Impact of deferred grazing and fertilizer on herbage production,soil seed reserve and nutritive value of native pastures in steep hill country of southern Australia

Developing sustainable grazing management systems based on perennial species is critical to preventing land degradation in marginal land classes. A field study was conducted from 2002 to 2006 to identify the impacts of deferred grazing (no defoliation of pastures for a period generally from spring to autumn) and fertilizer application on herbage accumulation, soil seed reserve and nutritive value in a hill pasture in western Victoria, Australia. Three deferred grazing strategies were used: short‐term deferred grazing (no defoliation between October and January), long‐term deferred grazing (no defoliation from October to the autumn break) and optimized deferred grazing (withholding time from grazing commenced between annual grass stem elongation and seed head emergence and concluded in February/March). These treatments were applied with two fertilizer levels (with or without fertilizer at 50 kg phosphorus ha^?1 and 2000 kg lime ha^?1 applied in year 1 only) in a factorial arrangement and two additional treatments: continuous grazing (CG) and no grazing (NG) in year 1. The deferred grazing treatments on average produced herbage dry matter of 4773 kg ha^?1, the NG produced 4583 kg ha^?1 and the CG produced 3183 kg ha^?1 in year 4 (2005–06) of the experiment. Deferred grazing treatments with and without fertilizer application produced an average of 5135 and 4411 kg DM ha^?1 respectively. Averaged over 4 years, deferred grazing increased the germinable seed pool of perennial grasses by 200% and annual grasses by 50% (except optimized deferred grazing that considerably decreased the annual grass seed pool) compared with the CG. The best of the deferred grazing strategies increased the digestibility of pastures by 7% compared with the CG. The results demonstrated that deferred grazing from spring to autumn followed by rotational grazing could be an effective tool to increase herbage production and soil seed pool and improve the digestibility of native pastures in the steep hill country of southern Australia.     

Selective defoliation by sheep according to slope and plant species in the hill country of New Zealand

The objective of the study was to evaluate the grazing behaviour by sheep in hill country paddocks in New Zealand which had received two long‐term fertilization and stocking rate treatments [high fertility–high stocking rate (HH); low fertility–low stocking rate (LL)]. Herbage accumulation and selective grazing were evaluated within low slope (LS), medium slope (MS) and high slope (HS) categories. Transects lines were placed and tillers of Agrostis capillaris and Lolium perenne in the LS category; A. capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum and L. perenne in the MS category; and A. capillaris and A. odoratum in the HS category were marked. The leaf length of each marked tiller was measured and used to determine selective grazing over 3 weeks during each season. The highest herbage accumulation rates were during spring and the lowest in summer and winter. The LS category showed the highest herbage accumulation rates and HS the lowest. Except for autumn, the marked tillers were more frequently grazed in the HH than in the LL paddock. During summer, autumn and spring, grazing frequency in the slope categories was in the order LS > MS > HS. During winter sheep did not discriminate between slope category. During summer, autumn and spring, sheep did not selectively graze the species studied but this was not the case during winter. Overall, sheep selectively grazed L. perenne. In all the seasons L. perenne consistently had the longest leaves but within species there was no consistent relationship between leaf length and probability of being grazed. Selective grazing changed through the year according to herbage accumulation rate. Sheep concentrated grazing in the category LS when herbage accumulation rate was high, but they did not discriminate between slope categories in winter when herbage accumulation rate was low.     

Interaction of plant genotype and management in the persistence of a perennial grass exposed to grazing and soil fertility stresses

