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The article discusses research which examined the impact of seeding, herbicide and fungicide on Bromus tectorum, a perennial grass. Topics discussed include factors contributing to Bromus tectorum invasion into rangelands, reasons for failure of revegetation of native species, integration of herbecide imazapic with generalist grass pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda and common causes of revegetation failure addressed by integrating multiple management strategies.

Many regions of South Africa are prone to woody plant thickening. This can have an ecologically detrimental effect on the open savannas and grasslands. KwaZulu-Natal, a province on the east coast of South Africa, is currently experiencing an increase in both the density and distribution of Vachellia nilotica. This research aims to gain better insight into the potential distribution of this plant and to determine some of the main environmental conditions that promote its thickening. Using the Maxent programme to determine the potential distribution, a map was developed to illustrate the possible extent of V. nilotica within KwaZulu-Natal. It is estimated that a possible 800 968 ha (8.5%) of the province has a greater than 50% distribution probability, whereas in 26.9% of the province there is 25%-50% probability of V. nilotica inhabiting these areas. Using Maxent, it was determined that geology and altitude were key determinants for V. nilotica habitat selection. This model-based map will be particularly useful for conservation and rangeland planning for future management and control of the plant through being able to predict which areas of the province are more likely to be high potential regions for the thickening of V. nilotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding how functional traits, which are key for plant functioning, relate to demographic parameters of populations is central to tackle pending issues in plant ecology such as the forecast of the fate of populations and communities in a changing world, the quantification of community assembly processes or the improvement of species distribution models. We addressed this question in the case of species from a Mediterranean rangeland of southern France. Changes in species abundance in response to management intensification (fertilization and increased grazing pressure) were followed over a 28‐year period. Probabilities of presence, and elasticities of the changes in the probability of space occupancy to colonization and survival, which are analogues of demographic parameters, were calculated for 53 species from the time series of abundance data using a space occupancy model. Nine quantitative traits pertaining to resource use, plant morphology, regeneration and phenology were measured on these species and related to demographic parameters. The long‐term dynamics of species in response to management intensification was associated with major changes in functional traits and strategies. Changes in the probability of occurrence—analogous to population growth rate—were correlated with traits describing the fast‐slow continuum of leaf functioning. The elasticity of population growth rate to colonization was significantly related to reproductive plant height and seed mass, and to a lower extent, to leaf carbon isotopic ratio. Synthesis. The functional response of species to management intensification corresponds to a shift along the second axis of a recently identified global spectrum of plant form and function, which maps, to some extent, onto the fast‐slow continuum of life‐history strategies. By contrast, the elasticity of colonization relates to the global spectrum axis capturing the size of organs. Seed mass contributes to this axis and is assumed to relate to one of the important traits structuring the reproductive strategy axis of life histories as well, namely net reproductive rate. While this mapping between functional and life‐history traits is appealing, further tests in contrasting types of communities are required to assess its degree of generality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of potential habitats of endemic species can facilitate conservation planning and rehabilitation programs in rangeland ecosystems. This study aimed to generate potential distribution maps of Astragalus verus Olivier, a valuable endemic and medicinal plant, in a semi-arid part of central Iran (with an approximate area of 1000 km 2 ) using logistic regression (LR), nonparametric multiplicative regression (NPMR), and ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA) methods A stratified-random sampling approach was used to collect the presence-absence data, along with some environmental data, from 100 sites. Soil maps were obtained from 70 profiles, and climate maps were produced using data from 10 weather stations. Geostatistical methods were used to convert the obtained data to digital maps with 90 m × 90 m resolution. The species potential habitat maps were produced using ENFA, LR, NPMR, and an ensemble method. The accuracy of the models was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa coefficient and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) based on both calibrated and independent data sets. Although no method was superior under all circumstances, ENFA performed slightly better due to the very high anthropogenic impacts in the study area. Potential habitat maps and the species response curves revealed that A. verus habitats were characterized by a pH of 7.5, moderate to relatively heavy soil texture (44%–48% clay content), moderate slope (10%–20%), low electrical conductivity (<0.3 dS/m), and a soil saturation percentage of 45%–47%. These modeling approaches can be widely used to identify appropriate areas for rehabilitation and protection of endangered and valuable native plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies report that mountain plant species are shifting upward in elevation. However, the majority of these reports focus on shifts of upper limits. Here, we expand the focus and simultaneously analyze changes of both range limits, optima, and abundances of 183 mountain plant species. We therefore resurveyed 1,576 vegetation plots first recorded before 1970 in the European Alps. We found that both range limits and optima shifted upward in elevation, but the most pronounced trend was a mean increase in species abundance. Despite huge species-specific variation, range