Seasonal variation in white clover content and nitrogen fixing (acetylene reducing) activity in a cut upland sward

The seasonal variation in herbage mass and nitrogen fixing (acetylene reducing) activity of white clover in an upland sward, cut weekly to 3·5 cm from mid-May until mid-October, was measured. Acetylene reducing activity (ARA) was measured over a 24-h period at 3-weekiy intervals starting on 3 March 1983. Clover leaf and Stalon biomass was measured by harvest of the assay truces, and from mid-May quadrat euts to 3·5 cm above the soil surface provided estimates of herbage accumulation.
Little A RA was detected in March, but activity increased substantially after 10 cm soil temperatures reached > 3°C, and peak activity per unit of clover leaf dry weight occurred in June and July; standing clover leaf dry matter increased during the season to a maximum of 60·5 g m⁻¹ in June. Acetylene reducing activity was positively correlated with the number of rooted nodes, and Stalon and leaf dry weights in early spring. Thereafter, except during a period of summer drought, ARA was positively correlated with the amount of clover leaf material.
Clover population density increased during the season and maximum growing point numbers (5540 m⁻¹) occurred in September; maximum leaf number per unit area (12 984 m⁻¹) was found in October, prior to the final cutting of the site.
Results suggest that higher levels of nitrogen fixation in upland swards should be obtained if sward management regimes, which encourage a high clover leaf area, are adopted.     

Effect of K fertilization on yield and leaf nutrient concentrations of potatoes grown on a sandy soil

A large percentage of winter and spring potatoes (Solanum tuberosum, L.) grown in the USA is produced in northeast Florida (NEF) on sandy soils with low cation exchange capacity. Maintaining adequate K nutrition is a major concern. A study was conducted on an Elzey fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Typic Humaquept) in NEF to relate yield and leaf K to soil and fertilizer K levels. In 1981, Mehlich-I soil K in the 0–15 cm depth averaged 73 mg/kg. Yields of 35 t/ha were obtained without any K fertilization and no response to K sidedressed at rates up to 70 kg/ha was obtained. In the following three years, soil K prior to fertilization was < 40 mg/kg. In 1982 and 1983, significant differences in yield were obtained as a result of K fertilization at planting at rates up to 186 kg/ha. In 1984, no yield differences were obtained with K fertilizer rates ranging from 94 to 280 kg/ha. Differences in maximum tuber yields from year to year were related to the number of growing-degree days accumulated between planting and harvest. Yield-leaf K relationships for leaf samples taken late in the season showed that the critical leaf K concentration for 35 t/ha yields was no more than about 20 g/kg; that for yields approaching 40 t/ha was no more than about 45 g/kg. The results of this study indicated that current K fertilizer recommendations are higher than necessary for the yields being obtained by most NEF potato growers.     

生物炭添加对潮棕壤土壤性状及玉米生长的影响

采用田间微区试验方法,研究不同生物炭添加量[0(CK)、22.5 t/hm2(C1)、67.5 t/hm2(C2)和112.5 t/hm2(C3)]对玉米不同生长期土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、玉米生长和产量的影响。结果表明,生物炭添加提高了土壤MBC和SOC含量,处理组C1、C2和C3的SOC含量较对照组CK增加20.9%、57.25%和93.23%,并且MBC占SOC比例的变化表明生物炭的添加促进了土壤MBC对土壤有机质(SOM)的贡献。另外,在生物炭添加处理下,土壤含水量和土壤MBC呈显著的正相关。生物炭的添加增加了开花期玉米的株高、茎粗、叶面积指数以及成熟期玉米的百粒重和产量。相比于对照组CK,处理组C2和C3株高增加15.99%、21.55%,茎粗增加13.77%、9.64%,产量增加23.23%、23.12%;处理组C1、C2和C3叶面积指数高于CK 13.89%、44.52%和47.26%。     

Intake and behaviour responses by sheep to changes in sward characteristics under rotational grazing

