A simplified method for characterising agronomic services provided by species-rich grasslands

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Duru ◽  
Pablo Cruz ◽  
Jean Pierre Theau
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Index ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Functional Ecology ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Functional Convergence ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Simplified Method ◽  
The Difference

In order to encourage farmers and their advisors to promote species-rich grasslands, the agronomic services they can provide should be demonstrated. Methods based on functional ecology are promising, but difficult to use in an applied context. Thus, we aimed to construct a simplified method, tailored for non-researchers, for assessing grassland agronomic services. We assess them by focusing on the grass species that was coupled to a leaf dry matter content (LDMC) database. These simplifications are supported by several hypotheses tested in our paper: (i) trade-offs between agronomic properties; (ii) mass ratio hypothesis; and (iii) functional convergence and divergence between grass and dicotyledonous species. The results were based on 37 vegetation records taken in the south of France (central Pyrenees, from 650 to 1250 m. a.s.l.) for calculating the proportion of grass species and the aggregated LDMC of grass species (LDMCgw), weighting species values by their abundance. LDMC of grass species was taken from field measurements and from a database. The two methods were compared. The latter avoids tedious field measurements, and we found that it was at least as good as the former for assessing agronomic productivity and quality, and the same was true for a LDMC diversity index. Reducing the list of grass species to the two dominant ones did not significantly alter the LDMCgw. There were significant differences between the grass and dicotyledonous components coexisting within a plant community for the digestibility of the plant components (higher for dicots) and in the date at which ceiling yield occurred (earlier for dicots), but no significant effect for productivity. For assessing agronomic services, we proposed corrections based on the grass : dicotyledon ratio. The hypotheses used for designing the method were verified. Finally, agronomic services such as herbage productivity and quality provided by species-rich grasslands can be evaluated by recording dominant grass species and the proportion of grass in the herbage. However, taking account of the difference in sensitivity to the environment for agronomic properties and plant species composition, the main use of the method is for ranking plant communities within a given area and a given year, rather than for providing absolute values of these agronomic properties.

Quality of potatoes in relation to soil and season I. The content of dry matter

1946 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Wager
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Average Content ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
The Difference

The dry-matter content of about 260 samples of potatoes was determined. The samples were collected over three seasons and from many types of soil.The average dry-matter content of a variety varied from season to season, but it always bore an approximately constant relationship to the average value of other varieties.Wet seasons led to potatoes low in dry matter.The variation in the content of dry matter of potatoes in different seasons and from different soil types is not a direct effect of the water balance of the tubers.The average content of dry matter of potatoes depends on the soil in which they were grown; fen and blackland gave potatoes with the lowest dry matter, followed by skirt, silt and warp, then loam and medium loam, then clay, and the highest dry matter occurred in stocks grown in sands, gravels or light loams.The difference between the soils is discussed, and it is tentatively concluded that the factor responsible for the variation in content of dry matter of the potatoes is the available water content of the soils.

scholarly journals The yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Strain 47) as manipulator of rumen fermentation in postpartal period of dairy cows

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Petr Doležal ◽  
Jan Doležal
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Yeast Culture ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Lower Production

In the present study, examined was the effect of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Strain 47) on rumen fermentation of cows. Animals received a diet consisting of good maize silage with a higher dry matter content (16  kg), 16  kg of clovergrass haylage, 3  kg of meadow hay and 7.5  kg feed mixture. The yeast culture was added to the mixture in the dose 6  g/day and cow. The supplement of yeast culture showed a positive effect on VFA production in comparison with control (1.16±0.013B vs. 0.84±0.063A  g/ 100 ml), and lower production of lactic acid. The utilisation of ammonia was higher by cows in treated group (8.68±0.084A mmol/L). The difference in number of protozoa of cows in the control and experimental groups was significant (302.0±12.349A vs. 359.2±1.304B ths /1 ml of rumen fluid).

scholarly journals Retrieval of Grassland Aboveground Biomass through Inversion of the PROSAIL Model with MODIS Imagery

