Use of Narrow Rows in Sprinkler-Irrigated Corn Systems to Increase Grain Yields, Aboveground Biomass, and Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies

Narrow rows and optimum nitrogen applications are effective best management practices (BMPs) to enhance crop yield in an economically viable way. In a set of four studies, we aimed to compare the traditional method of planting (TMP) in wider rows (76.2 cm) with a lower plant population (84,600 seeds ha−1) against a new BMP of planting in narrow rows (38.1 cm) with a higher plant population (158,000 seeds ha−1). Implementation of the BMP resulted in 29.9 Mg ha−1 of dry matter (DM) silage, which was 42.5% higher than the 21.0 Mg ha−1 observed with the TMP. The p-values for the BMP versus TMP silage comparisons were p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 for studies 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing the significantly higher production with the BMP. Silage production water use efficiency (WUE) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AE) were also higher with the BMP in studies 2, 3 and 4. The average harvested grain DM of the three BMP studies (9.9 Mg ha−1) was 9.5% higher than the 9.0 Mg ha−1 harvested grain DM with the TMP. The BMP of narrow rows with higher plant populations increases silage and grain production in sprinkler-irrigated systems.

Strategies to Increase the Value of Pomaces with Fermentation

The generation of pomaces from juice and olive oil industries is a major environmental issue. This review aims to provide an overview of the strategies to increase the value of pomaces by fermentation/biotransformation and explore the different aspects reported in scientific studies. Fermentation is an interesting solution to improve the value of pomaces (especially from grape, apple, and olive) and produce high-added value compounds. In terms of animal production, a shift in the fermentation process during silage production seems to happen (favoring ethanol production rather than lactic acid), but it can be controlled with starter cultures. The subsequent use of silage with pomace in animal production slightly reduces growth performance but improves animal health status. One of the potential applications in the industrial context is the production of enzymes (current challenges involve purification and scaling up the process) and organic acids. Other emerging applications are the production of odor-active compounds to improve the aroma of foods as well as the release of bound polyphenols and the synthesis of bioactive compounds for functional food production.

Forage production for dairy farming in terms of the Research Station “Poyma”

Важнейшей проблемой продовольственной безопасности страны является уровень обеспеченности населения молочными продуктами. В связи с этим большое значение имеет опыт работы передовых хозяйств такого профиля в определённых почвенно-климатических и природно-экологических условиях. ФГБУ «Опытная станция «Пойма» является одним из наиболее эффективных хозяйств в Московской области по производству молока. Общая площадь сельскохозяйственных угодий составляет 6135 га, из них 2000 га пашни. В структуре посевных площадей 95% и более занимают кормовые культуры, в том числе 12–14% — однолетние травы, 68–70% — многолетние травы и природные кормовые угодья, 15–16% — кукуруза на силос. Основное производство кормов сосредоточено на высокоплодородных пойменных землях, на долю которых приходится 84% кормовых угодий. В статье изложены результаты системного применения достижений науки и передового опыта по стабильному производству высококачественных объёмистых кормов. Проведён анализ состояния кормопроизводства и животноводства хозяйства с 1982 по 2020 год, освещены научные подходы к увеличению производства кормов и животноводческой продукции. Системное освоение передовых научных разработок по созданию высокопродуктивных кормовых посевов и стабильному производству высококачественных объёмистых кормов, их рациональному хранению и использованию, техническая модернизация позволили увеличить среднегодовой надой на корову с 4079 до 9708 кг, или более чем в 2,3 раза, при одновременном снижении расхода кормов на 1 кг молока с 1,37 до 0,90 корм. ед. при повышении рентабельности с 16 до 28%. Food safety of the country is highly affected by the availability of milk products. Therefore, the experience of leading farms is of great importance under certain environmental conditions. The Research Station “Poyma” is one of the leading milk producers in the Moscow region. Its fields occupy around 6135 ha. The proportion of forage crops amounts to 95% including 12–14% of annual grasses, 68–70% of perennial grasses and natural forage lands as well as 15–16% of maize for silage production. 84% of the total cultivation area are high-fertile floodlands. This article focuses on the application of the latest scientific findings and advanced experience for stable production of high-quality bulk fodder. The efficiency of forage production and Animal Husbandry was analyzed in the period from 1982 to 2020. The methods and practices were reviewed to optimize forage and animal product resources. Average annual milk yield was improved from 4079 to 9708 kg per cow, or by more than 2.3 times due to the introduction of the latest findings into the production process including the cultivation of high-productive forage crops, stabilization of bulk fodder supplies, feed effective storage and use. Forage consumption dropped from 1.37 to 0.90 feed units for the production of 1 kg of milk, payback increased from 16 to 28%.

