A COMPARISON OF THE HERBAGE YIELD OF ITALIAN RYEGRASS AND TALL FESCUE MIXTURES IN THE SECOND AND THIRD YEAR AFTER SOWING

The annual yield of tall fescue was higher than that of Italian ryegrass in the third year after sowing, but the total yield of herbage from grass plus clover swards was similar.
In both the second and third year after sowing, the yield of herbage in the spring grazing was higher when fescue was used as the sown grass. The method of establishment of both tall fescue and Italian ryegrass affected the total and seasonal yield in the second and third year after sowing, but the magnitude of these effects was not nearly as marked as it was earlier in the life of the leys. In the second year after sowing, swards of both Italian ryegrass and tall fescue had a higher yield of total herbage and of white clover, and a lower ingress of unsown species, when established without a cover crop and grazed frequently in the year of sowing.
The inclusion of red clover did not increase total yield of DM in the second and third year after sowing, and it slightly decreased the yield of the tall fescue mixture in the third year following sowing when N was applied. S170 tall fescue was readily grazed by sheep in spring and autumn.
The apparent recovery of applied N varied with the mixture sown, and the management given during establishment.     

Performance of oat (Avena sativa L.) sown in late summer for autumn forage production in Central Europe

Spring‐sown oat (Avena sativa L.) is well adapted for forage production in Central Europe; however, environmental conditions make this crop susceptible to crown rust disease (Puccinia coronata) when grown in summer. The objective of this study was to assess oat cultivars sown in late summer, when conditions for crown rust are less favourable, and harvest in autumn for forage with potential use for feeding lactating dairy cows. Three oat cultivars: Berdysz, Zuch and ForagePlus, the first two from Poland and the latter from United States, were sown 1 and 15 August, and 1 September, over three consecutive years, and harvested for forage in late October. The two Polish cultivars had 61% leaf area affected by rust with 1 August sowing, but ForagePlus was not affected by rust with any sowing date. Sowing 15 August significantly reduced crown rust incidence and increased DM yield of the Polish cultivars 21% relative to the 1 August sowing date, but decreased ForagePlus DM yield by 35%. Sowing 1 September resulted in best forage nutritive value, but the lowest DM yields for all cultivars. Calculated milk production per ton of forage for all cultivars was lowest with the 1 August sowing date. Calculated milk production per hectare was greatest for Berdysz sown in mid‐August. Oat can be sown 15 August and harvested in autumn for forage production, avoiding crown rust disease during summer in Poland. Nutritive value of autumn oat forage is adequate to meet forage requirements of lactating dairy cows.     

春大豆品种在春播和秋播条件下主要农艺性状的遗传力、相关性和选择效果的研究

本文以23个春大豆品种(系)为材料,进行了春播和秋播试验。分别估算了春大豆品种×播季互作效应;春播与秋播条件下品种间主要农艺性状的遗传变异系数、遗传力、遗传进度;以及秋播农艺性状与春播单株生产力的相关等。结果表明:春大豆主要农艺性状的品种间、播季间、品种×播季互作效应存在极显著差异。百粒重、株高等农艺性状秋播遗传力较高,秋播变异率较小,遗传进度大,秋播下性状与春播下单株产量相关密切,表明秋播条件下按百粒重和株高等对单株生产力进行间接选择,其效果高于对单株生产力的直接选择,认为春播秋播下两次选择,有助于加快春大豆育种进度。     

Assessing yield losses caused by the harvester ant Messor barbarus (L.) in winter cereals

Harvester ants from the species Messor barbarus (L.) are important seed predators in semi-arid cereal fields of NE Spain, and can contribute substantially to weed control. However, occasionally they harvest newly sown crop seeds at sowing in autumn, or ripe cereal grains close to harvest in summer, causing yield losses.A preliminary study was conducted in 34 commercial winter cereal fields to measure yield loss, and to identify factors that influence it. The area affected by ants was measured ten days prior to the anticipated harvest date. Ant colony size, nest density, crop height, weed densities and temperatures at sowing were assessed.At sowing, harvester ants did not cause yield losses (0.2% of potential yield on average). At harvest, yield losses were generally low as well (0.6%) although occasionally higher losses were recorded (max. 9.2%). Yield losses significantly increased with increasing nest density, nest size and with number of years of no-till. The results of this study show that in 2009 yield losses caused by M. barbarus were insignificant and more than offset by the benefits provided by the destruction of weed seeds.     

