Shrub yield and fodder quality variations in a non-tropical dryland environment in West Asia

Integration of shrubs into the smallholder crop-rangeland-livestock farming systems in non-tropical dry areas could reduce feed gaps, rangeland degradation and desertification, but data on yield and fodder quality of most native and exotic shrubs are scanty. The study aimed at identifying shrubs for dryland agroforestry based on agronomic and fodder quality attributes. Fodder and wood yield, percent fodder (FBR) and fodder quality of 26 non-legume shrubs were determined from 6 to 8 months regrowth in north-west Syria. Seed yield was estimated from plants that were not cut. Fodder (31–87 Mg DM ha⁻¹), wood (16-2064 Mg DM ha⁻¹) and seed (0-132 Mg DM ha⁻¹) yield, FBR (24–87%), fodder concentrations of crude protein (69–195 g kg⁻¹.), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (24–109 g kg⁻¹), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (102–267 g kg⁻¹), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (214–526 g kg⁻¹), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) (391–526 g kg⁻¹), and in vitro gas production after 24 h of incubation (25–39 ml 200 mg⁻¹ DM) varied (P < 0.05) among the shrubs. Atriplex halimus-halimus and A. herba-alba from Spain, A. canescens, A. ploycarpa and A. lentiformis from USA, A. halimus and A. herba-alba from Syria and A. nummularia from Australia and South Africa had greater potential for development of dryland agroforestry technologies. The promising shrubs could be integrated into the rangeland-crop-livestock systems in non-tropical dryland environs to provide fodder, fuel-wood, shade, medicine, stabilize sand-dunes, and sequester carbon; thereby contributing to mitigation of rangeland degradation and global warming; if major constraints to adoption of fodder trees such as agronomic problems, low multipurpose value, land shortage and quality seed supply could be overcome.     

Effect of dried Gliricidia sepium leaf supplement on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed dried KW4 elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum

A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation with dried Gliricidia sepium leaves on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed KW4 elephant grass. Four mature rams were fed elephant grass ad libitum supplemented with four levels of gliricidia leaves (0, 4, 8 and 12 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplementation with gliricidia leaves decreased elephant grass DM intake (g DM day⁻¹ or g DM kg⁻¹ BW^0.75 day⁻¹). However, the effect of supplementation on total DM intake of the rations was not significant (P >; 0.05). Total crude protein intake significantly (P < 0.001) increased with increasing levels of gliricidia supplementation. Total DM digestibility and body weight changes were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by gliricidia supplementation; with the highest digestibility coefficient (60.5%) and body weight gain (89.3 g/day) obtained at 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹. Gliricidia supplementation significantly (P < 0.001) improved nitrogen intake, absorbed nitrogen and retained nitrogen but with no significant difference at 8 and 12 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ level of supplementation. The highest efficiency of N retention by sheep (44.9%) was obtained at 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ level of gliricidia supplementation. The results indicated that supplemention of KW4 elephant grass with small quantities of gliricidia leaves up to 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ enhance utilisation efficiency of the total ration. Further increases in the level of gliricidia supplementation, under the conditions of this experiment, reduced the intake of elephant grass leading to substitution effects of the basal. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal as supplement to diet of grazing dairy cattle in semiarid Western Tanzania