Increased stocking rates under typical pasture improvement practices in southern Australia have often been associated with low persistence by sown perennial grasses subjected to continuous stocking. Cultivars of the perennial grass phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), which is widely used in southern Australia, vary in their phenology and growth habit. Winter‐active cultivars have also been developed with improved stress tolerances, viz. heavy grazing pressure (Holdfast GT) and acid soils (Advanced AT). This study examined the persistence of phalaris genotypes over 4 years under five management treatments: high P‐high stocking rate (18 sheep per hectare) rotationally stocked (HPRS); high P‐high stocking rate continuously stocked (HPCS); high P‐intermediate stocking rate (13·5 sheep per hectare) continuously stocked (HPCS13.5); low P‐low stocking rate (9 sheep per hectare) rotationally stocked (LPRS); and low P‐low stocking rate continuously stocked (LPCS). Basal frequency of phalaris declined rapidly under HPCS and LPCS in the first year of treatments when periods of low herbage mass occurred under low rainfall. Basal frequency in high P treatments stabilized and partially recovered but continued to decline in low P treatments. Holdfast GT survived the early decline in the HPCS treatment better than other winter‐active cultivars and similar to a known grazing tolerant, semi‐winter‐dormant cultivar. Advanced AT and older winter‐active cultivars were sensitive to continuous stocking but persisted better under rotational stocking or under a reduced rate of continuous stocking (HPCS13.5). Rotational management clearly promoted persistence of winter‐active phalaris, but long‐term persistence will be better ensured by combining management with the use of genotypes with grazing tolerance traits.     

Impact of novel endophytes in perennial ryegrass on herbage production and insect pests from pastures under dairy cow grazing in northern New Zealand

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with a novel endophyte (AR37 or AR1), Wild‐type endophyte or no endophyte (Nil) was sown with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in autumn 2005. The pastures were rotationally grazed by dairy cows from 2005–2009. Annual dry matter (DM) yield did not differ but AR37 pastures had a higher ryegrass tiller density, especially after the 2008 summer drought (+130%), and less white clover than did AR1 pastures. Concentrations of alkaloids produced by the Wild‐type association (lolitrem B, ergovaline) followed the same seasonal trends as did the AR37 alkaloids (epoxy‐janthitrems) but summer drought reduced concentrations of lolitrem B and epoxy‐janthitrems to less than half the mid‐summer (February) peak concentrations in the other years. Insect pests were monitored annually between 2006 and 2009. Tiller damage by Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel)) was significantly reduced by all endophyte treatments. African black beetle (Heteronychus arator (F.)) populations in soil samples increased during the experiment with Nil > AR1 > Wild‐type = AR37. Root aphid (Aploneura lentisci (Pass.)) infestations followed the pattern AR1 > Nil > Wild‐type = AR37. A lower pest pressure from all insect pests in AR37 pastures is likely to have contributed to this treatment having the highest ryegrass tiller densities.     

The impact of defoliation frequency and nitrogen fertilizer application in spring on summer survival of perennial ryegrass under grazing in subtropical Australia

Abstract This field study investigated the effect of timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application in spring on the survival of grazed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Dobson and Yatsyn) over summer in a subtropical environment. There were five N fertilizer treatments: no applied N, 46 kg N ha^?1 on 22 October or 22 November or 22 December, or on 22 October and again on 22 December. Water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of perennial ryegrass plants entering the summer was altered by varying defoliation frequency, with defoliation interval based on the number of leaves per tiller. Frequent defoliation was set at a regrowth level of one leaf per tiller and less frequent defoliation at a regrowth level of three leaves per tiller, over a total of two by three‐leaf per tiller regrowth periods. Application of N fertilizer was found to have no significant effect (P > 0·05) on survival of perennial ryegrass plants over summer. On the other hand, defoliation had a marked effect on perennial ryegrass persistence, with frequent defoliation decreasing ryegrass plant density (51 vs. 88 plants m^?2; P < 0·001) and increasing the density of tropical weed grasses (99 vs. 73 plants m^?2; P < 0·001) by autumn. Frequently defoliated plants had a lower stubble WSC content on a per plant basis than less frequently defoliated plants in spring (103 vs. 201 mg per plant; P < 0·001) and summer (59 vs. 101 mg per plant; P < 0·001). The lower WSC content was associated with a smaller root system in spring (1·50 vs. 2·14 g per plant; P < 0·001) and autumn (1·79 vs. 2·66 g per plant; P < 0·01), and this was reflected in 0·29 more plants being pulled from the soil by livestock between November 1996 and April 1997. Rhizoctonia fungus was associated with roots of pulled plants, but not with roots of seemingly healthy plants, indicating that this fungus may have a role in a weakened root system, which was more prone to sod pulling. Nitrogen applied in October and November resulted in a reduced WSC concentration, although the effect was restricted to 1 month after N application. The present study indicates that survival of perennial ryegrass plants over the summer in a subtropical region is prejudiced by frequent defoliation, which is associated with a lower WSC concentration and a shallower root system. Under grazing, sod pulling is a reflection of this weaker root system and contributes to plant mortality.     

