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Fruit and vegetable producers were creating a large amount of waste in homes, cafeterias, and agroprocessing units. The majority of this waste is composted and disposed in landfills and waterways. Recycling these wastes as animal feedstuffs will lessen food‐feed competition and minimize environmental hazards. This study was carried out in the Gamo zone of southern Ethiopia, in the heart of the southern rift valley, to ascertain the nutritional profiles of fruit and vegetable by‐products in relation to livestock feed potentials. All fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) samples were collected from homes, marketing facilities, restaurants, and waste disposal facilities. Proximate, detergent fiber component, minerals, and antinutritional factors were among the analyses performed on the collected samples. The results showed that, highest CP values recorded from banana leaf, 15.8 ± 0.8 (%DM) followed by avocado peel (14 ± 0.8) among fruit by‐products and that of highest values of vegetable components were obtained from Moringa oleifera strip (20.6 ± 1.25) sweet potato (18.5 ± 1.55), respectively. The highest ME (MJ/kg DM) contents obtained from avocado and mango by‐products among fruit wastes, while that of highest values recorded for cassava and potato peel (12.2 ± 0.4) and (11.3 ± 0.1) among vegetable components, respectively. The antinutrients included in FVW, namely, tannin, oxalate, and phytate, did not exceed the maximum permissible level for animal needs, which is less than 5% of DM. The macro‐ and micromineral profiles of these by‐products also show encouraging results that contribute to maintaining the mineral needs of farm animals. FVW can be a viable and alternative source of supplemental feed for farm animals that primarily rely on low‐quality natural pasture and crop residues, and can partially replace more expensive feedstuffs and their efficient reuse would minimize environmental impacts associated with the disposal of such wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), where pastoral agriculture is vital to the economy, reports of pasture plant species failing to persist in long-term pastures, particularly in northern regions, are increasingly common. The underlying cause of this decline in pasture persistence remains elusive. Soil-borne diseases are a potential contributing factor affecting root function and consequently, plant growth and performance. Despite their potential significance, little is known about the soil-borne diseases affecting pastoral species and cultivars. The detrimental effects of fungal soil-borne pathogens on global agroecosystems are well documented. Mitigating these impacts requires a comprehensive understanding of their distribution, abundance, and host relationships. This review summarises pasture pathology research in AoNZ, and the current and future challenges influencing fungal pathogens are discussed. This review concludes that a more comprehensive understanding of soil-borne pathogens affecting AoNZ pastures is required to mitigate impacts and future disease-risk. Furthermore, it advocates for a multidisciplinary approach, in collaboration with commercial partners and farmers, to develop effective mitigation strategies and decision-tools for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arachis pintoi, commonly known as pinto or forage peanut, is used mainly in consortia with grass pastures and as cover plant. In addition to increasing the productivity of livestock and plantations, it contributes to the mitigation of environmental impacts (reduction of greenhouse gas emissions) and soil improvement (nitrogen fixation, reduction of fertilizers use), as well as to pests and disease management. Several cultivars that are tolerant to specific climates and soil conditions are suitable to be used as ground covers in agroforestry and silvopastoral systems, orchards, and plantations. Biotechnological and phytochemical investigations revealed the potential of pinto peanut as a sustainable source of resveratrol and other stilbenoids. Extracts from plants grown under natural conditions and from materials obtained in vitro displayed allelopathic, anthelmintic, or antioxidant activities. Other studies revealed the potential of pinto peanut for erosion control, phytoremediation, seed and essential oils production, materials for animal tissue engineering, synthesis of nanoparticles for drug delivery, and as green biorefineries to produce proteins, biochemicals, and biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Gannong No. 2' triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cold‐resistant annual forage crop variety, which can be planted as artificial pasture to solve the problem of forage shortage in the Gannan alpine grazing area of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. However, the optimal nitrogen fertilization rate and seeding density for obtaining high yield and quality forage are still unknown. In this study, the effects of nitrogen fertilization rate and seeding density on the forage yield and quality of autumn‐sown 'Gannong No. 2' triticale were studied. We used a split‐plot design, with five nitrogen fertilization rates assigned to the main plots, namely 0 (A1), 120 (A2), 240 (A3), 360 (A4), and 480 kg N ha−1 (A5), and five seeding densities assigned to subplots: 506 × 104 (B1), 675 × 104 (B2), 843 × 104 (B3), 1011 × 104 (B4), and 1180 × 104 seeds ha−1 (B5). Significant differences in lodging rate, tiller number, hay yield, crude protein content, neutral detergent fibre, and relative feed value were observed at different fertilization levels. Significant differences were found in lodging rate, plant height, tiller number, hay yield, contents of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre, dry matter digestibility, and relative feed value among the seeding density treatments. The interaction of nitrogen fertilization rate and seeding density significantly affected forage yield and quality, with the A3B3 treatment having the highest comprehensive evaluation value. In alpine grazing areas of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, 240 kg N ha−1 and 843 × 104 seeds ha−1 should therefore be used for autumn‐sown triticale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different plant species widespread in alpine pastures on in vitro rumen fermentation parameters and methane kinetic production. A total of 11 plant species were sampled at the beginning of the grazing season and used as substrates in an in vitro batch fermentation system. After 24h of fermentation, plants affected volatile fatty acids profiles, ammonia yield, and dry matter (DM) digestibilities. Carum carvi, Ranunculus. acris and Festuca rubra showed the highest total production of methane per unit of digested DM while Potentilla erecta was the species that produced less methane. In terms of methane as a percentage of the total gas, F. rubra had the highest value (28.9%) while R. acris had the lowest (24.2%). Total gas and methane production were monitored continuously and the percentage of methane in total gas was fitted with the Gompertz model. Plants differed significantly (p < .01) in methane production kinetics, including production rate decline (A), asymptotic methane concentration (B), time to maximum fermentation rate (TMFR), and maximum fermentation rate (MFR). C. carvi, Prunella grandiflora, and R. acris showed high values of MFR and the top values in the production rate decline (A > 0.9). The two grasses (F. rubra and Poa alpina) together with Hypericum maculatum showed an opposite behaviour with low values in MFR, A and a longer TMFR. The results of the methane production kinetics allow for an in-depth evaluation of plant species, adding further information to those registered at the end of fermentation.

Forage plant breeding aims to deliver cultivars that increase on-farm productivity through improved seasonal and annual yield, persistence of yield in perennials, and nutritive and feeding value. Breeding is generally undertaken in highly controlled field trials with individual plants or rows. However, the correlation of trait values between spaced plant trials and sward plots of forages is often low and non-significant. Heritability of traits, a measure of likely gains that can be achieved from plant breeding, can be moderate to high for many traits. The upper level of genetic gains in forage yield measured in small plot trials ranges between 6% and 15% per decade depending on species, indicating significant and lasting improvements have been achieved. Results from some farmlet scale grazing trials measuring animal performance support this but some others, particularly with dairy cows, fail to show advantage to improved cultivars. Factors contributing to this include aspects of systems management, systems trial design, and/or breeding objectives and evaluation systems; occurrence of environmental stresses; insufficient statistical power; and scaling interactions that restrict or dilute trait expression. Several factors are identified that should be considered as evaluation systems evolve in response to the changing economic, climatic, and regulatory forces affecting grassland farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In New Zealand, facial eczema (FE) is a serious health and welfare issue for grazing ruminants caused by ingesting toxic spores of the fungus Pseudopithomyces chartarum.A literature review of research about the effect of pasture plant species, farm management practices and associated environmental factors on FE in New Zealand, was undertaken. An important outcome of this research has been the development of spore count techniques used on-farm to monitor P. chartarum during the summer/autumn risk period. Other research outcomes include: Reduce pasture litter (decaying herbage) by hard spring grazing, with minimal topping, and use pasture species that reduce litter.Avoid hard grazing during the riskiest autumn period.Minimise grazing of perennial ryegrass dominant pastures by increasing legume content or use the less risky species such as tall fescue.Utilise specialist (non-ryegrass) legume and herb-based pastures that provide less litter, are grazed to higher residuals, and provide high-quality feed.Future FE research should focus on the