INTERACTIONS OF GRASS, CLOVER AND NURSE CROP IN THE SEEDING YEAR

Tall fescue S170 and Italian ryegrass S22, slow- and rapid-establishing grasses, respectively, were sown either with white clover or with a mixture of red and white clovers, with or without a companion- or cover-crop, and with or without nitrogen. Swards established without a cover-crop were grazed frequently or cut infrequently; swards undersown with the oat crop were grazed once in the autumn. In the year of sowing tall fescue/clover mixtures produced yields similar to those of Italian ryegrass/clover swards. Tall fescue proved sensitive to competition, even from red clover, during establishment and sowing under a cover-crop is therefore not recommended. The yield of red- and white-clover was increased when sown under a cover-crop and when cut infrequently, compared with frequent grazing by sheep. The growth of white clover was greatly reduced by adding red clover to the mixture, particularly under a cover-crop and when defoliation was infrequent, but red clover increased total yield. The effect of N applied to the seed-bed varied with the method of establishment. Cereal yield was reduced under dry conditions by undersowing with a mixture containing red clover.     

南方春大豆春,秋播与籽粒蛋白质脂肪含量关系的研究

以２４个南方春大豆品种（系）为材料,进行春,秋播研究不同播季对籽粒蛋白质,脂肪,以及蛋白质,脂肪合计含量的影响,结果表明,播季间蛋白质,脂肪,以及蛋白质,脂肪合计含量均达１％的差异显著水平,蛋白质含量与出苗至开花期日均温,最高温和最低温均呈极显著正相关,与开花至成熟期日均温,最高温和最低温呈显著或极显著负相关,脂肪含量则恰好与之相反,因此,湖南秋播气候条件有利蛋白质的形成,故蛋白质含量比春播高,春     

Breeding prospects of Lunaria annua L.

Lunaria annua is a biennial cruciferous oil seed crop. The seeds contain 30–35% oil, which consists of 67% long chain fatty acids (44% erucic acid, C22:1, and 23% nervonic acid, C24:1). The oil is suitable as lubricant. In addition, recent developments indicate that nervonic acid may be used as raw material for the production of a medicine against multiple sclerosis. The biennial character of Lunaria is a main constraint for an economically feasible production of Lunaria oil. The crop has to be sown early in the summer to achieve vigorous plant development required for vernalization during the winter. It would be a great advance when Lunaria could be sown later in the summer after an early harvested crop. From 1993, breeding research in Lunaria has been performed at CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, The Netherlands. A collection of 76 accessions was maintained and evaluated for agronomic performance. In 1995, a selection of 24 accessions were sown at four sowing dates, from end June until end of August and in 1996, 12 promising accessions were sown again at 15 and 30 July. Three accessions showed suitability for delayed sowing until beginning of August. Delay in sowing time caused also delay of flowering and seed ripening. Seed yield amounted to 1200 kg/ha in 1996 and 1700 kg/ha in 1997. Seed oil content varied from 30–38%. Severe infection of Albugo candida and Alternaria occurred and might have reduced seed yield in both years. Most accessions sustained severe winter frost of−17°C very well. It is concluded that within the evaluated gene pool promising variation is available to select for ability for late sowing, to improve the disease resistance and to increase seed yield and seed oil content.     

A COMPARISON OF BROADCAST AND WIDE-ROW SPACED GRASSES WHEN MANAGED FOR FOGGAGE PRODUCTION

A small-plot trial comparing perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy and meadow fescue sown broadcast and also in 21 inch rows was conducted at Auchincruive from 1954 to 1957. The cutting treatments were arranged so that measurement could be made of both summer and winter production.
Of the four species, cocksfoot was the most suitable for foggage production. Perennial ryegrass suffered severely from winter killing. Timothy and meadow fescue, although persistent, did not yield as much as cocksfoot.
Total dry-matter production over three years was higher from the cocksfoot rows than from the broadcast stand. For ryegrass and meadow fescue, broadcasting gave higher yields than row sowing while timothy showed no significant difference between sowing methods.
During the winter, all species showed a loss of dry matter. Losses for ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy and meadow fescue were respectively 34%, 17%, 18% and 24%. Broadcast stands averaged 11% greater loss than the rows.     