The effect of supplementation with three levels of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (LLM) added to a diet composed of cotton seed hulls (CSH) and maize bran (MB) on milk yield, milk composition and body weight changes of grazing lactating cows was studied in a completely randomised design. Marginal product analysis for the different levels of LLM as a substitute to cotton seed cake (CSC) was also calculated. The following treatment diets were used in the experiment: Diet 1, (control) composed of 1.8 kg DM CSH and 1.8 kg DM MB. Diet 2, 3 and 4 had an addition of 1.2, 2.0 and 2.6 kg DM of LLM respectively. Diet 5 was composed of 1.8 kg DM of CSC and 1.8 kg DM of MB. Treatments, number of lactations, farm and initial milk yields significantly (P < 0.01) influenced milk production. LLM supplementation to grazing cows significantly increased milk production, weight gain and milk composition (P > 0.05). Cows on treatment 1 achieved no significant (P < 0.05) increase in milk yield compared to cows on treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 which attained net milk increase of 3.6, 4.1, 6.7 and 4.4 litres/cow/day respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in net milk produced by cows on treatment 2, 3 and 5 compared to treatment 1. LLM supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased total solids (TS) in milk compared to that of cows under control, but there was no significant (P > 0.05) influence on milk crude protein (CP), butter fat (BF), solids not fat (SNF) and ash in all the diets. Body weight was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by LLM supplementation. Degradation coefficients of the treatment diets were high and varied significantly (P < 0.01) and had an influence on the metabolizable energy value of the treatment diets. Cows on diet 2 to 4 had a weight gain of 190.9, 101.8 and 80.9 g/cow/day respectively and cows on diet 5 attained the highest weight gain (234.5 g/cow/day). Diet 4 had the highest marginal productivity of 4.3 followed by diets 2, 3 and 1 with marginal productivities of 2.8, 0.6 and 0 respectively. It was therefore, concluded that the optimal supplementation level using LLM as a substitute for the more expensive CSC was diet 4.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biomass Production and Chemical Composition of Moringa oleifera under Different Management Regimes in Nicaragua

The effects of different planting densities (250,000, 500,000 and 750,000 plants ha⁻¹) and cutting frequencies (45, 60 and 75 days) on the biomass production and chemical composition of Moringa oleifera was studied in a completely randomised split plot design with four blocks, in Managua, Nicaragua, located geographically at 12°08′15′′ N and 86°09′36′′ E. The 75 day cutting frequency produced the highest fresh matter yield, 100.7 and 57.4 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and dry matter (DM) yield, 24.7 and 10.4 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, during the first and second year, respectively. All planting densities produced the highest DM yield at 75 day cutting frequency. In the first year, the density of 750,000 plants ha⁻¹ produced the highest fresh matter yield, 88.0 Mg ha⁻¹ and highest DM yield, 18.9 Mg ha⁻¹, but in the second year the density of 500,000 plants ha⁻¹ gave the highest yields, 46.2 Mg ha⁻¹ and 8.1 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. During the first year, DM (22.8%), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (30.8%) and ash (9.14%) contents were highest and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) (68.2%) was lowest in the longest cutting interval, while contents of crude protein (CP) (22.8%) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (22.8%) were not affected significantly by cutting frequency. In the second year, DM and CP contents and IVDMD were not significantly affected by cutting frequency, whereas NDF, ADF and ash contents were lowest in the 60 day cutting frequency. Planting density had no significant effect on chemical composition or IVDMD. These data suggest that Moringa forage could be an interesting protein supplement for ruminants.     

Chemical composition and dry matter degradation characteristics of multi-purpose trees and shrubs in the humid lowlands of southeastern Nigeria

Twenty weeks forage re-growth from 20 multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTS) species (Albizia ferruginea, Albizia gummifera, Albizia niopoides, Berlinia grandiflora, Bauhimia monandra, Dialium guineense, Dalbergia sissoo, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Leucaena leucocephala, Lonchocarpus sericeus, Milletia griffoneanus, Milletia thoningii, Napoliana imperialis, Parkia bicolor, Pterocarpus santalinoides, Senna spectabilis, Treculia africana, Terminalia superba, Tetrapluera tetraptera and Xylia xylocarpa) were investigated for their feed value. The MPTS were grown on an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria and were subjected to proximate analyses, nylon bag degradability studies and cluster analysis. Among species, crude protein (CP) ranged from 104 g kg^?1 DM in P. bicolor to 205 g kg^?1 DM in A. gummifera, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 498 g kg^?1 DM in L. leucocephala to 771 g kg^?1 DM in L. sericeus, acid detergent fibre (ADF) ranged from 303 g kg^?1 DM in T. superba to 661 g kg^?1 DM in L. sericeus, acid detergent lignin (ADL) ranged from 75 g kg^?1 DM in T. superba to 305 g kg^?1 DM in L. sericeus. Also, ADF-ash ranged from 0.78 g kg^?1 DM in E. cyclocarpum to 15.58 g kg^?1 DM in D. guineense. Except E. cyclocarpum and S. spectabilis, the remaining 18 MPTS studied had effective degradabilities (ED) less than 500 g kg^?1 DM effective degradability. Eight MPTS (A. ferruginea, A. niopoides, B. monandra, D. sissoo, E. cyclocarpum, L. leucocephala, S. spectabilis, T. superba) were classified as high quality, another eight (A. gummifera, B. grandiflora, L. sericeus, N. imperialis, P. bicolor, P. santalinoides, T. tetraptera and X. xylocarpa) as medium quality while, the remaining four (D. guineensis, M. griffoneanus, M. thoningii, T. africana) fell into the low quality class based on their nutrient composition and ruminal DM degradability. The results indicate that most of the MPTS could be used as good quality feed for small ruminants in Nigeria.     

