Impact of sampling and storage technique,and duration of storage,on the composition of fresh grass when analysed using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of sampling technique (pluck or cut), storage duration (immediate analysis, 24‐h or 48‐h), storage temperature (ambient or chilled) and storage conditions (air present, air excluded or breathable) on the composition of fresh grass sampled from a sward managed to simulate grazing. Treatments were repeated across four sampling dates, with grass samples stored in grip seal bags prior to analysis using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Grass sampled by ‘pluck’ had a higher crude protein and ME content, and a lower acid detergent fibre (ADF) content, compared to that sampled by ‘cut’. Grass stored for 48 h had a lower water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and ME content and a higher ADF content than for immediate analysis. Samples stored for 24 h did not differ from immediate analysis. Grass stored at ambient temperature had a lower WSC and ME content compared to immediate analysis. Grass stored under ‘breathable’ conditions had a lower ME content and higher ADF content than immediate analysis or samples stored with air present or air excluded. It is recommended that grass for analysis should be sampled by cutting, stored chilled (4°C) in a sealed bag to minimize exposure to oxygen and analysed within 24 h of harvest.     

Drivers of Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. et Schult growth and impact on forage quality in lowland Switzerland meadows

Invasive grasses (especially Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. et Schult) increasingly threaten meadows and pastures as a consequence of human impact and climate change. We conducted a study in 2012 and in 2013 to better understand the growing cycle and the influence of S. pumila on forage quality of lowland meadows. We observed a rapid increase of S. pumila presence and phytomass on the southern side of the Alps across the growing season. We measured (i) above‐ground phytomass, with a modified Corral‐Fenlon method; (ii) botanical composition using the linear point quadrat method; and (iii) grassland chemical composition by NIRs (near‐infrared spectroscopy) analyses. To test the hypothesis that S. pumila summer growth is related to specific climatic conditions, meteorological data (temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration) were collected from meteorological stations near the study sites. Total phytomass was sorted into S. pumila and other species. We used a generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and found the abundance of S. pumila to be inversely correlated with rainfall and the presence of other species, but positively correlated with temperature increase. The increase of S. pumila above‐ground phytomass production was linked to a reduction of forage quality.     

Calibration and validation of optical chlorophyll‐measuring devices for use in predicting crude protein concentration in tropical grass herbage

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI and Yara N‐Tester as easy‐to‐use and cost‐effective tools for predicting foliar chlorophylls (a, b and total) and crude protein (CP) concentrations in herbage from three tropical grass species. Optical chlorophyll measurements were taken at three stages (4, 8 and 12 weeks) of regrowth maturity in Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Mulato II (Brachiaria hybrid) and at 6 and 12 weeks maturity in Paspalum spp (Paspalum atratum). Grass samples were harvested subsequent to optical measurements for laboratory analysis to determine CP and solvent‐extractable chlorophylls (a, b and total) concentrations. Optical chlorophyll measurements and CP concentrations were highly correlated (Yara N‐Tester: r² = 0·77–0·89; Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI: r² = 0·52–0·84). Crude protein prediction models from the Yara N‐Tester and Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI accounted for 70–89% and 44–73% CP variability, respectively, in Mulato II and Guinea grass. The Yara N‐tester produced more accurate and reliable CP estimates based on very high concordance correlation coefficient [CCC (0·73–0·91)] and low rMSPE, mean and regression bias. It is concluded that the Yara N‐Tester produces more accurate and reliable CP estimates of tropical pastures.     

温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响研究

为探明毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的适宜温度以提高其萌发率,研究了0/10℃ 、5/15℃ 、10/20℃ 、15/25℃ 、20/30℃ 、25/35℃ 、30/40℃等7种发芽温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响.结果表明,5种野生豆科牧草种子在0/10℃条件下均无萌发;发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数等指标随昼夜温度的升高呈先上升后下降趋势;毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆牧草在适宜温度范围内种子萌发时滞最短,依次为2,2,2,3,4d;毛果胡卢巴和镰荚棘豆种子萌发最适温度为15/25℃,发芽率分别高达95%和812.5%;劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、窄叶野豌豆种子萌发最适温度为20/30℃,发芽率依次为85%、912.5%和65%.     

青草制辫成型装置设计与试验

为满足青藏高原等牧区青草制辫机械化需求,参考赛络纺的工作原理,设计了一种青草制辫成型装置,实现草辫的加捻和合股。通过力学分析,得知青草制辫成型与草辫轴向移动速度、加捻滚筒旋转速度、加捻滚筒半径以及喂入量有关,并分析出稳定草辫的最终捻度和捻回角,与加捻滚筒转速及牵引辊线速度有关,与加捻时间和加捻区的长度无关。结合实际,提出将草辫承受的最大拉力作为评价草辫紧实度考核指标的一种方法,并对草辫进行了受力分析,得出草辫所能承受的最大拉力与捻回角成正相关。样机试验结果表明,成型机生产率为427 kg/h,工作功率为0.428 k W,成型草辫堆积密度为143.3 kg/m~3,成型草辫所能承受的最大拉力为300~350 N,试验结果满足实际作业要求。     