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li He ◽  
Ainong Li ◽  
Gaofei Yin ◽  
Xi Nan ◽  
Jinhu Bian
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Physical Nature ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Lookup Table ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Modis Imagery

The estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB), an important indicator of grassland production, is crucial for evaluating livestock carrying capacity, understanding the response and feedback to climate change, and achieving sustainable development. Most existing grassland AGB estimation studies were based on empirical methods, in which field measurements are indispensable, hindering their operational use. This study proposed a novel physically-based grassland AGB retrieval method through the inversion of PROSAIL model against MCD43A4 imagery. This method relies on the basic understanding that grassland is herbaceous, and therefore AGB can be represented as the product of leaf dry matter content (Cm) and leaf area index (LAI), i.e., AGB = Cm × LAI. First, the PROSAIL model was parameterized according to the literature regarding grassland parameters retrieval, then Cm and LAI were retrieved using a lookup table (LUT) algorithm, finally, the retrieved Cm and LAI were multiplied to obtain the AGB. The method was assessed in Zoige Plateau, China. Results show that it could reproduce the reference AGB map, which is generated by upscaling the field measurements, in terms of magnitude (with RMSE and R-RMSE of 60.06 g·m−2 and 18.1%, respectively) and spatial distribution. The estimated AGB time series also agreed reasonably well with the expected temporal dynamic trends of the grassland in our study area. The greatest advantage of our method is its fully physical nature, i.e., no field measurement is needed. Our method has the potential for operational monitoring of grassland AGB at regional and even larger scales.

MEAT QUALITIES OF STEERS KALMYK CATTLE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF DAGESTAN

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
М.М. САДЫКОВ ◽  
М.П. АЛИХАНОВ ◽  
А.Г. СИМОНОВ ◽  
Г.А. СИМОНОВ
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Birth Season ◽  
Chemical Indicators ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
Growth Energy

Изложены материалы исследований по изучению влияния сезона рождения телят на их рост, развитие и качество мяса в предгорной зоне Республики Дагестан. Установлено, что интенсивное выращивание и откорм бычков калмыцкого скота по технологии мясного скотоводства «корова—теленок» позволяет получать животных с высокой живой массой. Бычки зимнего периода рождения достигают живой массы 454,4 кг, весеннего — 425,8 кг, разница в пользу молодняка зимнего периода рождения 28,6 кг (6,7%), по среднесуточному приросту, соответственно, 795 г и 744 г, или на 51 г (6,8%) в пользу первых. Бычки зимнего сезона рождения превосходили сверстников весеннего сезона по предубойной живой массе на 27,1 кг (6,6%). Более высокая энергия роста бычков зимнего периода рождения способствовала повышению убойных качеств. Они превосходили по массе туши на 20,5 кг, или на 9,2%, убойному выходу — на 1,3% молодняк весеннего периода рождения. По химическим показателям мяса они также имели преимущество в сравнении с аналогами весеннего сезона рождения — по содержанию сухого вещества на 0,53%, жира — на 0,44%. По содержанию белка в мясе бычков зимнего и весеннего периодов рождения существенных различий не установлено. Для повышения производства высококачественной говядины в предгорной провинции Дагестана следует получать телят зимнего периода рождения для выращивания и откорма, что позволит сократить материальные затраты на производство животноводческой продукции и таким образом повысить рентабельность производства говядины. The article presents research materials on the influence of the calves ' birth season on their growth, development and quality of meat in the foothill province of Dagestan. It is established that intensive cultivation and fattening of calves of Kalmyk cattle by the technology of beef cattle breeding "cow-calf" in the conditions of the foothill province of the Republic of Dagestan allows you to get animals with a high live weight. Bulls of the winter period of birth reach a live weight of 454,4 kg, spring-425,8 kg, the difference in favor of bulls of the winter period of birth was 28,6 kg (6.7%), the average daily increase, respectively, 795 g and 744 g, in favor of the former by 51 g (6,8%). Bulls of the winter birth season outnumbered their counterparts of the spring season in pre-slaughter live weight by 27,1 kg (6,6%). Higher growth energy of winter period calves contributed to an increase in slaughter qualities. They surpassed the carcass weight by 20,5 kg or 9,2%, and the slaughter yield by 1,3% of their peers. Chemical indicators of meat also had an advantage in comparison with analogues of the spring birth season in terms of dry matter content by 0,53%, fat by 0,44%. There are no significant differences in the protein content in the meat of winter and spring-born calves. To increase the production of high-quality beef in the foothill province of Dagestan, it is necessary to receive calves of the winter birth period for growing and fattening, which will reduce material costs for the production of livestock products and thus increase the profitability of beef production.