精播麦套花生套期、肥料与密度优化配置

大田条件下采用二次饱和D—最优设计建立了精播麦套花生套期、密度和N肥与产量的数学模型。分析表明: (1)套期与密度、密度与肥料间呈负向交互效应。套期晚,花生适宜密度应相应增加;密度增加,N肥用量可适当减少。套期与肥料呈正向交互效应,套期早, N 肥用量也应适当增加。( 2) 麦套花生最高产量可达到5 795. 4kg/hm2 ,相应的措施组合为:麦收前22d套种,每公顷播20. 7万株,施N 89. 3kg。产量在4 500～5 250kg/hm2 范围内的措施组合为:麦收前18～29d套种,每公顷播18. 8～22. 2万株,施N 49. 4～90. 7kg;产量在5 250～5 795kg/hm2范围内的措施组合为:麦收前17～22d套种,每公顷播18. 9～22. 7万株,施N 72. 7～108. 9kg。(3)夏直播花生最高产量可达到4 873. 0kg/hm2 ,相应的措施组合为:每公顷播20. 8万株,施N 85. 4 kg/hm2。     

Effects of grazing and precipitation on herbage production,herbage nutritive value and performance of sheep in continental steppe

The present study highlights the effects of sheep grazing and precipitation on herbage and animal performance in a grazed steppe of Inner Mongolia. Experimental data were collected during grazing periods of four consecutive years (2005–2008), and effects were analysed across a gradient of seven grazing intensities. Variation in annual precipitation, reflected by the effect of ‘year’, was the major factor affecting herbage; i.e., the production and nutritive value of herbage increased with increasing precipitation. Herbage parameters were also affected by grazing intensity, as herbage production (HP) and herbage nutritive yields decreased, while herbage nutritive values increased with increasing grazing intensity. The grazing‐induced decrease in herbage nutritive yields suggests that decreases in HP offset the positive effect of grazing on the nutritive value. Liveweight gain (LWG) was predominantly affected by grazing intensity, as LWG per sheep and per ha decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing grazing intensity. However, responses varied among years: LWG per sheep was maximized by light grazing in the drought year and by moderate grazing the wet year. Our results showed that herbage shortage at high grazing intensities reduces LWG per sheep and thus diminishes responses in LWG per ha. Nevertheless, the highest grazing intensity provides highest animal production per ha in the short term; however, this is not sustainable in the mid‐ and long term because decreasing HP induces degradation processes. Based on our results, a reduction in grazing intensity that still provides 78% of the maximum LWG per ha meets the requirements of a sustainable grazing management.     

向日葵下胚轴体细胞胚发生的基因型效应

采用3因素3水平的正交试验L9(34),研究了种植密度、施肥量、单株有效穗保留数量对蓖麻新品系6052产量的影响。结果表明:种植密度、施肥量对蓖麻产量的影响均达到极显著水平,单株有效穗保留数量对蓖麻产量无显著影响。最佳栽培技术方案:种植密度12 495穴/hm2,行塘距为1.0m×0.8m;施底肥钙镁磷肥375kg/hm2,并在植株有6~8片真叶及主穗现蕾时,各追施尿素75kg/hm2;单株有效穗数保留6穗。     