dynamics showed a consistent trend along the elevational gradient: Both range limits and optima shifted upslope faster the lower they were situated historically, and specie's abundance increased more for species from lower elevations. Traits affecting the specie's dispersal and persistence capacity were not related to their range dynamics. Using indicator values to stratify species by their thermal and nutrient demands revealed that elevational ranges of thermophilic species tended to expand, while those of cold-adapted species tended to contract. Abundance increases were strongest for nutriphilous species. These results suggest that recent climate warming interacted with airborne nitrogen deposition in driving the observed dynamics. So far, the majority of species appear as "winners" of recent changes, yet "losers" are overrepresented among high-elevation, coldadapted species with low nutrient demands. In the decades to come, high-alpine species may hence face the double pressure of climatic changes and novel, superior competitors that move up faster than they themselves can escape to even higher elevations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot culture experiment was performed to study the effect of cadmium stress (Cd stress) on seedling growth, physiological traits, and remediation potency of Avena fatua, Lathyrus sativus, and Lolium temulentum. The seedlings of these native rangeland plant species were treated with 0, 2, 4, and 6 mM cadmium nitrate concentrations. Based on the results of analysis of variance (p < 0.05), the shoot height, shoot dry weight, root length, root dry weight, root: shoot ratio, total chlorophyll content, soluble sugars, and protein contentof A. fatua, L. sativus, and L. temulentum significantly decreased with increased cadmium concentrations. Generally, translocation factor (TF) and tolerance index (TI) decreased significantly as the concentration of cadmium increased. The maximum TF and TI of studied plants in various concentrations of Cd were observed in L. temulentum followed by L. sativus and A. fatua. The root concentration factor (RCF) values of all studied plants were higher than 1 under different cadmium concentrations. Our results indicate that Lolium temulentum could be labeled as an accumulator of Cd asthe values of TF and RCF are greater than 1. A. fatua and L. sativus showed a potential to be used in the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Land degradation is a serious environmental problem of our time. In Kenya, it is estimated that 30% of the total land mass is severely degraded. Suswa catchment within Narok County is a good example with gullies of over 25 m deep and 30 m wide. In response to the increasing land degradation in the area, the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project rehabilitated the catchment through establishment of soil and water conservation structures such as cutoff drains, semicircular bunds, and water retention ditches. Despite the various rehabilitation approaches carried out, little research has been done to ascertain their effect on successful vegetation recovery. This coupled with the fact that many restoration approaches have failed in East Africa and Kenya in particular gave drive to the study. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of rangeland rehabilitation on herbaceous species composition and diversity in a severely degraded rangeland. Methods: To assess the diversity of aboveground herbaceous layer in the rehabilitated and degraded areas along a slope (upper, middle, and lower), line transect and quadrat count methods were used. Within each slope position, three 100-m-long transects were placed across the hill parallel to one another 30 m apart using a tape. The species hit, the closest species to the hit, and hits on bare ground were recorded. Along the same transects, 1-m quadrats were placed 25 m apart and aboveground biomass determined by the use of the destructive method. In the determination of species richness, diversity, relative abundance, percentage cover, and species composition, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was used. Data collected on vegetation attributes was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat and Tukey's HSD post hoc used in means separation where F values were significant. Results: The results showed that percent cover (74.67%), aboveground biomass (1459 kg/ha), relative abundance, richness, composition, and diversity of perennial grasses significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) increased downslope and were higher in the rehabilitated area than in the degraded area. On the contrary, forbs and annual grasses were significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) higher within the degraded area compared to the rehabilitated area and increased upslope. Conclusions: In general, herbaceous species diversity, species richness, relative abundance, percent composition, biomass production, and percent cover of perennial grasses significantly increased downslope and were higher in the rehabilitated area compared to the degraded area. On the contrary, the same attributes for forbs and annual grasses were higher in the degraded area and increased upslope. The study concluded that effective rangeland rehabilitation has the potential to enhance vegetation regeneration and hence forage productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feral horses are widespread in the western United States, with the majority of feral horse herds found in the Great Basin. There is a federal mandate to manage these herds in order to maintain “ecological balance”; however, understanding of the specific effects of feral horse grazing on rangeland plant communities in this region is incomplete. To address this research gap, we utilized long-term grazing exclosures and fenceline contrasts to evaluate the impacts of feral horses on several plant community variables (diversity, richness, dominance, and biomass) and species composition. Because the effects of grazing can vary with site precipitation and productivity, we selected 5 sites from 4 different rangeland types (Great Basin Desert, Colorado Plateau, Rocky Mountain grassland, and mixed grass prairie) that spanned a mean annual precipitation gradient of 229 to 413 mm. Our results did not reveal a significant effect of feral horse grazing on plant community composition, species richness, diversity, evenness, or dominance. In contrast, total aboveground herbaceous