Sowing date, harvest date and the yield of forage brassica crops

The effect of sowing date, within the period from late May to mid-August, on the DM yield of five leafy forage brassica crops sown to a stand was examined over the period 1976–78. Kale was the crop most sensitive to variation in sowing date and yields declined progressively with later sowings. There was no yield benefit from sowing rapes or stubble turnips earlier than mid- to late-June. Raphanobrassica produced yields as good as rape when sown in June. In 1978, DM yields of rape, kale and Raphanobrassica increased from September to early November, largely as a result of stem growth; kale was slower to accumulate DM than rape in late summer but continued growing longer into the autumn. The DM concentrations of all crops increased from September to December. Rape had a higher DM concentration than stubble turnip. Raphanobrassica was 10–25 g kg^-1 lower in DM concentration than rape or kale. Raphanobrassica produced 23–59% flowering plants from late-May to early-June sowing. Harvest date affected DM yield and concentration, leaf: stem ratio and flowering percentage. The effects of sowing dale on DM concentration were small.     

Effect of sowing date of triticale on seasonal herbage production in the central Appalachian Highlands of the United States

Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) was evaluated as a complementary pasture to buffer those periods when herbage production from mixed perennial pasture is marginal in the central Appalachian Highlands of the United States. Triticale was sown every month from May to October for five consecutive years from 1999 to 2003. Plant population structure and herbage production were evaluated at intervals until May of the year following establishment. Triticale established quickly at all times of sowing except late October. Wet summers resulted in foliar disease and a rapid decline in plant density when triticale was sown in May and June. In contrast, during the relatively dry summer of 1999, triticale stands exhibited minimal decline. Triticale sown in August had a herbage yield of 1580 kg DM ha^?1 when harvested in October which was over twice the herbage yield of triticale sown in May, June and July. Average herbage yield in the following April of triticale sown in September was higher (1750 kg DM ha^?1) and less variable than herbage yields from other sowing dates. Plant and tiller populations declined throughout the following April but herbage yields in May were high due to stem and seed head development associated with reproductive growth. Incorporating areas of triticale into mixed‐species perennial pasture systems could buffer herbage production during hot and dry summer periods as well as during cool periods of late autumn and early spring.     

扬麦16不同播期与密度试验

研究了扬麦16在不同播期与密度下的产量状况.结果表明,相同播期内,随着密度的增加,有效穗也随之提高.相同密度内,前3个播期的有效穗差异不大,最后1个播期的有效穗最少.4个播期随各自群体密度的增加,实粒数和成穗率随之减少.不同密度、不同播期处理间千粒重和结实率则无显著差异.扬麦16在大面积生产上以播期10月28日,基本苗...     

THE EFFECT OF POTASSIUM ON ESTABLISHMENT AND SEEDLING VIGOUR

A permanent pasture was ploughed, 5 rates of potassium were incorporated in the seed-bed and a timothy/white-clover seed mixture was sown direct without a companion crop. Plant counts were taken during the fourth week of establishment. The highest rate of potash increased the size and number of timothy/white-clover plants considerably, without altering the timothy/white-clover ratio. Half the plots were cut once during the seeding year and the other half twice. Increasing rates of K increased dry-matter yields, particularly on the plots cut 7 weeks after sowing. Botanical analysis in the following year showed that, under both cutting systems, increasing rates of K tended to increase the proportion of white clover and decrease that of unsown species.     

Effects of soil water deficit at different growth stages on rice growth and yield under upland conditions. 2. Phenology,biomass production and yield

Phenological development, shoot dry matter production, grain yield and yield components of rice were examined in relation to drought occurring at various stages of growth. Rice was sown three or four times at three-week intervals in the field in each of two years, and performance in three stress trials was compared with that in corresponding irrigation trials, with the aim of quantifying the response of the crop to water stress of 23–34 days' duration developing at different growth stages. When drought occurred during vegetative stages, it had only a small effect on subsequent development and grain yield. The reduction in yield of up to 30% was due to reduced panicle number per unit area in one trial, and reduced number of spikelets per panicle in another. The effect of water stress on yield was most severe when drought occurred during panicle development. Anthesis was delayed, the number of spikelets per panicle was reduced to 60% of the irrigated control and the percentage of filled grains decreased in one crop to zero. This decrease in grain yield to less than 20% of the control was associated with low dry matter production during the drought period as well as during the recovery period following the drought. When drought occurred during grain filling, the percentage of filled grains decreased to 40% and individual grain mass decreased by 20%. The effect of stress was also related to its severity during grain filling. Stress at this stage hastened maturity. The results suggest that variation in yield components due to water availability is related to the variation in dry matter production at particular growth stages. Results of a supplementary shading experiment show that the relationship between spikelet number per panicle or single grain mass and crop growth rate was the same, whether growth rate was varied by availability of soil water or solar radiation. Filled-grain percentage, however, was more sensitive to drought stress than shading when comparison was made at a similar crop growth rate.     