密度和氮肥互作对单粒精播花生SPAD值、植株和产量性状的影响

本研究旨在探讨单粒精播花生生理性状和产量性状对密度和氮肥的响应。选择山东省烟台市招远鲁东丘陵地,作物两年三熟。2018和2019年,以出口大花生品种花育22为试验材料进行大田试验,设置了3个种植密度（12万、20万、28万株/hm²,分别表示为D1、D2和D3）和4个施氮量（0、50、115、180 kg/hm²,分别表示为N0、N50、N115、N180）,于不同生育时期调查分析花生SPAD值、植株和产量性状。研究结果表明,种植密度和施氮量均显著影响花生叶绿素含量、干物质量、植株性状和产量性状,且两者互作效应显著。在D2密度条件下,花生荚果产量较D1密度和D3密度分别高24.31%～45.04%和10.57%～15.13%,成熟期叶绿素含量分别高3.70%～27.82%和6.10%～18.94%,成熟期干物质量分别高7.31%～32.34%和10.65%～34.59%,且差异性均达到了显著水平。在D2密度下,施氮量在50～180 kg/hm²范围内,花生荚果产量、叶绿素含量和干物质量均显著高于无氮处理,各施氮处理表现为N115 > N180 > N50 > N0,以施氮量为115 kg/hm²时花生荚果产量最大,较N50和N180处理分别提高了6.83%和3.90%,叶绿素含量、干物质量和植株性状也协同提高。综合考虑生理性状、产量性状等因素,在本试验条件下,单粒精播花生栽培在低密度12万株/hm²下,花生主要产量性状随着施氮量的增加而增加,以种植密度为20万株/hm²,施氮量为115 kg/hm²较为适宜。     

密度和施氮量对沿海滩涂中度盐碱地蓖麻产量和氮素吸收的影响

以淄蓖5号和云蓖泰国202为材料,研究沿海中度盐碱地不同种植密度和施氮量对蓖麻产量和氮素吸收利用的影响.结果表明,淄蓖5号在种植密度13000株·hm-2、施氮量120kg·hm-2条件下获得的产量最高,云蓖泰国202的适宜密度为16 000株·hm-2、施氮量为120kg· hm-2.两个品种苗期对氮的吸收速率均缓慢,吸收量较低,蕾期吸收速率和吸收量逐渐增加,开花期达到高峰.高产条件下,每生产l00kg的蓖麻籽淄蓖5号需氮9.93～l0.33kg,云蓖泰国202需氮8.25～l0.12kg.在苗期、蕾期、开花期、花果期和灌浆成熟期,淄蓖5号分别保持2%、15%、50%、15%和20%左右的氮吸收百分率有利于高产;云蓖泰国202分别保持1%、10%、45%、12%和30%左右的氮吸收百分率有利于高产.     

Effects of application of nitrogen fertilizer on concentrations of P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures in south-western Victoria, Australia

Effects of timing and rate of N fertilizer application on concentrations of P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in herbage from perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures were studied at two sites in south-western Victoria, Australia. Nitrogen fertilizer (0, 15, 25, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha^–1) was applied as urea in mid-April, early May, mid-May, early June and mid-June 1996 to pastures grazed by dairy cows. At Site 1, N fertilizer resulted in a linear increase in P, K, S, Mg and Cl concentrations in herbage and a linear decrease in Ca concentration. For all times of application, concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg and Cl in herbage increased by 0·0048, 0·08, −0·010, 0·0013 and 0·053 g kg^–1 dry matter (DM) per kg N applied respectively. For S concentration, maximum responses occurred in mid-May (0·012 g kg^–1 DM per kg N applied). At Site 2, N fertilizer resulted in a linear increase in P, S and Na concentrations in herbage, a linear decrease in Ca concentration and a curvilinear increase in K and Cl concentration. The maximum responses for P, S and K concentrations in herbage occurred for the N application in mid-June and were 0·015, 0·008 and 0·47 g kg^–1 DM per kg N applied respectively. For Cl concentration, the maximum response occurred for the N application in early June and was 0·225 g kg^–1 DM per kg N applied. Overall, applications of N fertilizer up to 60 kg ha^–1 did not alter herbage mineral concentration to levels that might affect pasture growth or animal health.