Aspects of the productivity of forage legumes in Northern Europe

A database on the productivity of red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), lucerne (Medicago sativa), lotus (Lotus corniculatus) and galega (Galega orientalis) was compiled. It contains 1852 observations for 330 trials at fifty‐three sites in eight north European countries for the period from 1977 to 1997. The database includes information on climatic and site characteristics, as well as agronomic data, collated into four smaller data sets. This has permitted four key agronomic issues to be examined, namely: (i) how yield for a given variety varies under different environmental conditions; (ii) how the relative performance of different species varies between sites; (iii) how persistence varies between species and sites; and (iv) what the nature of the relationship is between varieties, yield and sites within a species? Cluster analysis revealed that geographical location had a fairly strong influence on yield. Across sites for an individual variety, the cumulative day‐degrees during the regrowth period had the highest correlation with total yield. In terms of the relative performance of different forage legume species across sites, red clover and lucerne were estimated to yield about 2·5 t DM ha^?1 more than white clover and there was a significant impact of cumulative day‐degrees during regrowth and the age of ley on the total yield. It was found that red clover had the lowest persistence index and lucerne the highest. As regards the interaction between yield, varieties and sites, the length of growth period and the age of the ley explained two‐thirds of the variation in total yield in red clover varieties of contrasting maturity types.     

The management of Brassica for winter forage in the sub-tropics

In subtropical latitudes temperate crops can be grown during the cool months but the growing season is restricted by the termination and beginning of hot weather. Postponing sowing date in south Florida from October to November to January resulted in 150, 130 and 110-d growing seasons respectively. Dry matter (DM) yields of turnip, swede, rape and kale were lowered by each later sowing date and shorter growing season, and crude protein (CP) concentration was the same as for, or was increased by late sowing. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of turnip, swede and rape leaves was not affected by sowing date, but roots of turnip and swede from the earlier sowings and longer growing seasons were more digestible. Yield of the four species depended on harvest management as well as date of sowing and length of growing season. Total yield of turnip and swede were unaffected by harvest management but multiple cutting resulted in greater leaf yields and smaller root yields, whereas stockpiling resulted in smaller leaf yields and larger root yields. Kale produced more DM when harvested once at the end of the winter growing season but rape produced the greatest DM yield when sown in October and harvested     

Annual forage legumes in dryland agricultural systems of the West Asia and North Africa Regions: research achievements and future perspective

Forage legumes are vitally important to animal production in the dryland farming systems of the Mediterranean region. Of the diverse forage‐legume species adapted to the Mediterranean climate, vetches, (Vicia spp.), chicklings (Lathyrus spp.), annual medics (Medicago spp), clovers (Trifolium spp.) and species of the Lupinus, Lotus, Onobrychis, Hedysarum and Ornithopus genera are considered to be the most agronomically important and economically valuable species for the region. Adoption of perennial self‐regenerating medic (Medicago spp.) has been limited because of technical difficulties, but annual vetch (Vicia spp.) has the greatest potential as a viable animal‐feed source and a rotation crop with cereals. Some forage legumes survive harsh conditions by their unique underground growth habit, for example, V. amphicarpa and Lathyrus ciliolatus. Efforts to improve forage legumes have been based on both management/cultural factors and breeding. Research based on several long‐term barley‐ and wheat‐based rotation trials has demonstrated the viability of forage legumes, especially vetch, in the region's improved farming system. An additional benefit to such legumes is the enhancement of soil quality, that is, soil fertility, soil organic matter and soil physical properties. Thus, the development of forage legumes is essential to agricultural sustainability in the Mediterranean region and in other dryland cereal‐growing areas of the world where grazing livestock is a dominant enterprise. To build upon the considerable research conducted on forages, intensified efforts are needed to develop locally adapted forage cultivars, to provide economic assessment of forages in cropping systems and to promote technology transfer at the farm and community level.     

