Grass and Forage Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of lactic acid bacteria and molasses on the fermentation quality, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and microbial community of Korshinsk peashrub (Caragana korshinskii Kom.) silages harvested at two growth stages","authors":"Wencan Ke,&nbsp;Yan Wang,&nbsp;Marketta Rinne,&nbsp;Marcia de Oliveira Franco,&nbsp;Fuhou Li,&nbsp;Yufan Lin,&nbsp;Qing Zhang,&nbsp;Yimin Cai,&nbsp;Guijie Zhang","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12619","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12619","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated the effects of additives on fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility and microbial communities of Korshinsk peashrub (<i>Caragana korshinskii</i> Kom.) silages at different maturity stages. Korshinsk peashrub was harvested at budding (S1) and blooming (S2) stages, and ensiled without additives (CON), or with 5% molasses (M0), or a combination of 5% molasses and either <i>L. plantarum</i> CLP (M1) or <i>L. plantarum</i> L694 (M2). Each treatment was triplicated and ensiled for 60 days. Delayed harvest increased water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) in silages at S2 stage, whereas crude protein (CP) was lower in silages at S1 stage. Compared with the CON group, the additives treated silages had lower pH, greater lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA), and WSC concentrations (<i>p</i> &lt; .05). Application of molasses alone or in combination with CLP had a noticeable effect on bacterial communities, with an increase in <i>Lactobacillus</i> in silages at both stages, whereas M2 silages presented more unfavourable microorganisms. Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that LA concentration in silage was positively correlated with <i>Lactobacillus</i> relative abundance at both stages, while ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration was positively correlated with the relative abundances of <i>unclassified-f-Enterobacteriaceae</i> and <i>Enterobacter</i>. In conclusion, delayed harvest could result in greater WSC and aNDF but lower CP in Korshinsk peashrub silage. Low WSC is the primary limiting factor affecting silage quality, and ensiling with molasses accelerated lactic acid fermentation in Korshinsk peashrub silage, providing a high-quality forage resource for livestock production.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"79 1","pages":"56-68"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43608684","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":"Alley cropping tree lines alter temperature and light quantity and influence daily growth rates of grassland","authors":"Rahel Sutterlütti,&nbsp;Manfred Kayser,&nbsp;Martin Komainda,&nbsp;Johannes Isselstein","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12618","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12618","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Trees alter microclimate and radiation budget in alley cropping systems, which in turn change physiological processes of the grassland component. The influence of the trees on grassland growth depends on the climate zone as well as possibly on weather conditions during the respective growth interval. The proportion of shade-tolerant species in the grassland further modifies the tree effect on grassland growth, as well as the number of annual harvests. We studied the effect of distance and orientation relative to the tree line (tree line in the South-West vs. North-East) on growth rates of the adjacent grassland with two cutting frequencies (frequent vs. infrequent) in an alley cropping system with grassland of two different vegetation compositions (diverse vs. grass-clover) and willow clones. Microclimate parameters and radiation were measured at the points where growth rates were determined to better characterize the effect of position relative to the tree line. Growth rates differed significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) depending on the distance to the trees and annual biomass accumulation amounted to 389 ± 13.5 g m⁻² in the center vs. 321 ± 10.0 g m⁻² with trees in the North-East vs. 292 ± 9.2 g m⁻² with trees in the South-West of the transect position. Lower growth rates occurred at positions with lower light quantities close to the trees, namely the position with the trees adjacent in the South-West. Temperature and relative humidity differences between the distances were significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) affected by distance to the tree line, but differences in neither soil nor air temperatures between the distances affected growth rates. Vegetation composition mediates the influence of the trees: the difference between positions was more pronounced in the diverse vegetation composition with higher productivities in the center between the alleys, but also with higher overall sward productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"402-415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12618","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42466117","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":"Dry-matter production and botanical composition of multispecies and perennial ryegrass swards under varying defoliation management","authors":"Shona Baker,&nbsp;Mary B. Lynch,&nbsp;Fionnuala Godwin,&nbsp;Eugene Brennan,&nbsp;Tommy M. Boland,&nbsp;Alexander C. O. Evans,&nbsp;Alan K. Kelly,&nbsp;Helen Sheridan","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12615","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12615","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Multispecies