Agronomic performance of maize hybrids for forage production in the 2019/2020 harvest

Maize has great economic prominence in national and international agribusiness, being used for various purposes such as grain use and in the form of bulky (silage). This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of twelve maize hybrids for silage production in Inconfidentes-MG. Twelve hybrids were used: 20A78PW, 2B512PW, 2B533PW, 2B688PW, 30F53LEPTERA, AG8740-PRO3, DKB345-PRO3, DKB363-PRO3, LG3055-PRO3, LG6036-PRO3, MAXIMUS-VIP3, and MG652PW. The treatments were implanted in a randomized block design (CBD) containing three repetitions. The experimental plots consisted of four lines of five meters in length and 0.8 m spacing between rows, with the two central lines as useful areas. The parameters evaluated were green matter productivity, dry matter productivity, plant height, ear height, average stalk thickness, cutting window, flowering, and cycle. The hybrids 20A78PW; 2B533PW; DKB345-PRO3, and DKB363-PRO3 presented the highest cut-off window values in relation to the others. LG3055-PRO3 hybrid presented the smallest cut-off window. The hybrids 30F53LEPTERA, AG8740, DKB345-PRO3, LG6036-PRO3, and MG652PW presented the highest plant height values. No statistical difference was observed between the hybrids for the variables: green matter productivity, ear height, and stalk thickness. Hybrids AG8740, DKB345-PRO3, LG6036-PRO3, and MG652PW obtained the highest dry matter productivity values. Hybrids 20A78PW, 2B533PW, DKB345-PRO3, and DKB363-PRO3 presented the lowest male and female flowering time. Hybrid DKB345-PRO3 stood out, showing great potential to be recommended and cultivated by silage producers.

Optimization of transport support for forage harvesters

Silage is the main type of feed in the diet of cattle. Violation of the agrotechnical terms of laying silos for more than 4 days contributes to a decrease in the quality of grass feed. Therefore, when harvesting silage, it is necessary to form a harvesting and transport complex of technical means that would ensure the timely filling of storage. The forage harvester performs the most energy-intensive operations in the technological process of harvesting feed from grasses. Therefore, the efficiency of the entire technological process depends on the optimal ratio of the number of combines and the vehicles that serve them. To optimize the system “technological machine-vehicles”, it is important to apply the methods of the queuing theory, which takes into account the probabilistic downtime of forage harvesters. The use of this solution method in the formation of a harvesting and transport complex based on a statistical model allows us to ensure the flow of the technological process of delivering grass mass from the field in the storage during the acyclic movement of vehicles. Optimization according to the statistical model helps to reduce the cost of silage production by up to 5% due to a more rational amount of vehicle use.

PSII-14 Inclusion of popcorn and crawfish shells as components in non-feedstock silage production

As the future of agricultural sciences, it is imperative that student scientists seek to investigate alternatives to help improve production by lowering costs while meeting dietary requirements, increasing output, and maintaining sustainability. Anthropogenic waste as potential feedstock, we are engaging in an innovative wave of agricultural research. While previous research in our laboratory has evaluated newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells as feedstock, their potential for ensiling represents an alternative avenue for upcycling and long-term storage. The objective of this experiment was to determine the optimum concentrations of newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells for ideal silage fermentation. This experiment was conducted as a Box-Wilson composite design with four replications. Prescribed amounts of shredded newspaper, ground crawfish shells and heads, and waster popcorn were thoroughly mixed, and water and inoculant were added to achieve 25% dry matter. Central points for popcorn were 35.5, 1.3, 35.5, and 1.3% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Central points for crawfish were 4.0, 6.4, 4.0, and 6.4% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Samples were sealed using a food-grade sealer and allowed to ferment for 35 d. A subsample was frozen for assay of pH and silage acids. The remaining sample was dried at 55°C, ground, and assayed for NDF, ADF, CP, and IVTD. Across block, there was no effect of crawfish or popcorn inclusion on NDF (P ≥ 0.09; μ = 74%), ADF (P ≥ 0.24; μ = 60%), or IVTD (P ≥ 0.12; μ = 35%). Results are interpreted to mean that these feed ingredients may be used in non-feedstock silage production, but its usefulness to livestock production is questionable.

