Grass and Forage Science最新文献

{"title":"A Simulation Model to Evaluate the Impact of Grass Management on Milk Yield, Milk Per Area and Feed Efficiency","authors":"Bernd Ollertz-Mertens,&nbsp;Harald Volden,&nbsp;Egil Prestløkken,&nbsp;Matthew F. Digman,&nbsp;Kenneth F. Kalscheur,&nbsp;Benjamin Büchner","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70078","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Harvest time of grass is a critical management decision on dairy farms. This study evaluated which maturity stage harvest would be ideal for three scenarios using the target variables energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield, milk yield per area and feed efficiency. These scenarios were model based for farms where either barn capacity, land availability or quota regulations were the most limiting factors. From 15 different fields on six farms, 429 samples were taken over the course of 3 years. Samples and test plots were analysed for their constituents and yields. The grass represented permanent grassland and temporary ryegrass fields. Out of these grass samples, potential dry matter intake (DMI), estimated ECM yield, estimated milk yield per area and estimated feed efficiency were predicted with estimated milk yield per area derived from the MILK2016 model and DMI and ECM estimated based on organic matter digestibility (OMD). Predictions showed that harvest at heading was not ideal for all scenarios. Outcomes varied between farms, fields, cuttings, maturity stages, years and types of grassland as well as interactions between those. Effects of maturity stage were strongest in first cuttings and not different in third cuttings. First cuttings showed higher values for all target variables than regrowth. The effect of maturity varied between years, showing differences above 15% for all three target variables. The type of grassland only showed an interaction with the sampling year for estimated milk per area. The ideal harvest time varies depending on the scenario and its most limiting factor. Furthermore, cutting, year and type affect the respective target variables significantly. Especially, the ideal amount of milk per area can be achieved at later maturity stages compared to estimated ECM yield and feed efficiency. Precision farming technologies can help in decision making on harvest timing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forage Provision Dynamics in Drylands: A Non-Destructive Estimation Based on Grass Populations","authors":"Isabel Méndez,&nbsp;Martín R. Aguiar,&nbsp;Gastón R. Oñatibia","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70077","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Drylands worldwide are predominantly used for animal husbandry and provide critical ecosystem services such as forage provision and carbon sequestration. Sustainable livestock grazing management in these ecosystems relies on accurate forage dynamics assessments. Forage dynamics largely result from the characteristics of the plant populations composing the community, the traits of domestic herbivores and the management strategies that influence consumption and selectivity. However, traditional forage evaluations often focus on total productivity, plant cover or biomass measurements, overlooking plant-size population structures that control forage dynamics as perceived by grazers. We developed species-specific allometric equations for dominant perennial grasses of the Patagonian steppes to estimate aboveground biomass categories related to the provision of forage and other ecosystem services—including total, green, senescent, standing-dead and crown biomass—based on plant size. Then, we applied the equations to assess the effects of sheep grazing intensity on population plant-biomass structures and forage biomass in commercial-sized paddocks. The non-destructive allometric method was highly accurate (<i>R</i>² ranged 0.77–0.90; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001 for green and total biomass models), allowing efficient biomass estimations across different plant morphologies under varying grazing pressures. Notably, grazing intensification did not affect total grass green biomass, but significantly reduced forage biomass by 70% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) due to the substantial population decline in sheep-preferred species, highlighting the differential impacts of selective grazing on specific biomass components. By enabling a finer understanding of plant–animal interactions and species-specific biomass dynamics, our method supports informed management strategies to sustain critical ecosystem services in Patagonian steppes and other drylands grazed by selective herbivores.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148783862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harvested Forages for Horses From a Feeding Perspective—A Systematic Literature Review","authors":"Sara Ringmark,&nbsp;Malin Connysson,&nbsp;Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist,&nbsp;Cecilia Elisabeth Müller","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Due to the important role of forages in equine diets, the aim of this project was to perform a systematic literature review of the area with relevance for Northern Europe. The objectives were to identify the currently available published peer-reviewed literature on forages for horses from an equine feeding perspective and to summarize it to present the existing knowledge and identify knowledge gaps. The literature search resulted in 11,316 hits, but after removing duplicates and papers outside the study scope and inclusion criteria, 312 publications remained. The studies included were mainly about forage intake, forage digestion, digestibility, nutritive value, conservation and treatment methods of forages for horses, and forage hygienic quality in relation to health issues in horses. Forage intake and digestibility are to a large extent determined by forage fibre content even if it does not fully explain the variation, and more knowledge is needed on how to use different forage species in equine nutrition to suit the requirements of different horse categories. Several studies aiming at comparing different forage conservation methods had confounding factors in differing plant maturities or species, which restricted the possibility to draw any clear conclusions. Hygienic quality of forages and its impact on horse health was mainly covered in case reports and not comparative studies, except for silage and haylage having less respirable particles than hay, which is important for respiratory health. Further research is required within the area considering the importance of these feeds for a hindgut fermenter such as the horse.