Role of income diversification in protecting natural forests: evidence from rural households in forest margins of Sri Lanka

Ranchers need alternative livestock feeds when herbaceous forages become limiting in summer. Our objectives were to determine: (1) leaf and stem biomass components, (2) nutritive value [in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC), N, and N digestibility] of leaves for animal browse, (3) concentration of the secondary metabolites robinin and mimosine, and (4) in vitro leaf and bark toxicity for black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and mimosa (Albizia julibrissin Durz.), respectively, pollarded at 50 cm in Arkansas, USA. Black locust exceeded mimosa for every yield component (leaf mass tree⁻¹, leaves shoot⁻¹, shoots tree⁻¹, shoot mass tree⁻¹, stem basal area, and biomass tree⁻¹) except mass leaf⁻¹. Projected yields were 1,900 and 1,600 kg leaves ha⁻¹ for black locust and mimosa, respectively, assuming a population of 12,300 trees ha⁻¹. Mimosa leaves had greater IVDMD, TNC, and N digestibility than black locust. Mimosa leaves exceeded the nutritional N requirements of growing cattle (Bos taurus L.) and goats (Capra hircus L.), but protein supplementation would be needed for growing goats grazing black locust leaves. Tissue concentrations of secondary metabolites robinin and mimosine were below detectable limits in black locust and mimosa, respectively. The extract of black locust bark, but not leaves, was toxic to bioassayed African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops L.) cells. Either black locust or mimosa could provide moderate quantities of high quality, rotationally grazed forage for goats during summer months when herbaceous forage may in short supply.     

对印度亚热带潮湿气候中的多种用途树叶作为草料的质量评价(英文)

多种用途树种和灌木在农业系统中有重要的作用,在减少饲料供求矛盾和补充世界各地饲料赤字,提高动物生产力方面有很大的潜力。同时,评价草料各种营养特性,利于生产定量平衡的饲料。评价12种多种用途树种(Acacia auri-culiformis,Albizzia procera,Dalbergia sissoo,Gliricidia macu-lata,Leucaena leucocephala,Samanea saman,Azadirachta in-dica,Eucalyptus hybrida,Gmelina arborea,Michelia champaca,Morus alba,和Tectona grandis)的树叶的营养特性,其中分别包括6种豆科和非豆科树种,指标包括:常规成分,细胞壁成分,总鞣质含量,大量(Ca和P)与微量元素(Fe,Cu,Zn,Mn和Co)含量,干物质体外消化率与有机物消化率以及代谢能量值。结果表明上述各参数都有明显的差异。有机物,粗蛋白质含量,石油醚提取物总量,粗纤维含量,无氮浸出物,总灰分的平均值分别为:(92.02±0.30)%,(16.00±0.74)%,(3.05±0.13)%,(18.97±1.07)%,(54.00±1.12)%和(7.98±0.30)%。豆科树种较非豆科树种有更高的粗蛋白质含量(18.30%和13.70%)。细胞壁成分中的中性洗涤纤维素,酸性洗涤纤维,半纤维,纤维素,酸性木质素含量平均值分别为:(52.48±1.05)%,(31.72±0.97)%,(20.76±0.88)%,(16.97±0.70)%和(9.57±0.62)%。总鞣质含量为(4.22±0.32)%。Ca与P之比合理,多种树种叶中Fe和Mn含量丰富,P,Cu,Zn和Co水平低于标准水平含量。干物质体外消化率与有机物消化率平均值分别为(48.96±1.30)%和(50.69±1.36)%。代谢能量值为(6.95±0.11)MJ·kg-1。粗蛋白质含量与干物质体外消化率与有机物消化率和代谢能量值成正相关;而这三个参数与中性洗涤纤维素,酸性洗涤纤维,和酸性木质素含量成负相关。结果表明:银合欢可作为优良饲料的树种,因为它具有最高的干物质体外消化率与有机物消化率以及代谢能量值(65.20%,67.66%和7.95MJ·kg-1),而Gliricidia maculata,Morus alba,Azadirachta indica,Dalbergia sissoo和Samanea saman可做较好类型饲料的树种,其它树种做饲料质量差。     