MAXIMUM LOSS OF FEED FROM NYLON BAGS IN THE RUMENS OF STEERS AS RELATED TO APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. BAILEY ◽  
R. HIRONAKA
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Digestibility ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Protein Loss ◽  
Maximum Loss ◽  
Theoretical Maximum ◽  
Alfalfa Hay ◽  
The Difference

Nylon bags containing rolled barley or mixtures of rolled barley and finely chopped alfalfa hay in ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 were removed from two fistulated steers 1, 2, 4, 8, 14, 24, 48, and 72 hours after placement in the rumen. The cumulative loss of dry matter and protein from the bags was described for each ration by an equation of the form X/Y = k1 + k2X. The asymptotes of the curves so calculated were taken as estimates of the theoretical maximum loss of dry matter and protein. Maximum dry matter losses were 77.4, 80.7, 82.4, and 90.5% and apparent dry matter digestibilities were 73.0, 78.3, 79.1, and 80.7% for the 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and all-barley rations, respectively. The corresponding values for maximum protein loss were 95.3, 94.2, 94.6, and 98.8% while those for apparent protein digestibility were 76.8, 83.2, 83.7, and 82.0%. From estimates of endogenous fecal protein loss, it was calculated that fecal loss of potentially available feed dry matter accounted for 60% of the difference between the apparent and maximum digestible dry matter content of the three rations containing hay, and 89% of that of the all-barley ration. Endogenous fecal protein loss accounted for about half of the difference between maximum and apparent protein digestibility.

Effect of leaf-roll disease in potatoes on the composition of the tuber and “mother tuber.”

1926 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Leaf Roll ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Diagnostic Character ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Mother Tuber ◽  
Healthy Mother ◽  
The Difference

1. Tubers obtained from secondary leaf-roll plants have a lower dry matter content than tubers from healthy plants. The percentage of nitrogen in the dry matter is appreciably higher in the former than in the latter. The difference in dry matter content is sufficiently large in many varieties to characterise leaf-roll tubers. Seventeen varieties were examined.2. The rate at which the nutrient materials are removed by the young plants from leaf-roll mother tubers is much slower than in the case of plants from healthy mother tubers. This may be a cause of the stunting characteristic of leaf-roll plants.3. When there is any doubt as to the diagnosis of secondary leaf-roll by the usual symptoms, a determination of the dry matter in the mother tuber two to three months after planting, would serve as a further diagnostic character.

Catch-up growth of yearling wapiti stags (Cervus elaphus)

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 619-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wairimu ◽  
R. J. Hudson ◽  
M. A. Price
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Passage Rate ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Gut Fill

