Determining the proper sowing time for the mixture of Hungarian vetch and triticale under continental climate conditions

ABSTRACT: The research was conducted to determine forage yield and some quality characteristics of Hungarian vetch + triticale mixture, sowed in five different times under rainfed conditions of central Anatolia, Turkey. The mixture was sowed in the second, third and fourth week of October, and the first and the second week of November in 2017 and 2018. Depending on the sowing times, plant height (PH) of Hungarian vetch and triticale was between 46.7 and 59.4 cm, and 85.9 and 93.4 cm, respectively. Green forage yield (GFY) was between 1746.2 and 2059.4 kg da-1, dry matter yield (DMY) was between 541.0 and 707.6 kg da-1, crude protein yield (CPY) was between 80.4 and 110.3 kg da-1, digestible dry matter yield (DDMY) was between 340.8 and 453.9 kg da-1, acid detergent fiber (ADF) ratio was between 31.8 and 33.7%, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio was between 44.7 and 49.5%, total digestible nutrient (TDN) was between 57.9 and 60.4% and relative feed value (RFV) was between 118.6 and 133.8. Sowing time had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on PH of triticale, while it has a very significant effect (P < 0.01) on GFY, DMY, CPY, DDMY, NDF ratios and RFV. Delaying the sowing time caused a decrease in the GFY, DMY and quality of the mixture. Results revealed that the first week of October is the most appropriate sowing time to obtain high dry matter yield with high quality under continental climate conditions of the central Anatolia.

ALGORITHM OF CONTROLLING AN ADAPTIVE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT FOR MOBILE MACHINES

Hydraulic systems based on adjustable pumps, proportional electrohydraulic equipment and controllers are used in mobile machines. The authors propose a new scheme of the hydraulic system for mobile machines, which provides the auger drilling operation. A number of studies have shown that a certain ratio should be maintained between the frequency of auger rotation and its feed during operation, where the productivity of soil disruption should not exceed the productivity of transporting loose soil from the drilling zone. Ensuring the required ratio between the speed of the auger rotation and its feed is implemented by a controller that works according to a certain algorithm. A nonlinear mathematical model of the hydraulic system was developed to create the algorithm for controller operation and setting. The equations of the mathematical model are solved in the MATLAB-Simulink environment by the Rosenbrock method. As a result of solving the equations for the mathematical model, the dependences of variables describing the state of the hydraulic system on time are obtained. The values of the controller settings are determined at which the hydraulic system works steadily, the error of flow rate stabilization, the time for pressure adjustment and readjustment does not exceed the allowable values. The algorithm for controlling the auger feed value is formed. This algorithm provides the necessary ratio between the auger feed and speed, as well as reducing the feed rate in the case of soil hardness increases. This creates the conditions for uninterrupted pit drilling at full depth and protection of the hydraulic system from overload.

Understanding Heterosis, Genetic Effects, and Genome Wide Associations for Forage Quantity and Quality Traits in Multi-Cut Pearl Millet

Pearl millet is an important food and fodder crop cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, and is now expanding to other regions for forage purpose. This study was conducted to better understand the forage quantity and quality traits to enhance the feed value of this crop. Two sets of pearl millet hybrids (80 single cross hybrids in Set-I and 50 top cross hybrids in Set-II) along with their parents evaluated multi-locationally for the forage-linked traits under multi-cut (two cuts) system revealed significant variability for the forage traits in the hybrids and parents. The mean better parent heterosis (BPH) for total dry forage yield (TDFY) was 136% across all the single cross hybrids and 57% across all the top cross hybrids. The mean BPH for in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) varied from −11 to 7% in the single cross hybrids and −13 to 11% in the top cross hybrids across cuts. The findings of TDFY and IVOMD heterosis in these sets indicated the potential of improvement of the hybrid cultivars for forage quantity and quality in forage pearl millet. The parental lines single cross parent (SCP)-L02, SCP-L06, and top cross parent (TCP)-T08 found superior in the forage quantity and quality traits can be utilized in the future breeding programs. Most of the forage traits were found to be controlled by using the non-additive gene action. A diverse panel of 105 forage-type hybrid parents (Set-III) genotyped following genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and phenotyped for crude protein (CP) and IVOMD under multi-cuts for 2 years identified one stable significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on LG4 for CP, and nine SNPs for IVOMD distributed across all the linkage groups except on LG2. The identified loci, once validated, then could be used for the forage quality traits improvement in pearl millet through marker-assisted selection.

Alfalfa breeding for the foothill zone of the RSO — Alania

Alfalfa occupies a leading position among the crops used for obtaining renewable sources of protein and energy-saturated feed, as well as a mean of biological reclamation of agricultural land, preservation and improvement of soil fertility. The aim of the research is to study the economically valuable characteristics of various varieties of alfalfa to local soil and climatic conditions in terms of seed productivity and feed value. Promising varieties that combine high feed and seed productivity have been identified. According to the indicators of seed productivity, the alfalfa variety Lada was distinguished. In this variety, the indicators of green mass, dry matter and seed productivity are most successfully combined. The Lada variety surpassed the other varieties in seed productivity, the formation of beans with a large number of seeds by 7–9%. In the average of three years, the number of stems per 1 m2 was distinguished by the varieties Lada and Vega 87 — 110–120 pcs/m2. In these varieties, the number of internodes was 18 pieces, and in the standard Nakhodka — 14 pieces. In terms of the number of stems, 2 samples significantly exceeded the standard: Lada and Pastbischnaya 88. According to the yield of green mass and leafiness, the varieties of alfalfa Lada and Ve-ga 87 outperformed other varieties by 5–7%. In the future of our research, the selected varieties will be used to form new varieties.