陕北黄土区退耕还林(草)地土壤质量特征及其对降水的响应

为了解陕北黄土区退耕还林（草）地土壤质量差异特征及其对降水的响应,该文沿370～470 mm的降水梯度,选取了陕西省吴起县境内的王洼子（370～395 mm）、大吉沟（440～445 mm）和白豹（460～470 mm）3个降水梯度区作为研究区,并结合土壤质量指数法,定量评价降水梯度区广泛栽植的刺槐林（Robinia pseudoacacia）、沙棘林（Hippophae rhamnoides）和草地的土壤物理结构、持水性、盐碱度、碳汇指标以及速效养分指标方面的综合得分,明确植被恢复后土壤质量随降水梯度的变化特征。结果表明：1）降水量、植被类型以及二者的交互作用对土壤指标影响显著（P<0.05）。2）在460～470 mm降水量区,刺槐林（0.829）对土壤质量改良效果最好,其次为沙棘林（0.808）,二者土壤质量均达到肥沃水平,且差异不显著,草地（0.679）土壤质量指数最低,土壤为较肥沃水平;在440～445 mm降水量区,沙棘林（0.74）对土壤改良效果最好,其次为刺槐林（0.601）,二者均达到较肥沃水平,草地（0.479）土壤质量指数最低为中等水平;在370～395 mm降水量区,3种植被类型土壤质量指数由大到小表现为沙棘林（0.744）>刺槐林（0.387）>草地（0.251）,沙棘林土壤质量等级为较肥沃、刺槐林和草地为贫瘠水平。3）在370～470 mm降水梯度内,3种植被类型土壤质量综合指数均随着降水量的减少而降低,其中沙棘林土壤质量指数变异性较低（4.1%）,刺槐林（30.1%）和草地（37.2%）土壤质量变异性较高。该研究结果可为陕北黄土区370～470 mm降水梯度下的植被恢复与重建等林业生态工程实施提供数据支撑与理论支持。     

青藏高原东北部牧区气候暖干化趋势及对环境和牧草生长的影响

对20世纪80年代以来青藏高原东北部青南牧区和甘南牧区气候变化的统计分析表明,该地区呈现出气温升高、降水量减少和蒸发量增大的明显趋势。两个牧区年平均气温升高的边际倾向分别为0 3℃/10年和0 5℃/10年,年降水量减少的边际倾向分别为-28 6mm/10年和-23 5mm/10年。90年代该地区主要牧业县多年平均气温普遍比60～70年代升高了0 4℃～0 8℃;多年平均降水量减少的趋势尤以甘南牧区明显,最多可减少87 5mm。同时牧草返青期和枯黄期气温升高,使牧草生长期天数增多。气温升高导致地面蒸发量增多,两个牧区气温升高1℃时,年蒸发量分别增多99mm和114mm。气候变暖干旱,造成天然草地产草量下降。曲麻莱县年降水量减少1mm时,0 0667hm2草地产草量将减少1 6kg;夏河县年平均气温升高1℃时,0 0667hm2草地产草量将减少122 6kg。气候暖干化,已经造成该地区干旱缺水,草地退化、沙化和鼠害猖獗,使草畜矛盾不断加剧,已严重威胁到牧区的生存和发展,也影响到长江、黄河中下游地区的可持续发展,对此应予高度重视。     

几种优良人工牧草矿质元素含量的比较研究

就地上部而言,在3种豆科牧草中,白三叶以N、P、K、Fe、Co、Na含量较高,红三叶以Mg、Zn含量较高。在3种禾本科牧草中,鸭茅以P、K、Mg、Mn、Cu、Zn、Mo含量较高,草地早熟禾以Fe较高。3种豆科牧草N、Ca、Mg、V、Sr的平均含量显著高于禾本科牧草。地上部与地下部比较,豆科牧草的P、K、Ca、Mn、Zn、Na含量前者显著高于后者;禾本科牧草的N、P、K、B含量,前者明显高于后者。     

不同退耕年限撂荒地植物多样性及生物量分析

退耕还林(草)作为黄土高原水土流失综合治理的主要生态建设措施,经过几十年的开展,黄土高原生态环境得到极大恢复,林草覆盖率明显增加。以安塞县纸坊沟流域为研究区,选取坡耕地(0a)为对照,研究了退耕年限(3～5,10,18,28,37a)对撂荒地植物多样性和生物量的影响。结果表明,随退耕年限的延长,物种丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数、相同土层根长密度都表现为增大—减小—增大的趋势;植被盖度和地上生物量表现为37a>28a>18a>3～5a>10a>0a;撂荒地植被根系生物量、根长密度均随土层深度增加而减少;不同退耕年限撂荒地,相同层根系生物量表现为28a>37a>18a>3～5a>10a>0a。