Management Effects on Biomass and Foliar Nutritive Value of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gleditsia triacanthos</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">inermis</Emphasis> in Arkansas,USA

The browse potential of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and thornless honey locust [Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis (L.) Zabel] has not been adequately tested. Our objective was to determine effects of fertilization and pollarding on biomass and foliar nutritive value in separate studies of black locust and thornless honey locust in Arkansas, USA. Shoots were sampled monthly for two consecutive growing seasons in 2002 and 2003 to determine foliar, shoot, and total aboveground biomass, shoot basal diameter, and foliar nutritive value (crude protein and in vitro digestibility). Black locust yielded more foliar biomass when pollarded at 50 or 100 cm and fertilized with 600 kg P ha⁻¹, than at 5 cm with or without P, averaging 3.5 Mg dry matter ha⁻¹. Black locust foliar crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility ( ≤ 170 and 534 g kg⁻¹, respectively) decreased as leaves aged, but still met maintenance needs for beef cattle (Bos taurus L.). Thornless honey locust had little agronomic potential because of slow establishment, low foliar yield (330 kg ha⁻¹), and a 2% reversion to undesirable thorny phenotype. Black locust should be considered for livestock browse when drought induces semi-dormancy of herbaceous forages.     

Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping system in Meru South District, Kenya

Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (manure, Tithonia diversifolia, Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala) and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield, and soil chemical properties over seven seasons. On average, tithonia treatments (with or without half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer) gave the highest grain yield (5.5 and 5.4 Mg ha⁻¹ respectively) while the control treatment gave the lowest yield (1.5 Mg ha⁻¹). After 2 years of trial implementation, total soil carbon and nitrogen contents were improved with the application of organic residues, and manure in particular improved soil calcium content. Results of the economic analysis indicated that on average across the seven seasons, tithonia with half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer treatment recorded the highest net benefit (USD 787 ha⁻¹) while the control recorded the lowest (USD 272 ha⁻¹). However, returns to labor or benefit-cost ratios were in most cases not significantly improved when organic materials were used.     

Assessing the Potential of Trees for Afforestation of Degraded Landscapes in the Aral Sea Basin of Uzbekistan

Land degradation is a serious hindrance to agricultural development in Uzbekistan, a country striving to rebuild its agricultural sector for self-sustained production. The potential of multipurpose trees for upgrading degraded land is enormous. However, knowledge is lacking about the establishment and growth characteristics of different species, the energy content of firewood and the nutritive value of fodder. This study presents such data for 10 selected local multipurpose species grown on gleyic solonchak soil. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. and Tamarix androssowii showed superior biomass growth, respectively producing up to 11.0 and 10.4 t ha⁻¹ of utilizable aboveground dry matter (DM). E. angustifolia showed high potential for rapid establishment evidenced by root elongation of over 100 m tree⁻¹ at the age of 3 years. T. androssowii, Prunus armeniaca L. and Populus nigra var. pyramidalis Spach exhibited the greatest fuelwood characteristics, showing calorific values in the range of 14.4 – 16.2 MJ DM kg⁻¹. E. angustifolia and Morus alba L. demonstrated superior fodder potential given by the crude protein content of 216 and 117 g DM kg⁻¹. Recommendations on species selection are proposed based on various species characteristics. In assessing the potential of trees for afforestation of degraded land a reliable economic analysis of these aspects must be taken into account. When considering all characteristics concurrently, a mixture of species instead of monocrop cultivation seems to provide the best solution for improving degraded land.     

