The effect of multi-layer farming on tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin productivities

Нерациональное использование природных ресурсов вызвало масштабную деградацию Кизлярских пастбищных угодий, которая резко усилилась в последние десятилетия. Между тем они являются важным источником дешёвых кормов для отгонного и стационарного животноводства Республики Дагестан, где на площади 1,5 млн га в осеннее-зимне-весенний период содержится не менее 2 млн голов овец. Продуктивность пастбищ в этой зоне не превышает 0,10–0,15 т/га сухой кормовой массы. В настоящее время чрезвычайно актуальна разработка новых технологий фитомелиорации деградированных кормовых угодий. Предлагается внедрение многокомпонентных двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозов путём посадки кустарников (джузгуна безлистного Calligonum aphyllum (Pall.) Gurke), полукустарников (терескена серого Eutoria ceratoides (L.) С. А. Mey.), посева многолетних злаковых (пырея удлинённого Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv) и бобовых (эспарцета песчаного Onobrychis arenaria (Kit) D. C.) трав. Данный приём способствует ослаблению деградационных процессов и получению максимального выхода кормовой массы с единицы площади. Целью наших исследований являлось изучение продуктивности фитомелиоративных кормовых культур (пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного) в многолетних двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозах разных сроков использования. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что джузгун безлистный и терескен серый благоприятно влияют на урожайность пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного. В опыте с пыреем удлинённым это увеличение составило 1,67 т/га зелёной массы по сравнению с контрольным вариантом (естественное кормовое угодье), а в исследованиях с эспарцетом — 3,44 т/га. Наиболее перспективным оказалось создание трёхъярусных агрофитоценозов: в них наблюдали самые высокие показатели облиственности растений, длины соцветий и количества стеблей пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного. Environmental abuse has caused large-scale degradation of the Kizlyar grasslands, sharply increasing in recent decades. These pastures are an important source of cheap fresh green and rough feed in the Republic of Dagestan, where at least 2 million heads of sheep are kept on 1.5 million ha from autumn to summer. The pasture productivity does not exceed 0.10–0.15 t ha-1 of dry mass in this zone. Currently, the development of new technologies for degraded land restoration is extremely important. It is proposed to introduce multicomponent ecosystems of various height by planting shrubs (Calligonum aphyllum (Pall.) Gurke), semi-shrubs (winterfat Eutoria ceratoides (L.) C.A.) Beauv), perennial grasses (tall wheatgrass Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv) and legumes (Hungarian sainfoin Onobrychis arenaria (Kit) DC). This practice has a potential to improve the land quality and provide the maximum yield of feed. The research aimed at studying the productivity of tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin as components of perennial multi-layered agrophytocenoses of different periods of use. It was revealed that Calligonum aphyllum and winterfat had a positive effect on the yield of tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin. The yield increase was 1.67 t ha-1 of green mass for tall wheatgrass, and — 3.44 t ha-1 — for Hungarian sainfoin. Three-layer agrophytocenoses were the most promising: tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin showed the highest plant foliage, length of inflorescences and number of stems.

Effect of Fertilization on the Energy Profit of Tall Wheatgrass and Reed Canary Grass

Cultivation of energy crops is a part of modern agriculture. In particular, maize (Zea mays L.) is widely grown in central Europe. However, in terms of erosion risk and high demands on fertilization and protection against diseases and pests, its growing is not environmentally friendly. Therefore, possibilities of utilization of other more environmentally friendly energy crops have been examined at present. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of various fertilization (mineral, digestate, control) on the yields of tall wheatgrass (TWG) (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus) and reed canary grass (RCG) (Phalaris arundinacea L.) cultivated in a long-term field experiment on the experimental site in Czech Republic. The energy profit from cultivation of these crops and its protective anti-erosion effect were evaluated. The average yields ranged from 4.6 (RCG, mineral fertilization) to 7.4 t/ha (TWG, digestate fertilization). The more profitable species was tall wheatgrass, the biomass of which also had the higher heating value. The energy profit ranged from 80 GJ/ha (RCG, control variant and mineral fertilization) to 133 GJ/ha (TWG, digestate and mineral fertilization). It has been found that the tested plants excel in anti-erosion effect and could therefore be a suitable alternative to maize, especially in less-favored areas.

