The influence of use systems on the productivity of shrubephemeral desert pastures and the preservation of herbage

The article is devoted to the urgent problem of developing a scientifically based organization and use of distant pastures in the south of Kazakhstan. It has been found that the composition and diversity of pasture grasses have significant effect on the forage value of the grass stand and ultimately affect the forage capacity of desert pastures. Grazing of farm animals should be carried out with an optimal load on pastures, that is, no more than 70% of the productivity of the pasture mass should be exploited. Due to the better preservation of various types of forage plants and pasture herbage in general with systematic use, the yield of pastures in the summer season was 6.15 c/ha, in other words it was higher by almost 1.0 c/ha of dry forage mass compared to unsystematic grazing (5.20 c/ha). All pasture plants exploited in early spring produced aftermath in 10–15 days and were well preserved from overexploitation and trampling.

Productivity of fodder crops and their mixed planting depending on fertilizers and soil treatments

Relevance. The problem associated with the continuing decline in the yield of the main crops and soil fertility in most of the arable lands leads to the need of developing comprehensive measures, including the optimal selection of crops and methods of tillage and planting in order to increase the collection of plant protein and preserve soil fertility.Method. The work devoted to the study of the influence of tillage methods, mineral fertilizers and biological products on the productivity of forage crops and their mixed planting was carried out on the experimental fields of the Chechen Research Institute in 2019–2020 in the forest-steppe climatic zone. The experiment was multifactorial. Mineral fertilizers were used for crop rotation with a view to the planned yield. The biopreparation V417, created at the Institute of Agricultural Microbiology on the basis of the Bacillus subtilis strain, was used in the processing of seed material and crops during the period of intensive plant growth.Results. As a result of the research, it was revealed that each of the studied methods of tillage should correspond to the cultivated crop and the technology used. The introduction of mineral fertilizers provided an increase in the productivity of forage plants in their pure and mixed planting by 11–44%. The treatment of crops with biopreparation V417 reflected in the best way: an increase in yield was from 24 to 52%. At the same time, the highest yield of the green mass of 42.6 t/ha was obtained in a three-component mixture (wheat, peas, oats) in the variants where disking and chiseling were carried out. Mixed planting is a serious reserve for increasing the quantity and quality of plant products. It's feed productivity in the collection of dry matter and feed units was not inferior to pure planting of cereals, and in terms of the provision of 1 feed unit with digestible protein exceeded it by 3–14%.

Dynamics of the structure of the forage stock of the main pastures of the desert of Kazakhstan

The article is devoted to the study of the pasture flora and the analysis of the structure of the forage reserve of the main pastures of the desert of Kazakhstan. The composition and structure of the vegetation cover of the pasture areas of 4 pilot sites has been analyzed. The results of the distribution of forage plants by biotopes show that the botanical composition of the structure of the forage reserve and the nutritional value of pasture forage vary significantly depending on the type of desert pastures and the season of their use.

Genome-Wide Investigation of the Cysteine Synthase Gene Family Shows That Overexpression of CSase Confers Alkali Tolerance to Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Alfalfa is widely grown worldwide as a perennial high-quality legume forage and as a good ecological landcover. The cysteine synthase (CSase) gene family is actively involved in plant growth and development and abiotic stress resistance but has not been systematically investigated in alfalfa. We identified 39 MsCSase genes on 4 chromosomes of the alfalfa genome. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these genes were clustered into six subfamilies, and members of the same subfamily had similar physicochemical properties and sequence structures. Overexpression of the CSase gene in alfalfa increased alkali tolerance. Compared with control plants, the overexpression lines presented higher proline, soluble sugars, and cysteine and reduced glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities as well as lower hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion contents after alkali stress. The relative expression of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase gene (a downstream gene of CSase) in the overexpression lines was much higher than that in the control line. The CSase gene enhanced alkalinity tolerance by regulating osmoregulatory substances and improving antioxidant capacity. These results provide a reference for studying the CSase gene family in alfalfa and expanding the alkali tolerance gene resources of forage plants.

Assessing the influence of cereal-legume mixtures on the productivity of degraded pastures in the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan

This study presents the results of some options to restore pastures with low productivity in the arid steppes of the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan, describing the effects associated with grass-legume mixtures. The effects of grass-legume mixtures, contribution to the preservation and maintenance of pasture forage crops, and the productivity of pastures were discussed. Mixtures of grasses and legumes were selected that are promising crops for arid regions.The plant density and its condition were determined based on test plots of adjacent rows of 0.5 m each, followed by counting. The plant height was determined before the yield of green mass by measuring 25 plants of each species. The yield of green mass in the maturity phase of the grass was determined by mowing and weighing the green mass in the plots, followed by the analysis of the species composition in the grass mixture and drying until air dry. The density of plants, the height of the plants, and the safety of the forage plants according to the sowing method were the data collected. In addition, the effect of grass mixtures on the productivity of forage crops to improve pastures was compared. According to these results, the highest productivity under experimental conditions was found in the wheat grassalfalfa-bromegrass variant. This information can contribute to the improvement of the state of the pastures since it is complete and inexpensive food for farm animals.