A 10-week grazing experiment was conducted on a perennial ryegrass sward with lactating ewes and their twin lambs. Three paddocks were rotationally grazed with rest periods of from 4 to 5 weeks. Sward surface heights at the start of each grazing were 145, 259 and 250mni for treatments RG1, RG2 and RG3. A further four paddocks were maintained by continuous variable stocking (CS) at sward surface heights (SSHs) of about 30, 60, 90 and 120mm. Sward and animal measurements were made on the two different grazing managements as the RG swards were grazed down, giving measurements at similar sward heights for treatments RG and CS.
There was less green leaf and the total herbage mass present under RG was less than on CS swards at the same sward heights, demonstrating the differences in structure between rotationally and continuously grazed swards.
Regression analysis of animal factors on sward factors showed that grazing behaviour was more highly correlated with green leaf mass than SSH or any of the other sward measurements. On the RG swards, maximum intake per animal was reached at about 1500 kg green leaf mass ha⁻¹. A SSH of 60mm allowed the CS ewes to achieve the highest intake rate, but at this height the ewes on treatments RG2 and RG3 were restricted to approximately half this rate. The results suggest that green leaf mass or leaf area index, rather than sward surface height, could be used as a rational basis to relate intake of herbage to sward state for swards changing rapidly in leaf to stem ratio.     

Repeated application of anaerobic digestate,undigested cattle slurry and inorganic fertilizer N: Impacts on pasture yield and quality

The growth of on‐farm anaerobic digestion (AD) has generated significant quantities of digestate for use as a soil amendment. However, relative to other organic and inorganic fertilizers, only limited field trial data exist on the effect of repeated applications of digestate to temperate grasslands. Here, we compare yields and grass quality (protein and digestibility) from a field trial of a mixed pasture ley (ryegrass and clover), following the application of five different fertilizer types (liquid digestate generated from anaerobically digested slurry, dry fibre digestate, undigested slurry, ammonium nitrate and an NPK compound fertilizer) in comparison with a no‐fertilizer control. Application rates were normalized in terms of nitrogen (N) and were added as a split dose, with 100 kg N/ha added prior to the first harvest and an additional 50 kg N/ha supplied after the first harvest, every year for 3 years. Overall, our results showed that applying both forms of digestate or undigested slurry gave grass yields that matched those obtained with one compound inorganic fertilizer, and better than those from a straight N inorganic fertilizer. No differences were found with regard to digestibility or sward N‐content (hence calculated protein) between any treatments. Although the trial was conducted at only one site, the results indicate that inorganic fertilizers can potentially be replaced by digestate without compromising grassland productivity.     

Effects of field drainage on the growth of herbage and the liveweight gain of grazing beef cattle

A long-term field grazing experiment was begun in 1982 to examine the impact of efficient field drainage on herbage and animal production from swards on an impermeable clay loam in the south-west of England. Drained and undrained lysimeter plots (each of 1 ha) were established on the existing permanent sward and received annual applications of fertilizer N of 200 or 400 kg ha⁻¹. Similar plots were initially ploughed and reseeded with Lolium perenne (cv. Melle), and received fertilizer N at an annual rate of 400 kg ha⁻¹. All plots were continuously stocked by beef cattle and stock numbers were adjusted to maintain a constant sward height and to avoid poaching damage. Results for the first 5 years show that the benefits from drainage were modest and, for beef production, unlikely to pay for its costs over the shorter term. The main benefit was in spring when herbage dry matter yield was 11% greater on the drained plots, but with no significant interaction with fertilizer N level or sward type. This benefit was reduced to 3% on an annual basis, due to the effect of the larger soil water deficits sustained by the drained swards in mid-season. Drainage increased the annual liveweight gain per ha by the grazing cattle by 11%. Possible mechanisms accounting for these effects are discussed in relation to the influences of seasonal patterns of weather.     