Evaluation of intermediate wheatgrass and tall wheatgrass accessions from VIR collection in steppe-forest conditions of Russia

The article presents the results of field evaluation of wheatgrass collection in steppe-forest region in 2020-2021. The best accessions of intermediate wheatgrass and tall wheatgrass from VIR collection were selected.

Growth, Rhizosphere Carboxylate Exudation, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Temperate Perennial Pasture Grasses Varied with Phosphorus Application

Phosphorus (P) fertiliser is applied regularly to the nutrient-poor sandy soils in southwestern Australia to elevate and/or maintain pasture production. This study aimed to characterise differential growth, root carboxylate exudation, and mycorrhizal responses in three temperate perennial pasture grasses at variable P supply. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. cv. Prosper), veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina Sm. cv. Mission), and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum L. cv. Dundas) with five P rates varying from 0 to 100 mg P kg−1 soil were evaluated in a controlled environment. Rhizosphere carboxylate exudation and mycorrhizal colonisation were assessed. Veldt grass produced the maximum shoot dry weight, highest agronomic phosphorus-use efficiency at low P supply, as well as the highest specific root length and shoot P content at all P rates. Across species, the maximum shoot weight was obtained at 20 and 50 mg P kg−1 soil, which differed significantly from the two lowest P rates (0 and 5 mg P kg−1 soil). Phosphorus application influenced carboxylate exudation, with plants exuding acetate only in the zero P treatment, and citrate and malonate in the P-supplemented treatments. In all three species, acetate and malonate were the major carboxylates exuded (37–51% of the total). Only tall wheatgrass released trans-aconitate. Citrate and malonate concentrations in the rhizosphere increased with P supply, suggesting their important role in P acquisition. Phosphorus applications reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and increased root diameter as the P rate increased. Root carboxylate exudation in low-P soil played a role in mobilisation of P via P solubilisation, but the role of exuded carboxylate in soils well supplied with P might be diminished.

Multi-layer farming and productivity of halophytic tall wheatgrass under arid conditions

Исследования проводились в Ногайском районе Республики Дагестан в 2017–2019 годах. Кизлярские пастбища являются основным источником дешёвых кормов для стационарного и отгонного животноводства. Здесь на площади более 1,5 млн га в осенне-зимне-весенний период содержится более 2 млн голов овец и значительное поголовье крупного рогатого скота из хозяйств горных и предгорных районов. Нерациональное использование природных ресурсов вызвало широкомасштабное прогрессирующее опустынивание, которое началось в середине 50-х годов прошлого столетия и резко усилилось в последние 15–20 лет. В настоящее время продуктивность природных кормовых угодий на Кизлярских пастбищах не превышает 0,1–0,2 т/га сухой кормовой массы. Сложившаяся ситуация требует внедрения многокомпонентных двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозов разных сроков использования путём посева многолетних трав (пырея удлинённого солончакового), а также кустарников (джузгуна безлистного) и полукустарников (терескена серого). В связи с вышеизложенным была поставлена задача изучить продуктивность фитомелиоративных культур в многокомпонентных двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозах путём посева и посадки многолетних трав, полукустарников и кустарников, позволяющих ослабить деградационные процессы и обеспечивающих наибольший выход кормовой массы с единицы площади. Важным показателем, влияющим на продуктивность (урожайность) зелёной и сухой массы пырея удлинённого солончакового, является облиственность растений. Она варьировалась от 49,2% в варианте пырей удлинённый солончаковый до 55,8% в варианте джузгун безлистный + терескен серый + пырей удлинённый солончаковый. Все варианты опыта превысили по урожайности зелёной массы контрольный вариант (естественное кормовое угодье): от 0,14 т/га в варианте пырей удлинённый солончаковый до 1,03 т/га в варианте джузгун безлистный + терескен серый + пырей удлинённый солончаковый. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что в результате совместного посева с джузгуном безлистным и терескеном серым значительно увеличивается урожайность кормовой массы пырея удлинённого солончакового. The investigation took place in the Nogai region of the Republic of Dagestan in 2017–2019. Kizlyar pastures are the valuable source of low-cost forage for Animal Husbandry. Over 2 million heads of sheep and cattle graze there on more than 1.5 million ha in autumn-spring period. Excessive grazing led to a significant loss of forage ecosystems in those pastures started in the 50th but increased drastically in the last 15–20 years. Currently Kizlyar pastures produce up to 0.1–0.2 t ha-1 of dry forage mass. Such plants as Agropyron elongate (halophytic tall wheatgrass), Calligonum aphyllum and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (Pamirian winterfat) were cultivated there to restore land productivity. Having various height and growing seasons these plants reduced soil degradation and provided the highest yield of forage mass. Therefore, the aim of the research was to test their productivity as two- or three-component mixtures. Intensity of leaf formation directly affects green and dry mass yields of halophytic tall wheatgrass. Leaf coverage of tall wheatgrass amounted from 49.2 to 55.8%, when seeding separately and in combination with Calligonum aphyllum and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides, respectively. Tall wheatgrass exceeded the control (natural forage land) in green mass yield by 0.14 t ha-1, its mixture with Calligonum aphyllum and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides — by 1.03 t ha-1. Seeding of Agropyron elongate with Calligonum aphyllum and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides significantly increased its forage mass production.