Intercropping field crops between rows of Leucaena leucocephala under rainfed conditions in northern India

A field study was conducted for six years (1981–1986) on sandy loam soil on intercropping hedgerows of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit. with three field crops viz. maize (Zea mays L), black gram (Vigna mungo L) and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L Taub.). In treatments 1 and 2 Leucaena hedges were planted as pure crops at close (25 cm × 75 cm) and wide (25 cm × 375 cm) spacings. In treatments 3, 4 and 5 the three field crops were intercropped between the hedgerows of Leucaena at the wide spacing, and in treatments 6, 7 and 8 the field crops were raised as pure crops. Leucaena was topped to 75 cm each time it attained a height of 175 cm. The pure crop of Leucaena at close spacing produced an average, over the six years, of 34 t ha⁻¹a⁻¹ of green fodder and 9.4 t ha⁻¹a⁻¹ of air dry fuelwood. The Leucaena at wide spacing produced 18.9 t ha⁻¹a⁻¹ of green fodder and 6.3 t ha⁻¹a⁻¹ of fuelwood. Intercropping with field crops decreased the yield of green fodder and fuelwood. The yield of all the field crops was less when raised as intercrops than as pure crops. Mean maximum net returns were obtained from intercrops of Leucaena and cluster bean (Rs 3540 ha⁻¹a⁻¹) which were significantly higher than the returns from pure crop of Leucaena at wide spacing but similar to the returns from pure crops of cluster bean. Leucaena with maize (Rs 3273 ha⁻¹a⁻¹) and black gram (Rs 3125 ha⁻¹a⁻¹) gave significantly higher net returns over pure crops of Leucaena at wide spacing, maize and black gram. ICRISAT = International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics- Hyderabad, India. CIAT = Centro International de Agricultura Tropical - Cali - Columbia     

Vegetative propagation of two endemic species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cloezia</Emphasis> Brongn. &; Gris for conservation and mining revegetation activities in New Caledonia

A study to determine the best vegetative propagation protocol was carried out for two species of the endemic genus Cloezia for conservation and mining revegetation activities in New Caledonia. Effects of clonal capacities and auxin treatments on rooting of C. buxifolia and C. aquarum semi-hardwood cuttings taken from wild populations were evaluated in four experiments. Different phenotypes varied in their capacity to root (from 0 to more than 80%) and this underlines the importance of collecting cuttings from different plants when revegetation programs are based on vegetative propagation. The experiments evaluated the effectiveness of IBA at 5, 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹, IAA at 5 and 10 g kg⁻¹ and NAA at 1 and 2 g kg⁻¹ treatments to enhance rooting of C. buxifolia tip cuttings and C. aquarum tip and stem cuttings compared to control cuttings with no applied auxin. With the exception of IAA, auxin treatments enhanced the percentage of cuttings with roots and significantly improved the number of roots per cutting and root length. In this study, the best treatment is 10 g kg⁻¹ IBA for C. buxifolia. For C. aquarum, 20 g kg⁻¹ IBA significantly enhances quantitatively and qualitatively rooting of both tip and stem cuttings.

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Résumé  Cette étude porte sur la définition d’un protocole de multiplication végétative optimale de deux espèces du genre endémique Cloezia dans un but de conservation et de revégétalisation en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Quatre essais visent à déterminer les potentialités clonales de différents individus et l’effet de divers traitements hormonaux sur l’enracinement de boutures de C. buxifolia et C. aquarum. L’enracinement des boutures dépend du pied-mère sur lesquelles elles sont récoltées et peut varier de 0 à plus de 80%, ce qui indique l’intérêt de la méthode d’échantillonnage lors de la collecte des boutures. L’effet de traitements hormonaux à base d’AIB, AIA et ANA à différentes concentrations, respectivement de 5, 10 et 20 g kg⁻¹, 5 et 10 g kg⁻¹ et 1 et 2 g kg⁻¹ est également étudié sur des boutures de tête de C. buxifolia et des boutures de tête et de tige de C. aquarum. Ces traitements améliorent le pourcentage d’enracinement et augmentent significativement le nombre de racines produites et la longueur des racines des boutures de Cloezia, à l’exception des traitements à base d’AIA. Dans cette étude, le meilleur traitement est 10 g kg⁻¹ d’AIB pour C. buxifolia et 20 g kg⁻¹ d’AIB pour C. aquarum.