STUDIES IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN

Regression equations have been calculated for the primary growth of a ryegrass sward as FM (fresh matter), DM, DOM and for uptake of N, K, P, Ca, Na and Mg after application of 59,118 or 177 kg fertilizer N/ha on 16 Apr. These have been used to predict changes in response with time, the responses in terms of time, the dates when specific yields of DM are attained, the different characteristics of herbages at specified yields of DM and the effects of changing harvesting interval on annual DM yield and uptake of minerals. DM and DOM show significant responses to 118 kg N/ha but no response to the next increment throughout the 57-day growth period. All other attrihutes, including FM, showed responses to 177 kg N/ha. Calculated response as days gained suggest that for short-interval grazing systems the use of even 118 kg N/ha is questionable. The reduction in annual DM production and the increase in N uptake when growth intervals are shortened are related to the form of their growth curves.     

Net production of herbage from a continuously stocked Lolium perenne-dominated sward in late autumn

Preliminary studies were carried out on the effect of stocking rate during late autumn on a continuously stocked Lolium perenne -dominated sward at an upland site in central Scotland. Measurements were made of L. perenne tiller population density on 29 September and 2 November and of L. perenne net production, mean sward height and total herbage mass in early and late October and early and late November. Stocking rates were 12 ewes per ha during October and 8 and 16 ewes per ha during November. Sward height and herbage mass declined with time and more rapidly at the higher stocking rate. L. perenne growth per tiller and per unit area was influenced by time but not by stocking rate and was closely related to the 5·5°C soil temperature at 10 cm depth. Tiller senescence was greatly reduced at the higher stocking rate and/or the consequentially lower sward height and herbage mass. Tiller net production was therefore sustained at a positive level on the higher stocked sward throughout November while on the lower stocked sward it fell below zero early in November.     

Response of palmarosa {Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk.} to foliar application of magnesium and micronutrients

A field investigation was carried out on red sandy soil in the semi-arid tropical climate of south India to investigate the response of industrially important, multi-harvest, aromatic crop palmarosa {Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk., family: Poaceae} to foliar application (2.5 g/L single application for each harvest at 700 L nutrient solution per hectare) of magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and their residual effect on the succeeding harvest. During the experimental period, palmarosa crop afforded four harvests, 49.5-70.6 t/ha total biomass yield (fresh weight), 211.4-384.2 kg/ha total essential oil yield and Rs. 232,540-422,620/ha (US$ 4844.6-8804.6/ha) gross returns. Fifth harvest (no nutrients were applied) performed to examine the residual effect of Mg and micronutrients applied to the previous four harvests revealed the absence of residual effect pointing to the need for application of nutrients to individual harvests. Foliar application of Mg and micronutrients significantly increased the yield attributes (plant height, tiller number/plant, leaf number/plant), biomass yield, essential oil yield and gross returns of palmarosa. Mg and micronutrients enhanced the total biomass yields by 37.0-42.6% and the total essential oil yields by 44.6-81.7% in comparison to the control (water spray).All the treatments produced good quality essential oils with 1.5-3.2% linalool, 79.7-85.8% geraniol and 4.5-10.3% geranyl acetate. Mg and B additions declined linalool (%) in the second and fourth harvests and increased geraniol (%) in the first harvest. Mg and micronutrients application improved geraniol (%) in the second harvest. Except Zn, all the other nutrients decreased geranyl acetate (%) in the second harvest, but in the third and fourth harvests Mn and B increased geranyl acetate (%).     

HERBAGE AND BEEF PRODUCTIVITY OF FERTILIZED PASTURES IN NORTHERN ONTARIO

The productivity of 2 fertilized sown pasture swards and of a 30-year-old pasture sod was evaluated under rotational and continuous grazing in 1956–62.The application of NP fertilizer (448 kg 11–48–0/ha every 3 years with 112 kg ammonium sulphate in the other years) gave the highest yields of DM and of beef, followed by the P treatment (1120 kg superphosphate/ha). Beef production showed only small responses to either the type of pasture sward, or the method of grazing. Seasonal distribution of beef production was slightly more even on the old sod. For the peak period of June-July, 68% of the gain was made on the old sod against 74% on the cultivated swards under rotational grazing and 79% under continuous grazing. DM/gain ratios were generally higher in wet summers than in dry ones. Conversely, estimated DM digestibility was lowest in wet summers.     

