Seasonal dynamics of bioenergy characteristics in grassland functional groups

Semi‐natural grasslands (SNG) are considered as bioenergy resources, either for combustion or for biogas production. To provide information on the seasonal (June–August) dynamics of herbage quantity and chemical composition, we studied the effects of factors on the proportions of four plant functional groups, chemical composition and total biomass yield at twelve sites representing three Estonian SNG types. Biomass yield increased only in alluvial meadows with the largest contribution of sedges/rushes (39%). Grasses dominated in dry‐to‐mesic meadows (62%) and other forbs in wooded meadows (55%). Concentration of fibre was highest in grasses and sedges/rushes (682 and 645 g NDF kg^?1), and lignin was highest in legumes and other forbs (103 and 113 g kg^?1). Legumes contained more C and N (447 and 25 g kg^?1) and grasses more Cl (1 g kg^?1). The highest concentrations of Mg, K and ash were in other forbs (4, 18 and 80 g kg^?1), and Ca in legumes (16 g kg^?1). The results are discussed in the context of suitability of different functional groups and SNG types for bioenergy conversion. Grasses and sedge‐/rush‐rich biomass are considered suitable for methane production. Biomass harvesting in July and minimizing the problems with N and Cl during combustion need to be considered. Forb‐rich biomass should be pre‐treated before direct combustion.     

渭北黄土高原果园生草地旱季土壤水分特征研究

在黄土高原渭北苹果园,分析多年生鸡脚草（Dactylis glomerata L.）、百脉根（Lotus corniculatu L.）、小冠花（Coronilla varia L.）三种牧草对0—200 cm土层含水量的影响。结果表明:冬春季节草地表现出明显的保墒性,而进入春季以后,随着牧草的萌发又表现出强烈的耗水性,4月10日—5月31日鸡脚草、百脉根、小冠花地块土壤总耗水量分别为99.57,104.81,82.13 mm,远高于行间裸地同期在该土层的耗水量（24.19 mm）,三种牧草的耗水能力大小依次为:百脉根 > 鸡脚草 > 小冠花。生草地块土壤稳定层对活跃层水分补偿作用明显,活跃层贮水量每减少1 mm,鸡脚草、百脉根、小冠花的相对稳定层贮水量分别减少0.60,0.60,0.73 mm。     

Rotational and continuous grazing of sheep in the Inner Mongolian steppe of China

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of rotational and continuous grazing on herbage mass (HM), organic matter digestibility (dOM) and intake (OMI) and live weight gain (LWG) of sheep grazing on the inner Mongolian steppe, China at a stocking rate of 4.5 sheep/ha during the growing season. In the years 2005 and 2006, four 2-ha plots were used of which two were divided into four 0.5 ha paddocks each for rotational grazing, where sheep were moved each 10 days to the next paddock. The dOM was estimated from faecal crude protein concentration and OMI by oral administration of titanium dioxide. Herbage mass was similar in both grazing systems and dOM and OMI were higher (p < 0.05) at continuous grazing than at rotational grazing, but LWG did not differ probably because of extra energy expenditure for grazing and walking in a larger area. The dOM and OMI decreased (p < 0.05) with progress of the growing season and differed between years. Since precipitation during the growing season in both years was lower than the 30 years average which was probably the reason that positive effects of non-grazing periods on herbage regrowth and quality at rotational grazing could not occur, further studies are required in years with average precipitations before a final evaluation of these grazing systems can be made. Moreover, it seems necessary to quantify energy expenditure for physical activity of animals in grazing studies.     

种间互作对苹果/白三叶复合系统根系生长及分布的影响

设置苹果(Malus demestica Borkh)和白三叶(Trifolium repens L.)单作与间作栽培处理,通过根箱试验研究种间互作对苹果、白三叶根系生长及其分布的影响。结果表明:种间互作导致苹果根系生长发育的正效应和白三叶根系生长发育的负效应;苹果、白三叶不同径级根系对种间互作的响应能力不同,细根比粗根表现出较强的可塑性;苹果细根占总根中的比例提高,而白三叶细根占总根中的比例则降低;种间互作对苹果、白三叶不同径级根垂直分布格局影响不明显,但对不同径级根在各土层中的分布比例产生了明显影响,苹果粗根和细根均有下移的趋势,细根下移的趋势更明显,而白三叶细根分布有上移的趋势,粗根则无明显变化。总之,种间互作对苹果、白三叶根系生长发育及其垂直分布产生了一定的影响,对不同径级根生长及其垂直分布的影响不同。     

