно получить уже на второй год жизни. По основным показателям семенной продуктивности в селекционном питомнике вегетативного размножения отобраны образцы А 1, А 2, А 6 и А 12, также эти биотипы отмечены и по скороспелости: период от начала вегетации до созревания семян составил 88–94 дня. По кормовой продуктивности достоверная прибавка получена у А 1, А 2, А 6, А 10, А 12. В селекционном питомнике семенного размножения по основным показателям кормовой продуктивности выделены номера А 1, А 3, А 4.1, превышающие стандарт (сорт Манчаары) по продуктивности зелёной массы в 1,4–1,8 раза, по продуктивности сухой массы — в 1,2–1,6 раза. В этом питомнике образцы сформировали продуктивные стебли только на третий год жизни. The research was conducted in the dry steppe of the Republic of Khakassia in 2018–2020 to evaluate and select promising genotypes of Russian wildrye. The objects of this study were 16 genotypes grown from seeds and 8 genotypes of vegetative reproduction obtained from the nursery of parent material in 2015. Variety “Manchaary” from the Yakutian Agricultural Research Institute performed as the standard. Plant phenology was analyzed according to the recommended methods for forage crop breeding. To increase seed yield for plant breeding vegetative reproduction of Russian wildrye can be of great importance allowing seed production in the second year already. Genotypes A1, A2, A6, and A12 showed the highest seed productivity in the nursery of vegetative reproduction. They also were characterized by rapid maturation: the period from germination to maturation amounted to 88–94 days. A1, A2, A6, A10, and A12 had significant forage yield increase. Genotypes A1, A3, and A4.1 showed the best feed productivity in the nursery of seed reproduction. They exceeded the standard by 1.4–1.8 times in green mass yield and 1.2–1.6 times — in dry mass productivity. Genotypes formed productive stems only in the third year in the nursery.


Author(s):  
Allan Foster ◽  
Bill Biligetu

Cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) (CMV) is a non-bloating, perennial legume that has shown persistence under grazing. Limited information is available on its seedling establishment and subsequent forage yield and nutritive value in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) mixtures. Field plots were seeded in May 2013 at Melfort, SK, Canada to evaluate ‘Oxley II’ cicer milkvetch performance in ‘AC Grazeland’ alfalfa or alfalfa and ‘AC Success’ hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius × B. inermis) mixtures from 2014 to 2017. Two controlled environment tests were also conducted by treating seeds of CMV using alfalfa root aqueous extract. Seed germination and seedling height of CMV were significantly reduced in aqueous extract. In field, establishment of CMV in a mixture containing alfalfa was reduced, and CMV dry matter proportion in the mixture increased only 3.5% over three years. Increasing CMV seeding rate did not increase its DM percent in the mixtures, indicating a high allelopathic effect of alfalfa. Forage DM yield of all mixtures was linearly correlated to the proportion of alfalfa, and adding hybrid brome did not increase the DM yield. Forage DM yield was higher for the three-cut than the two-cut treatments for CMV-alfalfa mixtures, but there was no difference between the cutting frequency for CMV-alfalfa- hybrid brome mixtures. Fiber concentrations decreased linearly with increased CMV seeding rate in the mixtures. This study showed CMV establishment in alfalfa mixtures was reduced in a same row seeding, and the allelopathic effect was not reduced by lower alfalfa seeding rates or adding a grass.


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