Bio‐economic efficiency of creep supplementation of forage legumes or concentrate in pasture‐based lamb production system

A 2‐year study in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey compared the performance of pasture‐fed suckling lambs and their dams, set‐stocked on grass‐legume pastures supplemented either with forage legumes or concentrate through a creep grazing/feeding system in a randomized block design. The treatments included continuous pasture grazing + creep grazing alfalfa; continuous pasture grazing + creep grazing birdsfoot trefoil; continuous pasture grazing + creep feeding concentrate (170 g kg^?1 CP; 11.3 ME MJ kg^?1 DM); and continuous grazing without creep feeding (control). In both years, creep feeding/grazing commenced in early June following a 42‐day pasture grazing period (period 1) and continued until mid‐summer for two separate periods of 21 days each (periods 2 and 3). Creep‐supplemented lambs grew faster (p < .001) than those that grazed pasture alone, with no significant difference across all creep supplementation treatments. Across the years, the lambs grew at 223 and 161 g per head day^?1 for creep‐supplemented and control groups respectively. None of the lamb feeding strategies affected the ewe liveweight gains (p > .05). Results from a bio‐economic optimization model, however, showed that supplementing the pasture with birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa in periods 2 and 3, respectively, maximized economic returns with an extra profit of US$88.83 per lamb above those that grazed the pasture alone.     

Yield and quality of winter and spring triticales for forage and grain

In field experiments conducted over 2 years in Mediterranean conditions, five winter and five spring triticales were evaluated for forage and grain production in the same cropping season. The experiments had two treatments, namely harvesting for grain only, and dual-purpose forage and grain production. In the latter treatment, forage was cut when the first node was detectable (Zadoks' stage 31), without removing the apical meristems. Grain was harvested when ripe (Zadoks' stage 92) in both cut and uncut plots.
Environmental conditions affected grain production and protein content more than forage yield and quality. Winter triticales yielded about 43% more forage than spring types, but after forage removal the spring types yielded about 36% more grain than winter triticales.
Reductions in grain yield after clipping were more pronounced in winter (32%) than in spring (19%) types. Forage crude protein content was significantly higher in the spring types studied (24.6%) than in the winter types (23.5%), the opposite being true for fibre content (20.7 and 21.6% respectively). Grain crude protein content did not differ between grain and dual-purpose treatments, but was higher in the spring triticales (12.8%) than in the winter types (11.9%). There was more variability for the measured traits within the winter triticales studied than within the spring types.     

Evaluation of forage legumes for introduction into natural pastures of semi‐arid rangelands of Kenya

To address the potential of legumes to contribute to improved quality and quantity of natural pastures in the semi‐arid rangelands of Kenya, five legume species were introduced and evaluated in a small‐plot field experiment over three growing seasons. The investigated species were glycine (Neonotonia wightii), siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), dolichos (Lablab purpureus cv. Rongai), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and shrubby stylo (Stylosanthes scabra cv. seca). Treatments included two cutting heights (ground level and 15 cm) and two cutting intervals (at 2 and 4 months). The mean dry matter (DM) yields of glycine and siratro were highest when the legumes were harvested at ground level at 2‐month intervals (10·31 and 7·81 t ha^?1 year^?1 respectively). Mean DM yield of stylo was highest when the legume was harvested at 15 cm after 4 months (3·52 t ha^?1 year^?1). These three legumes also produced high organic matter through litter fall, which contributed to soil fertility. Evidence from a supporting pot experiment showed effective nodulation and potential for N fixation. These legumes also possessed deep tap roots and withstood heavy defoliation. These three legumes were selected for further integration with grasses in natural pastures. The DM yields of dolichos and velvet bean when harvested at 15 cm after 2 or 4 months were low (2·48 and 1·91 t ha^?1 year^?1), and these species were considered inappropriate for further investigation.     

Effects of temperature and photoperiod on flowering time of forage legumes in a Mediterranean environment

Flowering time plasticity is a commonly occurring adaptive characteristic of fodder crops, including legumes, in arid and semiarid environments of the Mediterranean regions. Time of flowering is mainly influenced by genotype, temperature and photoperiod. Field experiments were carried out at Foggia (southern Italy) during successive growing seasons (from 8 to 16 growing cycles according to species) to study the relation among air temperature, photoperiod and duration of the morphological development of flowering in eight forage legume species: sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), pea (Pisum sativun L.), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth). Time to reach 10% flowering (EF) and 100% flowering (FF) were recorded. Rate of progress to flowering, defined as the inverse of time from sowing to EF and FF, was related to mean daily temperature, or to both mean daily temperature and mean photoperiod. Using the linear equations, the thermal time requirements (T_t) and the base temperature (T_b) expressed as heat units were determined by the x-intercept method for both EF and FF stages. Evaluation of flowering time was also based on days after planting (DAP), day of year (DOY) and on a photothermal index (PTI). For all species, a significant negative correlation (P ≥ 0.01) was found between planting date (PD) and DAP whereas PTI showed a significant negative relationship (P ≥ 0.05) only for faba bean, pea, berseem clover and common vetch. In sainfoin, sulla and berseem clover, the rate of progress to flowering was affected significantly (P ≥ 0.05) by both mean temperature and photoperiod. The T_t requirements to reach the EF and the FF stage ranged from 871 to 1665 °C day and from 1043 to 1616 °C day, respectively, for the studied species. Both phenological stages considered depended upon accumulated thermal time above a species-specific base temperature. Furthermore, in all legumes the onset of flowering only occurred when dual thresholds of a minimum T_t and a minimum photoperiod were reached, which were specific to each species.     

