Rotational grazing increases purple prairie clover frequency in the rangeland plant communities under semi-arid environment

Purple prairie clover (PPC, Dalea purpurea Vent.) is a grazing tolerant perennial legume with good nutritional quality and is widely distributed across North America. Deferred rotational grazing (DR) and continuous grazing (CG) are the most widespread grazing systems on North American grasslands. We conducted a 10-year grazing study to assess the effects of environmental factors and grazing on the frequency of PPC in plant communities. The results showed that the frequency of PPC decreased and then increased with increasing precipitation under CG (P<0.05), while there was no significant change under DR (P>0.05). Meanwhile, PPC frequency increased with temperature under DR (P<0.05), but did not change under CG (P>0.05). Both grazing systems and the number of grazing years had a significant effect on PPC frequency (P<0.05), and there is no interaction between those two factors (P>0.05). We found that from 2011 to 2020, the growth rate of PPC population is 18.24% and 11.69% per year under DR and CG grazing, respectively. Moreover, after 10 years of grazing, the PPC increase in DR was 22.86% higher than that of CG. Thus, selecting the DR grazing system can increase PPC and is an effective practice for coping with environmental changes.

Allelopathy and allelochemical quantitative analysis in Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi)

Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi) considered as a perennial legume animal fed plant with good soil fertility improvement was uesed for its allelopathy that had been reported on the germination of Ageratum conyzoides L, Comnyza canadensis L. Cronq., Bidens pilosa L., Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annum. through the solutions extracted from different parts of pinto peanut on mustard greens (Brassica juncea), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and junglerice (Echinochloa colonum). Consideration of the growth of hypocotyls and rootlets at 48 hours after incubation with pinto peanut extracts, results showed that 1.0 g/ml of the methanolic pinto peanut stem extract greatly inhibited 100% mustard greens growth, 77.7% and 93.5% the hypocotyls and rootlets growth of barnyardgrass, 57.2% and 92.7% the hypocotyls and rootlets growth of junglerice, respectively. The allelopathic activity after liquid-liquid extraction of the ethyl acetate phase greater than the aqueous phase. Allelopathic extract loading from C18 chromatographic column was purified by HPLC to obtain 6 phenolic compounds with the contents in 1 g fresh pinto peanut weight were 0.214 μg (cinamic acid), 0.8344 μg (caffeic acid), 7.7676 μg (coumaric acid), 2.2354 μg (ferullic acid), 0.045 μg (2-4 dimehydroxy benzoic) and 32.1162 μg (salicylic acid). These results should be accordingly considered in the production of biological herbicides.

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.

Bulky forage from legume-cereal mixtures in cattle rations

The results of our own scientific research on the use of advanced technologies for the procurement, storage and use of voluminous forage prepared from legume-cereal grass mixtures, as well as silos preserved with new generation biological preparations Biosib and Biotrof-111 are presented. The ways and methods of improving the structure of sown areas during the cultivation of perennial legume-cereal grass mixtures with the inclusion of an unconventional forage crop - the eastern goat's rue are considered in order to increase the energy and protein nutritional value of voluminous forages. The possibility of using the energy feed additive Bergafat T-300 in winter rations for feeding highly productive fresh cows has been shown. The book can serve as a scientific and methodological guide for drawing up effective programs and long-term plans for the development of forage production and feeding of cattle.

The Role Of Perennial Grasses In The Protection Of Soil Resources Of Erosive Ecosystems With Active Development Of Linear Erosion

We evaluated the stability of perennial legume and cereal grass species in artificial plant communities on permanent anti-erosion watercourses in the agroecosystems of the Belgorod region with active development of linear soil erosion. In the conditions of steppe and forest-steppe zones of the Belgorod region on permanently grassed watercourses in 2017-2019. varieties of perennial leguminous and cereal grasses: ‘Krasnoyaruzhskaya 1’ and ‘Krasnoyaruzhskaya 2’ (Medicago varia), ‘Kazatsky’ (Trifolium pratense), ‘Olshanka’ and ‘Ivica’ (Festuca arundinacea), ‘Streletsky’ and ‘Stepnyak’ (Lolium perenne)) obtained using local genetic material were studied. All varieties showed their resistance in agro-ecosystems with active development of linear erosion in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. Projective cover on watercourses in the steppe zone in all variants of experience was on average 83,4 %, in the forest-steppe zone - 86,3 %. In the third year of the tests on permanently irrigated watercourses in the steppe zone, the share of cereal and legume grass species was quite high and varied from 88 % in the variant M. varia + Onobrychis arenaria to 92 % in the variants M. varia + Bromopsis inermis and O. arenaria. In the forest-steppe zone, the share of cereal and legume grass species varied from 86 % in the variant L. perenne to 94 % in the variant L. perenne + B. inermis.

Biological Features Of The Distribution Of Root Systems Of Perennial Legume Grasses In The Context Of Climate Change

The key factor in the choice of perennial legume grasses in the face of climate change is their drought resistance, because the development of roots directly affects this property, as well as determines their fertility. The purpose of the study was to establish what morphological and biological characteristics of grass roots ensure economic characteristics in the context of climate change. Methods of observation, comparison, and field experiment were used. The study found that the roots of alfalfa have the greatest depth in the soil, spread in the horizontal direction, the thickness of the root neck and lateral roots, which ensures plasticity, durability, and productivity of its crops. The roots of white melilot have the greatest depth in the soil, the thickness of the root neck, central root and lateral roots, their spread in the horizontal direction, which affects the drought and frost resistance of crops. The roots of birdsfoot trefoil are distinguished by the greatest number of renewal buds on the root neck, the smallest depth, and the thickness of the root neck, which affects productive longevity and the possibility of growth in poor and acidic soils. The roots of eastern galega have the greatest depth of the main plant, distribution in the horizontal direction, the thickness of the central root, which affects productive longevity and high biological plasticity. The roots of Hungarian sainfoin are distinguished by the greatest distribution in the horizontal direction and the deepest placement of the main branching, which affects high biological resistance to adverse growing conditions. It was also found out that the roots of meadow clover have the smallest spread radius in the horizontal plane, the thickness of the central and lateral roots, which determines the possibility of its cultivation in the field crop rotation. These findings would facilitate the selection of perennial legume grasses to achieve their full potential in the face of climate change