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148753588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Freezing and Ice Encasement Tolerance of Arctic Timothy Varieties After Seed Multiplication for One, Two or Three Generations at Lower Latitudes","authors":"Trygve S. Aamlid,&nbsp;Sigridur Dalmannsdottir,&nbsp;Kristoffer Herland Hellton,&nbsp;Marit Jørgensen,&nbsp;Ievina Sturite,&nbsp;Carl Gunnar Fossdal,&nbsp;Akhil Reddy Pashapu,&nbsp;Mallikarjuna Rao Kovi,&nbsp;Helga Amdahl,&nbsp;Odd Arne Rognli","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70076","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Seed multiplication of perennial grasses outside their area of adaptation is common practice globally. This also applies to timothy (<i>Phleum pratense</i> L.), the most important forage grass in Arctic Norway (67°–71° N). Early research suggests little risk for loss of winter hardiness if seed multiplication of Arctic timothy is limited to one or two generations in the south, but recent experiences by North Norwegian farmers suggest otherwise. A study was conducted in which original seed of two northerly adapted timothy varieties ‘Engmo’ (an old landrace originating at 69° N) and ‘Noreng’ (a synthetic variety consisting of 10 clones of ‘Engmo’ and four clones of the South-Norwegian variety ‘Grindstad’) was multiplied for one, two or three generations at 70° N, 64° N and 58° N. Plants raised from the different generations at each site were subjected to freezing tests to determine LT₅₀ and ice encasement (IE) tests to determine LD₅₀, both tests followed by the weighing of regrowth of surviving plants. On average for generations and compared with the original seed, we found no changes in freezing tolerance or IE tolerance after seed production at 70° N, but significant losses in freezing tolerance of both varieties after seed production at 64° N and in particular at 58° N. The fact that major shifts occurred already in the first generation and were later, at least to some extent, reversible and influenced by the winter before each seed harvest raises the possibility that epigenetic memory of environmental conditions was transferred to the seed progeny in addition to the classical genetic effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70076","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does the Inclusion of French Serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.) Enhance Productivity and Resilience of Pastures in Low-Rainfall Mixed Farms in Neutral to Alkaline Soils?","authors":"Tshewang Dorji,&nbsp;David Peck,&nbsp;Joshua Philp,&nbsp;Hannah Griffiths,&nbsp;Rory Dunn,&nbsp;Andrew Smith,&nbsp;Stephen Lee,&nbsp;Matthew Denton","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p>French serradella (<i>Ornithopus sativus</i> Brot.) is an annual pasture legume typically grown on acidic soils, but its potential for production in low-rainfall, neutral to alkaline sandy soils of southern Australia is poorly documented. A series of experiments across low-rainfall mixed-farming regions assessed the adaptive advantages of French serradella relative to other annual pasture legumes grown in crop-pasture rotations. Measurements included above-ground dry matter (DM) production, groundcover, seed yield, nitrogen fixation, herbage quality, and suitability for dry sowing. French serradella showed strong adaptation to deep sandy soils across a pH range of 5.5 to 7.8, achieving groundcover, forage quality and nitrogen fixation rates comparable with most improved annual pasture legumes. Its resistance to powdery mildew limited the extent of this disease in pasture mixtures containing annual medics. Across landscape positions, French serradella dominated the dunes, showing a preference for light-textured, deep sands with a neutral pH, in contrast to annual medics (<i>Medicago</i> spp.) that dominated the alkaline, finer-textured mid-slopes and swales. Serradella's deeper rooting system and responsiveness to late-season rainfall allowed longer persistence in the season than shallow-rooted annual <i>Medicago</i> species. Serradella and a strand medic cv Seraph (sown as mixed pastures) regenerated from soil seed banks following grain cropping, highlighting the persistence and significance of these species in ley farming systems. Dry sowing of serradella pods was most effective in soils where compatible rhizobia were already established from prior lupin cultivation and when sowing coincided closely with rainfall events, indicating higher rhizobia survival. Our findings indicate that French serradella can be a complementary or an alternative pasture species to subterranean clover and medics, particularly in sandy and low-rainfall mixed farming systems, depending on soil constraints. However, further work is required to refine inoculation strategies, pasture mixtures and grazing management and to evaluate the reliability of responses under variable environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70072","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-Term Effects of Contrasting Management Regimes on Plant Species Diversity, Herbage Production and Soil CO2 Emissions in Species-Rich Grasslands","authors":"Matteo Francioni,&nbsp;Giulio Tesei,&nbsp;Laura Trozzo,&nbsp;Marina Allegrezza,&nbsp;Paride D'Ottavio","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70073","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Semi-natural grasslands are among the most plant-rich ecosystems worldwide, providing multiple ecosystem services but requiring site-specific management for their conservation. This study