Effects of nitrogen application rate on productivity,nutritive value and winter tolerance of timothy and meadow fescue cultivars

Finnish N fertilizer application regulations for forage grasses are based on field experiments mainly conducted in the 1960–1970s with cultivars and management practices typical of the time. In order to update the yield response function of N, to make it better suited to current grassland farming, field experiments were conducted at two sites in 2015–2017 with two cultivars of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and one of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). Dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value and N balance were evaluated, with N application levels 0, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The grasses were harvested three times per season. The data indicate that the DM yield response was significantly stronger, and N was used more efficiently for DM production than earlier without compromising the nutritive value, especially during the first two years. The third harvest produced on average 23% of the annual yield, utilizing N efficiently. N application rates below 350 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ did not cause substantial overwintering losses or lodging. The data indicate that with changing climate and improved cultivars and management practices, there is a need to modify the rates and timing of N application. The results suggest that N application levels could be increased by at least 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from the current maximum accepted rate (250 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) without too high NO₃^- or CP concentrations in feed, or too high N balance that indicates increasing risk of N leaching.     

Biomass production of trees and grasses in a silvopasture system on marginal lands of Doon Valley of north-west India. 1. Performance of tree species

Bouldery riverbed lands occupy about one-third of the geographical area in Doon Valley of north-west India. These marginal lands need rehabilitation through establishment of silvopasture system for meeting the biomass requirements of resource-poor farmers. A study was carried out for 14 years (1980 to 1993) at Dehradun, involving four multi-purpose tree species viz. Albizia lebbek (L.) Benth., Grewia optiva Drumm., Bauhinia purpurea L. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk.) de Wit.; and two grass species viz. Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov. and Eulaliopsis binata (Retz.) C.E. Hubb. Fifty and 75% of the tree crown was lopped once a year after four years of age. Tree survival decreased with age, and was highest with L. leucocephala (86.9% in 1993 of initial density of 625 trees ha⁻¹) and lowest with B. purpurea (49.3%). Canopy parameters of trees progressed differently, presumably due to their varying growth habits. The trees of A. lebbek were taller with more crown spread, whereas G. optiva had more crown height with lesser crown spread. Stem diameter growth of A. lebbek was highest followed by B. purpurea. Lopping intensity did not affect tree survival and also canopy growth in most years, but collar diameter and diameter at breast height (dbh) decreased significantly at the higher intensity of lopping. Intercropped grass species E. binata caused a greater adverse effect on the tree survival and growth parameters than C. fulvus. The biomass production (leaf and branch wood weight of lopped material) was highest at eight years of age in 1987 but showed no definite trend over the study period. Bauhinia purpurea produced the highest biomass and L. leucocephala the lowest, despite opposite trends in their survival. The performance of A. lebbek was on par with B. purpurea in the later years (1990--1993), but G. optiva was inferior despite its superiority in the early years (1984--1985). The effects of lopping intensity were not appreciable, but intercropping with E. binata decreased leaf and branch wood production significantly compared with C. fulvus throughout. However, the adverse effect was comparatively less pronounced on B. purpurea and A. lebbek than on G. optiva and L. leucocephala. The fibre yield of G. optiva also decreased due to intercropped E. binata compared with C. fulvus. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

草坪在改善城镇环境中的地位和作用

本文指出了当前城镇环境恶化的严重性，防治环境污染和气候荒漠化的重要性及紧迫性。详细阐明了草坪在绿化、美化、净化城镇环境和调节城镇气候中的地位和作用     

Forage Yield and Sucrose Response of Rhodes and Ruzi Grass to Cutting Height and Cutting Frequency Under Irrigation

The development of irrigated pastures in the Sudan is still at its infancy. The present study determined the influence of 2 cutting heights (2.5 and 5.0 cm) and 4 cutting frequencies (4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-week) on forage yield as dry matter and forage sucrose of Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana Kunth. cv. Massaba ) and Ruzi grass ( Brachiaria ruziziensis Germain et Everard cv. Congo Signal ) under irrigated conditions. Forage yield interactions involving species X cutting height X cutting frequency were significant. These yield interactions were attributed to differences in growth period and growth rhythm of the two species. On average, Rhodes exhibited a short growth period (13 months) compared to Ruzi grass (20 months). Forage yield and forage sucrose were, on average, superior in Ruzi compared to Rhodes grass. Forage yield and forage sucrose averaged 5.2 t ha⁻¹ and 7.2 % fw sucrose in Ruzi compared to 2.8 t ha⁻¹ and 6.9 % fw sucrose in Rhodes grass. Forage yield and forage sucrose of both species were negatively correlated with cutting frequency. The highest forage yield may be obtained at an 8-week cutting frequency in Rhodes (45.6 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) compared to a 10-week cutting frequency in Ruzi grass (88 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Results suggest that very high forage yields as dry matter and forage sucrose of Rhodes and Ruzi grass may be possible under irrigated conditions in the Sudan at a cutting frequency of between 8 to 10 weeks.     