Silages containing bioactive forage legumes: a promising protein‐rich feed source for growing lambs

Forage legumes that contain secondary compounds are considered to be less susceptible to proteolysis than other legumes, with improved silage quality and possibly improved animal performance. This was investigated feeding five groups of growing lambs for 10 weeks, five silages composed of pure timothy (T; Phleum pratense), mixtures of T with red clover (Trifolium pratense; T‐RC, 50/50 on DM basis), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia; T‐SF), or both (T‐RC‐SF, 50/25/25), or a mixture of the two legumes (RC‐SF). Including SF and/or RC in silages improved silage fermentation as shown by higher lactic acid and lower soluble N and NH₃ contents than in T silage. Voluntary intakes were higher with all the RC‐containing silages than with T and T‐SF. The T‐SF silage had the lowest, and RC‐containing silages the highest average values for daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, live weight and carcass weight. The differing effects of these silages cannot be totally explained by differences in their nutritive value and so may be due to their bioactive compounds impacting differently on feeding motivation and digestive efficiency. These results suggest that including RC in silages is a promising strategy to combine improved animal performance with reduced environmental pressure.     

Variation in the contents of crude protein fractions of different forage legumes during the spring growth

The pattern of crude protein (CP) fractions with advancing maturity during a primary spring growth of forage legumes was investigated on freeze‐dried samples of fresh forage using the method of chemical CP fractionation according to the ‘Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System’ (CNCPS). The CP of white clover (WC), red clover (RC), lucerne (LU), birdsfoot trefoil (BT) and Kura clover (KC) was separated into five fractions (A, B₁, B₂, B₃ and C), which are assumed to have different rates and extents of ruminal degradation. Ruminally undegraded dietary CP (RUP) was predicted on the basis of the CP fractions using regression equations that were developed for fresh forage assuming ruminal passage rates of 2, 5 and 8% h^?1 (RUP_2,5,8). Maturity stage did not affect the soluble CP fractions of the legumes but increased fraction B₃ in RC and WC and fraction C of all forages except WC. The estimated RUP values of the legumes increased with advancing maturity. The mean values for RUP₅ across all harvest dates for WC, RC, LU, BT and KU were 154, 271, 226, 287 and 212 g kg^?1 CP respectively. BT and RC had the highest amount of RUP across all harvest dates and passage rates (159–372 and 134–324 g kg^?1 CP respectively). This observation may be related to the advanced stage of vegetation of both species at the harvest dates compared with the other legumes and to condensed tannins in BT and to products of polyphenol oxidase activity in RC.     

Effect of season, soil type and fertilizer on the biomass production and chemical composition of five tropical shrub legumes with forage potential

The biomass production and the nutritive value of three tropical shrub legumes with condensed tannins (CT) ( Calliandra calothyrsus , Flemingia macrophylla , Leucaena leucocephala ) and two without CT ( Cratylia argentea , Desmodium velutinum ) as nitrogen-rich feed supplements for ruminants were assessed in two field experiments in Colombia. In one experiment, conducted on two different typical tropical soils (mollisol vs. oxisol; pH, 7·8 vs. 5·0; P content, 43 vs. 2 mg kg DM⁻¹), the effects of low and high levels of fertilizer application with P, K, Ca, Mg and S were tested in both the dry and rainy seasons. In a second experiment on the oxisol, the effect of a lower level of application of either P or S fertilizer was assessed. On the oxisol, C. calothyrsus and F. macrophylla had the highest biomass production (93 and 100 g DM plant⁻¹ in 9 weeks respectively) but the dry season caused extremely low DM yields in all species tested. Leucaena leucocephala did not grow on the oxisol but had the highest biomass production on the mollisol (454 g DM plant⁻¹ in 9 weeks). On the oxisol, the mineral concentrations of the forage were below the requirements of ruminant livestock. Fertilizer treatment had no clear effects on the nutrient composition of the forage. The non-CT shrub C. argentea had the highest concentrations of most minerals in its forage.     