incorporation of ‘high-quality’ FE-safe species, such as tall fescue, legumes and herbs, into existing farming systems. They can enhance feed supply during the summer/autumn FE risk period but require appropriate management guidelines to maximise production and persistence.Reduce pasture litter (decaying herbage) by hard spring grazing, with minimal topping, and use pasture species that reduce litter.Avoid hard grazing during the riskiest autumn period.Minimise grazing of perennial ryegrass dominant pastures by increasing legume content or use the less risky species such as tall fescue.Utilise specialist (non-ryegrass) legume and herb-based pastures that provide less litter, are grazed to higher residuals, and provide high-quality feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of perennial ryegrass‐based pastures to persist beyond 3 years post‐sowing is an increasing threat to the sustainability of livestock industries in the north of New Zealand. Little is known of the long‐term responses of plants and populations to the environmental stresses responsible for persistence failure, or the effects of ryegrass genetics on those responses. Plants were collected from 10‐year‐old pastures sown in two environments (Waikato, North Island: warm‐temperate, summer/autumn dry; Canterbury, South Island: cool temperate, irrigated) to four ryegrass functional types and grazed by dairy cattle. Surviving plants in Canterbury pastures were almost all true‐to‐type for the original genotype, whereas there was substantial ingress of volunteer plants in the diploid cultivars in Waikato. Plants confirmed as true‐to‐type were compared to reference plants grown from the original seed lines. Leaf mass was lower in survivor plants than in reference plants for all functional types. This effect was reversed by recruitment of new plants from seed in a grazing deferment treatment applied at the Waikato site 18 months before plant collection, in a manner consistent with epigenetic control. Reproductive development was delayed by 4–6 days in survivors of mid‐ and late flowering diploid cultivars: this effect appeared to be the result of true genetic differentiation. There was less aftermath heading in the Canterbury survivors, but not Waikato survivors, compared with the reference plants. The relevance of these findings for ryegrass survival strategies and targeted selection of traits for improved persistence is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry litter (PL) is an excellent source of micro‐ and macronutrients. However, surface applications result in greater nutrient runoff and nitrogen loss via ammonia volatilization. Subsurface banding PL is a promising technology for combating these challenges, but scant information exists on proper soil sampling techniques and management recommendations for subsurface‐applied PL. Therefore, objectives were to quantify the nutrient status based on sampling depth (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) and schema (systematic [0, 3, 7, and 10 cm from PL bands] and composite) to develop subsurface PL recommendations per system (annual cropping and perennial pasture). Soil samples were collected during PL application (subsurface and surface) and 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months thereafter. On average, total N, Mehlich‐3 extractable P, and Mehlich‐3 extractable K were 15%, 96%, and 72% greater, respectively, for subsurface compared to surface applications. Further, Mehlich‐3 and water‐soluble P at the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth were 4–5 and 2–3 times greater in soils receiving subsurface PL in perennial pasture and row crop systems, respectively, compared to surface applications, likely owing to lesser nutrient losses to the air, soil, and water under subsurface PL systems. Compared to surface applications, subsurface PL increased (p < 0.05) N, P, and K crop removal by 75%, 70%, and 72%, respectively, and resulted in 80% and 78% yield increases and N‐use efficiency, respectively. Consequently, subsurface PL conserved greater N, P, and K at the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth, thus increasing nutrient‐use efficiency in row crop systems and improving water quality in sensitive watersheds. Core Ideas: Nutrient status after Subsurfer and surface poultry litter (PL) were tracked based on sampling schema and crop system.Soil N, Mehlich 3‐extractable P, NH4‐N, and water‐soluble K were greater for subsurface PL applications.Labile nutrient trends suggest PL can be Subsurfer‐applied every 2 years, relative to annual surface PL.Nutrient attenuation in PL bands underscores the importance of composite sampling in subsurface PL systems.Subsurface PL conserved nutrients and improved nutrient‐use efficiency, uptake, and yield in annual systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the chemical composition, mineral content, and in vitro dry and organic matter digestibility of two forage legume species from arid pastures in northeastern Morocco, namely S. spinosissima subsp. capitata and S. pallida. This is the first report assessing the nutritive value of these two pasture species. Results revealed a wide variation between selected Sulla species; in particular, the growth stage had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on most chemical traits and digestibility parameters. Comparatively, S. spinosissima had higher organic matter digestibility (72.4 %OM) at the vegetative stage in direct correlation with lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) (24.2 %DM), lower condensed tannin, (CT) (0.27 %DM), and higher crude protein (24 %DM). Conversely, S. pallida plants with a considerable amount of ADF (40.3 %DM) and CT (4.5 %DM) had lower organic matter digestibility (56.1 %OM). Both species are mineral-rich and contain satisfactory mean (g/kgDM) levels of calcium: 23.25 in S. spinosissima and 13.75 in S. pallida, and phosphorus: 1.01 in S. spinosissima and 1.53 in S. pallida. Additionally, chemical analysis of some anti-nutritional factors revealed low concentrations (mg/g) of phytate (0.19), oxalate (0.18), and nitrate (0.21), even at the flowering stage, compared with others pasture plants. The results of the present study suggest the suitability of both Sulla species, particularly S. spinosissima, for domestication to enhance pasture productivity to support small ruminant nutritional needs in arid pastures native to the Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between agroclimatic conditions and wheatgrass production in the Volgograd region of southern Russia. The study focuses on the impact of precipitation and temperature on wheatgrass yield over a 10-year period. The research highlights the importance of understanding these factors for effective agricultural practices and resource utilization. Specifically, the study finds that uneven precipitation and temperature fluctuations can affect the growth and development of wheatgrass, with optimal conditions during certain phases. The article also discusses the significance of temperature and moisture availability at different stages of crop growth and provides a regression equation to estimate wheatgrass harvest based on precipitation during the cold period. [Extracted from the article]

The objective of this study was to assess the potential for use of species present in grassland and forest areas located in the Fazenda Santa Rita, with about 200 hectares, located in the Coxilha Rica region, Lages - SC. For the floristic survey, the walking collection method was adopted, from March 2021 to December 2022. Fertile specimens collected in the field were cataloged and incorporated into the LUSC Herbarium, at the University of the State of Santa Catarina. 110 Asteraceae species were identified. For the species use verification stage, scientific articles published in digital journals available in the Scielo, CAPES, and Web of Science databases were searched. In addition, printed books and articles published in specialized botanical journals were consulted to select relevant works on the potential use of Asteraceae species. The keywords used in the research were: "economic use of the Asteraceae family", "Asteraceae for ornamental use", "Asteraceae for medicinal use", "Asteraceae for honey and beekeeping use", "Asteraceae for conventional and non-conventional food use". The name "Asteraceae" was also replaced by "Compositae" in each of the uses, to locate the articles, as well as the individual analysis of the species, which were subsequently evaluated for their potential use. Of the species confirmed in the study area, 60 (54.55%) have information on their use, while for the other 50 (45.45%) species, it was not possible to locate their potential use in the literature. This research highlights the need for basic studies on native species, and the importance of deepening knowledge about their functionalities for the maintenance of ecosystems, which could offer a variety of potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), a perennial plant native to Africa, poses a significant weed concern due to its capacity for seed and rhizome fragment dissemination. Infestations can diminish pasture carrying capacity, displacing desirable species. Despite the burgeoning interest in integrated weed management strategies, information regarding the efficacy of competitive interactions with other pasture species for Navua sedge management remains limited. A pot trial investigated the competitive abilities of 14 diverse broadleaf and grass pasture species. The results indicated a range of the reduction in Navua sedge dry biomass from 6% to 98% across these species. Subsequently, three broadleaf species—burgundy bean (Macroptilium bracteatum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and lablab (Lablab purpureus), and three grass species—Gatton panic (Megathyrsus maximus), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana), and signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) were chosen for a follow-up pot trial based on their superior dry biomass performance. These six species were planted at three varying densities (44, 88, and 176 plants/m2) surrounding a Navua sedge plant. Among the grass pasture species, Gatton panic and Rhodes grass exhibited high competitiveness, resulting in a minimum decrease of 86% and 99%, respectively, in Navua sedge dry biomass. Regarding the broadleaf species, lablab displayed the highest competitiveness, causing a minimum decrease of 99% in Navua sedge dry biomass. This study highlights the increasing efficacy of crop competition in suppressing weed growth and seed production, with the most significant suppression observed at a density of 176 plants/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Arsenic, one of the most critical environmental toxins, accumulates in plant and animal organs through root absorption in plants and subsequent ingestion by humans via the food chain or direct consumption of contaminated water. Reports have highlighted the contamination of regional drinking water sources in Bijar city, Kurdistan province, with arsenic and its adverse effects on local residents. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the distribution of arsenic in the water and soil sources of the region and evaluate the capacity of native pasture plants to absorb and accumulate this element. Materials and Methods: Arsenic concentrations were measured in surface and subsurface waters of a 360 km2 region using the atomic absorptiongraphite furnace method. The distribution of arsenic in the contaminated area was mapped using the ArcGIS program. Three sampling areas with varying pollution intensities (A > B > C) were selected. Soil samples and aerial parts of 13 plant species were collected and analyzed for arsenic concentrations, enabling a comparison of different plant species' ability to absorb arsenic. Results: The intensity of arsenic contamination in surface water, soil, and plants studied in this research exceeded typical concentrations of arsenic in water, soil, and plant sources. Total arsenic concentrations in water samples ranged from 4.5 to 280 μg l-1 and correlated with electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and total hardness (P<0.001). Arsenic concentration in the soil of area A (Ali-Abad village) exceeded 2059 μg g-1 of dry soil, with contamination decreasing with distance from area A. A high correlation was observed between the intensity of water and soil pollution (R²=0.84). Arsenic concentrations in the aerial parts of 13 plant species with three replications varied depending on the plant species and the intensity of soil contamination (0 to 47.8 μg g-1). The intensity of soil contamination was on average 27.66 times higher than the amount of arsenic accumulated in the plant, indicating the high resistance of native pasture plants in the region to arsenic toxicity. Conclusion: Field monitoring revealed that 45% of water resources in the sampling areas exceeded the national drinking water standard for arsenic (50 μg l-1), reaching 78% according to the World Health Organization standard (10 μg l-1). Concentrations of parent materials containing arsenic compounds were higher in areas A and B than in area C, with decreasing concentrations further from area A. The sampling region significantly influenced the average arsenic concentration in water and soil samples (P<0.05). Arsenic uptake by the plant samples exceeded typical concentrations (0.1 to 3 μg g-1), with the highest mean arsenic concentrations found in the leaves of Astragalus bisulcatus, Chenopodium album, and Mentha longifolia, accumulating more than 47.8, 35.5, and 22.5 μg g-1, respectively. The study demonstrates heavy contamination of water, soil, and plant resources in the region, with most surface water resources utilized for agricultural irrigation, animal consumption, and occasionally drinking water for village residents. The entry of arsenic into the human body, directly or through the food cycle, poses a severe health risk to the region's residents, necessitating immediate intervention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited annual precipitation and increasing scarcity of irrigation water are forcing farmers in arid and semi‐arid regions to convert irrigated fields into dryland farming, yet their impacts on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fractions are not fully understood. This study evaluated changes in soil C and N fractions and forage production under four cropping systems after irrigation retirement in a semi‐arid condition. Treatments included an annual winter wheat forage (Triticum aestivum L.) (AWW), a perennial wheat (PW) forage (T. aestivum L. × Thinopyrum spp.) (PW), a mixture of native grasses (NG), and a pasture crop (PC = AWW and NG mixture). Evaluation of various soil C and N fractions, forage dry matter yield, and nutritive value parameters suggested that soil inorganic N and potentially mineralizable N (PMN) were 38%–45% and 36%–44% greater in autumn 2020 and 62%–68% and 46%–55% greater in spring 2021 under AWW and PW, respectively, than NG and PC. Soil potentially mineralizable carbon (PMC) was 58%–129% and 64%–138% greater under NG and PW than AWW and PC. The responses of other soil C and N fractions varied with soil sampling dates but not with crops or crop × sampling date interaction. Total forage dry matter yield was 4016, 7849, 12,517, and 13,869 kg ha−1 for AWW, PW, PC, and NG, respectively, and PW had the best forage nutritive value. These results suggest soil C and N mineralization could be enhanced by adopting perennial systems, including NG, PW, and PC, while PW maintains good‐quality forage production. Core Ideas: Information on crop productivity and soil health response to irrigation retirement in semi‐arid regions is lacking.The pasture crop and native grasses depleted soil's labile nitrogen reserve faster than annual or perennial wheat.Native grasses and pasture crops had the greatest forage yield, perennial wheat had the best forage nutritive value.Perennial wheat and grasses favored the accumulation of labile carbon (C), suggesting potential for long‐term C storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Land management change towards intensive grazing has been shown to alter plant and pollinator communities and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions in different ways across the world. Land-use intensification in Eastern Europe is shifting highly diverse, traditionally managed hay meadows towards intensive pastures, but few studies have examined how this influences plant-pollinator networks. We hypothesized that the effects of intensive grazing on networks will depend on how plant communities and their floral traits change. Methods: We investigated plant and pollinator diversity and composition and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions near Sibiu, Romania at sites that were traditionally managed as hay meadows or intensive pastures. We quantified the identity and abundance of flowering plants, and used transect walks to observe pollinator genera interacting with flowering plant species. We evaluated the effects of management on diversity, composition and several indices of network structure. Results: Pollinator but not plant diversity declined in pastures and both plant and pollinator taxonomic composition shifted. Functional diversity and composition remained unchanged, with rather specialized flowers having been found to dominate in both hay meadows and pastures. Apis mellifera was found to be the most abundant pollinator. Its foraging preferences played a crucial role in shaping plant-pollinator network structure. Apis mellifera thus preferred the highly abundant Dorycnium herbaceum in hay meadows, leading to hay meadows networks with lower Shannon diversity and interaction evenness. In pastures, however, it preferred less abundant and more generalized flower resources. With pollinators being overall less abundant and more generalized in pastures, we found that niche overlap between plants was higher. Discussion: With both hay meadows and pastures being dominated by plant species with similar floral traits, shifts in pollinator preferences seem to have driven the observed changes in plant-pollinator interaction networks. We thus conclude that the effects of grazing on pollinators and their interactions are likely to depend on the traits of plant species present in different management types as well as on the effects of grazing on plant community composition. We thereby highlight the need for better understanding how floral abundance shapes pollinator visitation rates and how floral traits may influence this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palatability of a plant refers to the degree of attraction or preference that animals show toward that particular plant. Various factors can influence palatability, including the plant's chemical composition, texture, taste, aromas, and the circumstances under which herbivorous animals consume it. The study aims to assess the plant species composition in grasslands and pastures within the Danube Delta, Romania. Both old or new references on palatability were considered. The evaluation of plant composition and degree of plant palatability was carried out in 12 grazing areas in the Danube Delta and the surrounding region. The study revealed 121 plant species identified in some pastures. Of these, 31 were "Non-Palatable", 16 were "Highly Palatable", 32 were "Mostly Palatable", 16 were "Less Palatable", and 26 were "Rarely Palatable". Animals preferred 60 plant species in their fresh condition, with 29 preferred in fresh and dry. Most animals consumed whole plants (48 species), followed by leaves (43 species), fruits (three species), and inflorescences (two species). By analysing the feeding preferences of animals, it was found that cows exhibited a preference for the broadest range of plants (75 species), followed by sheep (67 species), goats (59 species), and horses (34 species). Domestic animals like goats, sheep, cows, and horses may prefer certain plants based on nutritional content or digestibility while avoiding toxic plants. The study showed that the investigated areas have a diverse flora with a varied supply of plants, including palatable species. The palatability index is essential in assessing the quality of pastures, especially in obtaining average daily gains based on the species of animals living on the pastures. Considering the dynamic climatic conditions and poor pasture quality in the Danube Delta, more detailed and interdisciplinary studies are needed to understand the deltaic biocenoses comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report presents the first reported identifications of 20-hydroxyecdysone in post-event blood samples from an Endurance horse and a Harness horse racing in New South Wales, Australia. 