Forage density effect on sound insulation properties

One of the main parameters affecting forage management and quality is density. Existing methods used for measuring physical properties of forage involve costly destructive analysis. A frequent and appropriate control of the forage density is required for optimizing the management of silage, hay and straw production; therefore, there is a need to develop a new measurement method. The sound insulation properties of a material are governed by its physical structure. Based on this, an inexpensive, non‐destructive acoustic measurement method using sound insulation properties was developed to determine forage density. The method has been used to analyse the correlation of the density with the sound insulation spectra produced by small‐scale models of hay, silage and straw. Results show that the sound insulation spectra of forage have a high correlation with the density and a significant congruence with the physical structure of the targeted forage types. The findings are highly relevant for innovative applications in agriculture, animal nutrition and bio‐energy production in terms of material properties monitoring, materials classification and quality determination.     

Main ecological and environmental factors affecting forage yield and quality in alpine summer pastures (NW-Italy,Gran Paradiso National Park)

Summer pastures in the European Alps play a crucial role in providing high quality forage for grazing livestock and encompass a wide variety of vegetation communities. The main issue of their management is the optimal exploitation of the available forage in relation to environmental constraints, aiming at obtaining the highest forage yield and quality from each vegetation community. In this work, we monitored six different vegetation communities characterized by contrasting topographic features and species compositions throughout the grazing season for two years. We performed botanical and phenological surveys, climate-related measurements, and herbage samplings to assess forage quantity and quality (i.e., digestibility and proximate composition, estimated by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy). We analysed the influence of climatic, topographic, and vegetation variables on pasture herbage through univariate and multivariate analyses. The cover of wide-leaf grasses primarily promoted biomass production, which was in turn lowered by increasing elevation and slope. On the other hand, a minor effect on forage yield was observed for an increasing cover of sedges and rushes and mean temperatures. Climatic variables (especially water deficit) and advanced phenological stages were the main degrading factors of forage quality in terms of crude protein and digestibility, while enhancing fibre contents. At increasing cover of legumes, fibre content declined and digestibility increased consequently, while the abundance of other non-legume forbs played a significant role in lowering fibre content. Multivariate analysis highlighted the differing influence of single plant species on forage features even within the same functional species pool. However, attention should be paid to the toxicity and low palatability of some plants, especially forbs. Eutrophic vegetation communities, rich in wide-leaf grasses and legumes, could be maintained and enhanced through pastoral management to increase alpine pasture production and quality.     

播期对饲用油菜鲜草产量和品质的调控研究

为确定华北平原饲用油菜高产优质的适宜播期，选用甘蓝型油菜品种4个，设置4个播期，研究不同播期下温度对饲用油菜鲜草产量和饲用品质的调控效应。结果表明，随播期推迟，饲用油菜生育期内日均温与有效积温升高，花前生育期天数缩短但花后生育期延长，总生育期天数缩短2～7 d。饲用油菜鲜草产量随播期推迟呈降低趋势，3月28日前播种超过35 t/hm2；品种间华油杂62鲜草产量显著高于其它品种（P<0.01）。饲用油菜鲜草产量和饲用品质与纤维含量显著负相关，中性洗涤纤维含量与苗期的有效积温量极显著负相关，与营养生长和花后有效积温量显著正相关。因此，在华北平原春播饲用油菜可选用华油杂62，播期以3月8日-3月18日为最佳，鲜草产量稳定在50 t/hm2以上，具有较高的粗蛋白、淀粉、水溶性碳水化合物和总可消化养分含量，可实现华北平原饲用油菜的高产优质生产。     

Harvest management effects on alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) production and quality in Mediterranean areas