黄河故道风沙区牧草控制风蚀效果的研究

通过野外测试与室内分析相结合的方法，对黄河故道风沙区种植牧草后的土壤风蚀特征进行了研究，结果表明：试验区土壤风蚀季相特征不同，以春季风蚀剧烈，而冬季次之。对照区年风蚀深度达5.2cm，与之相比，牧草种植小区年风蚀深度下降了69．62％～80．58％。不同牧草对风蚀的减弱程度不同，差异明显。种植牧草可增大地表粗糙度，降低近地表风速，风速降低幅度为30．17％～60．31％，达到防止风蚀的目的，并通过生物改良和阻滞堆积使细粒物质增多，增强抗蚀性。     

不同牦牛放牧率下江河源区垂穗披碱草/星星草混播草地第一性生产力及其动态变化

江河源区2龄和3龄混播草地（垂穗披碱草＋星星草）牦牛放牧试验结果表明：在两个放牧季内，不同处理组的地上生物量开始阶段逐渐增加。之后逐渐下降。且随放牧率的增加同一时期地上生物量减小；2003年从7月20日开始、2004年从8月5日开始至9月20日，不同放牧率下同一时期的地上生物量差异显著（P〈0．05）；各放牧处理区2003年同一时期的地上生物量均高于2004年。且牧草生长季节地上平均生物量及其年度变化之间的差异显著（P〈0．05）。此外，不同放牧率下同一时期各土壤层地下生物量及其百分比组成、相同放牧强度下不同时期各土壤层地下生物量及其百分比组成均没有明显的趋向性变化；牧草生长季节地上平均生物量与放牧强度之间呈线性回归关系。0～30cm的地下生物量（包括活根和死根）与放牧强度之间呈二次回归关系；牧草生长季节地上与地下平均生物量之间呈二次回归关系，说明轻度放牧和中度放牧能刺激牧草的生长，具有补偿或超补偿生长的特点。     

Soil properties and plant production after short-term fallows in Senegal

Abstract. Field trials of vegetation modification were carried out to test the hypothesis that the management of key plant groups such as trees, perennial grasses and legumes would improve soil chemical properties in short-term fallows. Soil properties and plant production during a 4-year fallow period and millet yields after clearing were recorded at two sites representing dry and subhumid climates in Senegal, West Africa. During the four years of fallow, soil organic matter did not vary significantly at either site. A decrease in amounts of Olsen P, calcium and potassium in soil (0–10 cm depth) by 42–50% occurred at one site due to an effect of perennial grasses. The highest millet yields were measured in plots on which the largest amounts of biomass had been burnt after clear-cutting. These results confirmed that short-term fallows do not replenish soil organic matter and nutrient contents. The introduction of planted species did not arrest the decline in soil quality.     

刈割对三种热季禾本科牧草越冬的影响

本试验通过对毛花雀稗、纳罗克狗尾草和宽叶雀稗3种热季牧草在不同刈割频度下的越冬成活率的观测表明:毛花雀稗越冬力最强,受刈割频度和终刈时间的影响最小;纳罗克狗尾草次之;宽叶雀稗越冬力最弱,受刈割频度和终刈时间的影响最大.     

河北省平原农区牧草业发展现状及前景展望

分析总结了河北省平原农区牧草业的生产现状、研究水平和存在的主要问题 ,从节水农业、旱作农业、高效畜牧业发展以及国内外市场需求等方面阐述了牧草业的发展前景 ,提出了河北省平原农区牧草业发展的技术建议。     

Rehabilitation of the nematode fauna in a phytostabilized,heavily zinc-contaminated,sandy soil

Background Aim and Scope  The Maatheide in Lommel, Belgium, is an extremely metal contaminated, sandy area where vegetation has disappeared over ca. 130 hectares due to the activities of a former pyrometallurgical zinc smelter. To reduce the environmental impact of this area a rehabilitation strategy had to be developed. Therefore, in the centre of this area, an experimental phytostabilization (grass) field of three hectares had been installed in 1990. After a grass cover had been established, the development of the nematode fauna in the phyto-stabilized soil was studied. Nematodes act at various levels in soil ecosystems: herbivorous species extract their food from plant roots, bacterivorous and fungivorous species feed on microbes, predatory species consume other nematodes, and omnivorous species have mixed diets. In a mature soil ecosystem that normally exercises its manifold functions, a diverse nematode fauna occurs, reflecting the intactness of the ecosystem. As such, this fauna is indicative of crop growth, vegetative diversity, organic matter decomposition, microbial activity and diversity, and the maturity of the soil ecosystem. Methods  A metal immobilizing soil amendment (beringite) and municipal waste compost (to improve the nutrient status and water-retaining capacity) were incorporated in the soil and metal tolerant ecotypes of grasses were sown. Soil samples for nematode analyses were taken four times. Results  As a result of the treatment, pH of the soil increased and the water extractable amount of Zn was strongly reduced. Grass growth revitalized the impoverished soil ecosystem, organisms as well as metabolic processes. The nematode fauna of the experimental field in the Maatheide has been studied since 1997 and the recovery of the various feeding guilds and taxa was checked again in 2002. Nematode densities and feeding guilds have normalized, with omnivores and predators as the last guilds to reappear. Up to 27 species with a current diversity were observed in the grass-covered experimental plot, but a number of ubiquitous species, present at a comparable site at some distance, remained absent. Conclusion  It can thus be concluded that rehabilitation of an impoverished soil ecosystem is possible in heavily contaminated soils by means of phytostabilization, but there are some limitations on rehabilitation, since a number of common nematode species remained absent. Further research should indicate if this absence is indicative of a loss of essential processes in the soil. Recommendation and Perspective. Phytostabilization of heavily zinc-contaminated, sandy soil also remediates impoverished soil ecosystems. In particular, the recovery of nematode feeding categories is indicative for the normalization of soil life. The absence/presence of a number of ubiquitous taxa should be checked again after some time to verify if recovery is completed.