20-Hydroxyecdysone is a plant secondary metabolite structurally related to testosterone and used by plants to discourage insect predation. 20-Hydroxyecdysone is found in many plants including spinach and is not infrequently identified at low concentrations in mammalian systems including in humans. Given its steroid-related structure, 20-hydroxyecdysone has been reported to enhance athletic performance in humans, although at this time 20-hydroxyecdysone is simply being monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) [31]. The Harness horse identification led the Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) authorities to evaluate the home pastures of the horse in question, where they recovered at least three plants containing significant concentrations of 20-hydroxyecdysone. The HRNSW stewards were satisfied that the 20-hydroxyecdysone identification was due to “environmental contamination emanated from plants” in the trainer’s establishment and did not impose a penalty on the trainer. These findings show that the pasture plant steroid 20-hydroxyecdysone is found in pasture plants from which it is bioavailable to equines and can present as low part per billion concentrations in equine blood samples, as has also been noted in humans. Based on these Australian identifications of 20-hydroxyecdysone in pasture plants and also in equine blood samples and the HRNSW decision not to penalize the trainer involved and the likelihood of no pharmacological response to pasture plant exposure to this substance we now present 2 parts per billion in equine blood/plasma as an appropriate regulatory cut-off or Screening Limit of Detection (SLOD) for 20-hydroxecdysone in equine blood/plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In integrated crop-livestock systems, overseeding annual summer pastures over grain crops can reduce forage shortages in autumn without altering grain production. This study evaluated the influence of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and sudangrass (Sorghum Sudanese) overseeded on a soybean (Glycine Max) crop or no-tillage seeding after soybean harvest on productive aspects of pasture. The experimental design was a randomized block with treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (pearl millet or sudangrass, overseeding in the full seed stage (R6) of soybean crops or seeding them in a no-tillage system after soybean harvest) in two agricultural years. Pasture height, plant stand, tiller density, and forage production were higher in the first crop year. The overseeding strategy resulted in higher pasture height and foraged production in the first crop year and higher pasture utilization for the next two crop years. Under the no-tillage strategy, the plants stand more elevated in the first crop year, resulting in a higher tiller density in the second crop year. Pasture height, utilization period, and forage production did not differ among the forage species. Pearl millet had a more elevated plant stand, while sudangrass had a higher tiller density. Annual summer pasture overseeding of soybean crops increases the pasture utilization period and forage production in autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Secondary plant metabolites, which can be toxins, may exert a repellent function. However, lethal cases of pasture poisoning show that this protection may fail. The reasons behind this are unknown. The aim of this review was (1) to document under which circumstances poisoning occurred in cattle, sheep, goats, and horses and (2) to present a checklist of poisonous pasture plant species that may occur in Central Europe. The checklist comprised 52 taxa, of which 13 taxa were associated with no poisoning owing to the lack of a report, 11 taxa with evidence-based zero poisoning by avoidance or ingestion, and 28 taxa with poisoning due to ingestion. Nine plant taxa caused poisoning in pastures in more than 100 individuals, for example, sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) in horses, cowbane (Cicuta virosa) in cattle, and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in sheep. Zero poisoning accounted for 40%, and poisoning accounted for 60% of all 85 cases. Poisoning was most often associated with a limited choice of feed (24.7%) and least often associated with the co-ingestion of grass (4.7%). In between were the circumstances of "overgrazing" (12.9%) and "seasonally scarce feed" (10.6%). The results of this inquiry suggest that poisoning virtually always evolves owing to hunger, while 40% zero poisoning proved successful co-existence to a large extent. Therefore, poisonous plants in pastures do communicate their toxicity under animal-friendly grazing management. With the help of the checklist, farmers may evaluate the risk posed by poisonous plants to their animals. One of the possible roles of secondary plant metabolites, including toxins, is facilitating plant–animal communication. Lethal cases of pasture poisoning show that the message is not always successfully conveyed. As the focus of poisoning lies in the clinical aspects, the external circumstances of pasture poisoning are widely unknown. To document poisoning conditions in cattle, sheep, goats, and horses on pastures and to compile a checklist of plants involved in either poisoning or co-existence (zero poisoning), published case reports were evaluated as primary sources. The number of affected animal individuals was estimated within abundance classes from 0 to more than 100. The checklist of poisonous plants comprised 52 taxa. Of these, 13 taxa were deemed safe (no reference was found indicating poisoning), 11 taxa were associated with evidence-based zero poisoning (positive list), and 28 taxa were associated with poisoning (negative list). Nine plant taxa caused poisoning in more than 100 animal individuals. Zero poisoning accounted for 40% and poisoning accounted for 60% of a total of 85 cases. Poisoning was most often associated with a limited choice of feed (24.7%), followed by overgrazing (12.9%), seasonally scarce feed (10.6%), and co-ingestion of grass (4.7%). Hunger interferes with plant–animal co-existence, while zero poisoning improves it. In conclusion, poisonous plants in pastures may communicate their toxicity if the animals have enough alternative feed plants. An individual animal might utterly perceive the communication of toxicity by the plant species but be forced to ignore the message owing to a limited choice of feed options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) is a cool‐season annual grass with Mediterranean origin. In contrast to other cool‐season grasses, black oat is more heat tolerant and disease resistant, making it an attractive option for the US upper Midwest, since it can be utilized during summer, when there is decreased productivity of cool‐season forages due to photorespiration. Black oat is recommended for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8b–10a, far away from the upper Midwest (zones 2a‐5b). The objective was to evaluate 10 black oat breeding lines (referred to as 'UF1' through 'UF10') for herbage accumulation, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. The experiment was carried out on May–July 2021 and 2022 in Stratford, WI. Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack cv. 'TriCal 342′) and 'Legend 567′ oat (Avena sativa L.) were included as controls, as well as 'Ogle' oat as a regionally recommended cultivar. Herbage accumulation differed by treatment (P = 0.002) and averaged 5900 lb acre−1 among black oat lines, with 'UF3' and 'UF10' having greater herbage accumulation than oat checks Ogle and Legend 567, and Trical 342 triticale. Crude protein concentration of UF7 and UF3 was 8.5 to 9.5%, respectively. The IVDOM concentrations were above 58% for all black oat. Results indicate certain black oat have the potential to provide forage resources during the early summer in the upper Midwest, but further studies are warranted to evaluate how to best manage this species into cropping or pasture systems in the region. Core Ideas: Black oat might be an attractive forage option for the US upper Midwest for their heat tolerance.Black oat can provide high quantities of forage in 40–60 days in central Wisconsin.Further investigation is warranted to evaluate strategies to incorporate black oat into crop systems in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The rapidly growing antlers of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) reflect the composition of their diet, and furthermore, the risk of toxic substances. The concentration of eight potentially toxic elements, PTE (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce), was examined in the proximal, middle, and distal positions of the antlers and in the winter food and pasture food that the animals consumed during the increase in individual antler fragments depending on the age. The research was conducted on males aged 2 to 8 years. The oldest fallow deer had the highest amounts of As, Ba, and Sr in antlers. Increasing the body weight of animals and the weight of antlers resulted in a decrease in the concentration of Ba and Sr in tissues. The highest amounts of Cd were in food in June, and Ba in spring and winter. The obtained research results can be used by farmers to make seasonal decisions regarding nutrition. Breeders can produce food in areas with less pollution and harvest to prepare winter feed at a time when emissions and pollutions are lower. Deer antlers, usually harvested annually on a farm, are an accessible material used to determine the exposition to potentially toxic elements, PTEs, during growth. Moreover, the study of antlers from animals of different ages allows the assessment of long-term exposition to these elements. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentration of eight potentially toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce) in individual positions of the antlers (first, second, and third position, corresponding to the stages of development and life of these animals) and in the food that the animals consumed during the growth of individual antler fragments, depending on the age of the farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral composition of samples was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis included 31 male deer aged 2–8 years old. The average concentration of Pb, Ba, and Ni was higher in the second position of the antler, and As, La, and Ce in the third position. In addition, the oldest individuals showed a higher Cd, Pb, and As concentration in the third position. A significant positive relationship was found between the age of animals and accumulation of As (r = 0.582, p < 0.05), as well as Ba and Sr (r = −0.534, r = −0.644 at p < 0.05, respectively). The average content of Ba and Sr also significantly negatively depended on body mass and antler mass stags (r = −0.436, r = −0.515 at p < 0.05, respectively). Cd concentration in feed was significantly higher in June compared to winter, spring, and later summer (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentration of Ba in food was significantly higher in spring and winter than in early and later summer (p < 0.05). An increase in the PTEs in the pasture determined the concentration of these components in fallow deer antlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of deforested Amazonia is dominated by pastures planted with exotic Urochloa (syn Brachiaria) grass, containing interspersed, ruderal Babassu palm (Attalea speciosa). This two‐species system offers the opportunity to investigate how two very competitive species interact. We investigated three monospecific Urochloa pastures containing dispersed Babassu palm clusters in the eastern periphery of Amazonia. We mapped 0‐ to 50‐cm Babassu and Urochloa root profiles at three distances representing contrasting relative dominance: "within clusters" (0.4–0.6 m from adult palm, Babassu‐dominated), "close" (2.5–4.0 m), and "far" (>8.0–10.0 m, Urochloa‐dominated). Total Babassu root share count was 76.0% within Babassu clusters, as opposed to Urochloa root share count (80.0%) far from clusters, confirming our experimental dominance gradient. Babassu and Urochloa root diameter composition differed strongly, whereas 44.6% of all Babassu roots were mid‐diameter or coarse; 83.0% of all Urochloa roots were fine graminoid. Vertical root profiles likewise differed: Babassu coarse and mid‐diameter roots concentrated within clusters at 20–50 cm depth, well protected against disturbance, though Babassu mid‐diameter roots did extend up to 10 m, indicating active foraging at long distances. By contrast, Urochloa mid‐diameter and coarse roots concentrated in the topsoil (70.4% in top 20 cm). Notably, 45.0% of all Urochloa fine roots but only 29.3% of deeper rooting Babassu concentrated in the top 0–10 cm. Both Urochloa mid‐diameter (R = 0.49) and fine roots (R = 0.40) correlated positively with Urochloa aboveground biomass. Fine‐root fine‐scale variability was high, with high‐density hotspots of both species in the topsoil. Babassu vertical root profiles were unaffected by the degree of interspecific competitive confrontation, whereas Urochloa fine roots were significantly shallower within than outside of Babassu clusters. Though differing Babassu and Urochloa vertical root profiles do support the notion of niche expansion caused by Babassu clusters within the vast Urochloa pastures throughout Amazonia, we also find a strong horizontal and vertical niche overlap with no indication of fine‐scale root segregation, indicating direct competition between both species, possibly in a dynamic state of "mutual invasability." In practical terms, our findings call for the diversification of Amazonian pastures beyond this two‐species system in order to increase productivity and ecological efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pimelea poisoning of cattle is a unique Australian toxic condition caused by the daphnane orthoester simplexin present in native Pimelea pasture plants. Rumen microorganisms have been proposed to metabolise simplexin by enzymatic reactions, likely at the orthoester and epoxide moieties of simplexin, but a metabolic pathway has not been confirmed. This study aimed to investigate this metabolic pathway through the analysis of putative simplexin metabolites. Purified simplexin was hydrolysed with aqueous hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid to produce target metabolites for UPLC-MS/MS analysis of fermentation fluid samples, bacterial isolate samples, and other biological samples. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified predicted hydrolysed products from both acid hydrolysis procedures with MS breakdown of these putative products sharing high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) fragmentation ions with simplexin. However, targeted UPLC-MS/MS analysis of the biological samples failed to detect the H2SO4 degradation products, suggesting that the rumen microorganisms were unable to produce similar simplexin degradation products at detectable levels, or that metabolites, once formed, were further metabolised. Overall, in vitro acid hydrolysis was able to hydrolyse simplexin at the orthoester and epoxide functionalities, but targeted UPLC-MS/MS analysis of biological samples did not detect any of the identified simplexin hydrolysis products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was few research on the utilization and development of weedy rice. Some weedy rice has remarkable good characteristics as forage in some soil which is difficult to plant crops and pastures. In this study, two weedy rice lines of japonica and indica subspecies with high ratooning ability (Xijing, japonica; Gaoxian, indica) were used to study the possibility of their forage utilization and related suitable cultivation methods. Three different stubble heights of first season were set in 2018 and 2019, and three cutting times of first season (heading stage, milk stage, and waxy ripening stage) were set in 2019. The ratoon grass was harvested 40 days after the first season harvest. For japonica weedy rice line Xijing, its grass yield was significantly lower than that of indica weedy rice line Gaoxian. The dry matter yield of first season grass plus ratoon grass of Gaoxian with the first season harvested at milk stage was the highest of all. The total digestible dry matter yield (first season grass plus ratoon grass) of Gaoxian with 15 cm cutting stubble of first season was higher than those of stubble 30 and 45 cm treatments (p <.05). In conclusions, indica weedy rice line Gaoxian, with high biomass of first season and good ratooning ability, had the good potential for forage development by harvesting first season at milk stage with 15 cm stubble height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimum grazing management practices to sustain or increase grassland resilience must be determined. The effects of the current and previous year's stocking densities (light, medium, and heavy stocking densities of 0.53, 0.89, and 1.24 AU ha−1, respectively) at the same stocking rate (35 AUD ha−1 yr−1) of yearling heifers (Bos taurus) grazing predominately blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths] pastures on animal gains and pasture mass during the growing season were evaluated at New Mexico State University's Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM USA, over three years. Previous grazing management had no influence on animal performance (p > 0.14) but seasonal average daily gains and total gains ha−1 were decreased from low- to high-density grazing (p < 0.002). Nevertheless, for grassland resilience, when low followed either high or medium, blue grama mass increased compared to low following low. Alternatively, when medium followed high, blue grama mass was reduced, but when high followed either low or medium, forage mass numerically increased (p < 0.0117 for the previous × current year's stocking density interaction). Consequently, short-duration, high stocking density may be best using multiple pastures, each with the same grazing period each year to allow for a long-duration rest. Otherwise, during persistent drought, a longer-duration, medium stocking density could be used to allow for recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizobial associations with leguminous plants are some of the most important symbioses on Earth, and they have economic relevance in agriculture. Because their interactions are positive and have advantages for both partners, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia also demand significant carbohydrate allocation in exchange for key nutrients, and this demand is reflected in the anatomy of roots. In the current scenario of climate change, rhizobia–legume interactions can be affected, and plants may need to compensate for carbon loss when light availability is not correct. Under such conditions, roots can modify their anatomy to accommodate symbionts' needs, and the outcome of an interaction can switch from mutualism to parasitism, resulting in changes in root allocation. We experimented with two legume species originating from well-irradiated environments (Coronilla juncea L. and Ornithopus compressus L.) and two species from shaded environments (Trifolium repens L. and Vicia sativa L.). We applied high radiation, intermediate radiation, and low radiation to two treatments of microbial inoculation (inoculation and control). After an incubation period of 105 days, we quantified the root area, size, and complexity, as well as the nodule production and mass, plant relative growth, and below-ground allocation. For plants originating in shaded environments, nodulation, root complexity, and below-ground allocation were enhanced in inoculated plants when they were transferred to conditions of high irradiance. Strikingly, plants from environments exposed to high light radiation were less plastic when exposed to changing light availability, and the symbionts were less beneficial than expected in stress-free environments. Our study proved that the stress imposed on plants due to high irradiance is overcome when plants are inoculated, and the positive effect is more evident in plants that are usually grown in shaded environments (e.g., Trifolium repens and Vicia sativa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White clover (Trifolium repens L.; Fabaceae) is an important forage and cover crop in agricultural