The effects of plant harvest stage, autumn harvest dateand cultivars on alfalfa production and quality weredetermined in a 3-year field experiment established in1992. Harvesting stage influenced annual yield andquality. Late bud-first flower harvests increased harvestfrequency and forage quality in comparison with har-vestingat the full bloom stage while decreasing dry-matteryield by 18% (25·5 vs. 21·6 t ha 21 ). Harvestingstage significantly affected autumn forage productionand quality and yield at the first spring cut. Harvests atfull bloom allowed greater autumn and spring regrowththan cutting at the late bud stage, possibly because ofthe accumulation of higher root reserves. Autumn har-vestsand cultivar significantly influenced the yields atthe first spring cut in any growing season. Cuttingbefore the first frost in autumn reduced the vigour ofboth cultivars, and the subsequent yield at the first cutin any year, in comparison with harvests taken after ornear the first autumn frost. It is concluded that theeffects of the stage of harvesting alfalfa on dry-matterproduction and quality are important in theMediterranean environment of the Ebro Valley; theeffects of autumn management were observed mainlyon the yields of the subsequent first cut in spring but noton the total annual production.     

基于模型和GIS的水稻生产管理决策支持系统构建与应用

为实现水稻生产过程的精确化管理,以水稻精确管理知识模型为管理决策的智能依托,以GIS为空间数据管理平台,应用系统工程思想和软构件技术,设计实现了基于模型和GIS的水稻生产管理决策支持系统。该系统具有基本地图操作、信息管理、栽培方案设计、肥水运筹、病虫草害管理、适宜生长指标设计、因苗实时调控、专家咨询以及系统帮助等功能。系统在江苏和浙江部分水稻生产区的应用结果表明,精确管理田块平均产量达10464.8kg/hm2,较常规管理田块增产12·53%,减少氮肥投入31.5kg/hm2。系统的建立为水稻生产全过程变量管理处方的生成提供了模型化和系统化的决策工具,也为其他作物管理决策支持系统的构建提供了基础框架。     

马铃薯新品种‘晋薯21号’高效高产栽培技术

多年来山西省马铃薯生产中存在栽培管理粗放、多种病虫害并发、产量低、品种退化快等问题。为提高马铃薯品质与产量,山西省农科院高寒区作物研究所选育出具有适应性广、抗病性强、产量高、品质好的马铃薯新品种‘晋薯21号’,并通过一系列试验,探索出相应的配套栽培技术,便于生产中推广应用。     

收割高度对不同类型玉米饲用品质和产量的影响

在大田条件下分别对农大108和科多4号不同收割始节位(基部第1～8节间)的整株饲用品质和产量变化研究表明：随着收割始节位升高,两品种秸秆CP含量均呈直线增加趋势,NDF、ADF和ADL均呈直线下降趋势;随着收割高度的增加两品种之间的CP含量提高速率及ADL下降速率相近,科多4号的NDF下降速度快于农大108,农大108的ADF下降速率快于科多4号;玉米基部3个节间CP含量低,NDF、ADF和ADL含量高,饲用营养品质差;从第4节间收割明显改善玉米秸秆的饲用营养品质,其干物质产量损失10%以下。     

Relationships between botanical composition,yield and forage quality of permanent grasslands over the first growth cycle

This study examined the relationships between botanical composition and forage parameters (yield and forage quality variables) in 153 permanent grasslands located in the Massif Central of France. Grasslands were sampled at two vegetation stages in the first growth cycle. Botanical composition, yield, ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, organic matter digestibility (OMD) and voluntary intake (VI) were estimated for each sample. Temporal variability in species–forage parameter relationships were accounted for using innovative multivariate analyses applied mainly in ecological science. Crude protein and OMD were weakly correlated when each harvest time was analysed separately. Species–forage parameter relationships remained stable during the first growth cycle. The stability of these relationships indicates that permanent grasslands dominated by competitive species were associated with high yield and forage quality values whereas permanent grasslands composed of conservative species and/or high proportions of senescent material were associated with high structural carbohydrate values and low yield, OMD and VI values. Based on these relationships, we propose a typology of permanent grasslands along with a set of indicator species enabling non‐specialist botanists to easily classify grasslands for grassland management purposes.     

