Thiessen Martens, J. R. and Entz, M. H. 2011. Integrating green manure and grazing systems: A review. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 811–824. Green manuring, also referred to as cover cropping, is an ancient practice that is gaining popularity, especially in ecologically integrated farming systems. Much green manure research in Canada has focused on legumes, where green manure plant material is incorporated into soil. This review focuses on the role of livestock in utilizing traditional and novel green manure crops adapted to the Canadian prairies. Legume and non-legume green manure plant species are discussed in terms of suitability to grazing management by different livestock species. Integrating grazing livestock into green manure systems affects nutrient cycling and potential nitrogen (N) loss pathways. However, losses may not be substantially different from other production systems, especially when loss mitigation practices are employed. Grazing green manures may also affect soil biological and physical properties. We conclude that grazing green manures may provide economic as well as biological advantages over the traditional approach of soil incorporation. For example, a green manure biomass yield of 5000 kg ha−1 is sufficient to produce 175 kg ha−1 of animal live weight gain, providing a gross revenue of $385 to $770 ha−1 at April 2011 prices, while returning at least 75% of N and other nutrients to the field. Barriers to farmer adoption of grazed green manure systems include a lack of livestock management knowledge and infrastructure.

Coulman, B., Loeppky, H. and Entz, M. 2015. The effect of late fall seeding time on the seed production of Italian ryegrass. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 641Á645. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a cool-season grass, which behaves as an annual in the Great Plains region of western Canada and is used as a grazing crop. Italian ryegrass requires vernalization for reproductive development to occur. Late fall (dormant) seedings, which have been used for annual crop species, have often resulted in earlier developing seedlings in the spring and higher yield than spring seedings. For Italian ryegrass, dormant seedings may result in vernalization of early-spring-germinating seedlings, allowing seed production without having to overwinter established plants. The objective of this study was to compare the seed yield and stand establishment of late fall (dormant) and spring seedings of Italian ryegrass at three locations in the Great Plains region of western Canada. Stand establishment was assessed by measuring tiller density in the month of June, and these densities were greater for spring than late fall seedings. Most spring seedings had no reproductive development and, thus, no seed yield; however, most late fall seedings produced seed the following year, indicating that vernalization of early-developing seedlings did occur. There were significant differences in seed yield among the four cultivars tested and among sites. Based on the high variation in seed yield among cultivars and sites and the relatively low yield levels obtained, late fall seedings of Italian ryegrass cannot be recommended in the Great Plains region of western Canada.Key words: Seeding time, dormant seeding, seed production, vernalization Coulman, B., Loeppky, H. et Entz, M. 2015. Incidence d'un semis automnal tardif sur la production grainie`re de l'ivraie multiflore. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 641Á645. L'ivraie multiflore (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) est une gramine´e de saison froide se comportant comme une annuelle dans la re´gion des grandes plaines de l'Ouest canadien, et on y recourt pour la paissance. Pour se reproduire, l'espe`ce doit subir une vernalisation. Les semis effectue´s a`la fin de l'automne (en dormance), comme on le fait pour les cultures annuelles, donnent souvent des plantules plus pre´coces le printemps suivant, d'un rendement supe´rieur a`celui des plantes seme´es au printemps. Dans le cas de l'ivraie multiflore, les semences en dormance peuvent entraıˆner la vernalisation des plantules qui germent au de´but du printemps et amener les plants a`monter en graine sans que ceux-ci aient a`traverser l'hiver. L'e´tude devait comparer le rendement grainier et l'e´tablissement des peuplements d'ivraie multiflore apre`s des semis tardifs a`l'automne (dormance) ou des semis printaniers, a`trois emplacements, dans les grandes plaines de l'Ouest canadien. L'e´tablissement des peuplements a e´te´e´value´d'apre`s la densite´des talles en juin, et il e´tait plus important pour les plants seme´s au printemps que pour ceux seme´s a`la fin de ...