Search results for "forage"
showing 10 items of 77 documents
Morpho-physiological and adaptive variation of Italian germplasm of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.)
2014
Sulla is a biennial forage legume native to the central-western Mediterranean Basin and has increasing interest for regions with Mediterranean-climate. The Italian germplasm is a reservoir of variation for important agronomic traits. This study aimed to support breeding programs by investigating patterns of agronomic, adaptive and morpho-physiological variation among ecotypes collected from the three main Italian regions of species cultivation: central Italy, and the two islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Forage yield and morpho-physiological traits were evaluated at a site with Mediterranean climate in Sicily. Forage yield and cold tolerance in a cold-prone site of northern Italy were also as…
Fly-and-Forage Strategy in the Bat Pipistrellus nathusii During Autumn Migration
2012
Populations of Pipistrellus nathusii (Nathusius's bat), an insectivorous aerial-hawking species that breeds in north-eastern Europe, perform long-distance migrations between breeding sites and hibernation areas in central and southern Europe. The feeding strategy of migrating P. nathusii was investigated in Latvia on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, exploring evidence for and against two non-mutually exclusive predictions that i) the bats feed shortly after dusk at highest aerial insect activity and continue to migrate thereafter or ii) apply a ‘fly-and-forage’ strategy and frequently interrupt their migration flight to feed. Echolocation calls and feeding buzzes of P. nathusii were record…
Comment on “Overland runoff erosion dynamics on steep slopes with forages under field simulated rainfall and inflow by C. Li and C. Pan”
2020
Managing sloping landscapes to control soil erosion processes due to rainfall and runoff is a relevant problem, especially when the vegetation is absent or sparse. The aim of this paper was to investigate the applicability of a theoretically resistance law for overland flow under simulated rainfall, based on a power-velocity profile, using field measurements carried out by Li and Pan for three plots with planted forage species (Astragalus adsurgens, Medicago sativa and Cosmos bipinnatus).The relationship between the velocity profile parameter Γ, the flow Froude number and the rain Reynolds number was calibrated using the data by Li and Pan. The obtained overland flow resistance law was also…
Effects of mountain grassland maturity stage and grazing management on carotenoids in sward and cow's milk
2006
Carotenoids are involved in the sensorial and nutritional values of dairy products. In grazing systems, both herbage maturity stage and grazing management may affect the amount of carotenoid ingested, thus these factors may affect carotenoid concentrations in milk. Two homogenous plots of mountain grassland (1.4 and 2.0 ha) were grazed during two cycles of growth by 6 dairy cows in mid lactation, in strip (SG) and rotational grazing (RG), respectively. We monitored the changes in carotenoid concentrations in sward and milk, measured by HPLC twice a week. Seven carotenoids were identified in the sward: violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, epilutein, lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-carotene and 13-cis ß-carot…
Pheno-morphological, agronomic and genetic diversity among natural populations of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) collected in Sicily, Italy
2010
Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) is a short-lived perennial forage legume that plays a key role in cereal-based systems in semi-arid Mediterranean regions, particularly in organic production and low-input oriented agriculture. In Sicily, the species is widespread both as a wild and cultivated plant. The present study assessed the phenotypic and genetic variation among natural populations of sulla collected from different environments throughout Sicily and analysed how the patterns of phenotypic diversity varied according to the environmental parameters of each collection site. Two commercial varieties and two Sicilian agro-ecotypes were also included in the study as controls. Principal compo…
Milk production and physiological traits of ewes and goats housed indoor or grazing at different daily timing in summer
2009
During a 6 week trial in summer, 3 homogeneous groups, each consisting of 5 Comisana ewes and 5 Rossa Mediterranea goats, grazed watered forage resources during day (D) or night (N), or were housed indoor and supplied with mowed herbage (H). Maximum THI peaked at 94 at the end of July, and was almost constantly higher of 80. Milk yield was higher in N than in D and H goats, whereas N ewes produced more milk than H group, but their milk yield was higher than D ewes only in the period with the highest THI values. The lower urea in N goat milk, and the higher casein in N ewe milk, seem to indicate a better efficiency in dietary nitrogen utilization of night grazing animals. N ewes showed lower…
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on growth and N2 fixation of Trifolium alexandrinum under late drought stress conditions.
2010
Several experiments, mostly carried out under controlled conditions, have shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis enhances nutrient uptake and improves drought tolerance of host plants. The present research, carried out in a typical Mediterranean environment, evaluated the effect of AM symbiosis on berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) grown in the field under both late drought stress and well-watered conditions. The crop was subjected to repeated defoliation. N2 fixation was estimated using the 15N dilution method and using ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum var. Westervoldicum) as the reference crop. In late drought conditions, AM symbiosis resulted in a significant increase in bi…
Lotus tenuis x L. corniculatus interspecific hybridization as a means to breed bloat-safe pastures and gain insight into the genetic control of proan…
2014
Background: Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are secondary metabolites that strongly affect plant quality traits. The concentration and the structure of these metabolites influence the palatability and nutritional value of forage legumes. Hence, modulating PAs in the leaves of forage legumes is of paramount relevance for forage breeders worldwide. The lack of genetic variation in the leaf PA trait within the most important forage species and the difficulties in engineering this pathway via the ectopic expression of regulatory genes, prompted us to pursue alternative strategies to enhance this trait in forage legumes of agronomic interest. The Lotus genus includes forage species which accumulate PAs …
Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) productivity, proximal composition and soil parameters as affected by planting time and agronomic management in a …
2021
Study of appropriate planting time and response to agronomic management practices is imperative for the newly introduced cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) into a semi-arid region of India. Responses of cactus pear to agronomic practices (planting time and irrigation and fertilizer application) were evaluated to determine the potential for fodder production and livestock feed in a semi-arid environment of India. We assessed four planting times (February, March, July and October) and two agronomic managements (with and without irrigation and fertilizer application) during 2016–2020 at Jhansi, India. Cactus pear establishment and growth improved with planting time in July and Octob…
PHOSPHOROUS SEED COATING AFFECT TO GERMINATION, PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS AND YIELD OF RAPE
2005
Rape (Brassica napus L. var. napus) is long ago-known vegetable of Brassicaceae in agriculture. It is important and valuable oil, forage, green-fertiliser and nectar plant. The experience of last years shows that rape is suitable for growing in conditions of Latvia, but investigations about its cultivars and growing technologies are not wide enough.The phosporus-fertilizer adding in the rape plantations is of great importance for increasing of its productivity. With the aim to reduce the expenses the phosphorus treated rape seeds are made use.In our investigations the velocity of seeds germination, germinating viability, germinating vigour, green pigments” quantity in seed-lobes and seeds” …