Past lessons and future prospects: plant breeding for yield and persistence in cool‐temperate pastures

Pastoral‐based animal production systems are under increasing pressure to provide the high quantity and quality of feed needed for optimal ruminant performance. The capacity of farmers to increase forage yield further, solely by increasing fertilizer inputs or through improved pasture management, is limited. Emerging requirements to balance industry production targets against the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and N losses pose further challenges. Plant breeding is being asked to deliver results more urgently than at any time previously, and this review attempts to highlight issues that might limit the prospects for future progress by seeking lessons from four past examples: (i) white clover breeding gains and the need to consider the complexity of the grazed grass‐clover mixed sward, with its tendency for cycling in plant species composition; (ii) a systems field trial of new and old grass/clover cultivars, and how the complexity of growth of perennial forage crops, and the dynamic optimality required for sustainable harvesting might limit our ability to breed for ‘yield’per se; (iii) the manipulation of a physiological trait (low ‘maintenance’ respiration) and the implications of such changes for plant fitness and G × E interactions; and (iv) an hypothesis‐driven development of a trait (high‐sugar grasses) and the value of ‘proof of concept’ studies, the requirement of scientific understanding of the mechanisms of trait expression, and how one might in future go about assessing breeding achievements. We discuss the general ecological considerations around shifts in the frequency distribution of traits in new populations, whether altered conventionally or by genetic modification, and how selection for a particular trait might inadvertently reduce both fitness and persistence. A major priority for breeding, we propose, might be to revisit previously abandoned traits that affected the physiological performance of forage species, armed now with a capacity to monitor gene expression at the molecular level, and so unravel/control the G × E interactions that limited their benefits. We also discuss how a ‘loss of yield advantage’ of new cultivars, seen when tested several years after sowing, requires urgent investigation and propose this might be associated with fitness costs of perenniality. Finally, we argue for a careful reconsideration of what are realistic expectations for systems field trials and that focus on forage breeding might be shifted more to ‘proof of concept’ studies, critical experimental design, comparing ‘traits’ rather than ‘cultivars’, and the wider ecological assessment of fitness and function of traits in the plant, community and ecosystem.     

Ensiled sorghum and soybean as ruminant feed in the tropics,with emphasis on Cuba

The concept is presented of combined cultivation of legumes and sorghum–maize and their use as conserved ruminant feed in tropical regions, with special reference to Cuba. Good yields are obtained during the rainy season through intercropping (alternate rows of either sorghum or maize and soybean). When followed by ensiling, this provides high‐quality ruminant feed for the tropical dry season. Soybean compensates for the low crude protein content of sorghum, whereas sorghum allows good silage quality in combination with legumes. The paper reviews and updates recent studies assessing combined sorghum–soybean cultivation and ensiling as well as determination of their feed value. The high nutritive quality and forage potential when these crops are intercropped demonstrate that silage from these plants can be used successfully in ruminant diets in Cuba and other tropical areas. Perspectives for new studies in this field are suggested, particularly with legume species that are more adapted to specific tropical regions and/or with higher forage yield. In addition, it is suggested that there is a need to assess the supplementation impact on meat and milk production at the farm level, as well as its environmental impact, when ruminants are fed combined silages from whole plants of sorghum–legumes.     

Intercropped wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.) as a whole-crop forage: effect of harvest time on forage yield and quality

Abstract Sole crops and intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.), at three harvest dates, representing successive growth stages, were evaluated for biomass production of whole‐crop forage and quality characteristics of crude protein (CP), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations and ash content. These tests were carried out for two field experiments, respectively, drilled during the spring of 1997 and autumn of 1997 on Imperial College Farm, Wye, UK. Results indicated that optimum forage yield and quality were obtained from the second to third harvest dates for the spring‐drilled experiment and the second harvest for the autumn‐drilled experiment. Wheat and bean intercrops were higher in total forage dry matter (DM) yield than either wheat or bean grown as sole crops. Field bean intercropped with wheat led to increased forage quality (CP and NDF concentrations) compared with sole wheat, and higher WSC concentrations compared with sole bean. Intercrops also enhanced weed suppression compared with sole bean. It is suggested that winter wheat–bean intercrops may have considerable potential as a moderate‐yielding, relatively high‐quality, low‐input and environmentally benign forage crop with considerable potential with regard to yield and quality and warrant further study.     