草地施肥对牧草和放牧贵州半细毛羊的影响

为评价草地施肥对放牧贵州半细毛羊的影响,在威宁县凉水沟退化人工草地上进行了(NH₄)₂SO₄和NH₄NO₃施肥和放牧试验。结果表明,草地施肥极显著增加牧草氮(N)含量,但各施肥处理之间没有显著差异。(NH₄)₂SO₄施肥极显著增加牧草S、Mn和Zn含量,减少牧草Se含量。试验结束时,施(NH₄)₂SO₄草地半细毛羊血液中Cu、Fe和Se含量极显著低于施NH₄NO₃草地和对照草地,家畜血液Mn、Zn和S含量极显著高于NH₄NO₃施肥牧场和对照牧场。(NH₄)₂SO₄施肥牧场贵州半细毛羊血红蛋白(Hb)和红细胞压积容量(PCV)以及血清Cp含量、血清SOD活力、血清GSH-PX活力和血清CAT活力极显著低于NH₄NO₃施肥牧场和对照牧场,血液其他矿质元素和血液指标及血清生化值在2个施肥处理和对照之间均差异不显著。因此得出结论,威宁县凉水沟天然草地不适合用(NH₄)₂SO₄施肥。     

中国草品种审定登记工作进展

介绍了中国草品种审定登记机构的发展与变革、草品种审定标准体系建设、国家草品种区域试验网建设、草品种审定登记情况等。截至2010年,全国草品种审定委员会已审定登记草品种434个,其中引进品种138个,育成品种161个,野生栽培品种86个,地方品种49个。在审定标准制定、国家草品种区域试验网络建设和品种审定数量等方面均有所突破。同时,对当前中国草品种审定工作中存在的问题进行了讨论,并提出了改进和完善的建议。     

Effect of timing and type of supplementary grain on herbage intake,nitrogen utilization and milk production in dairy cows grazed on perennial ryegrass pasture from evening to morning

The present study aimed to clarify the effect of timing and type of supplementary grain in grazing dairy cows on herbage dry matter intake (HDMI), nitrogen utilization and milk production. Eight lactating cows were allowed to graze from evening to morning during three seasonal periods (spring, summer, autumn). They were randomly allocated to four treatments (timing: pre‐ (Pre) or post‐grazing (Post), for large grain allotments consisting of 75% of daily grain offered; grain type: barley or corn) in 4 × 4 Latin square designs in each period. In the spring period, HDMI was greater for cows fed corn than those fed barley (P = 0.005), whereas cows in the Pre treatment had a similar HDMI, higher (P = 0.049) urinary purine derivative concentration and greater (P = 0.004) milk yield compared with cows in the Post treatment. In the summer and autumn periods, timing treatments did not affect HDMI, nitrogen utilization or milk production, but cows supplemented with barley had higher urinary purine derivatives concentration (P < 0.05) and milk yield (P < 0.05) compared with those supplemented with corn. The results indicate that large grain allotments immediately before evening grazing during early grazing seasons increased ruminal microbial protein synthesis and milk production without reducing HDMI regardless of grain type.     

Metabolic load in dairy cows kept in herbage‐based feeding systems and suitability of potential markers for compromised well‐being

Herbage feeding with only little input of concentrates plays an important role in milk production in grassland dominated countries like Switzerland. The objective was to investigate the effects of a solely herbage‐based diet and level of milk production on performance, and variables related to the metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory status to estimate the stress imposed on dairy cows. Twenty‐five multiparous Holstein cows were divided into a control (C+, n = 13) and a treatment group (C?, n = 12), according to their previous lactation yield (4679–10 808 kg) from week 3 ante partum until week 8 post‐partum (p.p.). While C+ received fresh herbage plus additional concentrate, no concentrate was fed to C? throughout the experiment. Within C+ and C?, the median of the preceding lactation yields (7752 kg) was used to split cows into a high (HYC+, HYC?)‐ and low‐yielding (LYC+, LYC?) groups. Throughout the study, HYC+ had a higher milk yield (35.9 kg/d) compared to the other subgroups (27.2–31.7 kg/d, p < 0.05). Plasma glucose (3.51 vs. 3.72 mmol/l) and IGF‐1 (66.0 vs. 78.9ng/mL) concentrations were lower in HYC?/LYC? compared to HYC+/LYC+ cows (p < 0.05). Plasma FFA and BHBA concentrations were dramatically elevated in HYC? (1.1 and 1.6 mmol/l) compared to all other subgroups (mean values: 0.5 and 0.6 mmol/l, p < 0.05). Saliva cortisol, plasma concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), beta‐endorphin (BE) and activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) were not different between C+ and C?. In conclusion, herbage‐fed high‐yielding cows without supplementary concentrate experienced a high metabolic load resulting in a reduced performance compared to cows of similar potential fed accordingly. Low‐yielding cows performed well without concentrate supplementation. Interestingly, the selected markers for inflammation and stress such as cortisol, Hp, SAA, BE and AP gave no indication for the metabolic load being translated into compromised well‐being.     