pastures around the world and is increasingly used in evolutionary ecology and genetics to understand the genetic basis of adaptation. Historically, improvements in white clover breeding practices and assessments of genetic variation in nature have been hampered by a lack of high-quality genomic resources for this species, owing in part to its high heterozygosity and allotetraploid hybrid origin. Here, we use PacBio HiFi and chromosome conformation capture (Omni-C) technologies to generate a chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved genome assembly for white clover totaling 998 Mbp (scaffold N50 = 59.3 Mbp) and 1 Gbp (scaffold N50 = 58.6 Mbp) for haplotypes 1 and 2, respectively, with each haplotype arranged into 16 chromosomes (8 per subgenome). We additionally provide a functionally annotated haploid mapping assembly (968 Mbp, scaffold N50 = 59.9 Mbp), which drastically improves on the existing reference assembly in both contiguity and assembly accuracy. We annotated 78,174 protein-coding genes, resulting in protein BUSCO completeness scores of 99.6% and 99.3% against the embryophyta_odb10 and fabales_odb10 lineage datasets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roadkill and landscape composition affect snakes at different spatial scales, depending on the functional trait value of the species, which is reflected in the functional diversity indices at the assemblage level. This study evaluated the effect of roads and landscape composition on snakes' functional diversity at different areas of influence (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 m buffer areas). We compared roadkill snake species with those assemblages inhabiting the adjacent vegetation in the Orinoco region, Colombia. We surveyed snakes using transects on the road and adjacent areas on 13 landscapes along the road. We evaluated the effect of 16 landscape metrics at six land cover classes on the snake's functional diversity at four different areas of influence (from 250 to 2000 m around the sampled sites). The functional redundancy index was higher for roadkill species, suggesting that roads eliminate species that play similar roles in the assemblage and ecosystem processes. Likewise, the low values of functional redundancy in the adjacent vegetation call attention to the fact that each species surviving in this transformed landscape has a crucial active role in ecosystem processes in snake assemblages. For roadkill snakes, forest metrics explained changes in functional richness and functional evenness at a 250 m area of influence. In comparison, transient crop and pasture metrics explained changes in functional evenness and divergence at 2000 m. For snakes inhabiting the adjacent vegetation, the cohesion of pasture explained changes in functional richness at 250 m, and forest metrics explained changes in functional redundancy and evenness at 2000 m. Anthropogenic landscape transformation may have a greater effect on snake functional diversity at local scales than roadkill. In savanna ecosystems, the presence of native forest at 2000 m radius around roads promotes the conservation of snake assemblages. However, within a 250 m radius, the risk of snake roadkill increases when the road borders native forest. Therefore, it is necessary to implement wildlife crossing in these sections of the road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity of production of any specific crop mainly depends on its productivity and the land quality of the cropped area. The land in the South Gujarat region including four coastal districts is 12.24% of the total geographical area of the state. The present investigation was carried out to study the intersectoral land use dynamics and pattern of distribution of the particular classes of land across South Gujarat. The study is based on secondary data from 2000-01 to 2019-20 collected from the different publications of the Government. Analysis of data was done by using a simple identity of linearly additive land use changes model and Location Coefficient. The barren and uncultivable land, forest land and land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves declined whereas land area under current fallow land, non-agriculture and permanent pasture and grazing raised in South Gujarat during the study period. The land area under forest and land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves shifted towards agricultural land or land for non-agriculture activities or both over the study period in South Gujarat. The unfavourable shift in land use in the desirable ecological sector and a favourable shift in land use in the undesirable ecological sector were observed in South Gujarat. The land area under the agricultural sector annually increased by 92106 ha which was at the cost of the desirable ecological sector. The location coefficient for the area under forest, the area under non-agricultural uses and the net sown area was higher during the study period indicating that there was a higher concentration of these categories of land in South Gujarat. The location coefficient of current fallow land indicated a sharp increase in the area under fallow land during the study period, implying that suitable interventions are needed to bring this area under cultivation to increase agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil process models such as RothC typically assume soil organic carbon (SOC) is in equilibrium at the beginning of each simulation run. This is not likely to be true in the real world, since recalcitrant SOC pools (notably, humified material) take many decades to re-stabilize after a land use change. The equilibrium assumption stems from a spinup method in which the model is run under a single land use until all SOC pools stabilize. To overcome this, we demonstrate an alternative spinup procedure that accounts for historical land use changes. The "steady-state" and "historical" spinup methods both impute unknown C inputs such that the modeled SOC matches empirical measurements at the beginning of the simulation and set initial SOC fractions. Holding all other parameters equal, we evaluated how each spinup affects SOC projections in simulations of agricultural land use change in the U.S. state of Vermont. We found that projected SOC trajectories for all land use scenarios are sensitive to the spinup procedure. These differences are due to disparities in imputed below-ground plant-derived carbon between the two procedures. Compared to the steady-state, imputed C in the historical spinup is higher for land uses that increase SOC (e.g., adoption of regenerative practices) and lower for land uses that decrease SOC (e.g., a transition from pasture to crops), due to the time window within which land use changes are assumed to have occurred. The novel historical spinup procedure captures important dynamics commonly missing in previous studies, representing an advancement in soil process modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pimelea trichostachya Lindl is a little-understood Australian native plant, with irregular field emergence, causing significant poisoning to grazing livestock. The study aims to examine the form of dormancy exhibited by P. trichostachya and determine how key environmental conditions, such as alternating temperature and light conditions, moisture availability, substrate pH and burial depth, affect its germination and emergence. The study concludes that P. trichostachya has a complex dormancy mechanism. This comprises a physical component that can be partly removed by fruit scarification, a metabolic dormancy that can be overcome by gibberellic acid (GA3), and a suspected third mechanism based on a water-soluble germination inhibitor. The results showed that scarified single seeded fruit (hereafter seed) with GA3 treatment gave the highest germination percentage (86 ± 3%) at 25/15 °C, with good germination rates at other temperature regimes. Light exposure stimulated germination, but a significant proportion of seeds still germinated in the dark. The study also found that seeds could germinate under water-limited conditions and a wide range of pH levels (4 to 8). Seedling emergence was inhibited when seeds were buried below 3 cm in soil. Pimelea trichostachya emergence in the field commonly occurs from Autumn to Spring. Understanding its dormancy mechanism and recognizing its triggers for germination will enable better prediction of outbreaks. This can help landholders prepare for emergence and help manage seedbank build-up in pastures and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of Medicago sativa (A), Trifolium repens (WC), Lolium perenne (PR), and their mixture (Mix) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ weights, and meat quality of slower-growing broiler chickens in a free-range production system. The animal materials comprised of mixed-sex Hubbard ISA Red JA, which were reared in the deep litter system for the first 3 weeks, and thereafter, the pop hole in each of the indoor pens was opened to allow birds access to the range containing one of the above pasture treatments. The range availability was ensured from 08:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The results indicated no significant difference in broiler live body weight, feed conversion ratio, and livability between 28 and 77 days among the pasture treatments (P > 0.05). No significant variations were observed in the carcass and internal organ weights among pasture types (P > 0.05). Additionally, while the dry matter content (P < 0.01), TBA value (P < 0.05), and fatty acid profiles differed (P < 0.01), the protein, ash, water holding capacity, and oxidation stability of broiler breast meat did not differ among pasture groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, while the values of breast meat lightness (L*) and brightness (b*) differed (P < 0.05), redness and pH did not differ between the sexes (P > 0.05). Furthermore, sex significantly affected ash, protein content (P < 0.05), and TBA value (P < 0.01) of breast meat but did not affect dry matter, water holding capacity, and peroxide value of breast meat. Also, there was a significant difference in the weight of the neck, breast, thigh, live weight, hot carcass yield, heart, liver, abdominal fat, and digestive system between sexes (P < 0.05). However, breast