swards, comprised of different plant functional groups have comparable production potential to high N input <i>L. perenne</i> swards at reduced N when legumes are included. However, information on the appropriate management of multispecies swards is limited. The effect of differing management practices on the herbage dry-matter (DM) production and botanical composition of different sward types was investigated using a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design plot experiment. The experiment consisted of three sward types: <i>L. perenne</i>-only receiving (LP; 250 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹); <i>L. perenne-Trifolium repens</i> (LP-TR); multispecies sward containing <i>L. perenne</i>, <i>Phleum pratense</i>, <i>Trifolium repens</i>, <i>Trifolium pratense</i>, <i>Plantago lanceolata</i> and <i>Cichorium intybus</i> (MSS). LP-TR and MSS received 90 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. Harvesting of plot herbage took place every 21 or 28 days to a defoliation height of 4 or 6 cm, over two growing seasons (March to November 2020 and 2021 inclusive). Annual herbage produced by both LP and LP-TR was not significantly affected by defoliation frequency. However, MSS produced 1923 kg DM ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ more herbage when harvested less frequently. Unsown species contributed significantly less to the herbage DM of MSS compared to LP and LP-TR and remained similar in 2020 and 2021, whereas the contribution of unsown species to herbage DM increased in LP and LP-TR from 2020 to 2021, with noxious species more associated with LP and LP-TR than MSS. Results demonstrate the role of multispecies swards in improving the sustainability of grass-based agricultural systems in an environment of reduced fertilizer inputs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"390-401"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12615","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44327061","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":"Lower soil nitrous oxide emissions by a high lipid genetically modified perennial ryegrass line compared to its wild type","authors":"Saman Bowatte,&nbsp;Paul Newton,&nbsp;Coby Hoogendoorn,&nbsp;Somrutai Winichayakul,&nbsp;Nick Roberts,&nbsp;Shona Brock,&nbsp;Phil Theobald,&nbsp;Danica Thompson,&nbsp;Hong Xue,&nbsp;Dongwen Luo","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12616","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12616","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We describe an experiment where cattle urine was applied at a rate of 420 kg N ha⁻¹, equivalent to 10 L m⁻², to mesocosm swards of a high lipid genetically modified perennial ryegrass line (HME) and its wild type (WT). We measured N pools and fluxes in the plant and soil, soil microbial populations and N₂O production. HME plants produced 21% greater biomass than WT (<i>p</i> = .02), resulting in greater N uptake (27% higher in HME, <i>p</i> = .05). Urine N recovery in total plant biomass during the experiment in HME and WT swards were 54.7% and 33.9% respectively. The nitrification potential of soil was significantly lower (<i>p</i> = .01) in HME than WT. Partial least square-discriminant analysis using microbial gene abundance data indicated that HME and WT plant growth induced distinct microbial populations in the soil. These differences in plant soil microbial interactions between HME and WT swards resulted in significantly lower N₂O emissions from the HME sward. Total N₂O emissions over the 4 weeks after urine application was 38% lower (<i>p</i> &lt; .03) in HME swards than in WT swards. The next step in this work is to identify the specific changes in HME traits that drive the reduction in N₂O.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"327-337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12616","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46084760","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":"Above and belowground litter decomposition of cover crops grazed at different intensities","authors":"Erick R. S. Santos,&nbsp;José C. B. Dubeux Jr.,&nbsp;Cheryl Mackowiak,&nbsp;Lynn E. Sollenberger,&nbsp;Gustavo D. Farias,&nbsp;Bruno G. C. Homem,&nbsp;David M. Jaramillo,&nbsp;Luana Q. S. D. Zagato,&nbsp;Luana M. Dantas Queiroz,&nbsp;David L. Wright,&nbsp;Nicolas DiLorenzo,&nbsp;Martin Ruiz-Moreno","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12617","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12617","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grazing cover crops may increase land-use efficiency while promoting sustainability. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop litter quantity, quality, decomposition, and cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) N uptake. Cover crops were a mixture of rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.) and oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.) managed as follows: no grazing +34 kg N ha⁻¹ (NG34), no grazing +90 kg N ha⁻¹ (NG90), heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), and light grazing (LG). Grazed treatments received 90 kg N ha⁻¹. After cover crop termination, above- and belowground litter was collected and incubated in situ for 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 days, with cotton plants sampled on the same days to estimate N recovery and synchrony between N release from litter and uptake by cotton. By Day 128, only 13% of initial NG34 aboveground biomass had disappeared, whereas 42% of HG disappeared. Nitrogen retained in aboveground litter of HG was less than NG90 (27 vs. 60 kg N ha⁻¹), and aboveground final N stock (at Day 128) of HG was less than NG90 and LG (16, 47, and 41 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively). Belowground litter contributed 98 kg N ha⁻¹ versus 46 for aboveground. Belowground N disappearance from litter bags was greater from NG90 than NG34 (39 vs. 21 kg N ha⁻¹). Cotton N uptake by Day 128 was similar across treatments (191 kg N ha⁻¹). Grazing cover crops impact aboveground litter quantity, quality, and decomposition rates, and belowground litter plays an important role on the N cycling.