Factors influencing pasture productivity in Atlantic Canada

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. A. Papadopoulos ◽  
H. T. Kunelius ◽  
A. H. Fredeen
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Grazing Livestock ◽  
Pasture Productivity

Most pastures in Atlantic Canada are classified as permanent and contain primarily native species. Well-managed native swards have the potential of supporting profitable animal output. Productive cultivars of cool-season perennial grass species such as timothy (Phleum pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and legumes such as white clover can increase pasture productivity in the region and ameliorate seasonal fluctuations in dry matter yield associated with native swards. Improved swards gradually revert to native species, partly because forage cultivars and mixtures are not assessed for persistence under grazing.Soil acidity and deficiencies in soil nutrients were shown to reduce herbage yield, legume content of the grazed swards and mineral content of the herbage, all of which may adversely affect livestock performance. High concentrations of K, observed in swards heavily fertilized with N, are likely to cause problems in the metabolism of Ca and Mg in lactating ruminant livestock grazing such swards.Supplemental pasture crops, including annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and Brassica species, extend the productive grazing season from approximately 4 to 7 mo, and permit the production of large quantities of biomass close to the barn.Rotational grazing and forward creep-grazing techniques at high stocking rates can improve the number of animal grazing days and average daily gains. Previous experience with grazing and exposure to pasture species before and during weaning appear to influence grazing behavior and species preference of newly weaned livestock. The use of previous grazing experience may help create the desired pasture sward or improve the efficiency of sward utilization by the grazing animal. The high rainfall climate of the Atlantic region, which promotes good herbage production, also encourages heavy and prolonged infestations of infective free-living stages of gastrointestinal parasites on pastures. Permanent pasture is the main source of initial herd infection, which then spreads to newly seeded pastures. Strategic treatments of grazing livestock with anthelmintic drugs are recommended to minimize the impact of these parasites on the productivity of grazing livestock in this region. Key words: Pasture, Atlantic Canada, productivity, grazing management, fertility management, Brassica spp., grasses, legumes

Formation of botanical composition of clover cereal and alfalfa cereal crops agrophytocenoses depending on sowing method

2020 ◽  
pp. 160-168
Author(s):  
I. Senyk
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Row Crops ◽  
Adverse Weather

Botanical composition of grasses is one of the most important indicators the biological value and quality of the obtained hay and pasture forage, the longevity of hayfi elds and pastures depend on. The issue of changing the botanical composition of agrophytocenoses is especially important in the context of global climate change, which in recent decades is also manifested in the territory of Ukraine, as it is possible to establish the most adapted species of legumes and cereals to adverse weather conditions and to identify eff ective technological methods of managing these processes for maximum conservation economically valuable species in the herbage. The purpose of the research is to establish the infl uence of diff erent ways of sowing of clover and alfalfa cereal crops agrophytocenoses on the formation of their botanical composition. Field studies have established diff erent eff ects of conventional in-line, cross-section and cross-sectional methods of sowing on the formation of botanical composition of grass mixtures of clover meadow (Trifolium pratense) varieties Sparta and Pavlyna with timothy meadow (Phleum pratense) and fenugreek multifl oral (Lolium multifl orum) and of agrophytocenoses of alfalfa of Sinyukha and Seraphima sowing varieties with reed fire (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) and middle wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia). For the average of four years of life of clover and alfalfa cereal crops agrophytocenoses, the highest proportion of legume component was observed with split-cross sowing – 51.6 % for Sparta, 53.1 % for Pavlyna, 60.3 % for Seraphima and 61.6 % for the Sinyukha variety. In the fourth year of life (the third year of use) of sowed leguminous-cereals agrophytocenoses, the preservation of the legume component was 14.6–15.5 % in clover-cereals grass mixtures with the Sparta variety and 16.0–16.8 % with the Pavlyna variety. In alfalfa grasslands, these indicators were 54.0–55.1 % with Seraphim and 55.0–56.2 % with Sinyukha. Among the studied varieties of clover meadow and alfalfa sowing proved better in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of western Pavlyna and Sinyukha. Cross-sectional and divided cross-sectional sowing of legumes and cereals mixtures proved to be better compared to conventional row crops in terms of conservation of economically valuable grass species. Key words: agrophytocenosis, botanical composition, clover meadow, alfalfa sowing, sowing methods.

scholarly journals Effects of grass species on ruminal degradability of silages and prediction of dry matter effective degradability