meat fat content and fatty acid profiles were not influenced by the sex of the broilers (P > 0.05). It was concluded that access to the studied pasture species has no effect on the growth performance traits but results in notable variations in the fatty acid profiles in broiler breast meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep soil resources are essential for improving the production and ecological functions of dryland ecosystems. Relationships between deep soil water depletion and carbon and nitrogen accumulation in long‐term dryland pastures were not well quantified and understood. This study aimed to quantify the changes in deep soil water, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN) in alfalfa pasture and identify their relationships with root density. We conducted a field experiment in the south Loess Plateau in 2020 and 2021. Soil water, SOC, and TN contents and alfalfa root length density to 1000‐cm‐depth were measured in alfalfa pastures and annual crop reference fields. Soil water depletion by alfalfa mainly occurred in the first 6 years with a depletion rate of 41.6, 49.1, and 62.1 mm yr−1 in the shallow (0–200 cm), middle (200–500 cm) and deep (500–1000 cm) soil layers, respectively. Total depletion after 6 and 19 years were 916.8 and 1049.4 mm, respectively. SOC and TN storages in the shallow and middle layers continuously increased and peaked at 19 years after planting, and those in the deep soil increased quickly in the early ages but showed few changes in the following years. Final SOC and TN storages in the 0–1000 cm profile in alfalfa pasture reached 61.1 and 5.4 kg m−2, respectively, 13.7% and 20.4% higher than the reference field. Soil in 200–1000 cm contributed to 60.7% and 47.8% of the total SOC and TN storage increments, respectively. The deep rooting system of alfalfa derived soil water depletion and SOC and TN increments, as indicated by the significant relationships between fine root length density and the changes in soil water, SOC and TN storages. Therefore, the deep soil contributed substantially to the carbon and nitrogen sequestration in alfalfa early ages but the contribution was limited by water shortage in the middle and late ages. We suggest stopping alfalfa early (≤6 years) to increase water sustainability and maintain carbon and nitrogen sequestration efficiencies in the alfalfa pasture and crop rotation system on Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Plant secondary metabolites are of increasing interest for agriculture due to their diverse beneficial ecological functions. The forage crop white clover (Trifolim repens L.) has been intensively studied for its heritable polymorphism in the production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a toxic defense phytochemical. In fodder production, white clover accessions are selected for biomass production, whereby HCN production is an unwanted trait. Aim: Although white clover is a legume crop species of global importance, little is known about the linkage between cyanogenesis and growth traits, in particular in combination with resistance-related phytochemicals, such as flavonoids. We aimed to identify differences in biomass production, estimated leaf flavonoid content, and trait correlations in cyanogenic (HCN-producing) and acyanogenic (not HCN-producing) individuals and accessions of white clover. Methods: We analysed 51 white clover accessions from a German germplasm collection for variability in selected traits: cyanogenesis as equivalent electrode potential, estimated leaf flavonoid content, root and shoot production, leaf area, specific leaf area, and number of leaves produced. Key results: Most accessions considered as cyanogenic were heterogeneous for HCN production. Chemical–morphological trait correlations differed between cyanogenic and acyanogenic plants. Acyanogenic individuals and accessions produced more and larger leaves compared to cyanogenic ones. Within cyanogenic accessions, the higher the HCN level of a plant, the fewer but larger leaves were produced. Conclusions: Our results highlight the variation in HCN production within the selected accessions, which calls for a consistent approach for cyanogenesis-based categorisation. Implication: This study demonstrates the potential of combining phytochemical traits with biomass production in white clover when selecting material in a breeding program. White clover is a widely grown legume and of particular interest as a forage and pasture crop due to its high nutritional value. Besides this, the ability to produce hydrogen cyanide, a toxic chemical compound involved in herbivore defence, represents a trait which entails advantages and disadvantages for agricultural practice. Plants producing this compound differ in growth from those not producing it, indicating the potential to integrate the linkage of this chemical trait with plant growth into future selection for breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Salinity is one of the most serious environmental factors limiting the yield of plants. Because many crops experience yield losses due to the harmful effects of high salt content in soil and water. The increase in the area of land affected by salt has the potential to create problems in terms of food safety. In this context, it is necessary to develop some cultural practices to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of salinity. This study investigated the effects of salty groundwater at different depths on the yield and soil salinity of some forage crops grown in semi-arid regions for three years. The experiment was conducted using the randomized block split-plot design. The effect of water table depths on the yields of the cultivars in the first year was found to have a statistically significant (p<0.01) effect while it was insignificant in the second year. According to the Duncan test results, it was determined that the H1 (40 cm groundwater depth) treatment in the first year provided the highest yield in all three cultivars and formed the first group (p<0.01) in the Duncan test. The interaction between water table depths and plant species was statistically significant at the p<0.05 level. At the end of the experiment, the salt concentration of the topsoil (40 cm depth) increased significantly (p=0.025) at all water table depths. Moreover, although the sodium adsorption ratio of the inlet water was low, it was determined that the exchangeable sodium percentage of the soils increased significantly at all groundwater levels at the end of the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive fertilizer use can constrain contributions from soil biological processes in pastures, including those associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We evaluated the effect of fertilizers of different P solubility on the colonization of the roots of two common pasture plants by a community of AM fungi in a pasture soil. The treatments were a rock mineral fertilizer, a chemical fertilizer and a microbial inoculant. Subterranean clover and annual ryegrass were grown in pots for 10 weeks. Both fertilizers reduced the proportion and length of roots colonized by naturally occurring AM fungi. However, by 10 weeks, there was a much greater length of mycorrhizal root for annual ryegrass than for subterranean clover. The relative abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the families Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae in roots was not affected by the form of fertilizer, but diversity indices of AM fungi in roots were altered. The chemical fertilizer had a greater negative effect on AM fungal diversity indices in the annual ryegrass roots compared with the subterranean clover roots. The reduction in OTU richness of AM fungi with fertilizer application corresponded with reduced soil pH. Differential effects of P fertilizers on naturally occurring AM fungi in this agricultural soil have the potential to influence the efficacy of P fertilizer use and dominance of plant species in grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The global demand for increased meat production has brought to the surface several obstacles concerning environmental impacts, animals' welfare, and quality features, revealing the need to produce safe foodstuffs with an environmentally acceptable procedure. In this regard, the incorporation of legumes into animal diets constitutes a sustainable way out that prevents these apprehensions. Legumes are plant crops belonging to the Fabaceae family and are known for their rich content of secondary metabolites., displaying significant antioxidant properties and a series of health and environmental benefits. The study herein aims to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of indigenous and cultivated legume plants used for food and feed. The respective results indicate that the methanolic extract of Lathyrus laxiflorus (Desf.) Kuntze displayed the highest phenolic (64.8 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract) and tannin (419.6 mg catechin equivalents/g extract) content, while the dichloromethane extract of Astragalus glycyphyllos L., Trifolium physodes Steven ex M.Bieb. and Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H.Stirt. plant samples exhibited the richest content in carotenoids lutein (0.0431 mg/g A. glycyphyllos extract and 0.0546 mg/g B. bituminosa extract), α-carotene (0.0431 mg/g T. physodes extract) and β-carotene (0.090 mg/g T. physodes extract and 0.3705 mg/g B. bituminosa extract) establishing their potential role as vitamin A precursor sources. Results presented herein verify the great potential of Fabaceae family plants for utilization as pasture plants and/or dietary ingredients, since their cultivation has a positive impact on the environment, and they were found to contain essential nutrients capable to improve health, welfare, and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encounters between flowers and invertebrates are key events for the functioning of tropical forests. Assessing the structure of networks composed of the interactions between those partners leads to a better understanding of ecosystem functioning and the effects of environmental factors on ecological processes. Gathering such data is, however, costly and time‐consuming, especially in the highly diverse tropics. We aimed