biomass and grass biomass were significantly reduced with feral horse grazing, but these effects did not vary with mean annual precipitation. Our results suggest that, at least at the sites we studied, feral horses have affected the plant community by reducing herbaceous biomass but have not caused plant community shifts. Additional multisite studies, preferably with standardized exclosures and larger sample sizes, would increase our understanding of feral horse grazing effects and inform management of feral horse herds in the western United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has the second largest rangeland area in the world. The pastoral area was regarded as the main red meat (beef and mutton) production area since new China's establishment in 1949. In past decades, the rangeland degradation has become serious in many places and the governments at all levels in China have realized the issues and have made a series of policies to protect rangeland. A key component of the policies is to provide subsidies to herders to switch to intensive livestock production instead of grazing on rangelands. But, is that effective? Can the householders in pastoral areas make more money than those in cropping land and protect effectively the rangeland ecosystem for the future? How to guide those herders in pastoral land to find a suitable way to make a living from producing beef and mutton? The paper reviews the livestock production in the pastoral regions and compares it with that from the cropping regions. We found that the economic advantage of livestock production in pastoral land has long disappeared and that most of the red meat, is now produced in the cropping regions or is imported. Therefore, the government should rethink the role and function of the rangeland in pastoral regions and should encourage and improve pasture-based livestock husbandry to produce organic red meat (green food) and other livestock products while fostering and protecting cultural traditions and better land stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on leaf area index (LAI) which is an important parameter in determining vegetation status and health. It mentions that LAI is useful in determining the ground biomass, offers a basis for rangeland management, conservation and restoration. It offers information on interval partial least square regression (iPLSR) to calculate LAI from in-situ canopy hyperspectral data on grassland at different period.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has been assessed in three dimension (3D) in several studies, but little is known about the combined effects of land use and soil depth on SOC stocks in semi-arid areas. This paper investigates the 3D distribution of SOC to a depth of 1 m in a 4600-ha area in southeastern Iran with different land uses under the irrigated farming (IF), dry farming (DF), orchards (Or), range plants on the Gachsaran formation (RaG), and range plants on a quaternary formation (RaQ). Predictions were made using the artificial neural networks (ANNs), regression trees (RTs), and spline functions with auxiliary covariates derived from a digital elevation model (DEM), the Landsat 8 imagery, and land use types. Correlation analysis showed that the main predictors for SOC in the topsoil were covariates derived from the imagery; however, for the lower depths, covariates derived from both the DEM and imagery were important. ANNs showed more efficiency than did RTs in predicting SOC. The results showed that 3D distribution of SOC was significantly affected by land use types. SOC stocks of soils under Or and IF were significantly higher than those under DF, RaG, and RaQ. The SOC below 30 cm accounted for about 59% of the total soil stock. Results showed that depth functions combined with digital soil mapping techniques provide a promising approach to evaluate 3D SOC distribution under different land uses in semi-arid regions and could be used to assess changes in time to determine appropriate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on grass and fire in Kansas topics including research on a 10-year record of aboveground biomass in a Kansas tallgrass prairie, effect of burning on bluestem pastures, and range burning and fertilizing related to nutritive value of bluestem grass.

Aims Invasive species often have higher relative growth rates (RGR) than their native counterparts. Nutrient use efficiency, total leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) are traits that may confer RGR differences between natives and invasives, but trait differences are less prominent when the invasive species belongs to the same plant functional type as the dominant native species. Here, we test if traits displayed soon after germination confer an early size advantage. Specifically, we predicted that invasive species seedlings grow faster than the natives because they lack trade-offs that more strongly constrain the growth of native species. Methods We quantified plant morphological and physiological traits and RGR during early seedling growth at high and low nutrient levels in three dominant perennial native C4 grasses: Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem) and Andropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem); and a perennial C4 exotic invasive grass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Johnsongrass). Important Findings After 2 weeks of growth, Johnsongrass seedlings had greater biomass, SLA and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, but lower leaf N concentrations (% leaf N) and root:shoot ratio than natives. As growth continued, Johnsongrass more quickly produced larger and thicker leaves than the natives, which dampened the growth advantage past the first 2 to 3 weeks of growth. Investment in carbon gain appears to be the best explanation for the early growth advantage of Johnsongrass. In natives, growth was constrained by an apparent trade-off between allocation to root biomass, which reduced SLA, and production of leaves with high N content, which increased carbon gain. In Johnsongrass, root:shoot ratio did not interact with other traits, and % leaf N was decoupled from RGR as a result of a trade-off between the positive indirect association of % leaf N with RGR and the negative direct association of % leaf N with RGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rangelands are important source of pasture for livestock in Kenya since time immemorial to pastoral households. However, seasonality on