Policy-Driven Sustainable Saline Drainage Disposal and Forage Production in the Western San Joaquin Valley of California

Environmental policies to address water quality impairments in the San Joaquin River of California have focused on the reduction of salinity and selenium-contaminated subsurface agricultural drainage loads from westside sources. On 31 December 2019, all of the agricultural drainage from a 44,000 ha subarea on the western side of the San Joaquin River basin was curtailed. This policy requires the on-site disposal of all of the agricultural drainage water in perpetuity, except during flooding events, when emergency drainage to the River is sanctioned. The reuse of this saline agricultural drainage water to irrigate forage crops, such as ‘Jose’ tall wheatgrass and alfalfa, in a 2428 ha reuse facility provides an economic return on this pollutant disposal option. Irrigation with brackish water requires careful management to prevent salt accumulation in the crop root zone, which can impact forage yields. The objective of this study was to optimize the sustainability of this reuse facility by maximizing the evaporation potential while achieving cost recovery. This was achieved by assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of the root zone salinity in selected fields of ‘Jose’ tall wheatgrass and alfalfa in the drainage reuse facility, some of which have been irrigated with brackish subsurface drainage water for over fifteen years. Electromagnetic soil surveys using an EM-38 instrument were used to measure the spatial variability of the salinity in the soil profile. The tall wheatgrass fields were irrigated with higher salinity water (1.2–9.3 dS m−1) compared to the fields of alfalfa (0.5–6.5 dS m−1). Correspondingly, the soil salinity in the tall wheatgrass fields was higher (12.5 dS m−1–19.3 dS m−1) compared to the alfalfa fields (8.97 dS m−1–14.4 dS m−1) for the years 2016 and 2017. Better leaching of salts was observed in the fields with a subsurface drainage system installed (13–1 and 13–2). The depth-averaged root zone salinity data sets are being used for the calibration of the transient hydro-salinity computer model CSUID-ID (a one-dimensional version of the Colorado State University Irrigation Drainage Model). This user-friendly decision support tool currently provides a useful framework for the data collection needed to make credible, field-scale salinity budgets. In time, it will provide guidance for appropriate leaching requirements and potential blending decisions for sustainable forage production. This paper shows the tie between environmental drainage policy and the role of local governance in the development of sustainable irrigation practices, and how well-directed collaborative field research can guide future resource management.