STUDIES IN CALF MANAGEMENT

Calves born in late September to early October in 1956, 1957 and 1958 were reared at pasture. They were fed milk substitute, supplemented in some cases with concentrate feeding-stuffs.
The losses due to outdoor rearing were low, and calves made satisfactory gains in weight. By rearing at pasture, a considerable saving was effected in the weight of concentrates and hay consumed, while no marked response to the feeding of these supplements before weaning was found. Animals born in the autumn of 1957 and reared on this system reached 10 cwt. in less than 24 months.     

Slot-seeding investigations. 5 The effects of simulated delayed emergence and propyzamide on the spread and growth of white clover in permanent pasture

The effects of delayed emergence of white clover (cv. Grasslands Huia) seedlings, following slot-seeding during spring and early summer 1983, were simulated by sowing seeds at intervals into slots cut in turves of permanent grassland in soil-filled tanks or in the field. The resulting spread and growth of the species were assessed during the following 15–18 months. The effects of propyzamide, a grass-suppressing herbicide (at 0·2 kg ha^-1), were also investigated in the field.
A delay of 10 or 18 days in the sowing of seeds in turves in the tanks reduced clover dry weight yield from 23 to 11 during 1983 and from 118 to 96 g (0·12 m)^-2 during 1984. Spread of stolons from the slots was also greatly delayed and effects persisted for at least a year. Increased clover growth on the earliest sown treatment more than compensated for a slightly smaller yield of grass.
In the field, yields of clover from late summer 1983 until spring 1984 closely reflected the order of emergence. Afterwards, differences were less clear-cut but the cumulative yield of clover until August 1984 of the earliest-sown treatment was twice that of a treatment sown 20 d later. Effects of delayed sowing in summer 1983 were more pronounced on stolons than on foliage growth when measured in September 1984, with significant reductions in many stolon attributes even with 8 d delay in sowing. Application of propyzamide in autumn 1983 increased clover yield during 1984 from 1·7 to 3·0 and total herbage yield from 7·1 to 8·6 t ha^-1.
The results demonstrated some of the benefits of rapid seedling emergence and of the use of a grass-suppressing herbicide, but did not indicate any interaction between the two factors.     

Productivity of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) affected by sowing date and the head smut fungus (Ustilago bullata Berk.)

Effects of sowing date, fungicide seed treatments, and the head smut fungus Ustilago bullata Berk, on establishment, herbage, and seed production of prairie grass cv. Grasslands Matua ( Bromus willdenowii Kunth ) were measured in autumn- and spring-sown field trials in New Zealand.
Autumn seedling establishment from thiram-treated seed relative to untreated seed was increased by 27% from the earliest sowing (early March), and by 65% from the latest sowing 8 weeks later. Infestation of seed with ustilospores of U. bullata reduced seedling establishment at all but the latest autumn sowing. Fungicide seed treatments had little effect on spring seedling establishment, but V. bullata infestation of seed reduced establishment compared with healthy seed, particularly after late sowings (early November).
Herbage production was greater from early than from late sowings in both autumn and spring, and was less in plants grown from U. bullata infested seed than in plants from healthy seed. Enhanced autumn establishment from thiram-treated seed led to improved herbage production when plants were young, but this effect disappeared about 18 weeks after late autumn sowing. Overall herbage production from spring sowing was more than twice that from autumn sowing.
A 6-week delay in autumn sowing led to a 58% reduction in seed production the following summer.
Early autumn and spring sowings, together with adequate control of seedling diseases, are likely to give optimum herbage and seed production from prairie grass.     