Performance and environmental effects of forage production on sandy soils. III. Energy efficiency in forage production from grassland and maize for silage

Based on experimental data gathered in a research project on nitrogen fluxes in intensive dairy farming in Northern Germany, an analysis of fossil energy input and energy efficiency in forage production from permanent grassland and maize for silage was conducted. Field experiments comprised different defoliation systems and different rates of mineral N fertilizer and slurry application. Each change from grazing to cutting in grassland systems reduced the energy efficiency. Energy efficiency consistently decreased with increasing rates of mineral N application. In the production of maize for silage, maximum energy efficiency was obtained with an application of 50 kg N ha^?1 from slurry only. Net energy yields of maize for silage were much higher than that of grassland when compared at the same level of fossil energy and nitrogen fertilizer input. Considering both nitrate‐leaching losses and a necessary minimum quantity of grass herbage in a well‐balanced ration, it is suggested that a high proportion of maize for silage in combination with N‐unfertilized grass/clover swards used in a mixed cutting/grazing system represents a good trade‐off between the leaching of nitrates and energy efficiency.     

Long‐term storage of forage legumes greatly alters the hard seed breakdown pattern in situ

Knowledge of the hard seed content of annual legumes, and its pattern of breakdown, is critical to the understanding of their ecology and management within farming and natural ecosystems. For logistical reasons, seed that has been stored for varying lengths of time is often used for pasture establishment and agronomy experiments. However, the implications of storage on hard seed physiology are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of seed storage on its subsequent pattern of hard seed breakdown when exposed to field conditions. Experiments examined seed from six different annual legume cultivars that had been either produced the prior year or stored under ambient conditions for 11–22 years. Comparisons were then made between the two seed sources on hard seed breakdown patterns in situ. Although initial hard seed levels were mostly unaffected by storage (seed of five cultivars remained over 93% hard after more than 11 years of storage), the patterns of release from dormancy during exposure to hard seed breakdown conditions of stored seed differed greatly (p < .05) from freshly produced seed. Hard seed in the stored seed of most cultivars was reduced from >90% to <10% within 68 days over autumn, with shallow burial, whereas fresh seed remained >90% hard during the same period. Given this large and consistent impact, it is recommended that studies of the patterns of hard seed breakdown in legumes compare seed stored under consistent and well‐defined conditions.     

Herbage dry‐matter production and forage quality of three legumes and four non‐leguminous forbs grown in single‐species stands

Agronomic data on most broad‐leaved species of grasslands are scarce. The aim of this study was to obtain novel information on herbage DM yield and forage quality for several forb species, and on species differences and seasonal patterns across harvests and in successive years. Four non‐leguminous forbs [salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), caraway (Carum carvi), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)] and three leguminous forbs [yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)] and a perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture were investigated in a small‐plot cutting trial in Denmark during 2009 and 2010. Plots were harvested four times per year. On average, annual herbage yield was highest for lucerne (15·4 t DM) and grass–white clover (12·5 t DM ha^?1), and lowest for salad burnet (4·6 t DM ha^?1) and yellow sweet clover (3·9 t DM ha^?1). Ribwort plantain and lucerne had the highest concentrations of acid detergent fibre (339 and 321 g kg^?1 DM respectively) and lignin (78 and 67 g kg^?1 DM respectively); contents in other species were similar to grass–white clover (275 and 49 g kg^?1 DM respectively). No common feature was found within the functional groups of non‐leguminous forbs and leguminous forbs, other than higher crude protein contents (198–206 g kg^?1 DM) in the legumes. DM yield and fibre content were lowest in October. Digestibility declined with higher temperature and increasing fibre content. Results are discussed in terms of the potential of forbs to contribute to forage resources in farming practice.     

The effect of agronomic factors on seed and forage production in perennial legumes sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and French honeysuckle (Hedysarum coronarium L.)

Perennial legume varieties and ecotypes belonging to the species sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and French honeysuckle ( Hedysarum coronarium L.) were investigated under different management treatments (two regimes of irrigation, cutting and seeding densities) at the Forage Crops Institute in Foggia, Italy (which has a typical Mediterranean environment) for two seasons, 1990 and 1991. Dry-matter production, seed production and seed yield components were affected more by harvest year and irrigation than by seeding density. Mean increases due to irrigation were 2·8% and 60·6% respectively for dry-matter and seed yield in sainfoin and 35·3% and 32·5% respectively in French honeysuckle. Under both cutting regimes, the higher seeding density was more suitable for sainfoin, increasing stems m⁻² with irrigation and seed yield without irrigation. In French honeysuckle the lower seeding density was more suitable for production of inflorescences per tiller and for seed weight without irrigation. Higher seeding density positively influenced seed yield under irrigation. The seed yield components most influenced by irrigation were: 1000-seed weight, seeds per inflorescence and inflorescence per stem. French honeysuckle genotypes were potentially more productive in dry matter and seed yield under both irrigation regimes than the sainfoin, which was more productive in seed yield when cut. The ecotypes of both legumes represent a genetic resource, particularly for seed yield after forage cutting, to be utilized in breeding programmes for developing varieties well adapted to Mediterranean environments.     