assessed short-term dynamics of plant biodiversity, herbage production, pastoral value and soil CO₂ emissions under contrasting management regimes in <i>Bromopsis erecta</i>-dominated grasslands (2016–2018). A randomised complete block design tested three regimes: customary management (CST, two cuts per year), intensive utilisation (INT, four to six cuts per year) and abandonment (ABN, no cuts). Changes in species composition relative to CST were mainly associated with ABN, which increased the cover of <i>Brachypodium rupestre</i>, <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> and <i>Cerastium arvense</i>, while leading to a general decline in species associated with mowing. Diversity indices showed significant interactions with year and management: target species number differed only in the third year between INT and ABN, while richness and H′-index were lower in INT than in CST and ABN in the first year, reversing by the last year. Herbage production in ABN reached 6.8 t dry matter ha⁻¹ in the third year (+180% vs. CST; +117% vs. INT), whereas pastoral value ranged broadly (13.4–57.1) with no significant differences among regimes. Cumulative soil CO₂ emissions were highest in the first year (31.12 t CO₂ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and declined to 17.5–19.3 t CO₂ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in subsequent years, without significant management effects. Overall, short-term intensive utilisation does not negatively affect herbage production or soil CO₂ emissions, although slight increases in annual mesophilic species may signal a shift towards nutrient-rich communities. Even short-term abandonment shows no major trade-offs, suggesting flexible management can support both biodiversity and farmer livelihoods while maintaining key ecosystem services.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70073","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Inclusion of Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L) Into Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) Swards Managed Under Intensive Dairy Cow Grazing: The Impacts on Milk Yield, Milk Quality, Milk Fatty Acids, Milk Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grazing Behaviour","authors":"Naomi Rutherford,&nbsp;Lauren E. Chesney,&nbsp;Francesca Carnovale,&nbsp;Richard Mott,&nbsp;Xianjiang Chen,&nbsp;Alan Gordon,&nbsp;David Patterson","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70074","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ribwort plantain is gaining attention as a potential forage species to enhance sustainability in temperate pasture-based dairy systems. This study investigated the effects of moderate plantain inclusion in perennial ryegrass swards on dairy cow milk yield and composition, milk fatty acid profile and nitrogen use efficiency under intensive grazing management in Northern Ireland. Over two grazing seasons, 60 and 44 high-performing Holstein-Friesian cows were allocated to perennial ryegrass (PRG) swards or mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards (PRG-PL), respectively in year 1 and 2. Sward composition remained consistent across both years, with PRG-PL swards averaging 30% plantain. Results indicated that inclusion of plantain had no significant impact on milk yield, body condition score, milk nitrogen use efficiency or animal grazing behaviour (<i>p &gt;</i> 0.05). However, mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards exhibited improved herbage utilisation (78.9% and 83.1% respectively, for PRG and PRG-PL swards). PRG-PL swards had a higher mineral ash (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001) and ADF (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.01) content, but a lower NDF (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001), WSC (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.05), GE (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001), DOMD (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001) and DM (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001) compared to PRG swards. Notably, inclusion of plantain significantly altered the milk fatty acid profile, increasing concentrations of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 (n-3) (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.05) and omega-6 (n-6) (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.001) fatty acids, while decreasing conjugated linoleic acids (<i>p &lt;</i> 0.01). These changes may offer potential nutritional advantages in dairy products. Although persistency of plantain remains a challenge in Northern Hemisphere climates, moderate inclusion in mixed swards proved agronomically viable and did not compromise cow productivity. This study provides evidence that incorporating plantain into PRG swards can enhance certain milk quality traits without negatively impacting milk yield or milk nitrogen use efficiency.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148647774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterisation of Silage Production and Utilisation Practices on Dairy Farms in Southeastern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil","authors":"W. B. Rediss,&nbsp;V. G. Wilke,&nbsp;D. A. Nogueira,&nbsp;J. Schafhäuser Junior,&nbsp;L. F. Ferraretto,&nbsp;C. H. S. Rabelo","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70075","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to evaluate silage production and utilisation practices on dairy farms in southeastern Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. A structured 39-question survey was developed using Google Forms to characterise farm profiles, dairy herds and silage production and utilisation practices. The questionnaire was applied by technicians across 97 dairy farms, representing 8.6% of the farms in the region. Corn silage samples were also collected from the silo face on each farm for chemical analysis. Based on average daily milk yield, farms were classified into four groups: &lt; 100, 100–250, 250–500 and &gt; 500 L/d. No-tillage planting was not adopted by farms producing &lt; 100 L/d (<i>p</i> = 0.046), whereas 36.4% of those producing &gt; 