Evaluation of corn hybrids for silage grown in different locations

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield, morphometric and chemical characteristics, and the digestibility of various corn hybrids cultivated in different locations for silage production. Four corn hybrids were grown: P2866H, P3456H, P30R50VYH and P4285YHR, in four locations, defined as farm A; B; C and D. The hybrid P4285YHR presented the highest plant and ear insertion heights (2.72m, 1.52m respectively), with a minimum registered height of 2.63 m and 1.42 m, for plant and ear insertion height, and for that reason it presented the highest yield of fresh biomass (78,089kg ha-1). The TND values showed trend very close to that observed in the DISMS of the whole-plant, with hybrid P3456H presenting the highest estimated value (68.74%), and the hybrid P4285YHR the lowest among them (65.25%). In general, lower fibrous carbohydrates and lignin content, higher fibrous carbohydrates content, together with satisfactory grains participation in the plant structure led to a greater dry matter digestibility. Hybrids with lower plant heights do not necessarily have lower dry biomass yields, but hybrids of greater height and with high stem and leaf participation tend to have a higher aFDN content and less dry matter digestibility.

Agronomic performance and chemical composition of silage from corn hybrids grown in southern Rondonia

Corn is a widely used crop for silage. However, due to the changes introduced in recent genotypes, regional information related to the agronomic production behavior and the chemical composition of the silage produced becomes necessary for the appropriate technological development destined to agricultural and animal production in the Amazon region. With this premise, the present study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of corn hybrids cultivated for silage production and the chemical composition of the ensiled material. The experiment was conducted from October 2020 to March 2021, under field conditions, in the experimental area of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondonia, Colorado do Oeste Campus, in the municipality of Colorado do Oeste, RO, Brazil. The experimental design used was completely randomized, composed of six corn hybrids (GNZ7210 VTPRO2, AG8480 VTPRO3, BM3073 VTPRO3, BM270 VTPRO2, BM3066 VTPRO3 and BM3077 VTPRO3) and five replicates, cultivated at spacing of 0.80m between rows and 0.20m between plants. There was variation in the agronomic performance of the commercial corn hybrids for the southern region of Rondônia. The silages produced from the six corn hybrids showed bromatological and chemical characteristics that characterize them as silages of very good quality, despite showing significant differences in the percentages of DM, MM, CP, N-NH3/TN, NDF and ADF. The hybrid BM3073 PRO3 stood out for fresh matter yield, shoot N content and quality of the silage produced, which may result in the reduction of silage production costs.

Measuring the Supply of Ecosystem Services from Alternative Soil and Nutrient Management Practices: A Transdisciplinary, Field-Scale Approach

Farmers and policy makers pursue management practices that enhance water quality, increase landscape flood resiliency, and mitigate agriculture’s contribution to climate change, all while remaining economically viable. This study presents a holistic assessment of how two practices influence the supply of these ecosystem services—the use of an aerator prior to manure application in haylands, and the stacked use of manure injection, cover crops, and reduced tillage in corn silage production. Field data are contextualized by semi-structured interviews that identify influences on adoption. Causal loop diagrams then illustrate feedbacks from ecosystem services onto decision making. In our study, unseen nutrient pathways are the least understood, but potentially the most important in determining the impact of a practice on ecosystem services supply. Subsurface runoff accounted for 64% to 92% of measured hydrologic phosphorus export. Average soil surface greenhouse gas flux constituted 38% to 73% of all contributions to the equivalent CO2 footprint of practices, sometimes outweighing carbon sequestration. Farmers identified interest in better understanding unseen nutrient pathways, expressed intrinsic stewardship motivations, but highlighted financial considerations as dominating decision making. Our analysis elevates the importance of financial supports for conservation, and the need for comprehensive understandings of agroecosystem performance that include hard-to-measure pathways.