     

Relationships between preference, rumen degradability, gas production and chemical composition of browses

The aim of this work was to assess whether degradability, gas production or chemical constituents could predict the preference of browses. Forty tropical browse species leaves with a crude protein (CP) content ranging from 79 to 307 g kg^-1 DM were used for this study. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 220 to 694 g kg^-1 DM, while acid detergent fibre (ADF) ranged from 146 to 523 g kg^-1 DM. The NDF-bound nitrogen (NDFN) and ADF-bound nitrogen were particularly high in Calliandra calothyrsus, Acacia polyacantha, Sesbania sesban, Acacia venosa and Acacia hockii. High levels of tannins were observed in Acacia species especially A. dolichocephala, A. hockii, A. microbotrya and A. salicina. High levels were also observed in Flemingia macrophyla and Leucaena pallida. The browse species differed (P < 0.05) in DM in sacco degradability coefficients. High potential degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) were observed in Sesbania spp, Moringa stenopetala, Indigofera arrecta, Chamaecytisus palmensis and Atriplex spp. The browses differed (P < 0.05) in asymptotic gas (Ag) production (ml g^-1 OM), but had similar (P > 0.05) times of incubation at which half of the asymptotic gas had been formed. Preference and DM intake were positively correlated (P < 0.01) to NDFN, but negatively correlated (P < 0.05) to NDF and ADF. The PD and Ag were negatively (P < 0.001) related to NDF, ADF and lignin. Total phenols (TP) and condensed tannins (CT) were negatively (P < 0.05) related to PD, ED and Ag. A positive correlation was observed between CT and NDF-bound condensed tannins (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) and, CT and TP (r = 0.40, P < 0.01). Prediction equations were poor for DM intake and preference, moderate for gas production and good for potential and effective degradabilities. The phenolic components were more related to dry matter degradation and gas production than to preference and dry matter intake. NDFN and Ag made a positive contribution to both preference and DM intake. It was concluded that chemical constitutes such as N, NDF, NDFN, ADF and lignin are essential to predict the nutritive value of browses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biomass production, foliar and root characteristics and nutrient accumulation in young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stand growing on abandoned agricultural land

The above-ground biomass and production, below-ground biomass, nutrient (NPK) accumulation, fine roots and foliar characteristics of a 8-year-old silver birch (Betula pendula) natural stand, growing on abandoned agricultural land in Estonia, were investigated. Total above-ground biomass and current annual production after eight growing seasons was 31.2 and 11.9 t DM ha⁻¹, respectively. The production of stems accounted for 62.4% and below-ground biomass accounted for 19.2% of the total biomass of the stand. Carbon sequestration in tree biomass reaches roughly 17.5 t C ha⁻¹ during the first 8 years. The biomass of the fine roots (d < 2 mm) was 1.7 ± 0.2 t DM ha⁻¹ and 76.2% of it was located in the 20 cm topsoil layer. The leaf area index (LAI) of the birch stand was estimated as 3.7 m² m⁻² and specific leaf area (SLA) 15.0 ± 0.1 m² kg⁻¹. The impact of the crown layer on SLA was significant as the leaves are markedly thicker in the upper part of the crown compared with the lower part. The short-root specific area (SRA) in the 30 cm topsoil was 182.9 ± 9.5 m² kg⁻¹, specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD) and the number of short-root tips (>95% ectomycorrhizal) per dry mass unit of short roots were 145.3 ± 8.6 m g⁻¹, 58.6 ± 3.0 kg m⁻³ and 103.7 ± 5.5 tips mg⁻¹, respectively. In August the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, accumulated in above ground biomass, was 192.6, 25.0 and 56.6 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. The annual flux of N and P retranslocation from the leaves to the other tree parts was 57.2 and 3.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (55 and 27%), respectively, of which 29.1 kg ha⁻¹ N and 2.8 kg ha⁻¹ P were accumulated in the above-ground part of the stand.     