生草配合施用有机肥对省力高效梨园土壤的培肥效应研究

为了推动果园生草在我国的推广应用,研究生草配合施用有机肥土壤管理方式对省力高效现代梨园土壤养分的作用效应,在冀中平原的“雪青”梨园,以常规清耕梨园为对照,研究省力高效梨园生草4年和生草8年的培肥效应,于2014年梨树萌芽期,在80 cm土层内分10 cm一层取样,分别测定不同土层的有机质、大量元素和微量元素含量,比较不同处理土壤营养元素的变化特征。结果表明,生草梨园0~50 cm土层有效养分含量均达到较高水平;与常规梨园相比较,这种管理模式短期(4年)增加了0~10 cm土层碱解氮、速效磷、有效锌含量和0~20 cm土层速效钾、有效铁含量,长期(8年)显著增加了0~10 cm土层有机质和碱解氮含量、0~20 cm有效铁和有效锰含量、0~30 cm速效磷和有效铜含量、0~40 cm有效锌含量和0~50 cm速效钾含量。显著降低了0~30 cm土层pH值,明显提高了河北省石灰性梨园土壤磷、铁、锌的有效性。长期生草配合施用有机肥能够增加上层土壤有效养分含量,生草8年后,0~50 cm土层速效磷、速效钾和有效锌占0~80 cm土层比重分别达到92%、82%和88%,为梨园提供充足营养的同时降低了环境污染的风险,有利于梨园土壤培肥和果园的可持续发展。     

三峡库区紫色土坡耕地草本地埂植物根系分布及抗拉力学特征

[目的]探究三峡库区紫色土坡耕地3种草本地埂植物根系分布及抗拉特征,为揭示地埂植物根系固结地埂提供理论依据和数据支持。[方法]以三峡库区自然恢复的蓑草、人工种植的韭菜和蚕豆这3种草本地埂植物根系为研究对象,对比分析其根系在不同地埂土壤深度的分布规律及根系抗拉特性。[结果](1)在0—40cm深度土壤中3种草本地埂植物根系直径变化表现出:蚕豆根系韭菜根系蓑草根系。3种草本地埂植物根系直径与地埂土壤的土层深度间服从指数函数关系。(2)在0—40cm地埂土层深度范围内,韭菜根系生物量与蓑草根系和蚕豆根系生物量之间存在显著性差异(p0.05),韭菜和蚕豆地埂植物根系生物量随土层深度的增加而逐渐减小,蓑草地埂植物根系生物量随土层深度的增加先增加后减小。(3)3种草本地埂植物根系的单根平均抗拉力次序为蚕豆根系(10.53N)蓑草根系(6.03N)韭菜根系(4.51N),3种地埂植物根系单根抗拉力与根径呈幂函数关系(p0.05)。3种地埂植物根系的抗拉强度表现为蓑草根系(45.91 MPa)蚕豆根系(18.02MPa)韭菜根系(12.20 MPa)。(4)3种草本地埂植物根系黏聚力变化顺序为:蓑草根系(0.013 1kPa)蚕豆根系(0.009 4kPa)韭菜根系(0.005 5kPa)且3种地埂植物根系黏聚力与土层深度呈指数函数关系(p0.01)。[结论]自然恢复的蓑草地埂在三峡库区较其他两种人工种植的地埂植物有更好的固结地埂效果,从而有效控制坡面土壤侵蚀和水土流失。草本植物固结地埂可为三峡库区坡耕地治理提供新思路。