forage availability has been a big challenge in meeting animals' feed requirements. This demands harvest and storage of pastures for use during dry seasons. Hay making has been done to bridge this forage deficit periods. However, hay quality in the rangelands is affected by curing methods, phonological stage at harvest, and the storage duration. We therefore evaluated the effect of field curing and storage duration on the quality (Crude Protein (CP)) of hay from six rangeland grasses in Kenya. Methods: The grasses evaluated are Chloris roxburghiana, Eragrostis superba, Enteropogon macrostachyus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris gayana, and Sorghum sudanense. These grasses are the common species in the rangelands of Kenya and have been promoted in the past for hay making and reseeding interventions. The grasses were harvested at the mature flowering stage (12 weeks phenological stage), which is a period that provides high biomass without much effect on quality as practiced in the study area. The grasses were then cured in the field for 1, 2, and 3 days before baling and stored indoors for 12, 24, and 36 weeks. Samples were taken for CP content determination at the three periods following Macro-Kjeldahl Method. Results: There was significant decline ( p ≤ 0.05) in crude protein content in all the grass species with storage periods. Curing period did not affect the CP content for all the species at a given storage period; however, 3 days curing changed the hay color from green to brownish which reduces palatability and consequently reduced feed intake. Storage period of over 12 weeks adversely lowered CP to less than 6 % for all the species which is the required minimum level for animal under production and maintenance. S. Sudanense had significantly higher decline in CP after 24 weeks storage compared to the other species. Conclusions: Therefore, hay from the six grass species harvested at mature flowering stage (12-week phonological stage) and stored longer than 12 weeks supplies the animals with low CP. Also, to maintain palatability, 1-2 days curing is recommended for the six grass species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An existing varying coefficient calibration method for estimating herbage mass from rising plate meter reading was validated using datasets for different years and pastures, and the variation among these in the coefficients of the model was structurally assessed using a linear mixed effects model to develop a versatile calibration equation. The calibration's advantage was confirmed by the lower Akaike's information criterion values in the two current pooled models than those in the model that assumes fixed coefficients throughout the year. While sites affect the degree of gradual change after the reproductive stage in the slope coefficient, years affect the degree of steep change before the reproductive stage in the intercept coefficient. Further, the shift in the levels of both coefficients was detected by site and year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Goss's wilt pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis can cause considerable losses in maize (Zea mays) production. Diagnosis of Goss's wilt currently is based on symptomology and identification of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis following isolation on a semiselective medium and/or serological testing. In an effort to provide a more efficient identification method a loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) assay was developed to detect the tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP)-type C4-dicarboxylate transport system large permease component and tested using strains of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis all other C. michiganensis subspecies and several genera of nontarget bacteria. Only strains of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis reacted positively with the LAMP assay. The LAMP assay was then used to identify bacterial isolates from diseased maize. 16S rDNA and dnaA sequence analyses were used to confirm the identity of the maize isolates and validate assay specificity. The Cmm ImmunoStrip assay was included as a presumptive identification test of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis at the species level. The Cmn-LAMP assay was further tested using symptomatic leaf tissue. The Cmn-LAMP assay was run in a hand-held real-time monitoring device (SMART-DART) and performed equally to inlab quantitative polymerase chain reaction equipment. The Cmn-LAMP assay accurately identified C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis and has potential as a field test. The targeted sequence also has potential application in other molecular detection platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details the analysis of biochemical methane potential (BMP) assessment of 83 substrates, which may be deemed as: first generation substrates (food crops); second generation (grasses and wastes); and third generation (seaweed). Significant variation in the BMP of a substrate may be found depending on for example, season and method of harvest. This could lead to significant discrepancy between energy production at the design stage and in operation of the facility. For example the BMP of dairy slurry varied from 175 L CH 4 kg −1 VS in autumn (cattle fed on concentrate at end of farming year) to 239 L CH 4 kg −1 VS in the summer when cattle are fed fresh grass. Grass ranged from 156 (for hay) to 433 L CH 4 kg −1 VS for first cut baled silage. Saccharina latissima (brown seaweed) generated a higher BMP 36.4 m 3 CH 4 t −1 than summer dairy slurry 16 m 3 CH 4 t −1 . In terms of a national resource, the cheapest and most sustainable source of biomethane will be from wastes, but the resource is finite. Biomethane from wastes could satisfy 18.4% of transport energy in Ireland. Larger resources will require third generation substrates such as seaweed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to (1) identify the nutritive value of late season herbage of principal species on dry calcareous grassland, (2) study the forage supply for sheep and goats and the degree of its exploitation by these animals, (3) identify the animals' preference for particular plant species and types (grass, forb, shrub), and (4) identify the indicators of diet selection at the scale of the functional traits and nutritional value of selected plant species. Location: Palava Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic (48°500 N, 16°380 E). Methods: The investigation was based on the rotational grazing of sheep and goats for conservation purposes from Aug to Sept 2008. In all paddocks, the plant species composition and cover were identified. Animals were observed for 14 h a day to record their diet. Diet selectivity regarding 17 plant species and type was calculated. For ten plant species, the functional traits, i.e. canopy height, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and nutritive value, were measured. Differences in diet selection by sheep and goats and the drivers of diet selection were assessed. Results: Of a total of 138 plant species recorded in all paddocks, sheep and goats grazed on 136 and 126, respectively. Sheep grazed more selectively on forbs than on grasses and shrubs, whereas goats grazed on forbs preferentially, on shrubs in conformity with supply in the vegetation cover, and avoided grasses. The diet selectivity of both sheep and goats was similar and was positively correlated with a high concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, which were particularly high in the leaves of Prunus spinosa and lowest in Bromus erectus, and negatively correlated with the LDMC and fibre content in grasses. Conclusions: Dry nutrient-poor calcareous grassland in the late season did not offer animals more macronutrients than required for their maintenance. The animals adapted their foraging strategy to select preferentially forbs or woody species particularly rich in P andwith a relatively low fibre content, the real indicators of diet selection. Late grazing could therefore contribute to the control of woody plant species, but cannot suppress expansive grasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased preparation for drought among livestock producers reliant on rain-fed forage should reduce the economic losses and environmental degradation when the eventual drought occurs. We surveyed livestock ranchers in southeastern Arizona, USA, to determine their level of increased preparation for drought following 10 very dry years, as well as their level of threat from drought, importance of coping strategies, ranching experience, herd size, and satisfaction with drought management information. We used the protection motivation theory (PMT) model to structure our analysis because it provides a cognitive process approach to understand what motivates people to increase preparation for looming problems and how the likelihood of that behavior is a function of threat and coping strategy assessments. Thirty-seven percent of ranchers reported a high increase in preparedness, and another 31 % reported some increased preparation. Increased preparation was positively associated with three coping practices: reserve pastures, rotate grazing, and drought planning. However, increased preparation was negatively associated with drought threat severity, suggesting that the more prepared ranchers have implemented coping strategies that buffer them from the looming threat of drought. We found no relationship between increased preparation and levels of ranching experience, herd size, or satisfaction with drought information. Structure and content of education and assistance programs for improving rancher preparation for drought should benefit from the PMT-based analysis because it identifies drivers leading to increased preparedness and how those drivers differ among members of the ranching community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Background and Aims Accurate identification of species is essential for the majority of biological studies. However, defining species objectively and consistently remains a challenge, especially for plants distributed in remote regions where there is often a lack of sufficient previous specimens. In this study, multiple approaches and lines of evidence were used to determine species boundaries for plants occurring in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, using the genus Orinus (Poaceae) as a model system for an integrative approach to delimiting species. * Methods A total of 786 individuals from 102 populations of six previously recognized species were collected for niche, morphological and genetic analyses. Three plastid DNA regions (matK, rbcL and trnH-psbA) and one nuclear DNA region [internal transcribed space (ITS)] were sequenced. * Key Results Whereas six species had been previously recognized, statistical analyses based on character variation, molecular data and niche differentiation identified only two well-delimited clusters, together with a third possibly originating from relatively recent hybridization between, or historical introgression from, the other two. * Conclusions Based on a principle of integrative species delimitation to reconcile different sources of data, the results provide compelling evidence that the six previously recognized species of the genus Orinus that were examined should be reduced to two, with new circumscriptions, and a third, identified in this study, should be described as a new species. This empirical study highlights the value of applying genetic differentiation, morphometric statistics and ecological niche modelling in an integrative approach to re-circumscribing species boundaries. The results produce relatively objective, operational and unbiased taxonomic classifications of plants occurring in remote regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoon 9512 hit Mikura-jima Island, Izu Islands, Japan in 1995, producing many landslide slopes. Torino-o No.3 landslide slope was fascined with fallen trees and planted with seedlings of native species (Alnus sieboldiana tree and Miscanthus condensatus grass) as part of vegetation recovery efforts, and was subsequently seeded by helicopter in 2002 with exotic pasture grasses. To elucidate the influence of fertilization on the growth of transplanted seedlings of native species, exotic pasture grasses and newly invading trees and herbs, we designated seven plots in 2004, and surveyed vegetation every summer until 2013: four fertilized plots (fowl manure applied at 0.2 g/m2) and three non-fertilized plots. The native species seedlings grew steadily irrespective of fertilization, but with self-thinning in A. sieboldiana. Exotic pasture grasses decreased gradually and almost disappeared in 2013. Fertilizing temporarily enhanced the growth of some species, but seemed to induce species competition, judging from the delay of invading of native trees