Cattle slurry as a source of nutrients for red clover: herbage production and clover contribution

An established sward of red clover cv. Hungaropoly sown pure received approx. 30 kg P ha^-1 and 200 kg K ha^-1 each year for 3 successive years. The P and K were applied either as cattle slurry, inorganic fertilizer or combinations of these. Treatments were applied either in spring or after the first harvest. There were a total of six treatments and these were harvested three times each year. The average yields of total herbage DM over all the treatments in the first, second and third years were 15·2, 14·2 and 14·2 t ha^-1 respectively and the various treatments had no significant effect on the overall yields.
Treatments had a significnt effect on red clover DM yields and percentage red clover in one harvest in each of the first 2 years and all three in the third year. Yields of red clover were lower and grass higher in treatments receiving cattle slurry only. On this treatment there was a total yield of 23·2 t ha^-1 red clover DM in the 3 years compared with 30·2 t ha^-1 on the inorganic fertilizer treatments. However, by applying P and K fertilizer in the spring, followed by cattle slurry after the first harvest, it was possible to maintain a high proportion of red clover in the sward and to produce yields of red clover DM similar to those on the inorganic fertilizer treatments.     

播期、收获期对玉米生长发育及冠层性状的调控

采用均匀试验设计,研究6个播期配合6个收获期对郑单958和伟科702生长发育、株型结构和产量性状的影响,通过播期、收获期调控实现高产。结果表明,冀中地区6月12日前播种,玉米抽雄和吐丝持续时间更为集中,播期每推迟3 d,抽雄和吐丝日期后推1 d;继续推迟播期,抽雄和吐丝日期后推4~5 d。2014年6月12日播种处理吐丝期冠层温度最高,不利于玉米授粉;6月15日后播种穗位叶SPAD值降低,尤其是生育后期伟科702叶片SPAD值降低幅度较大。播期对株高、穗位高和基部茎粗影响较大,播期与收获期对产量及其构成影响均显著,穗粒数随播期推迟而降低,千粒重随生育期延长而提高。经回归分析得出,夏玉米每提早播种1 d,产量平均增加98.4 kg/hm2;每推迟收获1 d,平均增产103.3 kg/hm2。郑单958获得较高产量的播期、收获期最佳组合为6月6日至6月12日播种,10月4日至10日收获。     

The relationships between stolon characteristics, winter survival and annual yields in white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Five white clover populations of Swiss origin and three bred varieties were grown in binary mixtures with two perennial ryegrass varieties, Aurora and S23. The seasonal yields of clover and grass plus clover were measured under a cutting regime during the second and third years after establishment. A series of destructive detailed sward measurements was made during the late autumn to spring period preceding each harvest year. In this way changes in the amounts of stolon, leaf plus petiole and numbers of growing points were monitored during the winter.
There were large differences in clover yield between populations in both years. These were evident from the first (spring) harvest in each year. Higher-yielding clovers in spring tended to produce higher annual clover yields. No grass × clover interaction was evident at any harvest. Large differences between clovers were also apparent in the morphological characteristics measured, with the Swiss material generally having greater amounts of stolon, leaf plus petiole and numbers of growing points present in early spring. It is proposed that these factors contribute to the high spring yield in the Swiss populations. Loss of stolon length over each winter was less in the Swiss material, indicating that its good spring growth was not obtained at the expense of winter hardiness. Annual clover yield was found to be significantly positively correlated with the amount of stolon present in spring, exemplifying the importance of stolon survival over the winter.     