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"376-389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12617","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41269879","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":"Canopy leaf area and leaf mass in the upper stratum of Urochloa hybrid ‘Mavuno’ grass subjected to nitrogen fertilisation","authors":"Raíne Fonseca de Mattos,&nbsp;Caroline Megumi Matuo,&nbsp;Valdo Rodrigues Herling,&nbsp;Adriano Rogério Bruno Tech,&nbsp;Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12614","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nitrogen (N) inputs are recognised to maximise herbage mass (HM) in tropical perennial grasses, whereas less is clear on their impact on HM distribution and the effects on leaf mass (LM) and leaf area index (LAI) in the upper stratum. This 2 year study, carried out in Pirassununga, Brazil, assessed the HM distribution in the upper (&gt;20 cm) and lower (&lt;20 cm) strata in <i>Urochloa</i> hybrid ‘Mavuno’ grass maintained under similar pre- and post-cutting canopy heights with contrasting N fertilisation rates applied after each cutting (no-nitrogen, 15, 30, and 45 kg N ha⁻¹). The relevance of specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N concentration (NLeaf), tiller weight (TW) and population density to the LM and LAI of the upper stratum were also examined. Mavuno grass expressed a stable HM &lt; 20 cm (59%–71% during Year I and 66%–80% for Year II), and apparent N fertilisation impacts on HM &gt; 20 cm were verified at specific regrowth cycles during Year II. Mavuno grass pastures expressed plasticity for adjustments on leaf, tiller and population attributes, which were modulated by both climatic conditions and N fertilisation. Under favourable growth conditions during Year I, fertilised pastures were able to sustain higher NLeaf and SLA but associated with lower TW, resulting in maximisation of LAI but not in LM in the upper stratum. During Year II, fertilised pastures expressed higher NLeaf, SLA, number of basal tillers, despite the lowest TW, which resulted in higher LAI and LM in the upper stratum compared with non-fertilised pastures. Our results highlighted that adjustments on leaf and population attributes within the canopy were driven to maximise the upper stratum LAI, being positively affected by N fertilisation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"359-375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50147680","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":"Effect of slurry application techniques on nitrous oxide emission from temperate grassland under varying soil and climatic conditions","authors":"John Kormla Nyameasem,&nbsp;Reiner Ruser,&nbsp;Christof Kluß,&nbsp;Christoph Essich,&nbsp;Mareike Zutz,&nbsp;Martin ten Huf,&nbsp;Caroline Buchen-Tschiskale,&nbsp;Heinz Flessa,&nbsp;Hans-Werner Olfs,&nbsp;Friedhelm Taube,&nbsp;Thorsten Reinsch","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12612","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12612","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The effect of slurry application techniques and slurry N stabilizing strategies on nitrous oxide emission from grasslands is poorly understood and, therefore, can result in large uncertainties in national/regional inventories. Field experiments were, thus, conducted to estimate the effect of different fertilization techniques on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Fertilizer was applied (135–270 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) as calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), untreated or treated cattle slurry. The slurry was either treated with sulfuric acid (target pH = 6.0), applied using trailing shoes or treated with 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate and applied via slot injection. N₂O fluxes were sampled using the closed chamber technique. Cumulative N₂O emissions ranged 0.1–2.9 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ across the treatment, sites and years. The N application techniques showed inconsistent effects on soil mineral N content, cumulative N₂O emission and N yield. The fertilizer replacement value of slurry was low due to low N use efficiencies at the sites. However, a close positive relationship (<i>r</i> = 0.5; <i>p</i> = .013) between slurry value and biomass yield was observed, highlighting the benefit of high slurry value on crop productivity. N₂O-N emission factors were low for all treatments, including CAN, but were 2–6 times higher in 2019 than in 2020 due to lower precipitation in 2020. Variations in N₂O emission were largely explained by soil and climatic factors. Even with the low N₂O emissions, this study highlights the benefit (significant mitigation of N₂O emissions) of replacing the increasingly expensive chemical fertilizer N with input from slurry under favourable conditions for denitrification.