and the increase of climbing plants in herbaceous layer in fertilized plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses within Poaceae tribe Poeae subtribes Puccinellinae (=Coleanthinae), Phleinae, Poinae s.l. (including Alopecurinae), and Miliinae (PPAM clade), revealed that one species formerly placed in Poa represents a new monotypic genus belonging to subtribe Poinae s.l., Dupontiopsis gen. nov., D. hayachinensis comb. nov. (based on Poa hayachinensis), endemic to wet, gravelly, serpentine, alpine habitats in northern Japan. This genus forms a strongly supported clade (DAD) with two circumarctic Poinae genera, Arctophila and Dupontia, in phylogenetic analyses of plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data. Both morphology and DNA sequence analyses provide support for D. hayachinensis as a lineage distinct from either Arctophila or Dupontia, with moderate DNA support for a position as sister to these two genera. Dupontiopsis resembles these other monotypic genera in its several-flowered spikelets, lemmas usually 3-nerved, with frequently awned attenuate scarious apices (as in Dupontia) and calluses with a crown of hairs around the base of the lemma, but differs in its keeled lemmas, scabrous palea keels, glumes shorter than the first lemma. Our investigation suggests that the most recent shared ancestor of the DAD clade evolved from a single hybridization event, as a hexaploid, probably in western Beringia. The probable parentage of the ancestor is considered to be within the Poinae-Alopecurinae clade excluding Poa. We provide evidence for possible secondary hybridization and introgression of duodecaploid Dupontia fisheri with Puccinellia. A key to perennial genera of PPAM with hairy calluses, and a supplemental table of morphological characters in the genera accepted in PPAM are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on recent molecular and morphological studies we present a modern worldwide phylogenetic classification of the ± 12074 grasses and place the 771 grass genera into 12 subfamilies (Anomochlooideae, Aristidoideae, Arundinoideae, Bambusoideae, Chloridoideae, Danthonioideae, Micraioideae, Oryzoideae, Panicoideae, Pharoideae, Puelioideae, and Pooideae), 6 supertribes (Andropogonodae, Arundinarodae, Bambusodae, Panicodae, Poodae, Triticodae), 51 tribes (Ampelodesmeae, Andropogoneae, Anomochloeae, Aristideae, Arundinarieae, Arundineae, Arundinelleae, Atractocarpeae, Bambuseae, Brachyelytreae, Brachypodieae, Bromeae, Brylkinieae, Centotheceae, Centropodieae, Chasmanthieae, Cynodonteae, Cyperochloeae, Danthonieae, Diarrheneae, Ehrharteae, Eragrostideae, Eriachneae, Guaduellieae, Gynerieae, Hubbardieae, Isachneae, Littledaleeae, Lygeeae, Meliceae, Micraireae, Molinieae, Nardeae, Olyreae, Oryzeae, Paniceae, Paspaleae, Phaenospermateae, Phareae, Phyllorachideae, Poeae, Steyermarkochloeae, Stipeae, Streptochaeteae, Streptogyneae, Thysanolaeneae, Triraphideae, Tristachyideae, Triticeae, Zeugiteae, and Zoysieae), and 80 subtribes (Aeluropodinae, Agrostidinae, Airinae, Ammochloinae, Andropogoninae, Anthephorinae, Anthistiriinae, Anthoxanthinae, Arthraxoninae, Arthropogoninae, Arthrostylidiinae, Arundinariinae, Aveninae, Bambusinae, Boivinellinae, Boutelouinae, Brizinae, Buergersiochloinae, Calothecinae, Cenchrinae, Chionachninae, Chusqueinae, Coicinae, Coleanthinae, Cotteinae, Cteniinae, Cynosurinae, Dactylidinae, Dichantheliinae, Dimeriinae, Duthieinae, Eleusininae, Eragrostidinae, Farragininae, Germainiinae, Gouiniinae, Guaduinae, Gymnopogoninae, Hickeliinae, Hilariinae, Holcinae, Hordeinae, Ischaeminae, Loliinae, Melinidinae, Melocanninae, Miliinae, Monanthochloinae, Muhlenbergiinae, Neurachninae, Olyrinae, Orcuttiinae, Oryzinae, Otachyriinae, Panicinae, Pappophorinae, Parapholiinae, Parianinae, Paspalinae, Perotidinae, Phalaridinae, Poinae, Racemobambosinae, Rottboelliinae, Saccharinae, Scleropogoninae, Scolochloinae, Sesleriinae, Sorghinae, Sporobolinae, Torreyochloinae, Traginae, Trichoneurinae, Triodiinae, Tripogoninae, Tripsacinae, Triticinae, Unioliinae, Zizaniinae, and Zoysiinae). In addition, we include a radial tree illustrating the hierarchical relationships among the subtribes, tribes, and subfamilies. We use the subfamilial name, Oryzoideae, over Ehrhartoideae because the latter was initially published as a misplaced rank, and we circumscribe Molinieae to include 13 Arundinoideae genera. The subtribe Calothecinae is newly described and the tribe Littledaleeae is new at that rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan to investigate the impact of mixing low palatable grasses namely Heteropogon contortus, Desmostachya bipinnata, Sorghum halepense and Chrysopogon aucheri with tree leaves of Leucaena leucocephala (Ipil ipil) in the ratio of 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, along with sole species on their chemical composition. Samples were analyzed for proximate parameters (crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), total ash and ether extract (EE)). The results revealed that there were significant differences in dry matter (DM) among different grasses. DM content of low palatable grasses was generally high (70-75%) as compared to Ipil ipil leaves (45-55%). DM content among mixtures was also variable. For the treatment grass 75% + Ipil ipil 25%, DM range was 65-70%, for grass 50% + Ipil ipil 50%, it was 60-65% and for grass 25% + Ipil ipil 75%, it was 55%. The CP value of the treatments showed significant variation ranging from less than 10% in grasses to almost 30% in pure Ipil ipil leaves. The mixtures had CP content corresponding to proportions of grasses and legume tree leaves. The CF values also varied significantly among the treatments. Grasses had in general higher CF content than legume leaves. It can be concluded that addition of Ipil ipil leaves to grasses improved overall nutrition especially CP of the feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study dormancy breaking of a hard-coated plant seed, Medicago scutellata, was investigated. The ultrasonic waves effect on the seed germination percentage, germination rate, radicle length and stalk length growth was assessed. Six treatments of waves exposure periods including 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes were tested under laboratorial conditions. Statistical analyses were done at probability level of 0.01. Results revealed that the ultrasonic waves have a significantly positive effect on the seed dormancy breaking, but there was no linear correlation between the increasing times of exposure with any of the growth features. The best treatment for germination percentage and germination rate was the 7-minute one and the 3-minute one was the best for radicle length growth. Treatments of 3, 5 and 7 minutes had the same effect on stalk length growth and were better than all other treatments. The 9-minute treatment had a negative effect, even lessening the growth of all of the assessed features in comparison with the control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on the range extensions and the new records for the angiosperms from Kennedy County, Texas. Topics discussed include major range extensions in the county, the process of angiosperm specimens through standard herbarium procedures, and its floral species including burhead, pigweed and parralena.

