Forage yield and cattle carrying capacity differ by understory type in conifer forest gaps

Wangchuk, Kesang; Darabant, András; Gratzer, Georg; Wurzinger, María; Zollitsch, Werner

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2015.08.003

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The dietary, environmental and economic value of forage in livestock farming performance and profitability have been reviewed by Wangchuk et al [8], Long and Ketterings [1] and Boone et al [9]. Reliable and rapid pasture plant growth is essential for optimal performance of livestock because it provides dry matter nutrition to the animal for conversion to milk, meat and fibre [10, 11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time, non-destructive and in-field foliage yield and growth rate measurement in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

et al. 2019

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Background In-field measurement of yield and growth rate in pasture species is imprecise and costly, limiting scientific and commercial application. Our study proposed a LiDAR-based mobile platform for non-invasive vegetative biomass and growth rate estimation in perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.). This included design and build of the platform, development of an algorithm for volumetric estimation, and field validation of the system. The LiDAR-based volumetric estimates were compared against fresh weight and dry weight data across different ages of plants, seasons, stages of regrowth, sites, and row configurations. Results The project had three phases, the last one comprising four experiments. Phase 1: a LiDAR-based, field-ready prototype mobile platform for perennial ryegrassrecognition in single row plots was developed. Phase 2: real-time volumetric data capture, modelling and analysis software were developed and integrated and the resultant algorithm was validated in the field. Phase 3. LiDAR Volume data were collected via the LiDAR platform and field-validated in four experiments. Expt.1: single-row plots of cultivars and experimental diploid breeding populations were scanned in the southern hemisphere spring for biomass estimation. Significant ( P < 0.001) correlations were observed between LiDAR Volume and both fresh and dry weight data from 360 individual plots (R 2 = 0.89 and 0.86 respectively). Expt 2: recurrent scanning of single row plots over long time intervals of a few weeks was conducted, and growth was estimated over an 83 day period. Expt 3: recurrent scanning of single-row plots over nine short time intervals of 2 to 5 days was conducted, and growth rate was observed over a 26 day period. Expt 4: recurrent scanning of paired-row plots over an annual cycle of repeated growth and defoliation was conducted, showing an overall mean correlation of LiDAR Volume and fresh weight of R 2 = 0.79 for 1008 observations made across seven different harvests between March and December 2018. Conclusions Here we report development and validation of LiDAR-based volumetric estimation as an efficient and effective tool for measuring fresh weight, dry weight and growth rate in single and paired-row plots of perennial ryegrass for the first time, with a consistently high level of accuracy. This development offers precise, non-destructive and cost-effective estimation of these economic traits in the field for ryegrass and potentially other pasture grasses in the future, based on the platform and algorithm developed for ryegrass. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13007-019-0456-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time, non-destructive and in-field foliage yield and growth rate measurement in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

et al. 2019

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“…A negative relation between forage quality and yield has long been recognized by several authors and, in general, occurs due to the N dilution in a greater biomass production [49][50][51][52]. In the second harvest, as additional evidence for the occurrence of this general quality-yield relationship (not statistically analyzed), the PC level in block one (heavily shaded) was substantially higher than in the other blocks (although the group of more heavily shaded blocks in average were slightly lower in PC than less shaded blocks), while this same block (one) recorded the lowest yields in the second harvest (despite the group of more heavily shaded blocks in average yielding more than the less shaded blocks).…”

Section: Forage Yields and Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity, Morphology and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria spp. Ecotypes, under Two Solar Illumination Intensities, in Yucatan, Mexico

et al. 2022

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There are mixed reports about the advantages and disadvantages of the presence of shade produced by trees over the understory-growing grasses; thus, it is urgent to test grass species and cultivars with potential to develop in shaded conditions associated with trees that occur in silvopastoral systems. The objective of the present study was to identify Brachiaria spp. ecotypes adapted for cultivation under tree shade, typical of silvopastoral systems. The study was conducted at Kampepen ranch, located 14 km south of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. A factorial 6 (ecotypes) x 2 (sunlight intensities) treatment structure was used, arranged in split-plot design; with sunlight intensity levels being the plots and ecotypes the subplots, with three replications. The ecotypes were T1: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II, T2: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Cayman Blend, T3: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Talisman (BR05/1467), T4: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Camello Blend, T5: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and T6 (the control): M. maximus cv. Mombasa, while the two sunlight intensity levels were higher and lower sunlight reductions with respect to full sunlight (25% and 50% light transmission with respect to full sunlight, respectively). Variables were plant height, forage yield and chemical composition; leaf, stem and dead material fractions and leaf:stem ratio; plant canopy cover, plant maturity, and growth rate. Significant (p < 0.050) ecotype x sunlight intensity interactions were recorded for most of the studied variables. Independent of the shading levels, ecotype Talisman showed superior performance compared with the other assessed ecotypes, yielding up to 20 ton ha−1 under the highest light intensity, means across light intensities for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of 11.8%, 59.7%, and 34.7%, respectively, and more than 90% plant canopy cover. It is concluded that Talisman has promising characteristics for cultivation under silvopastoral systems, where tree shading is common, in the dry tropics of Yucatan, Mexico.

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Herbage accumulation and nutritive value of new bermudagrass accessions and cultivars

García,

Dubeux,

Vendramini

et al. 2024

Agronomy Journal

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Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is an important forage source for ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions of the world; nevertheless, little is known about the productive and nutritional characteristics of new accessions and cultivars originating from breeding programs. Five bermudagrass cultivars (Tifton 85, Jiggs, Florida 44, Callie, and Newell) and five accessions (276, 282, 323, 286, and Missouri) were tested during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Genotype × harvest interactions were detected for herbage accumulation (HA), crude protein (CP), and nitrogen yield (p < 0.05). In June, all bermudagrass genotypes showed significant variation in HA, with accession 286 being more productive than Jiggs (4.42 vs. 3.24 Mg DM ha−1 harvest−1, respectively, where DM is dry matter). In October, however, accession 323 had greater CP than Callie, accession 286, Newell, and Tifton 85, with average CP values of 155, 128, 136, and 137 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Average in vitro digestible organic matter for accession 323 (450 g kg−1 DM) was similar to that of Tifton 85 and Newell but greater than that of Missouri (393 g kg−1 DM). Genotypes displayed unique responses to all traits across harvest dates. According to the principal component analysis, the accession Missouri exhibited low productive and nutritive value properties. The accession 286 showed greater CP concentration while still productive; thus, this accession will be further examined for future release to livestock or hay producers in subtropical regions worldwide.

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Forage yield and cattle carrying capacity differ by understory type in conifer forest gaps

Cited by 10 publications

References 65 publications

Real-time, non-destructive and in-field foliage yield and growth rate measurement in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Real-time, non-destructive and in-field foliage yield and growth rate measurement in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Productivity, Morphology and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria spp. Ecotypes, under Two Solar Illumination Intensities, in Yucatan, Mexico

Herbage accumulation and nutritive value of new bermudagrass accessions and cultivars

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