不同施肥方式和播种量对华南直播稻产量的影响

水稻直播是一种轻简高效栽培模式,具有良好的应用前景。在粤西直播稻区开展大田试验,探究不同施肥方式（习惯法和“三控”法）和播种量（2.0、3.5、5.0、6.5、8.0和10.0 kg/667 m²）对直播稻产量的影响。结果表明,与习惯法施肥相比,采用“三控”法施肥的水稻有效穗数和结实率分别降低20.1%和5.1%,但每穗颖花数增加31.6%,稻谷产量增加11.3%。随着播种量的增加,水稻有效穗数从304万/ hm²增加到464万/hm²,每穗颖花数从112.09个降低到81.90个;稻谷产量以播种量为3.5 kg/667 m²的处理最高,达6.66 t/hm²。综上所述,华南直播稻生产应选择每穗颖花数多、收获指数高且千粒重大的品种,播种量3.5 kg/667 m²,采用“三控”法施肥。     

高产味优粳稻分蘖特性及其与群体生产力的关系

以高产优质粳稻品种南粳5718和中产优质粳稻品种常农粳10号为参试材料,比较研究不同基因型品种分蘖发生与成穗特性的蘖位差异,明确高产味优基因型品种的优势叶位。结果表明,高产味优基因型与中产味优基因型在水稻分蘖发生与成穗特性上存在明显差异。与中产味优基因型相比,高产味优基因型一次和二次分蘖发生率与成穗率高,单株与群体成穗数多,花后各蘖位光合特性好,促进了库容充实,最终产量较高,南粳5718产量较常农粳10号显著提高7.7%,较多的有效穗数是其产量优势形成的重要基础。与常农粳10号相比,南粳5718拔节期群体穗数较低,但抽穗期和成熟期则较高。南粳5718和常农粳10号分蘖发生与成穗的优势叶位较为一致,一次分蘖中以4/0、5/0和6/0为主,二次分蘖则以1/4和1/5为主。南粳5718单株成穗数、一次和二次分蘖成穗个数显著高于常农粳10号。不同蘖位对单株成穗数和群体产量的贡献率均表现为一次分蘖>主茎>二次分蘖。南粳5718和常农粳10号产量差异主要体现在一次分蘖和二次分蘖上,南粳5718在花后30 d一次分蘖和二次分蘖剑叶的光合速率和叶绿素含量均显著高于常农粳10号。     

Evaluation of main-crop stubble height on ratoon rice growth and development

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) ratooning is the production of a second rice crop from the stubble left behind after the main-crop harvest. Lowering the main-crop stubble height by harvesting the main crop at a lower than traditional height is believed to alter growth parameters and increase ratoon yields. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of main-crop stubble height on ratoon grain yield, agronomics, and cumulative/weekly panicle growth parameters (density, point of origin, and weight). Main-crop ‘Cocodrie’ and ‘Trenasse’ rice cultivars were harvested to leave either a 40- or 20-cm stubble height. When the main-crop stubble was harvested at 20 cm, ratoon rice grain yield in 2007 was increased by 375 and 190 kg ha⁻¹ for Cocodrie and Trenasse, respectively. Yield was not improved in 2006 using the low (20 cm) harvest height. The yield advantage in 2007 was associated with the increased weight of the basal panicles when the main crop was harvested at 20 cm. When the main-crop stubble was 20 cm, basal and axial panicle points of origin were numerically similar 5 weeks after main-crop harvest (WAH), while panicles originating from basal nodes were predominant 6 WAH and beyond. In contrast, when the main-crop stubble was 40 cm, approximately 75% of the emerged panicles originated from axial nodes 5 WAH, panicles from both axial and basal points of origin were nearly identical 6 WAH, and basal panicles were dominant thereafter. Results from this study indicate that when the initial stubble height is reduced from 40 to 20 cm the growth of the ratoon crop is altered by shifting panicle point of origin during the early growth period and delaying maturity.     

EFFECTS OF METHOD OF ESTABLISHMENT ON TALL FESCUE AND ITALIAN RYEGRASS MIXTURES IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR

Tall fescue and Italian ryegrass mixtures react differently to management in the year of sowing. The decrease in yield of tall fescue and the increase in growth of red clover, caused by the use of a cover crop, was still evident in the following year. In both the spring grazing and total yield of the first harvest year, the Italian ryegrass/ white clover mixture was better than the tall fescue/white clover mixture when a cover crop was used. The reverse trend was recorded when the grass plus clover was sown without the cereal. In general, the addition of red clover to the tall fescue/ white clover, or Italian ryegrass/white clover mixture, increased the yield, but the magnitude of the increase was modified by management during establishment. The increase in total herbage yield and the reduction of white clover growth due to nitrogen application were both related to management in the year of sowing. Consideration should thus be given to method of establishment in the assessment of herbage seeds mixtures.