scholarly journals Productivity of diverse forage brassica genotypes exceeds that of oats across multiple environments within Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Lucinda J. Watt ◽  
Lindsay W. Bell ◽  
Brett D. Cocks ◽  
Anthony D. Swan ◽  
Rebecca S. Stutz ◽  
...  

In many areas of Australia’s mixed farming zone, cropping rotations are dominated by cereals and some areas have few suitable broadleaf alternatives. Forage brassicas are widely used in high rainfall livestock systems, but this study shows that several genotypes offer an alternative to forage oats in drier environments within Australia’s mixed farming zone. We compared a diverse set of forage brassica genotypes sown in autumn and winter with benchmark species, principally oats, across 10 experimental site-years. In both early (800–1300 growing degree days after sowing) and late (1600–2100 growing degree days after sowing) grazing windows, several forage brassica genotypes had forage production similar or superior to oats and dual-purpose canola. Many forage brassica genotypes produced higher yields of metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP), particularly in the late grazing window. In the early grazing window, Rival and Green globe turnips and HT-R24 forage rape consistently produced ~15% above the site mean for all productivity measures, whereas kale produced ~40% less than the site mean. In the late grazing window, oats produced the greatest amount of edible biomass (~44% higher than the site mean); however, Goliath and HT-R24 forage rapes, Pallaton raphanobrassica and dual-purpose canola had the highest yields of ME and CP (~16% higher than the site mean). Green globe turnip, Hunter leafy turnip and Regal kale produced ~22% less than the site mean in this late grazing window. Multi-environment analyses revealed no genotype × environment interactions within the early grazing window. In the late grazing window, there were several genotypic adaptations, particularly for Pallaton, which performed better in low–medium production environments than the other genotypes. We show that forage brassicas offer superior yields of ME and CP, indicating that they may be better able to meet the energy and protein demands of grazing livestock than forage oats.

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Andrews ◽  
R Wright ◽  
PG Simpson ◽  
R Jessop ◽  
S Reeves ◽  
...  

Two newly registered cultivars of triticale, Tiga and Empat, were compared with existing commercial cultivars of triticale, cereal rye and forage oats, for grain yield and dry matter production. Their performance was evaluated at Armidale, New South Wales, over 3 years with varying defoliation regimes (uncut to grain yield, cut in late autumn, cut in autumn and winter, and cut in winter only). Phenological observations confirmed that Tiga and Empat were midseason cultivars, intermediate between Coolabah and Blackbutt oats. Autumn and winter forage production and organic matter digestibility of Tiga and Empat were equal to those obtained from Cooba and Blackbutt oats. Grain yields (up to 4.0 t/ha) of the highest yielding triticale cultivar (Empat) were equal to, or greater than, the best oats cultivar (Blackbutt). Generally, the highest winter growth rates, dry matter yield at maturity and grain yield were recorded from uncut plots, except in the early oats cultivar Coolabah which, in 1 experiment, lodged in spring if left undefoliated through autumn and winter. Cutting only in autumn had small effects (negative) on grain yields, but cutting in both autumn and winter reduced total dry matter yields at maturity by 30% and grain yields by 50%. Cutting only in winter resulted in higher vegetative forage yields than a double cut (autumn and winter), but the single winter cut subsequently produced lowest dry matter yields at maturity. The high grain yields of triticale were linked to rapid spring growth. Harvest indices of triticale cultivars were generally lower than those of the oat cultivars. The results indicate the potential of triticale, especially cv. Empat, as a dual-purpose forage and grain crop.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 96-96
Author(s):  
Liliane Severino da Silva ◽  
Justin C Burt ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Jennifer J Tucker

Abstract Incorporation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) into bermudagrass pastures improves forage quality and decreases the reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. The objective of this study was to determine forage mass (FM), nutritive value (NV), and botanical composition of ‘Bulldog 805’ alfalfa and ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (T85; Cynodon dactylon) mixtures managed under three defoliation strategies: 1) hay production (H), 2) grazing (G) or 3) dual-purpose (DP) use. The study was conducted in two locations (Headland, AL and Tifton, GA) using a randomized complete block design with two replicates. In spring 2020, grazed plots were divided in four strips and every 7-d, animals were rotated to a new strip and stocking rate was adjusted. Under DP, plots were grazed until mid-July, then forage was harvested in late August. For H plots, forage was harvested every 28 to 35-d. Forage samples were collected prior defoliation to determine FM and on grazed periods, pre- and post-grazing samples and disk meter measurements were collected. Nutritive value responses were determined using near-infrared spectroscopy. There was no effect of defoliation strategy on FM (P = 0.604; mean 3471 kg DM/ha). Greater FM (P = 0.002) was observed in July and August than June (3531 and 3976 vs 2905 kg DM ha-1, SE= 263). This response was associated with an up to 40% increase of T85 proportion in the mixture (P = 0.001). Alfalfa percentage was 78% greater for DP than G (P = 0.029). There were no differences among treatments for NV responses (P > 0.05). Among defoliation periods, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber concentrations ranged from 14 to 22%, 45 to 58% and 28 to 35%, respectively. These preliminary results demonstrate multi-use options for this mixture in the region while aiming for increased forage nutritive value, and extended growing season, and sustainability of forage-livestock systems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Singh ◽  
VINOD KUMAR ◽  
SHAMBHU PRASAD