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 315-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jančík ◽  
V. Koukolová ◽  
P. Kubelková ◽  
B. Čermák
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Ruminant Nutrition ◽  
Accuracy Level ◽  
Ruminal Degradability

Forty samples of grass silages, made from the five most widely used grass species in ruminant nutrition (<I>Dactylis glomerata</I> L.,<I>Phleum pratense</I> L., <I>Lolium perenne</I> L., <I>Festuca arundinacea</I> L. and hybrid Felina) were tested in the present study. These grass species conserved by an ensiling process were compared among each other according to dry matter (DM) rumen degradability parameters (<I>a</I> = portion of DM solubilized at initiation of incubation, <I>b</I> = fraction of DM potentially degradable in the rumen, <I>c</I> = rate constant of disappearance of fraction b and ED<sub>DM</sub> = effective degradability of DM, estimated for each ingredient assuming the rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.05 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.08 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>) h<sup>–1</sup>). Based on the chemical composition of grass silages the regression equations for prediction of ED<sub>DM</sub> were evaluated. The influence of the ensiling process on dry matter degradability parameters was also assessed. The best values of ED<sub>DM</sub> were determined for <I>Lolium perenne</I> (ED<sub>DM2</sub> = 753.2, ED<sub>DM5</sub> = 631.1 and ED<sub>DM8</sub> = 567.7 g/kg DM). The best predictor was NDF (<I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values of 0.757 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.863 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.906 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>)). Using two predictors the accuracy level increased. The combination of CF and NDF gave <I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values 0.892, 0.920 and 0.929 for ED<sub>DM2</sub>, ED<sub>DM5</sub> and ED<sub>DM8</sub>, respectively. The regression equations based on the most important grass species harvested in different vegetation periods seem to be a useful tool for practical use. No significant <I>P</I> < 0.05) effect of the ensiling process in relation to dry matter rumen degradability parameters was proved.

scholarly journals Branching of tillers in some grasses

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-67
Author(s):  
Leontyna Olszewska ◽  
Maria Wielicka
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Holcus Lanatus ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Formation Conditions ◽  
Arrhenatherum Elatius

In investigations on the grass regeneration biology a special attention was paid to the formation of aerial tillers and branching pseudostolons in <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> L., <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> Schreb., <i>Festuca pratensis</i> Huds., <i>Festuca rubra</i> L., <i>Phleum pratense</i> L., <i>Lolium multiflorum</i> Lam., <i>Lolium perenne</i> L., <i>Phalaris arundinacea</i> L., <i>Arrhenatherum elatius</i> (L.) P. B., <i>Holcus lanatus</i> L., <i>Agropyron repens</i> (L.) P. B., <i>Avenastrum pubescens</i> (Huds) Opiz and <i>Agrostis alba</i> L. Aerial tillers, vegetative short ones and with partly elongated internodes as well as generative tillers formed in tufted and rhizomatous grasses. Parental raised tillers, on which aerial tillers developed, had the anatomical structure specific for grass stems. In tufted grasses, moreover, parental branching pseudostolons developed; in their cross section the arrangement of tissues specific for stolons was observed. They constituted the starting point for agglomerations of new plants rooting in soil, contrary to raised tillers. In some grass species, beside pendant roots, shorter roots grew at the base of aerial tillers; they surrounded with a ring the parent shoot in the node, thus reinforcing the connection of aerial tillers with the stem. An attention was paid to the favourable role of branching pseudostolons in the sward thickness formation. Conditions of the arrangement of tissues in the stem cross section, owing to which the rhizomatous form is developed, are discussed. The fertilization with compost or the covering with sand results in the formation of tillers resembling pseudorhizomes.

scholarly journals Non-Native Herbivores Promote Plant Invasions Away From Mountain Roads in the Andes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Aschero ◽  
Agustina Barros ◽  
Lorena Bonjour ◽  
Ana Mazzolari ◽  
Martín Pérez Sosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Andes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract While the role of environmental filters, usually described by elevation as proxy, and anthropogenic disturbance as drivers of non-native plant diversity and abundance in mountains have been extensively studied, the impact of herbivores are less explored. Livestock grazing can facilitate the introduction of non-native species by seed dispersal and reduce biotic resistance due to consumption and trampling of native plants, even in the highest protected areas in the Andes. We here explored the effects of elevation, livestock and distance to the road on non-native and native plant distributions. Our results confirm the largely negative relationship of non-native plant richness and cover with elevation, with a peak in richness and cover at low to intermediate elevations. Similarly, we show a strong decline in non-native richness with increasing distance to the road, especially at low elevations, accompanied by a strong negative effect of roads on native species richness. Most importantly, however, we show that the presence of non-native herbivores greatly increases the cover of non-native species away from the roadside, identifying herbivore disturbance as a potential catalyst of non-native plant invasion into natural vegetation of high-Andean protected areas. Our results confirm the often-shown role of disturbance as driver of plant invasions in mountains, yet highlight the interactive effects of disturbance by roads and herbivory: roads funnel non-native species towards higher elevations, while non-native herbivores can promote non-native plant success away from the roadside and into the natural vegetation. Hence, regulating soil and non-native herbivory disturbance is important for minimizing plant invasions at high elevation in the Arid Andes.