500 L/d used this system. Higher-producing farms used more winter forages for silage production (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Most forage harvesters (77.7%) lacked a grain processor. Pile silos were more common on farms with greater milk yield (<i>p</i> = 0.032) and the use of black-and-white plastic film increased with production level (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). The use of bacterial inoculants was also more frequent among higher-yield farms (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Farms producing more milk had corn silages with lower NDF concentrations (<i>p</i> = 0.043). The proportion of farms harvesting corn for silage within the ideal maturity range was low (&lt; 37%) in all groups. This survey identified limitations in silage practices on regional dairy farms, highlighting the need to strengthen extension services to improve silage production and utilisation efficiency and financial/cooperative support to reinforce the dairy sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70075","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148647734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment and Yield of Overseeded Black Oat in a Silvopastoral System: Effects of Tree-Induced Changes in Microclimatic and Soil Conditions","authors":"Camila Crestani,&nbsp;Ana Paula Corteze,&nbsp;Rubia Dominschek,&nbsp;Anibal de Moraes,&nbsp;Karina Maria Vieira Cavalieri-Polizeli,&nbsp;Anderson Cesar Ramos Marques,&nbsp;Mauricio Zanovello Schuster,&nbsp;Lucas Aquino Alves,&nbsp;Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tree integration into pasture systems modifies microclimatic and edaphic conditions that can influence forage dynamics, especially during the establishment of overseeding annual cool-season forage species in subtropical regions. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of black oat (<i>Avena strigosa</i>), overseeded into a warm-season perennial pasture under two contrasting conditions: open pasture and integrated with eucalyptus trees. The experiment was conducted over 2 years (2021–2022) within the eighth year of a long-term protocol, where trees had reached a mature height capable of canopy-induced environmental changes. Microenvironmental and soil-related factors, such as changes in radiation, soil moisture and soil physical properties, were assessed to understand their influence on pasture establishment and growth. Tree presence reduced 50% intercepted photosynthetically active radiation and soil volumetric moisture by up to 13%. These environmental modifications led to a 29% reduction in plant establishment and a 39% decrease in forage accumulation in livestock-forestry system. Although sward height was 23 cm and similar between systems, pasture integrated with trees exhibited lower forage density and supported 44% lower live weight gain per hectare. These findings provide evidence on the biophysical constraints of tree-pasture interactions and emphasise the importance of considering tree-induced modifications to soil and light conditions when implementing overseeding strategies in perennial pasture systems. Therefore, the integration of trees into livestock systems should not be discouraged; rather, tree spatial arrangement, row orientation and long-term canopy management must be carefully planned to balance the environmental benefits of livestock-forestry systems with sustained forage production and system productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148616456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anatomical Characteristics of Cenchrus purpureus Under Rainfed and Irrigation","authors":"Rayanne Thalita de Almeida Souza,&nbsp;Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos,&nbsp;Márcio Vieira da Cunha,&nbsp;Geane Dias Gonçalves,&nbsp;Alexandre Carneiro Leão de Mello,&nbsp;Daciele Sousa de Abreu,&nbsp;Rafael Leite Braz,&nbsp;André Luiz Rodrigues Magalhães,&nbsp;José Carlos Batista Dubeux Jr.","doi":"10.1111/gfs.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Microscopy can serve as an auxiliary tool to elucidate differences in the nutritive value of plant tissues, given its strong correlation with chemical composition and in vitro digestibility. The objective was to evaluate the effect of tall and dwarf elephantgrass genotypes grown under rainfed or irrigated conditions during the dry and rainy season, as well as to estimate correlations with nutritive value. The trial was conducted in Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil. This two-year study evaluated elephantgrass genotypes; the experimental design was randomised blocks in split-plot arrangement and four replications, the main plots consisting of rainfed (non-irrigated) and irrigated and the subplots included the four genotypes: two tall (Iri 381 and Elefante B) and two dwarf (Taiwan A-146 2.77 and Mott). The largest and smallest bundle sheath areas were observed in Mott (1986.3 μm²) and Iri 381 (1423.5 μm²), respectively, with no significant differences between Taiwan A-146 2.37 (1799.2 μm²) and Elefante B (1701.8 μm²). A greater parenchyma area was recorded in the stem of the dwarf genotypes, which differed from the tall ones. The sclerenchymatic tissue from stems showed strong positive correlations with lignin and indigestible carbohydrates. In the leaves of elephantgrass genotypes, the mesophyll was the predominant tissue. Both the rainy season and irrigation promoted the development of tissues associated with slower ruminal degradation rates. These findings suggest that elephantgrass can serve as a high-quality roughage source and improve the regularity of forage production throughout the year. The anatomical traits of elephantgrass, particularly the proportions of mesophyll and supporting tissues, provide reliable indicators for genotype selection aimed at optimising both forage production and nutritive value, emphasising the need for management strategies that integrate genotype, growth stage and environmental conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.70070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148616454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}