Eighteen rangeland plants and 16 weed species were assayed in the greenhouse for efficiency as hosts of Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei. Hosting ability ratings were assigned using the ratio of final versus initial nematode density and by comparing the final nematode density to that of susceptible wheat controls. Good hosts of both Pratylenchus spp. included thickspike bluegrass 'Critana', smooth brome 'Manchar', seven wheatgrasses, and jointed goatgrass. Good hosts of P. neglectus but not P. thornei included two hairy vetches, western wheatgrass 'Rosana', big bluegrass 'Sherman', tall wheatgrass 'Alkar', green foxtail, kochia, large crabgrass, palmer amaranth, red-root pigweed, tumble mustard, and wild oat. Good hosts of P. thornei but not P. neglectus included hard fescue 'Durar', sheep fescue 'Black-sheep', downy brome, and rattail fescue. Poor or minor hosts of both Pratylenchus spp. included two alfalfas, dandelion, horseweed, lambsquarters, prostrate spurge, and Russian thistle. These assays will provide guidance for transitioning rangeland into crop production and for understanding the role of weeds on densities of Pratylenchus spp. in wheat-production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) is an aromatic crop widely cultivated for its industrially important essential oil in India. The present study was aimed to determine seed germination potential and seedling vigor of Palmarosa varieties: PRC-1, Trishna, Tripta and CIM-Harsh under six substrates viz. filter paper, peat, soil, vermicompost, vermiculite and silica sand in Petri dish at constant temperature of '25°C' with 16h light/8h dark daily regimes. Among substrate, filter paper was found optimally suitable for mean germination percentage (34.2) and mean seedling vigour index I (154.9) while soil for mean seedling vigor index II (0.004009). The mean germination percentage was highest for variety Trishna (36.5%), and was followed by Tripta (30.2%) accompanied by the highest mean seedling vigor index I (142.2) for variety Trishna (142.2), and followed by Tripta (126.0). However, variety Tripta has highest mean vigor index II (0.003797), followed by Trishna (0.003689), and CIM-Harsh (0.003562). The finding of this study suggests that growers can use soil/peat/vermicompost as substrate for nursery raising as well as for seed germination testing for their satisfaction while for seed germination testing of Palmarosa varieties for scientific purpose, filter paper would be the best substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metalliferous uranium mine overburden soils integrated into arable land or stabilized by perennial rangeland plants evoke concern about the quality of crops and the exposure of grazing and thereby soil-ingesting (wildlife) herbivores to heavy metals (HM) and radionuclides. In a 2-year trial, thirteen annual and perennial forage and rangeland plants were thus potted on, or taken from, cultivated field soil of a metalliferous hot spot near Ronneburg (Germany). The content of soil and shoot tissues in 20 minerals was determined by ICP-MS to estimate HM (and uranium) toxicities to grazing animals and the plants themselves, and to calculate the long-term persistence of the metal toxicants (soil clean-up times) from the annual uptake rates of the plants. On Ronneburg soil elevated in As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, U, and Zn, the shoot mineral content of all test plants remained preferentially in the range of 'normal plant concentrations' but reached up to the fourfold to sixfold in Mn, Ni, and Zn, the 1.45- to 21.5-fold of the forage legislative limit in Cd, and the 10- to 180-fold of common herb concentrations in U. Shoot and the calculated root concentrations in Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn accounted for phytotoxic effects at least to grasses and cereals. Based on WHO PTWI values for the tolerable weekly human Cd and Pb intake, the expanded Cd and Pb limits for forage, and reported rates of hay, roots, and adhering-soil ingestion, the tolerable daily intake rates of 0.65/11.6 mg in Cd/Pb by a 65 kg herbivore would be surpassed by the 11- to 27/0.7- to 4.7-fold across the year, with drastic consequences for winter-grazing and thereby high rates of roots and soil-ingesting animals. The daily intake of 5.3-31.5 mg of the alpha radiation emitter, U, may be less disastrous to short-lived herbivores. The annual phytoextraction rates of critical HM by the tested excluder crops indicate that hundreds to thousands of years are necessary to halve the HM and (long-lived) radionuclide load of Ronneburg soil, provided the herbage is harvested at all. It is concluded that the content in Cd/As, Cd, and Cu exclude herbage/Ronneburg soil from the commercial use as forage or pasture land soil for incalculable time spans. Caution is required, too, with the consumption of game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A random block design with five replications and thirteen treatments was applied. Treatments consisted of three varieties of Pennisetum purpureum (king grass, Cuba CT-115 and Cuba CT-169) cut two (August and February), four (May, July, September and February) and five times a year (November, February, May, July and September) and two of Saccharum officinarum (Jaronú 60-5 and Villa Clara 21), cut one (February) and two (February and August) times a year for determining their influence on some forage quality indicators. The experiment was conducted in a red ferrallitic soil for four years with fertilization (100-60-80 kg/ha/year of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively) and irrigation during the dry