Agronomic potential of native grass species on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. II. Nutritive value

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Archer ◽  
GG Robinson
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Green Leaves

The quality of three year-long green and three summer-growing, frost-susceptible perennial native grasses was compared with that of two introduced temperate perennial grasses and white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Haifa). Digestibility of white clover generally exceeded that of all grasses, except for the green leaves of the two introduced species, Festuca arundinacea Screb. cv. Demeter and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa, during winter. The digestibility of the green leaves of most winter-green species increased during winter and decreased in summer, the extent of this being greater for the introduced grasses.The digestibility of fescue and phalaris was generally similar throughout the study and was mostly higher than that of the native grasses, but the quality of the green leaves of two year-long green native species, Danthonra linkii Kunth and Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br., approached that of the two introduced grasses. The quality of the summer perennial species was poor during winter owing to the presence of only dead leaves, but the green leaves of Bothriochloa macra (Steud) S. T. Blake retained high levels of digestibility during summer. Considerable variation in digestibility exists between individual plants of Poaseiberana Spreng, indicating that opportunities may exist for selection of highly productive lines from some native species.In pen-feeding studies, voluntary intake of most of the year-long green native grasses was similar to that of the introduced grasses, but intake of the summer perennial species tended to be lower.Results from this study indicate that the quality of native pastures and their potential for animal production will vary considerably according to species composition, season and the presence of white clover.

Performance of ewes and lambs on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy pastures under upland conditions

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies ◽  
T. E. H. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Upland Conditions

SUMMARYThe performance of Welsh Mountain ewes and their single Clun-cross lambs on swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) was studied over 3 years (1975–1977) at a site 305 m O.D. in mid-Wales. Under a rotational grazing regime at a fixed stocking rate of 25 ewes and lambs/ha, mean daily lamb live-weight gain over the 84 days experimental period from early May to late July was 24 g higher on timothy than on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and 35 g higher than on cocksfoot. Averaged for the 3 years the mean daily lamb live-weight gains were 194, 170, 170 and 159 g on timothy, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot respectively. There were, however, marked interactions with years.Ewe live-weight change varied considerably between grasses and years with cocksfoot poorer than timothy and perennial ryegrass. Mean ewe live-weight change ranged from an overall loss of 39 g/day in 1975 to a gain of 34 g/day in 1977.Differences detected in animal performance between the four grass species altered during the 84 days of the experiment. Timothy and to a lesser extent tall fescue produced better animal performance early in the season whereas perennial ryegrass came into prominence during July.The results are discussed in relation to the present and potential use of the grass species under upland conditions.

CHLORIDE UPTAKE BY VARIOUS TURFGRASS SPECIES AND CULTIVARS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. CORDUKES ◽  
E. V. PARUPS
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Chloride Content ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Chloride Uptake

Twelve cultivars representing eight grass species were each grown in a sand/vermiculite medium in the greenhouse, fed six solutions varying in chloride content for 140 days, and cut at lawn height. Six harvests were obtained and analyzed for chloride uptake. Visual ratings and yields indicated that the grasses tolerate relatively high chloride levels for a considerable time. Chloride uptake increased with time and increasing chloride content of the solutions. Uptake was less from alkaline than from acid solutions. Highland bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were the least tolerant, while Norlea perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were the most tolerant to chlorides. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were intermediate in this respect.