Screening for protein quality in legumes

Legumes are normally deficient in sulpho-amino acids (methionine and cysteine), and it is necessary to consider both of these amino acids in any effective screening procedure. Total sulphur can be used as a coarse screening method for the sulphoamino acids and the best screening methods available and the precautions necessary in their use, particularly with regard to the presence of S-methyl-L-cysteine, will be discussed. Specific methods suitable for screening for methionine and cysteine will be mentioned.Legume seeds contain many different proteins and not all are of equal nutritional significance; some may act as anti-metabolites or even be toxic. Strategies and screening methods for particular proteins will, therefore, be discussed, as such methods may play an important part in the latter stages of screening for improved protein quality.The problem of gene/environment interaction and the question of the best selection strategies to be used, will be discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Den Leguminosen mangeln in ihren Aminosäurenspektren normalerweise schwefelhaltige Vertreter (Methionin und Cystein). Daher ist es erforderlich, beim Einsatz von Schnellmethoden zur Selektion diese beiden Aminosäuren mit in Betracht zu ziehen. Eine Bestimmung von Gesamtschwefel kann als grobe Selektionsmethode antelle einer Bestimmung schwefelhaltiger Aminosäuren treten.Die besten verfügbaren Schnellmethoden zur Selektion und die dabei erforderlichen Vorsichtsmaßnahmen im Hinblick auf Vorhandensein von S-Methyl-L-Cystein werden besprochen. Spezifische Methoden, geeignet für eine Schnelluntersuchung von Methionin und Cystein werden erwähnt.Leguminosensamen enthalten viele verschiedene Proteine und nicht alle sind von gleichem ernährungsphysiologischen Wert: Einige davon können als Antimetaboliten wirken oder sogar toxisch sein. Das spezifische Vorgehen und die erforderlichen Selektionsmethoden für diese besonderen Proteine werden behandelt, da solche Methoden in den letzten Stadien einer Auslese zur Verbesserung der Eiweißqualität eine entscheidend wichtige Rolle spielen können.Das Problem der Wechselwirkung von Genen und Umwelt und die Frage, wie man am besten bei Selektionen vorgeht, werden besprochen.

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Paper read on the 8th International mutual Congress of Quality Research of the CIQ with the German Society for Quality Research (DGQ) in Wädenswil/Switzerland from 7th to 10th Oct. 1975.

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Rat-feeding trials were carried out at Newcastle University.     

Grain yield and yield components as affected by forage removal in winter and spring triticale

Two field experiments were carried out under irrigation and high fertility in northeastern Spain during 1992 and 1993. Ten triticale genotypes, five of spring growth habit and five winter types, were tested for their suitability for both forage and grain. Forage removal reduced grain yield per plant by about 17%, but did not have any significant effect on plant density, ear density or tiller number per plant. Tiller mortality was greater in winter types (65%) than in spring triticales (25%), but was not affected by cutting. Decreases in grain yield following cutting could be attributed to reductions in the number of grains per spike and kernel weight. Cutting decreased the number of grains per spike by about 9% by reducing the two components, spikelets per head and grains per spikelet. The average spike length was 10·6 cm in the uncut treatment and 10·1 cm in the dual-purpose plots. Cutting reduced thousand kernel weight by about 7% in winter triticales, and around 10% in spring types, both in main spike and in first tiller. The effect of a forage harvest on yield components was in general similar for both types of triticale. Cutting when jointing commenced induced changes in the relative importance of yield components influencing future grain yield. The yield components reduced by cutting were the most important contributors to grain yield after forage removal.     