小麦新品种农麦180选育及优质高产栽培技术

农麦180系以镇麦168为母本、华麦5号为父本进行杂交选育而成的春性半硬质红粒小麦新品种,于2021年12月31日通过江苏省农作物品种审定委员会审定(审定编号:苏审麦20210022)。农麦180具有高产、稳产,高抗白粉病、穗发芽,中抗赤霉病等综合抗性。农麦180株型松散,分蘖力、成穗数中等,穗粒结构协调,成熟期熟相好,商品性好。在栽培管理上,以适期精量播种保证苗足苗齐苗匀;通过生长调控和田间管理构建合理的高产群体,保证农麦180高产、稳产、优质、高效。     

Legume Forage Quality

Abstract

Legume forage quality research is now concerned not only with nutritive value of forage for ruminant animals, but the impact of these nutrients on environmental quality. If we are to move to a more sustainable agriculture worldwide, more legumes must be incorporated into animal production systems. The goal of forage legume breeders is to tailor legume nutritive value to the needs of the consuming animals. A generalized priority list for legume nutritive value research includes high fiber digestibility, low anti-quality compounds, appropriate condensed tannins, reduced nonprotein nitrogen, and high sulfur amino acids. Although breeders have regularly found a wide range in forage quality within a given legume species, very few varieties with proven forage quality advantages have been released. Yield and persistence issues have dominated forage legume breeding. Improvement in forage quality often is linked to a reduction in yield and/or persistence, and also frequently results in complex genotype X environment interactions. Transgenic technology has almost limitless potential for improving legume forage quality and environmental quality, but only if the public can be convinced that transgenics are an acceptable risk. Structural and functional roles of legume plant cell walls and their relationships to forage quality are poorly understood. Research on the basic processes of forage legume growth and the relationships between growth and forage composition should result in the development of more accurate simulation models, and transgenic technology can provide us with the tools to understand these basic processes.     

黑龙江省饲料油菜品种筛选与种植技术研究

为筛选适宜在黑龙江省规模化种植的饲料油菜品种及栽培模式，采用多年多点的田间定位方法，研究了不同品种、不同种植方式和播期的产量差异和施肥效应以及不同收获期产量及营养成分积累规律。结果表明：金油158、15-P15和12-P38的产量表现好；采用机播平作，播种量15 kg/hm2，底肥施二铵150 kg/hm2，4月22日早播，能够显著提高饲用油菜的生物量。盛花期收获，饲用油菜生物量相对较高，与玉米秸秆混合青贮，制成配合饲料较好。本文结果为饲料油菜在我国北方早熟区开展多功能开发利用提供了参考。     

Use of regrowth for forage in seed crops of meadow fescue(Festuca pratensis Huds.)

Different procedures for autumn management in crops of Festuca pratensis grown for seed, in particular the possibility of combining seed production with the production of forage in autumn, were examined in eleven experiments conducted between 1993 and 1996 at various locations in south-east Norway. Methods without intensive use of regrowth, such a nitrogen (N) fertilizer application (40 Kg N ha^?1) on 10 the September, either separately or preceded by cutting on the same date, generally stimulated the subsequent number of reproductive tillers and seed yield compared with untreated plots (no N, no cuting). However, cutting before N fertilizer application on 10th September tended to have a nagative effect on seed yield in 1995–96, when a mild autumn was followed by a winter with extremely low temp ratures and no, or very little, snow cover. Maximizing regrowth, by the application of 80 kg N fertilizer ha^?1 immediately after seed harvest, never impaired seed yield when a forage harvest was taken on 10 September but did so in 1995–96, when a forage harvest was delayed to 10 October. Additional N (40 kg ^?1) after a forage harvest did not significantly affect seed yield, although negative and positive tendencies were observed after harvesting in September and October respectively. When forage harvesting was delayed from 10 September to 10 October, the average yields of dry matter (DM) increased, but the forage quality, especially the crude protein content, decreased. As a result of the high yields of DM obtained (on average 2250 kg ^?1 in September and 2610 kg^?1 in October), use of regrowth may be of essential economic value for seed growers of Festuca pratensis.     