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif of 2014 and 2015 to evaluate the yield potential, economics and thermal utilization in eleven finger millet varieties under the rainfed condition of the sub-humid environment of South Bihar of Eastern India. Results revealed that the significantly higher grain yield (20.41 q ha-1), net returns (Rs 25301) and B: C ratio (1.51) was with the finger millet variety ‘GPU 67’ but was being at par to ‘GPU28’and ‘RAU-8’, and significantly superior over remaining varieties. The highest heat units (1535.1oC day), helio-thermal units (7519.7oC day hours), phenothermal index (19.4 oC days day-1) were recorded with variety ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ and lowest in ‘VL 149’ at 50 % anthesis stage. Similarly, the highest growing degree days (2100 oC day), helio-thermal units (11035.8 oC day hours) were noted with ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘RAU 8’ and ‘GPU 28’ at maturity. The highest heat use efficiency (0.97 kg ha-1 oC day) and helio-thermal use efficiency (0.19 kg ha-1 oC day hour) were in ‘GPU 67’ followed by ‘VL 315’.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 800-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham W. Charles ◽  
Brian M. Sindel ◽  
Annette L. Cowie ◽  
Oliver G. G. Knox

AbstractField studies were conducted over six seasons to determine the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in high-yielding cotton, using common sunflower as a mimic weed. Common sunflower was planted with or after cotton emergence at densities of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 plants m−2. Common sunflower was added and removed at approximately 0, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, and 900 growing degree days (GDD) after planting. Season-long interference resulted in no harvestable cotton at densities of five or more common sunflower plants m−2. High levels of intraspecific and interspecific competition occurred at the highest weed densities, with increases in weed biomass and reductions in crop yield not proportional to the changes in weed density. Using a 5% yield-loss threshold, the CPWC extended from 43 to 615 GDD, and 20 to 1,512 GDD for one and 50 common sunflower plants m−2, respectively. These results highlight the high level of weed control required in high-yielding cotton to ensure crop losses do not exceed the cost of control.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison. J. Frischke ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
Dannielle K. McMillan ◽  
Claire J. Browne

In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S.O. Lima ◽  
E.C.R. Machado ◽  
A.P.P. Silva ◽  
B.S. Marques ◽  
M.F. Gonçalves ◽  
...  

This work was carried out with the objective of elaborating mathematical models to predict growth and development of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) based on days or accumulated thermal units (growing degree days). Thus, two independent trials were developed, the first with a decreasing photoperiod (March to July) and the second with an increasing photoperiod (August to November). In each trial, ten assessments of plant growth and development were performed, quantifying total dry matter and the species phenology. After that, phenology was fit to first degree equations, considering individual trials or their grouping. In the same way, the total dry matter was fit to logistic-type models. In all regressions four temporal scales possibilities were assessed for the x axis: accumulated days or growing degree days (GDD) with base temperatures (Tb) of 10, 12 and 15 oC. For both photoperiod conditions, growth and development of purple nutsedge were adequately fit to prediction mathematical models based on accumulated thermal units, highlighting Tb = 12 oC. Considering GDD calculated with Tb = 12 oC, purple nutsedge phenology may be predicted by y = 0.113x, while species growth may be predicted by y = 37.678/(1+(x/509.353)-7.047).


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 901-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. DORRELL

The effect of seeding date on the chlorogenic acid content of sunflower seed flour was determined by seeding the cultivars Krasnodarets and Peredovik at seven dates, starting on 14 May, over 3 yr. Sequential plantings were made at increments of approximately 70 growing degree days (base = 5.6 C). Plants were harvested at normal field maturity. The time and rate of deposition of chlorogenic acid was determined by harvesting plants at 7-day intervals from 21 to 49 days after flowering. The seeds were dehulled and defatted before determining the chlorogenic acid content of the flour. Chlorogenic acid content declined steadily from an average of 4.22% for the first seeding to 3.30% for the last seeding. About one-half of the total chlorogenic acid was present 21 days after flowering. Deposition continued rapidly for the next 14 days then the level began to stabilize. Delay in seeding tended to shorten the period of vegetative growth and shift the deposition of chlorogenic acid to a cooler portion of the growing season. It is suggested that a combination of these factors caused the reduction in chlorogenic acid content of sunflower flour.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brewer ◽  
J. Guiot ◽  
F. Torre

Abstract. We present here a comparison between the outputs of 25 General Circulation Models run for the mid-Holocene period (6 ka BP) with a set of palaeoclimate reconstructions based on over 400 fossil pollen sequences distributed across the European continent. Three climate parameters were available (moisture availability, temperature of the coldest month and growing degree days), which were grouped together using cluster analysis to provide regions of homogenous climate change. Each model was then investigated to see if it reproduced 1) similar patterns of change and 2) the correct location of these regions. A fuzzy logic distance was used to compare the output of the model with the data, which allowed uncertainties from both the model and data to be taken into account. The models were compared by the magnitude and direction of climate change within the region as well as the spatial pattern of these changes. The majority of the models are grouped together, suggesting that they are becoming more consistent. A test against a set of zero anomalies (no climate change) shows that, although the models are unable to reproduce the exact patterns of change, they all produce the correct signs of change observed for the mid-Holocene.


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