Influence of extrusion on the feed value of flax seeds

Relevance. The wide use of extrusion for processing plant raw materials is explained by the possibility of improving the structure and increasing the availability of macronutrients of the target product. Extrusion of oilseeds is complicated by the negative effect of high lipid content on the ongoing physicochemical processes and, as a consequence, a decrease in the quality of extrudates. Along with their high lipid content, oilseeds such as flaxseed contain significant amounts of protein, soluble (mucilage) and insoluble (cellulose, lignin) fibers, which can also affect the technological properties of extrudates. As a high-energy and protein component, flax seeds are used in the feed industry. Increasing the nutritional value of flax seeds and their safety will expand the range of biologically active additives for the production of feed. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of extrusion on the feed value of flax seeds.Methods. For the research we used unmilled oil flax seeds produced in 2020. Flax seeds were processed by wet extrusion: the raw material was preliminarily moistened to 17% at 80 °C; extrusion process parameters — 120 °С, pressure 40 atm., duration 30 sec. Extruded flax seeds were obtained on a pilot plant of OOO “Fid-Group” (Belgorod region). Studies of extruded flax seeds were carried out on the basis of the laboratory for processing bast crops of the Federal Scientific Center for Fiber Crops (Tver).Results. A comparative analysis of the results showed a positive effect of short-term barothermal treatment, such as extrusion, on the chemical composition of flax seeds and their feed parameters. It has been shown that: the content of crude protein in extruded flax seeds increased by 3.97%, the water-soluble fraction increased by 66.18%, which indicates an increase in the biological value of the extrudate; the mass fraction of crude fiber decreased by 1.18%, which indicates an improvement in the digestibility of the extruded product; the content of mineral nutritional value increased by 12.5%; when using barothermal treatment, the nutritional value of flax seeds increased by 2.46%, metabolic energy increased by 2.19% and digestible protein increased by 4.08%; the level of indicators of the lipid complex, acid number and peroxide number, decreased by 40 and 39% respectively, which indicates a decrease in the activity of enzymes that cause hydrolytic and oxidative deterioration of the extrudate.

Effect of the functional feed PristineGoldVet on clinical and biochemical blood parameters of sables

Currently, against the background of a decrease in the quality of feed rations, the use of protein hydrolysates is a certain novelty in fur farming. PristineGoldVet functional food is a natural product obtained by vacuum lyophilization. With systematic use, it has a regulating effect on clinical blood parameters, optimization of homeostasis, biochemical reactions and physiological functions in the body of animals through the normalization of the microecological status. It contains (in 100 g): 19 amino acids: alanine – 5.16 g, asparagine – 6.75 g, arginine – 8.15 g, serine – 3.45 g, tyrosine – 2.27 g, proline – 1.17 g, cysteine – 1.06 g, ornithine – 0.07 g, glycine – 3.53 g, glutamine – 11.74 g, valine – 2.59 g, threonine – 4.32 g, isoleucine – 4 , 17 g, leucine – 7.12 g, methionine – 2.97 g, lysine – 8.76 g, phenylalanine – 3.69 g, tryptophan – 1.09 g, histidine – 1.71 g; 12 vitamins: B1 – 32 mg, B2 – 1100 mg, B3 – 1652 mg, B5 – 5200 mg, B6 – 38 mg, B9 – 84 mg, B12 – 1.6 mg, C – 2400 mg, D3 – 4 mg, E – 1100 mg, K – 150 mg, H – 4 mg; 10 microelements: potassium – 261 mg, calcium – 41.5 mg, phosphorus – 280 mg, magnesium – 15.8 mg, sodium – 20.3 mg, manganese – 3.5 mg, zinc – 1.9 mg, iron – 13.6 mg, nickel 0.1 mg, copper 0.1 mg. The article presents the results of studies of the dynamics of changes in hematological and biochemical blood parameters in clinically healthy sables when using the functional food "PristineGoldVet" aimed at maintaining the functions of the digestive and endocrine systems, improving the quality of fur and increasing the gain in live weight of young animals. When using a protein hydrolyzate, it was established: an increase in the content of erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin and albumin fraction and a decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). In addition, an increase in live body weight was observed in animals. It has been proven that the use of PristineGoldVet functional food in the diets of sables can increase their feed value, which has a beneficial effect on digestion indices.

Investigation of co-ensiling for the storage of grain stillage and Jerusalem artichoke residue from inulin extraction

Jerusalem artichoke residue (JR) was co-ensiled with grain stillage (GS) at various weight mixing ratios (JR only, 4 to 1, 2 to 1, 1.2 to 1, 1 to 1.5, 1 to 2.7, 1 to 7, and GS only) for 10, 30, and 60 d for agricultural biomass storage. Results showed that the middle level of GS to JR ratios, e.g., 1.2 to 1 and 1 to 1.5, achieved the best co-ensiling performance among all studied ratios. The water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents were significantly higher than those of the other treatments (p < 0.05), and the lignocellulose contents were significantly lower than those of other treatments (p < 0.05). The silages ensiled at the above-mentioned ratios had a higher feed value and biodegradation potential than other ratios. Lactobacillus was the dominant bacterial species during the ensiling process, and its relative abundance was significantly correlated with the content of different components, e.g., WSC, crude protein, and starch, as well as fermentation characteristics. Fungal species, e.g., Kluyveromyces and Monascus were also observed, and the relative abundance of which was positively correlated with different nutritional components. In conclusion, GS and JR can be successfully stored via co-ensiling.