Litter and biomass production from planted and natural fallows on a degraded soil in southwestern Nigeria

To rehabilitate a degraded Alfisol at Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, Senna siamea (non-N-fixing legume tree), Leucaena leucocephala, and Acacia leptocarpa (N-fixing legume trees) were planted in 1989, and Acacia auriculiformis (N-fixing legume tree) in 1990. Pueraria phaseoloides (a cover crop) and natural fallow were included as treatments. Litterfall and climatic variables were measured in 1992/1993 and 1996/1997 while biomass production and nutrient concentrations were measured in 1993 and 1995. Total litter production from the natural and planted fallows was similar, with means ranging from 10.0 (L. leucocephala) to 13.6 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ (natural fallow) during the 1996/1997 collection. Leaves constituted 73% (L. leucocephala) to 96% (A. auriculiformis) of total litterfall. Acacia auriculiformis grew most quickly but S. siamea produced the highest aboveground biomass which was 127 t ha⁻¹ accumulated over four years, and 156 t ha⁻¹ accumulated over six years of establishment. The aboveground biomass of P. phaseoloides and natural fallow was only 6 to 9 t ha⁻¹ at six years after planting. Nitrogen concentration in the leaves/twigs of was 2.5% for L. leucocephala, and 2% for other planted species and natural fallow. Pueraria phaseoloides had concentrations of P, K, Ca and Mg comparable to levels in the leaves/twigs of the tree species. Through PATH analysis, it was found that maximum temperature and minimum relative humidity had pronounced direct and indirect effects on litterfall. The effects of these climatic variables in triggering litterfall were enhanced by other variables, such as evaporation, wind, radiation, and minimum temperature. Improvement in chemical properties by fallows was observed in the degraded soil. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dry matter production,morphology and nutritive value of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylis glomerata</Emphasis> growing under different light regimes

Plant growth, morphology and nutritive value under shade can differ between temperate grasses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the dry matter (DM) production, sward morphology, crude protein (CP%), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and macro-nutrient concentrations (P, K, Mg, Ca and S) in a grazed cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) pasture under 10-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don forest. Four levels of light intensity were compared: full sunlight (100% photosynthetic photon flux density-PPFD), open + wooden slats (∼43% PPFD), trees (∼58% PPFD) and tree + slats (∼24% PPFD). The mean total DM production was 8.2 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the open and 3.8 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the trees + slats treatment. The changes in cocksfoot leaf area index (LAI) were related to variations in morphological aspects of the sward such as canopy height and tiller population. CP% increased as PPFD declined with mean values of 18.6% in open and 22.5% in the trees + slats treatment. In contrast, the intensity of fluctuating shade had little effect on OMD with a mean value of 79 ± 3.2%. The mean annual macro-nutrient concentrations in leaves increased as the PPFD level declined mainly between the open and the trees + slats treatments. It therefore appears that heavily shaded dominant temperate pastures in silvopastoral systems limit animal production per hectare through lower DM production rates and per animal through reduced pre-grazing pasture mass of lower bulk density from the etiolated pasture.     

Interactions between Widely Spaced Young Poplars (Populus spp.) and Introduced Pasture Mixtures

Silvopastoral systems involving poplars are widespread in rural landscapes in a number of regions of New Zealand. The effect of widely spaced trees of Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii, aged 8–11 years, on the growth and botanical composition of understorey pasture mixes was determined over 3 years at a southern North Island hill country site. Pasture mixes comprised existing pasture, and two introduced test swards comprising new grass (Agrostis capillaris, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne) and legume (Lotus uliginosus, Trifolium repens) cultivars. Pasture accumulation beneath trees (6.6 t DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) was 23% less than open (unshaded, no trees) pasture (8.6 t DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and differences in accumulation occurred between tree aspects (North and South sides of trees) when trees were foliated. In early spring, North plots produced 11–14% more herbage than South plots whereas in late summer, South plots produced up to 44% more herbage than North plots. Yield of both test swards (6.4 and 8.0 t DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) was not significantly different from that of the existing sward (7.4 t DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) but productivity varied between swards in spring and summer. One test sward included Lotus uliginosus cv. Grasslands Maku, and the sward produced 30% more DM than the other swards in mid-summer. Dactylis glomerata cv. Grasslands Wana comprised 37% of the DM of swards in which it was sown and was the most successful cultivar, followed by Grasslands Maku. Both cultivars are recommended for silvopastoral systems where pasture is lightly grazed.     