Sward growth under cutting and continuous stocking managements: sward canopy structure, tiller density and leaf turnover

The change in structure of continuously grazed versus infrequently cut swards of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L), cv. S23, was investigated during their first full harvest year. Measurements were made from early May until late September. The intensity of stocking by sheep in the grazed sward was adjusted in an attempt to maintain a high level of radiation interception and the cut sward was harvested at approximately monthly intervals.
The herbage mass, lamina area index and radiation interception of the cut sward varied in a cyclic pattern between harvests but in the grazed sward these parameters showed considerably less variation, although they all increased early in the season and then declined later. The proportion of dead material above ground increased throughout the season in both sward types but was more marked in the grazed sward.
There were major differences between the grazed and cut swards in the number of tillers per unit ground area; the difference became more marked throughout the season and by September the tiller densities in the grazed and cut swards were 3·20⁴ m^-2 and 6·20³ m^-2 respectively. Divergence in tiller density was associated with differences in specific stem weight and leaf area per tiller.
Rates of appearance and death of leaves on tillers in the grazed sward were determined. During May, leaf appearance exceeded leaf death but this was reversed in June. During the rest of the season as a new leaf appeared on a tiller so the oldest leaf died.     

THE PRODUCTIVITY OF A FESTUCA/AGROSTIS ALLUVIAL GRASSLAND AT 1700 FT IN THE NORTHERN PENNINES

A seasonal herbage dry-matter yield of 2400 lb/acre was obtained on a soil which by chemical analysis was infertile. Fertilizer treatment doubled yield. Monthly cuttings more than halved the yield but increased the mineral content. The highest levels of ash (8·04%) and nitrogen (3·75%) were obtained on the unfertilized sward in August, under the combined effect of sheep grazing and monthly clipping. Phosphorus levels were very low: 0·002% in the soil and 0·11% (August) in the grazed sward. The effect of varying cutting regimes and of a fertilizer treatment in the first year on yields over 4 years was measured. Little difference was detectable in the final year. Variability in the mineral content was found during the season. The August levels, under enclosure, on a dry-weight basis, were: ash 5·58%, calcium 0·45%, nitrogen 2·05%, phosphorus 0·13%, potash 1·75%, sodium 0·04% and magnesium 0·09%.     

长期施肥和气候因素对东北黑土区玉米产量的影响

本试验以公主岭国家黑土监测基地为平台,研究玉米连作条件下施肥及气候因素对产量的可持续性影响。试验共设有机肥和化肥N、P、K的不同组合共24个试验处理。结果表明,与不施有机肥相比,施用常量有机肥和高量有机肥(FYM1、FYM2)均可以显著提高玉米产量,产量分别达到7668kg/hm²和7925kg/hm²,FYM(无有机肥)处理为5718kg/hm²。有机肥配施化肥比单施化肥也有明显的增产作用,施用N肥165kg/hm²可以显著增加玉米产量,单施磷素、钾素及磷钾配施增产作用不明显,表明土壤中的磷钾营养水平没有限制作物产量。降雨量与产量的相关分析结果表明,磷、钾处理的产量与8月份的降雨量显著相关。     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization and in-row seedpiece spacing on yield of three potato cultivars in Prince Edward Island

AC Novachip and NorWis were recently introduced as new potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) chip cultivars on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada. Variability of nitrogen application and in-row seedpiece spacing, required for maximum yield, exist among cultivars presently grown in P.E.I. This study was conducted to determine the N rate and in-row seedpiece spacing required for optimum production of AC Novachip and NorWis compared to the standard cultivar Norchip, and also, to determine the effects of treatments and harvest dates on AC Novachip. Treatments included N applied at 90, 134, and 179 kg/ha with in-row seedpiece spacings at 20.3, 25.4 and 30.5 cm. In addition to the 120 day harvest for all three cultivars, treatments for AC Novachip were also harvested at 80 and 100 days after planting. For the 120 day harvest, yield of Canada No. 1 size tubers was higher for NorWis compared to Norchip while yields for AC Novachip and Norchip were similar. Nitrogen application had no effect on yields of AC Novachip. Similar to Norchip, increasing the rate of applied N more than 134 kg/ha resulted in little or no increase in yields of NorWis. Yields of Canada No. 1 size tubers decreased as in-row spacing increased for AC Novachip and were greater at 25.4 compared to 30.5 cm spacing for Norchip. In-row seed-piece spacing had no affect on Canada No. 1 size tuber yields of NorWis. Increasing the days to harvest increased the yields of AC Novachip. Nitrogen rate or in-row spacing had no effect on Canada No. 1 yields of AC Novachip at the 80 and 100 day harvests. The results of this study suggest that little gain in yield of Canada No. 1 size tubers for NorWis, similar to the standard cultivar Norchip, can be obtained with N application more than 134 kg/ha or for AC Novachip by increasing the rate of N from 90 to 179 kg/ha. Unlike NorWis yields of AC Novachip and NorWis are reduced when in-row seedpiece spacing is increased from 25.4 to 30.5 cm.     