Maniçoba for sheep and goats - forage yield, conservation strategies, animal performance and quality of products

ABSTRACT: In dry regions worldwide, providing feed for ruminants has been a great challenge, with a need to use plants which contribute to the resilience of production systems. Maniçoba is seen as a potential forage resource in the Brazilian semiarid, being used as hay or silage to feed ruminants. This review summarized results regarding forage production of maniçoba, in addition to dry matter (DM) intake, productive performance, and quality of animal products obtained providing maniçoba based diets, when compared to diets composed by other roughages for goats and sheep. Considering the evaluated studies, the average yield of maniçoba varied from 367 to 1,592 kg DM ha-1, enhancing the forage yield by increasing plant fertilization and planting density. Diets based on maniçoba promoted similar or higher intake of DM and productive performance for goats and sheep, when compared to diets comprising other forage resources. The quality of animal products was also similar to the ones obtained with diets based on traditional roughages, such as Tifton 85 hay or spineless cactus. Therefore, maniçoba allows a forage production that may contribute to ruminant production systems in semiarid environment and promote productive performance and animal product quality compatible to the ones provided by traditional forage plants.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF COLLECTION SAMPLES OF PERENNIAL LEGUME FODDER PLANTS

In the field, a comparative evaluation of 30 collection samples of forage plants from the gene pool of the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology was carried out. Data on the chemical composition (dry matter, crude fiber, crude fat, crude ash, crude protein), precocity and height of plants are presented. Promising forms for use in breeding programs are identified.

BIOMASS AND CHEMICAL RESPONSES OF Desmanthus spp. ACCESSIONS SUBMITTED TO WATER DEPRIVATION1

ABSTRACT Due to the predictions of climate change, there is a need to identify forage plants that can keep their productivity and nutritive value under hydric stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass and chemical responses of three Desmanthus spp. accessions under two water deprivation regimens (7 and 21-day). The experimental design used was randomized blocks in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (access and water deprivation) with four replications. There were reductions in the biomasses of leaf and stem fractions of 64% and 51%, respectively. The 43F accession showed greater leaf (1.86 g.plant-1) and stem (1.97 g.plant-1) biomasses under a total water restriction of 21 days, compared to the 89F and AusT accessions. In accessions 43F and 89F, there were carbohydrate accumulations in the leaves of 28% and 51%, respectively, under the 21-day water restriction, while AusT decreased 38% within a 7-day interval. Water deprivation affected the chemical characteristics of the accessions. Free proline was similar among accessions and accumulated 463% more in the leaves of plants submitted to 21-day water deprivation (90.22 mg.kg-1) compared to those subjected to water deprivation for 7 days (16.03 mg.kg-1). Proline and total soluble carbohydrate accumulation in 43F and 89F were insufficient to regulate crude protein, C content, and C:N ratios. These results demonstrate the variability in drought tolerance among accessions. Accessions 43F and 89F were more susceptible to 21-day water deprivation, while AusT showed greater drought tolerance.

Sequence Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Region of the Nuclear Ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), and trnL Intron of Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of the Chrysochamela (Fenzl) Boiss. (Brassicaceae) In Turkey

Brassicaceae family is an important one since it includes many economic and significant industrial oilseeds, spices, vegetables and some forage plants. In this study, sequences analysis among Chrysochamela (Brassicaceae) species distributed in Turkey were conducted nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL intron sequences. Chrysochamela species were collected and brought to the laboratory. ITS and trnL intron sequences were corrected with BioEdit and FinchTV programs. As a result of the study, ITS nucleotide compound compositions were determined as 22.7% T, 29.1 C, 21.5% A and 26.7% G. The lowest distance was 0.000 and the highest distance was 0.037. The phylogenetic tree obtained using the MEGA 6.0 program consists of two large groups. According to trnL intron sequences 37.9% T, 18.4 C, 28.3% A and 15.5% G. Nucleotide compound compositions were determined. The genetic distance between species was determined between 0.000 and 0.022. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree consists of two large groups. As a result, phylogenetic analyzes using ITS and trnL intron sequences were compatible with each other. It was also in past studies found to be supported by morphological, anatomical and RAPD data.