Nutrient element contents of cutting seedlings of hybrid species （ Liriodendron chinense x tulipifera）

The cutting seedlings ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were treated with the different concentrations of auxin (treatment₁: IBA of 50 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹; treatment₂; IBA of 100 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹). The biomass nutrient element contents for different organs (root, stem, leaf) of cutting seedling ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were measured by the dry method, Kjeldahl method and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method. The result showed that the biomass of root, stem, and leaf of the cutting seedling treated with auxin was all remarkably increased. The contents of element C in root, stem and leaf had no significant difference between the control and auxin treatments, while the contents of N, P, K and Ca in stem were much lower than that in leaf and root. Variance analysis showed that for the same organ with different concentration treatment of auxin, the four nutrient elements (N, P, K, and Ca) had no significant difference in contents, while there existed significant or very significant difference in contents of the four nutrient elements in different organs with the same concentration auxin treatment. The N, P, K and Ca contents were very low in cutting seedlings; as a result, additional fertilizer should be applied to the seedlings when they were planted in the field. Foundation item: This paper was supported by Jiangsu Province Science Foundation (BE96350). Biography: ZHANG Xiao-ping, (1972-), female, Ph. Doctor in Nanjing Forestry University. Nanjing 210037, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

Nitrogen and fine root length dynamics in a tropical agroforestry system with periodically pruned Erythrina poeppigiana

The effect of pruning all branches (complete pruning) or retaining one branch (partial pruning) on the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in aboveground biomass, nitrogen supplying power of an amended Eutric Cambisol, and fine root length, was studied in an Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook—tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) alley cropping practice in Turrialba, Costa Rica during 1999–2000. Over the 1 year pruning cycle, in which trees were completely or partially pruned four times, respective aboveground biomass production was 4.4 Mg or 7 Mg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 5.5 Mg or 9 Mg ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); N cycled in aboveground biomass was 123 kg or 187 kg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 160 kg or 256 kg N ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); mean fine root length was 489 or 821 m (2-year-old-trees), 184 or 364 m per tree (8-year-old-trees). Pruning intensity did not significantly affect net N mineralisation and net nitrification rates during the tomato-cropping season. For the tomato crop, pre-plant mean net N mineralisation rate of 2.5 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ was significantly lower than 16.7 or 11.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at the end of vegetative development and flowering, respectively. Mean net nitrification rates of 3.5, and 4.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹, at pre-plant and end of vegetative development, respectively, were significantly higher than 0.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at end of flowering. In humid tropical low-input agroforestry practices that depend on organic inputs from trees for crop nutrition, retention of a branch on the pruned tree stump appears to be a good alternative to removal of all branches for reducing N losses through higher N cycling in aboveground biomass, and for conserving fine root length for higher N uptake, although it might enhance competition for associated crops.     

Neem oil as a potential seed dresser for managing Homopterous sucking pests of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Insecticidal seed treatment is an alternative method to spray and granular applications. It can protect the crop right from germination to reproductive stage. Recurrent use of chemical insecticides destabilizes the ecosystem and enhances the development of resistance in pest population. Use of biopesticides like neem oil (NO) is a promising one in this situation. Two field experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of NO as a seed dresser (20 ml kg⁻¹) and the effect was compared with systemic chemical insecticides imidacloprid (7 g kg⁻¹) and carbosulfan (7 g kg⁻¹) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (10 g kg⁻¹). Field studies revealed that the neem oil 60EC (C) (NO 60EC (C)) recorded minimum population of sucking pests Leafhopper—Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida and Aphids—Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Cicadellidae and Aphididae), i.e., below the ETL (2 number per leaf) up to 45 days after sowing and provided better yield compared to control. Although the systemic chemical insecticide imidacloprid performed better by recording 11,280 and 11,580 kg ha⁻¹ of marketable fruit yield, NO 60EC (C) also recorded about twofold increase in marketable fruit yield 11,000 and 10,620 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, in 2001 and 2002 experiments. Results of this study suggest that NO could be used as a potential seed dresser for managing sucking pests in okra.