Effects of an established sward of Lolium perenne L. on the growth and development of Rumex obtusifolius L. seedlings

Seedlings of Rumex obtusifolius L. were grown in gaps (11 cm diameter) in an established sward at Lolium perenne L., Root competition from the surrounding sward was controlled by PVC tubes and shoot competition was controlled by cutting the sward frequently. All combinations, with and without root competition and with and without shoot competition, were used.
Plants received either 40 or 80 kg N ha⁻¹ month⁻¹ and 0 or 300 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ and were harvested 39 d after emergence; a second harvest was made 12 d later, after shading to 20% of full sunlight.
The shoot dry weight per plant of R. obtusifolius was much more affected by root competition than by shoot competition, especially at low nitrogen applications. Potassium supply had no effect.
More dry matter was allocated to the leaf petioles under shaded conditions and the specific leaf area was greater. This morphological plasticity enabled R. obtusifolius to grow well under shading and to be affected only slightly by shoot competition from L. perenne.
The results suggest that competition for nitrogen was the main factor limiting the initial grown of R. obtusifolius in a ryegrass sward and that the morphological characteristics of R. obtusifolius make it less susceptible to competition for light in the early stages of its development.     

The effects of separated cow slurry liquor on soil and herbage nitrogen in Phalaris arundinacea and Lolium perenne

Simulated swards of reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea L ) and ryegrass received applications of separated cow slurry liquor in winter, at rates up to the equivalent of 500 m³ha⁻¹. Subsequent measurement of oxidized nitrogen in the soil under the different species indicated that lower levels of soluble forms of nitrogen were found under the reed canary grass than were under the ryegrass sward. At the first harvest after liquor application, the dry weight yield of reed canary grass responded positively to increasing applications of slurry liquor, but the ryegrass sward appeared to be damaged by very high rates of application. At later harvests, yields of the two species were similar, but over the season, apparent recovery of the nitrogen applied to the swards was greater in the reed canary grass than in ryegrass, suggesting that this species could be of value in the control of losses of nutrients from livestock wastes.     

Irrigation frequencies and corn (Zea mays L.) yield relation in northern Turkey

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2005 at the Research Station (altitude 180 m above sea level, 41 degrees 21' N and 36 degrees 15'E) Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Experiment consisted of three irrigation levels and a non-irrigation level. Drip irrigation treatments consisted of three soil water deficits in the 90 cm soil profile depth was replenished to field capacity. Irrigation treatments were A: no irrigation, B: irrigation at 50% of available soil water capacity, C: irrigation at 30% of available soil water capacity, D: irrigation at 15% of available soil water capacity. The average seasonal water use values ranged from 257.14 to 285.71 mm in corn treatments. Irrigation frequencies (intervals) significantly affected corn crop yields. The average corn grain yields varied from 7.98 to 29.16 t ha(-1). The treatment D was recorded significantly higher corn grain yield 29.16 t ha(-1) compared to B (21.59 t ha(-1)); C (19.15 t ha(-1)) and A (7.98 t ha(-1)), respectively. According to research results, the maximum corn grain yield was obtained when the corn plants were irrigated at 15% of available soil water capacity to field capacity.