Ten yearling wapiti stags were used to investigate effects of winter nutrition on subsequent growth on summer pasture. One group of five (LOW) was wintered on medium-quality hay, and the other group of five (HIGH) was wintered on hay and alfalfa–barley pellets (16% crude protein). By the time they grazed spring pasture in mid-April, HIGH wapiti had larger frame dimensions and were 20 kg heavier than those wintered on hay alone, despite their lower pre-winter weights. However, subsequent catch-up growth rapidly narrowed these differences, and both groups attained similar weights and frame measurements by late July. Liveweight gains on summer pasture were 0.30 and 0.15 kg d−1 for LOW and HIGH wapiti, respectively. Although LOW wapiti tended to have higher gut fill (3.3 vs. 2.5 kg dry matter), the difference (corrected for assumed dry-matter content) was insufficient to explain compensatory weight gain. Digestibilities and mean retention times did not differ consistently between the treatment groups but were reciprocally related to one another. Forage intakes rose as pastures flushed but declined sharply in July with overgrazing and resumption of supplemental feeding. LOW wapiti consumed more pasture dry matter than HIGH wapiti in May and June. Efficiencies of forage utilization were unrelated to nutritional history. Using data pooled for the two treatment groups from April to June gave estimates of 878 kJ W−0.75 for maintenance and 33.4 kJ g−1 for liveweight gain. The main factor contributing to compensatory gain on summer pasture was higher forage intakes, particularly in relation to metabolic weight. Key words: Game farming, elk, compensatory growth, forage intake, passage rate, energy requirements

Functional diversity and redundancy of subalpine meadows subjected to anthropogenic disturbances

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxia Huang ◽  
Zhilu Sheng ◽  
Kejian He ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Bin Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Functional Redundancy ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Species Level ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Subalpine Meadow ◽  
Disturbance Gradient

Abstract Aims The aims of this study were to assess how functional diversity and redundancy respond to subalpine meadow ecosystem degradation under anthropogenic disturbance and how species contribute to functional redundancy along the disturbance gradient. Methods The study was carried out in the subalpine meadow in Mount Jade Dragon, which is located at the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Four disturbance intensities [no disturbance (ND), weak disturbance (WD), moderate disturbance (MD), and severe disturbance (SD)] were identified. Species richness, soil properties, and five key plant functional traits were assessed along the disturbance gradient. Simpson’s diversity index, functional diversity based on the Rao algorithm, functional redundancy, community weighted mean of each functional trait, and species-level functional redundancy were determined. Important Findings Unimodal change pattern of functional diversity and functional redundancy along the disturbance gradient were found in the present study, with their maximum in MD and WD, respectively. Species diversity showed a decreasing trend with increasing disturbance intensity. As disturbance intensified, species with traits related to conservative growth strategies, such as low specific leaf area (SLA) and high leaf dry matter content (LDMC), decreased, whereas species with resource acquisitive strategies, such as small plant, high SLA and low LDMC, increased in the community. At the species level, species showed species-specific roles in functional redundancy. Notably, some species were important in the community in terms of their unique function. For instance, Ligularia dictyoneura in ND and Potentilla delavayi in MD and SD.

scholarly journals The use of yeast culture in feeding of dairy cows

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Petr Doležal ◽  
Jan Dvořáček ◽  
Jitka Dvořáčková ◽  
Roman Poštulka ◽  
Jan Doležal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Yeast Culture ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Lower Production

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I – 1077) addition in the diet of dairy cows on their rumen fermentation. Animals received a diet consisting of good maize silage with a higher dry matter content (18 kg), 6 kg of lucerne haylage, 5 kg of pea – silage, 3 kg of ensiled high moisture crimped corn, 1 kg of meadow hay, rape-cake 1 kg, ­brewer’s grain silage 4 kg, and 8.0 kg feed mixture. The yeast culture was added to the mixture in the dose 2.8*1010 cfu / day and cow. The supplement of yeast culture showed a positive effect on ruminal VFA production by experimental group cows in comparison with control, higher production (P < 0.01) of acetic acid (58.50 ± 1.2583b vs. 51.833 ± 2.409a %), and lower production of propionic and butyric acid (24.667 ± 1.3744a vs. 28.833 ± 1.863b %). The average utilisation of ammonia was higher by cows in treated group (12.267 ± 0.754 mmol / L), but difference was not significant. The difference in number of protozoa of cows in the control and experimental groups was significant (P < 0.05) different (308.333 ± 24.390a vs. 342.333 ± 10.9341b ths /1 ml of rumen fluid).

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