On-farm measurements of nitrogen fixation by winter and summer legumes in the Hill and Terai regions of Nepal

Results are reported from on-farm surveys of N₂ fixation in Nepal, conducted between 1994 and 1999, involving the summer legumes soybean, mashbean and groundnut, and the winter legumes lentil and chickpea, at various locations in the Hill and Terai regions of Nepal. Additional less-detailed data were also collected for pigeonpea, grasspea and fababean. There were a total of 107 crops in the major and minor surveys. Estimates of the proportion of legume nitrogen (N) derived from N₂ fixation (Pfix) were determined using the natural ¹⁵N abundance method. Mean estimates of Pfix for the various species were 62% (soybean), 47% (mashbean), 57% (groundnut), 78% (lentil), 79% (chickpea), 75% (pigeonpea), 87% (grasspea) and 85% (fababean). Estimates of total N fixed (including roots) were 59 kg N ha⁻¹ (soybean), 28 kg N ha⁻¹ (mashbean), 153 kg N ha⁻¹ (groundnut), 72 kg N ha⁻¹ (lentil), 84 kg N ha⁻¹ (chickpea), 412 N ha⁻¹ (pigeonpea) and 80 N ha⁻¹ (grasspea and fababean). The on-farm measurements of N₂ fixation were generally similar to those of experimental crops in the same areas of the country. Correlation matrices of soil fertility parameters, shoot dry matter and N, and N₂ fixation revealed that the total amounts of N fixed were influenced primarily by crop growth. Based on the above figures, it was estimated that approximately 30,000 t N were fixed annually in Nepal by legumes, valued at US$ 15 million.     

牧草种子生产中落粒性的影响因素与防控技术

落粒性是牧草种子生产中的关键制约因素,通常造成无芒雀麦(Bromue inermis)、冰草(Agropyron cristatum)、老芒麦(Elymus sibiricus)、高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea)、草地早熟禾(Poa pretensis)、路氏臂形草(Brachiaria ruziziensis)等优良牧草种子严重减产。本文重点阐述了种子生产中影响落粒性的因素,种子落粒性对种子生产的影响,相关减少种子落粒性的研究进展及措施,为今后在生产中降低牧草种子落粒性提供参考。     

Sourcing Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strains from Mediterranean centres of origin to optimize nitrogen fixation in forage legumes grown on acid soils

Over the last three decades, farming systems in Europe and Australia have seen a decline in legume plantings, leading to reduced soil carbon and fertility, and an increase in plant disease, reliance on industrial nitrogen fertilizer and herbicides. In Australia, one reason for this decline has been the movement towards sowing crops and forages into dry soil, before the opening rains, as a consequence of climate variability. This practice predicates against the survival of rhizobial inoculants, and hence generates uncertainty about legume performance. The research reported here was initiated to improve the robustness of a specific forage legume/rhizobia symbiosis to increase nitrogen fixation in low pH, infertile soils. Rhizobial strains (Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae) from Pisum sativum L. were sourced from acid soils in southern Italy and southern Australia. Strains were evaluated for N fixation on the forage legumes P. sativum, Vicia sativa and Vicia villosa, then for survival and persistence in acid soils (pH_Ca 4.6). Fourteen of the strains produced a higher percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) compared to commercial comparator strain SU303 (<78%). Twenty‐two strains survived sufficiently into the second season to form more nodules than SU303, which only achieved 3% of plants nodulated. Elite strains WSM4643 and WSM4645 produced six times more nodulated plants than SU303 and had significantly higher saprophytic competence in acid soil. These strains have the ability to optimize symbiotic associations with field peas and vetch in soils with low fertility, carbon and pH that are restrictive to the current commercial strain SU303.     

Pasture legumes differ in herbage production and quality throughout spring,impacting their potential role in fodder conservation and animal production

This study reports on the herbage production and quality of a range of pasture legume species during spring, at three sites with moderate to strongly acidic soils in southern NSW, Australia. These data have enabled prediction of livestock production when legumes are conserved as silage or hay. Total herbage production, its timing and quality differed significantly between species, which generally was not predicted by the traditional metric of time to flowering. Trifolium incarnatum L., T. michelianum L., Biserrula pelecinus L., Ornithopus sativus Brot. and Hedysarum coronarium L. all maintained growth rates exceeding 200 kg DM/ha/d for 4 weeks over spring, while T. vesiculosum Savi. maintained this for 6 weeks, with a peak growth rate of 561 kg DM/ha/d. Herbage quality of all species declined over time and was greatest in species with a rapid increase in stem‐to‐leaf ratio or with weak stems, resulting in lodging. The modelling inferred that maximizing potential livestock production via fodder conservation required earlier cutting. Only the indeterminate species B. pelecinus and Ornithopus spp. increased potential liveweight gain per hectare through delayed harvesting from (probable) silage to hay‐making time.