Integrating Herbicide Use and Perennial Grass Revegetation to Suppress Weeds in Noncrop Areas

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob G. Wilson ◽  
Steve B. Orloff ◽  
Donald L. Lancaster ◽  
Donald W. Kirby ◽  
Harry L. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Weed Cover ◽  
Grass Establishment ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
The Impact

AbstractNoncropland such as levees, roadsides, field borders, fencerows, and wildlife areas are vulnerable to weed invasion. Many sites have undergone frequent human disturbance, such as manipulation from surrounding land uses, and lack competitive, desirable vegetation. This study addressed the importance of revegetation in an integrated weed management program including revegetation for noncrop areas. The study evaluated 14 cool-season perennial grasses (seven native species and eight introduced species) for their establishment, vigor, and ability to suppress weeds. It also evaluated the impact of herbicides on weed control and grass establishment. Treatments were applied at three noncrop sites in Northeast California that were heavily infested with weeds. Chemical weed control during the year of seeding and the following year was critical for perennial grass establishment. Weed cover was greater than 50% whereas average seeded grass cover was less than 6% in untreated plots at all sites 2 yr after seeding. In contrast, average seeded grass cover at all sites was 22 to 31% 2 yr after seeding for treatments where herbicide use resulted in wide-spectrum weed control and grass safety. Increasing perennial grass cover decreased total weed cover across perennial grass species 1and 2 yr after seeding. Individual grass species' cover differed among sites. Two introduced grasses (tall wheatgrass and crested wheatgrass) and three native grasses (western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and thickspike wheatgrass) showed broad adaptation and had > 20% cover at all sites 2 yr after seeding. In herbicide-treated plots, these grasses reduced total weed cover by 43 to 98% compared to unseeded plots 2 yr after seeding.

scholarly journals Determination of indigestible neutral detergent fibre contents of grasses and its prediction from chemical composition

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 128-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jančík ◽  
P. Homolka ◽  
B. Čermák ◽  
F. Lád
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Acid Detergent Lignin ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Highly Correlated

Five grass species (<I>Dactylis glomerata</I> L., <I>Phleum pratense</I> L.,<I> Lolium perenne</I> L., <I>Festuca arundinacea</I> L.) and the hybrid Felina (<I>Lolium multiflorum</I> L. × <I> Festuca arundinacea</I> L.), commonly used in roughages for ruminants, were harvested at different maturities of primary growth (<I>n</I> = 60) and evaluated for contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), indigestible neutral detergent fibre (INDF) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (DNDF). INDF and DNDF contents were determined by <I>in sacco</I> rumen degradation of grasses for 12 days in non-lactating cows. ADL content was found to be highly correlated (<I>P</I> < 0.05) with DNDF (<I>r</I> = –0.87) and presented a reliable (<I>R</I><sup>2</sup> = 0.78; residual mean square error of 17.65 g/kg DM; <I>P</I> < 0.0001) parameter to predict INDF contents. Over a six-week period of maturation INDF contents increased (<I>P</I> < 0.0001) in all studied grasses. It was confirmed by this study that the INDF contents of grasses, which markedly increased during maturation, could be effectively predicted from ADL contents.

Seeding patterns and companion grasses affect total forage yield and components of binary red clover–grass mixtures

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Lafrenière ◽  
Raynald Drapeau
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Poorly Drained Soils

Lafrenière, C. and Drapeau, R. 2011. Seeding patterns and companion grasses affect total forage yield and components of binary red clover–grass mixtures. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 91–97. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is the most popular seeded legume for forage production in northern Quebec and Ontario because of the poorly drained soils that prevail in these regions. The objective of this experiment was to determine which seeding patterns [mixed within a row (MR), single alternate rows (1+1), or double alternate rows (2+2)] and which companion grasses (smooth bromegrass, Bromus inermis L.; tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; orchardgrass, Dactylis glomerata L.; or timothy, Phleum pratense L.), in association with red clover, were best for sustaining the total forage yield of a red clover–grass mixture and how these factors affect red clover and grass components. Test plots were established at Kapuskasing, ON, and Normandin, QC. At each site, two independent seedings were performed and harvested over 3 yr following the seeding year. Total dry matter (DM) yield and contribution of red clover grasses and weeds to total forage yield were measured. The MR pattern gave higher yield over both alternate seeding patterns by nearly 0.5 Mg DM ha−1 at the Normandin site and 1.0 Mg DM ha–1 at the Kapuskasing site. Neither the seeding pattern nor the companion grass species improved significantly the contribution of red clover to total forage yield beyond the second production year even though there were differences between sites. Environmental conditions, principally high precipitation in the fall, and maturity stage at harvest resulted in major differences between sites. Results from this experiment showed that tall fescue and orchardgrass could be good alternatives to timothy or bromegrass in association with red clover given that plots were still productive in the third production year and invasion by weeds was lower.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document