period. There were differences (P < 0.001) in the CP content of the varieties according to the cutting frequency. The highest values were registered in leaves, stems and the whole plant of the Pennisetum varieties with ranging values of 7.6-10, 4.2-5.9 and 5.1-7.3 %, respectively when cut five times a year. Crude fiber differed (P < 0.001) and the lowest values were recorded in the Pennisetum varieties with the highest cutting frequency. For in vitro organic matter digestibility there were differences (P < 0.001) favorable to the highest cutting frequency. Best results were attained when the Pennisetum varieties were cut five times per year. Cutting Saccharum two times per year propitiated the disappearance of Jaronú 60-5 at the end of the second year of study. The best balance of the studied indicators was obtained when Pennisetum and Saccharum varieties were cut five and once per year, respectively. There is available information that will allow improving the management of these varieties, for using them efficiently and attaining greater longevity of the plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status of ruminants feed resources available to ruminants in central Punjab at Rural Farm, Sargodha comprising legumes and, grasses has been assessed based on rainy and dry season. Data on the composition of both types of forages revealed that legumes, contained Ca 0.12 and 0.14%, Mg 0.15 and 0.17%, K 0.76 and 1.03% and Na 0.11 and 0.15% during rainy and dry seasons, respectively. While grasses had Ca 0.21 and 0.14%, Mg 0.19 and 0.12%, K 1.19 and 1.32% and Na 0.07 and 0.20% during rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Both legume and grass forages contained all macro minerals far below the critical levels required for ruminants at both seasons. These minerals were severely deficient to fulfill the need of the minerals for rearing livestock and potential threats of their deficiencies for farm animals may be anticipated. Supplementing the deficient macrominerals with locally available feed resources like green fodders, mineral mixtures, and cakes and brans (which are good sources of minerals), or providing region specific mineral supplements would alleviate the deficiency of the macrominerals at this livestock farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sesleria juncifolia calcareous grasslands in the Apulia region (southern Italy) were studied on the basis of 24 phytosociological relevés. According to UPGMA cluster analysis division and NMDS ordination the relevés were classified into four major groups which gave rise to three sub-associations (Gargano) and a geographically impoverished variant (Alta Murgia). The new association Stipo austroitalicae-Seslerietum juncifoliae ass. nova was proposed. Due to the relict and scattered distribution of Sesleria juncifolia in Apulia region, the variances in species composition amongst the different subassociations are mainly influenced by local factors. The community Stipo-Seslerietum should be included in the south-eastern Italian alliance Hippocrepido-Stipion austroitalicae while at the rank of order it exhibits intermediate coenological features between the Central-South Apennine endemic suborder Festuco-Seslerienalia nitidae and the North-West Balkan order Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northern Prairie Skink ( Plestiodon septentrionalis) is listed as endangered and very little is known about habitat use in this semi-fossorial lizard. Much of the research to date has occurred on provincial park lands and federal military lands. This project aimed to define Prairie Skink habitat characteristics on exurban private land, which is defined as low-density rural residential developments, 5 to 20 acres (2 to 8 ha) in size. Prairie Skink presence data were collected using visual encounter surveys in three habitat types found on eight exurban properties in southwestern Manitoba: mowed lawn, gardens-flower beds, and native prairie. At each capture site, and at three other randomly selected sites within 10 m of each capture site, we recorded percent cover of grasses, forbs, small shrubs, bare ground, litter, and cover material. To measure thermal habitat characteristics we placed iButton® temperature loggers in each of the three habitat types. Prairie Skinks were found most commonly in native prairie and were significantly more likely to be found in areas with more artificial cover material. The number of Prairie Skink captures increased significantly as cover abundance per acre increased. Vegetation height was the most important factor moderating temperature among the habitat types. Cover may also be important on properties with minimal heterogeneity in the vegetation structure. Suitable Prairie Skink habitat exists on exurban land, specifically remnant prairie and with an abundance of artificial cover material. This type of habitat could become more important as habitat conversion continues throughout the Prairie Skink's range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The purpose of this study was to describe professional soccer players' perceptions towards injuries, physical recovery and the effect of surface related factors on injury resulting from soccer participation on 3rd generation artificial turf (FT) compared to natural grass (NG). Methods Information was collected through a questionnaire that was completed by 99 professional soccer players from 6 teams competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) during the 2011 season. Results The majority (93% and 95%) of the players reported that playing surface type and quality influenced the risk of sustaining an injury. Players believed that playing and training on FT increased the risk of sustaining a non-contact injury as opposed to a contact injury. The players identified three surface related risk factors on FT, which they related to injuries and greater recovery times: 1) Greater surface stiffness 2) Greater surface friction 3) Larger metabolic cost to playing on artificial grounds. Overall, 94% of the players chose FT as the surface most likely to increase the risk of sustaining an injury. Conclusion Players believe that the risk of injury differs according to surface type, and that FT is associated with an increased risk of non-contact injury. Future studies should be designed prospectively to systematically track the perceptions of groups of professional players training and competing on FT and NG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]