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"338-358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12612","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46305593","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":"Forage intake and nitrogen metabolism of beef cattle grazing palisadegrass-calopo mixed pasture managed using canopy light interception","authors":"Jacqueline dos Santos Oliveira,&nbsp;Luis Depablos,&nbsp;Bruno Grossi Costa Homem,&nbsp;Igor Machado Ferreira,&nbsp;Robert Michael Boddey,&nbsp;Adenilson José Paiva,&nbsp;Márcio André Stefanelli Lara,&nbsp;Daniel Rume Casagrande","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12613","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12613","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To define the best grazing management strategy, it is important to assess animals' responses to variations in the structure and composition of tropical forages. This 2-year study evaluated animal response to Marandu palisadegrass (<i>Urochloa brizantha</i>)-calopo (<i>Calopogonium mucunoides</i>) mixed pastures managed under rotational grazing. Treatments consisted of three defoliation frequencies defined by rest periods interrupted at 90% (90LI), 95% (95LI) and 100% (100LI) of photosynthetically active radiation interception (LI). The stubble post-grazing height target was 15 cm. Statistical difference was declared at <i>p &lt; .</i>10. The 100LI had lowest crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDDM) for the Marandu palisadegrass (<i>p =</i> &lt;.001 both) and calopo (<i>p =</i> .003 and <i>p =</i> .067, respectively). Also, the OM digestibility decreased 7.0% in the 100LI condition than 90LI and 95LI treatment (<i>p =</i> .005). There was no difference in forage, grass, and legume intakes between the treatments (<i>p &gt;</i> .10). The 100LI treatment decreased CP intake from grass in 33.3% (<i>p =</i> &lt;.001) compared to other treatments. Greatest production of microbial N (<i>p =</i> .093) occurred with the 90LI treatment. The CP/digestible organic matter (DOM) ratio, urinary N excretion and retained N were lowest in the 100LI treatment (<i>p =</i> &lt;.001, <i>p =</i> .007 and <i>p =</i> .014, respectively). The recommendation for grazing between 90 and 95% of LI is recommended because of greater CP intake and N utilization for the animals and improved the nutritive value of Marandu palisadegrass and calopo mixed pastures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 3","pages":"416-424"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44278718","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":"Re-ensiling effects on inoculated sorghum: Intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and animal feeding behaviour","authors":"Flávia Cristina de Oliveira e Silva,&nbsp;Naiara Taís Alves da Silva,&nbsp;Joana Ribeiro da Glória,&nbsp;João Carlos de Freitas Alves,&nbsp;Ana Luiza da Costa Cruz Borges,&nbsp;Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves,&nbsp;José Avelino Santos Rodrigues,&nbsp;Diogo Gonzaga Jayme","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12611","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12611","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to determine whether using inoculants and re-ensiling in sorghum silages affect the intake and feeding behaviour, apparent digestibility, digestible energy, and nitrogen balance of sheep in maintenance. Half the sorghum was inoculated on the day of harvest, and the other half received the same inoculation volume but with water. Sorghum was ensiled in 100 experimental metal drum silos of 200 L covered with plastic: 50 silos with inoculants and 50 without them. After 56 days, 25 drums with inoculants and 25 without were exposed to air for 48 h. The other silos remained closed. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme with inoculation and re-ensiling. The sheep received the silages after 211 days of ensiling and 155 days of re-ensiling to determine the intake, apparent digestibility, and feeding behaviour of animals. The experimental design was a simultaneous double 4 × 4 Latin square. The re-ensiling process increased silage pH, N-NH₃.TN⁻¹, butyric acid, and propionic acid. The inoculant increased propionic acid in ensiled and re-ensiled silages. Lactic acid concentration presented a statistical interaction with the inoculated and ensiled silage, 58% higher than the other treatment averages. The ADFap digestibility showed a complex interaction, in which the control ensiled and the inoculated and re-ensiled silages were about 35% lower than the inoculated ensiled silage. The Nbal:Nint ratio (g.g⁻¹) in the inoculated and re-ensiled silage had lower nitrogen retention than intake compared with the other treatments. These results indicate that exposing inoculated silages to air does not compromise their use in sheep feeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 2","pages":"317-325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48728679","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":"Main ecological and environmental factors affecting forage yield and quality in alpine summer pastures (NW-Italy, Gran Paradiso National Park)","authors":"Andrea Mainetti,&nbsp;Simone Ravetto Enri,&nbsp;Marco Pittarello,&nbsp;Giampiero Lombardi,&nbsp;Michele Lonati","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12609","DOIUrl":"10.1111/gfs.12609","url":null,"abstract":"<p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"78 2","pages":"254-267"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12609","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44237244","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}