to provide a comprehensive repository of available flower–invertebrate interaction information for the Atlantic Forest, a South American tropical forest domain. Data were obtained from published works and "gray literature," such as theses and dissertations, as well as self‐reports by co‐authors. The data set has ~18,000 interaction records forming 482 networks, each containing between one and 1061 interaction links. Each network was sampled for about 200 h or less, with few exceptions. A total of 641 plant genera within 136 different families and 39 orders were reported, with the most abundant and rich families being Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rubiaceae. Invertebrates interacting with these plants were all arthropods from 10 orders, 129 families, and 581 genera, comprising 2419 morphotypes (including 988 named species). Hymenoptera was the most abundant and diverse order, with at least six times more records than the second‐ranked order (Lepidoptera). The complete data set shows Hymenoptera interacting with all plant orders and also shows Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera to be important nodes. Among plants, Asterales and Fabales had the highest number of interactions. The best sampled environment was forest (~8000 records), followed by pastures and crops. Savanna, grasslands, and urban environments (among others) were also reported, indicating a wide range of approaches dedicated to collecting flower–invertebrate interaction data in the Atlantic Forest domain. Nevertheless, most reported data were from forest understory or lower strata, indicating a knowledge gap about flower–invertebrate interactions at the canopy. Also, access to remote regions remains a limitation, generating sampling bias across the geographical range of the Atlantic Forest. Future studies in these continuous and hard‐to‐access forested areas will yield important new information regarding the interactions between flowers and invertebrates in the Atlantic Forest. There are no copyright restrictions on the data set. Please cite this data paper if the data are used in publications and teaching events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), a perennial monocot plant native to tropical Africa, is a major weed in pasture and cropping areas in the wet tropical regions of Australia and South Pacific countries. In grazing pasture lands, rapid growth and reproduction of unpalatable Navua sedge leads to displacement of co‐occurring pasture species and depletion of livestock carrying capacity and production. Understanding the interspecific competitive ability of Navua sedge with co‐occurring desirable grasses and in response to varying ecological scenarios (e.g., grazing and plant density) is critical for the management of the weed in pasture situations. In a glasshouse setting, two co‐occurring pasture species—humidicola (Urochloa humidicola) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) were grown with Navua sedge, in pots using a replacement series model. For each Navua sedge weed–pasture species pair, the experimental setup comprised of four ratios in two densities under simulated grazing and nongrazing conditions of the pasture grasses. Navua sedge growth and reproduction was highest when it grew as a monoculture or when co‐occurring pastures were exposed to simulated grazing as this action, reduced the competitiveness of the pasture grasses. Overall and using biomass gained, tiller production and relative yield as indices of growth dynamics, Rhodes grass was more competitive against Navua sedge than humidicola in both grazed and nongrazed conditions especially under high plant density. These results suggest the potential to include competitive pastures in integrated management strategies for Navua sedge, but species selection and grazing practices may influence the effectiveness of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This foreword provides a summary of papers included in this special issue on biochar and fertiliser interactions for crop and pastures productivity. This special issue includes published papers on how biochar and fertiliser affect soil health and crop yields and overcome soil constraints such as acidity, salinity, low fertility and remediation of metal and pesticides contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated Crop Livestock Systems (ICLSs) use productive diversification as a strategy to improve productivity and land use efficiency. Pasture Crop Rotations are a part of ICLSs and imply a pasture phase included in the sequence of crops. The main reasons to include pastures in crop systems are low productivity of natural grasslands and increased crop yield after a pasture phase. Our objective was to analyze the productivity indicators and management of four ICLSs that combine crop and livestock production, with data collected over a 3 y period (2019–2022). The experimental site was The Palo a Pique (Treinta y Tres, Uruguay) long-term experiment installed in 1995, located in the subtropical climate zone and on Oxyaquic Argiudolls soils (3% average slope). Systems evaluated were CC (continuous cropping), SR (two years idem CC, two years of pastures), LR (two years idem CC, four years of pastures) and FR (continuous pasture with Tall Fescue). Liveweight (LW) production, grain production and dry matter (DM) production were evaluated. Liveweight production was higher in CC and SR (426 and 418 kg LW/ha) than in LR (369 kg LW/ha) and FR (310 kg LW/ha). DM production was higher in FR and SR (6867 and 5763 kg DM/ha/year) than in LR (5399 kg DM/ha/year) and CC (5206 kg DM/ha/year). Grain production was 10%, 16% and 9% lower in soybean, wheat and sorghum in CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) is a problematic perennial weed in pastures and crops including sugarcane, banana, rice, and fruits and vegetables in tropical climates. It reproduces both via rhizomes and seeds. As a regenerative and storage organ, these rhizomes play an important part in the invasion, establishment, and persistence of this weed. To eliminate their regenerative ability, it is important to understand the regrowth potential with respect to rhizome fragment size and burial depth. This study evaluated the emergence of C. aromaticus from rhizomes in a controlled condition. Three different sizes of rhizome fragments were buried at seven depths of up to 20 cm in two soil types. The experimental measurements included (i) the time for tillers to emerge, (ii) the cumulative emergence of tillers, recorded weekly, and (iii) the number of underground emerging tillers. The cumulative shoot emergence and the number of underground tillers produced were found to be positively correlated with the initial length of the rhizome fragments and negatively correlated with the burial depth. The time for the emergence of the tillers was negatively correlated with the burial depth, and soil type had no significant effect on any of the parameters recorded. There was no emergence recorded from rhizomes buried at 15 cm depth and deeper, irrespective of their size. Our results indicate that the combination of the fragmentation of rhizomes into small pieces and a deep burial, below 15 cm, is an important aspect to control the regeneration of C. aromaticus from rhizomes, if tillage is carried out, and can therefore form a part of an integrated weed management strategy for this troublesome weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ingestion of certain plants belonging to the genus Senna in animals can cause a rapidly progressive disease with myonecrosis. Natural senna intoxication was suspected in cattle that were grazing on contaminated pasture. Three calves presented with clinical signs of acute illness, characterised by sternal recumbency and absent patellar and withdrawal reflexes. Senna obtusifolia and Senna occidentalis plants were found in the grazing pastures. Serum biochemistry levels of creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were higher than the reference ranges. Major pathologic findings included multifocal pale tan and dry skeletal muscle with severe segmental monophasic myonecrosis. Senna seeds were identified in the ruminal contents. A diagnosis of Senna intoxication was made given the clinical history and the compatible clinicopathological and pathologic findings. In addition, Senna plants in the pasture along with the Senna seeds were found in the ruminal contents in the affected heifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer antlers, usually harvested annually on a farm, are an accessible material used to determine the exposition to potentially toxic elements, PTEs, during growth. Moreover, the study of antlers from animals of different ages allows the assessment of long-term exposition to these elements. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentration of eight potentially toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce) in individual positions of the antlers (first, second, and third position, corresponding to the stages of development and life of these animals) and in the food that the animals consumed during the growth of individual antler fragments, depending on the age of the farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral composition of samples was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis included 31 male deer aged 2–8 years old. The average concentration of Pb, Ba, and Ni was higher in the second position of the antler, and As, La, and Ce in the third position. In addition, the oldest individuals showed a higher Cd, Pb, and As concentration in the third position. A significant positive relationship was found between the age of animals and accumulation of As (r = 0.582, p < 0.05), as well as Ba and Sr (r = −0.534, r = −0.644 at p < 0.05, respectively). The average content of Ba and Sr also significantly negatively depended on body mass and antler mass stags (r = −0.436, r = −0.515 at p < 0.05, respectively). Cd concentration in feed was significantly higher in June compared to winter, spring, and later summer (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentration of Ba in food was significantly higher in spring and winter than in early and later summer (p < 0.05). An increase in the PTEs in the pasture determined the concentration of these components in fallow deer antlers.