燕麦抗倒伏性研究进展

饲草燕麦是我国重要的优质饲草。倒伏是限制燕麦饲草高产、稳产和优质的主要原因之一。本文系统整理、分析了国内外相关文献，综述了倒伏对燕麦生产的影响。倒伏会降低燕麦营养物质积累量、籽粒产量、燕麦草饲用价值和贮藏品质。影响燕麦倒伏的因素主要包括燕麦形态特征、茎秆力学特性、木质素代谢等内在因素，以及自然条件、栽培措施等外界因素。目前评价燕麦倒伏性能的方法主要有田间观察法、人工模拟法、模型综合评价法等。通过关键性状筛选、品种培育及高产栽培措施优化等途径提高燕麦抗倒伏性能。     

不同类型小黑麦饲草产量和品质特性研究

在江苏生态条件下研究不同类型(饲草型、粮饲兼用型和粮用型)小黑麦品种饲草产量和品质特性,结果表明:①不同类型小黑麦随生育进程推移,植株鲜草产量和干草产量逐步上升,鲜草产量多数品种在开花达最大值,少数品种在孕穗期或籽粒形成期达最大值,干重产量至灌浆期或成熟期达最大值,品种间和类型间存在差异。②小黑麦冬前或籽粒形成期割青,鲜草产量显著高于大麦,在拔节期至开花期收割,产量相差较小。③不同类型小黑麦植株蛋白质含量开花之前呈下降趋势变化,积累量呈"S"型曲线变化,整个生育期植株蛋白质含量高于对照大麦品种,粮饲兼用型品种各生育期蛋白质积累量均高于对照。植株中性洗涤纤维含量随生育期推移呈先上升再下降或一直上升的变化趋势,积累量亦呈"S"型曲线关系。植株可溶性总糖含量随生育进程呈一直下降的变化趋势。④综合产量和品质表现,不同类型小黑麦饲用的价值存在差异,粮饲兼用型品种中饲237可于拔节期至孕穗期割青作青或干饲料;饲草型品种OH1881在越冬期、开花期收割作青或干饲料。     

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.     

Simultaneous selection for seed and forage production in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata): application of drought tolerance and susceptibility indices

An experiment was conducted to estimate drought tolerance of some cocksfoot genotypes based on seed and forage yield and related indices (including tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, reduction percentage index, stress tolerance index and stress susceptibility index) and to identify relationships between measured traits. Twenty‐five genotypes were evaluated in the field under control and drought‐stress environments over 2 years. The results revealed a high variation for seed yield and forage yield and the measured indices under both moisture conditions. No correlation was observed between seed yield and forage yield under the control treatment, but this correlation was positively significant under the water‐stress treatment. Drought‐tolerant and susceptible genotypes were identified based on seed and forage yield performance. Genotypes 2, 4 and 7 had high seed yield, while genotypes 7 and 10 had high forage yield under both stressed and non‐stressed conditions and were identified as the most tolerant genotypes in each category. The results also revealed that genotypes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 24 had relatively high seed and forage yield in both control and drought‐stressed conditions. These genotypes can be used for further studies to improve both seed and forage yields concurrently.     

苎麻新品种湘饲纤兼用苎1号选育

湘饲纤兼用苎1号是从地方品种咸丰大叶绿的自然变异单株中系统选育的新品种,既可以作为饲用苎麻栽培也可以作为常规纤维用苎麻栽培。2年5点饲用区域试验结果显示:鲜产量为123148.9~138624.7kg/hm^2,平均鲜产量131936.9kg/hm^2,比对照增产17.15%~20.34%,且丰产稳产性好;粗蛋白含量在22.5%,优于对照,粗纤维含量18.5%、粗脂肪含量6.5%、灰分含量13.6%、钙含量3.6%,均低于对照,磷含量0.4%左右,与对照无差异。纤维用区域试验结果显示:平均纤维产量2599.5kg/hm2,比对照平均值低5.2%左右;生产试验平均纤维产量为2676kg/hm2,减产6.5%以内;平均纤维支数2394.8支,比对照湘苎3号和中苎1号分别提高15.22%、22.06%。表明湘饲纤兼用苎1号是一个高产优质的饲纤兼用苎麻新品种。