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The objective of the study is to reveal the impact of agricultural subsidies provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the costs of certain forage crops in Erzurum province. The study used data obtained from 306 surveys conducted through a simple random sampling method from farms producing alfalfa, sainfoin, and vetch in Erzurum province during the 2021 production year. All data obtained from the surveys were averaged per decare and analyzed. The cost calculation includes all expenses incurred to produce a crop. In alfalfa farms, the cost of alfalfa was calculated as 1.05 ₺/kg before receiving subsidies. However, after receiving subsidies, this cost decreased to 0.86 ₺/kg. In sainfoin farms, the production cost was determined to be 1.32 ₺/kg for farms not receiving subsidies, while it was 0.99 ₺/kg for farms receiving subsidies. In vetch farms, the production cost was found to be 1.49 ₺/kg for farms not receiving subsidies, while it was 1.25 ₺/kg for farms receiving subsidies. The research explains the difference that agricultural subsidies make in the production of these forage crops. The findings indicate that agricultural subsidies have the potential to reduce costs, which can increase farmers' income and encourage agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, which was conducted to determine the agricultural characteristics of some Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.) genotypes, was conducted in two locations, Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute Konya central land and Soil, Water and Desertification Research Institute Karapınar land, for one year under precipitation dependent conditions (2016-2017 growing season) was carried out in winter. In the study, a total of 21 genotypes, including 18 pure accessions of Hungarian vetch and 3 witness Hungarian vetch cultivars (Altınova, Beta and Tarm Beyazı) were used. The study was set up as three replications according to the Random Blocks Trial Design. According to the results obtained; 50% flowering time of Hungarian vetch genotypes 161.3 - 169.7 days, main stem length 69.2-85.3 cm, main stem thickness 1.4-2.1 mm, natural plant height 58.3-75.0 cm, green herbage yield 1.914-3.503 kg/da, dry herbage yield 417 -755 kg/da, grain yield varied between 130-186 kg/da. Significant differences were determined between Hungarian vetch genotypes in terms of the examined characteristics. According to the results of the research carried out in two locations, the highest yield in terms of green and dry herbage yield was obtained from the genotype DMF-15, while the highest grain yield was obtained from the genotype DMF-1. In both locations, the DMF-15 genotype stood out with its dry herbage yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three successive forage crops per year, including corn. The aim was to evaluate the productivity and the quality of different intensive crop successions based on corn in sandy soil. Three forage crops per year (winter, spring, and summer cropping seasons) were tested according to six successions: 1. fallow-corn-corn, 2. oat-corn-corn, 3. berseem-corn-corn, 4. pea/triticale-corn-corn, 5. oat-soybean-corn, and 6. berseem-corn-soybean. Each succession of crops was evaluated in two years field experiment using a randomized complete block design. Results revealed that oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions produced the highest dry biomass (46.5 t ha-1 year-1). The crop succession of berseem-corn-soybean resulted in the lowest biomass (30.8 t ha-1 year-1). The highest net energy for lactation was recorded at oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions (303 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). The crop successions based on one corn (oat-soybean-corn and berseem-corn-soybean) recorded the lowest net energy for lactation (195.5 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). The oat-corn-corn, pea/triticale-corn-corn, and oat-soybean-corn successions recorded the highest crude protein values (3.9 t ha-1 year-1). Soil organic matter and the content of soil on total N, P, and Mg were similar for the different crop successions at the end of the experimental years.

This study was conducted during two seasons 2020-2021and 2021-2022 at two main different locations ofSulaimani, and Halabja governorate; each with some sub-locations, to estimate green forage yield, dry forageyield, dry matter percentage and animal unit. The result confirmed the highest plant height of grasses wererecorded in Sulamani location; however, Halabja location provided highest plant height for legumes for thetwo seasons. In regarding to the effect of seasons on plant height, the second season was taller than the firstseason for grasses and legumes. Maximum green yield, dry yield and dry matter percentage exhibited inSulaimani location for two seasons. Regarding seasonal effect, the second season exceeded the first season ingreen and dry yields and dry matter percentage; Maximum total forage yield and animal unit in 3 monthsprovided maximum value by Sulamani location for both seasons. Results of chemical analysis for the grassplants showed that there were differences between two locations. The Sulamani location gave the maximumpercentage of protein, phosphorus and calcium content. In which Halabja location was recorded maximumvalue for carbohydrate, Potassium, and ash content for the first season. While for legumes, plants recordedhighest value for protein, phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and ash content except carbohydrate content gavehigh value at Halabja location. In the relevant of the effect of seasons on chemical components for grass plants,the second season 2021-2022 predominated the first season in the chemical contents of protein, carbohydrate,phosphorus, potassium, calcium and ash. Whereas for legume plants the second season also gave maximumvalue for all contents, excepted protein content recorded high value in the first season

Background: In areas prone to water erosion, crop selection strategies should be based on assessment of their effects on soil structural properties. Aims: The present study compared the effects of the cultivation of forage maize (Zea mays L.) and forage oat (Avena sativa L.) and their cultivars on soil aggregation relative to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at a hydrothermally limited site on the Loess Plateau, China. Methods: The water‐stable aggregate (WSA) distribution in soil was measured under three cultivars in each of maize, oat, wheat, and potato (a total of 12 cultivars from four crops) in their flowering stage of three cropping seasons, when root biomass was largest. Results: In each year, the water‐stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) content and mean weight diameter (MWD) of WSAs in the top 20 cm of soil did not differ between tested cultivars of every crop but increased under maize and oat, compared with those under wheat or potato. The increased soil aggregation under maize and oat, compared with wheat or potato, was consistent with the pattern of change in root biomass but was not consistent with the changes in root length density, root surface area, or root mean diameter across the crops. The water‐stable macroaggregates content and MWD of soil was positively correlated with root biomass across cultivars and crop species within each cropping season. Conclusions: We suggest that increased root biomass under maize and oat relative to potato or wheat resulted in increased soil aggregation in maize and oat cultivated soils. It is demonstrated that, in areas prone to soil water erosion, planting high‐biomass‐yielding crops such as maize and oat is more beneficial for increasing soil aggregation and stability, compared with low‐biomass‐yielding crops such as wheat or potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This investigation aimed to identify the production and composition of crops as feed, classify the types of integrated farming in different locations, and compare dairy goats based on their morphometric characteristics. The data used were collected from July to November, 2021 in the Malang, Lumajang, and Bangkalan regencies of Indonesia, via a survey and direct observations. Descriptive, multivariate, and variance analyses were adopted using RStudio to analyze the collected data. In Malang and Lumajang, farmers adopted agroforestry, alley cropping, and cover crops as the main types of integrated farming. The integrated farming adopted by the farmers in Malang, Bangkalan, and Lumajang helped to explain the differences in forage crops. Calliandra calothyrsus, Indigofera zollingeriana, and Thitonia diversifolia are non-grasses having high levels of average production. In Lumajang, farmers provided only a few combinations with Calliandra which was the most intensively grown crop. In Malang, six crops were combined for the dairy goat feed. Pennisetum purpureum was the crop most intensely grown to feed the PE (Etawa crossbred). In Bangkalan, Pote-Arosbaya goats were fed a combination of eight crops. Moringa oleifera, Bambusa sp., Artocarpus heterophyllus, and natural grasses were the most popular feed crops. In Malang and Lumajang, the PE Singosari and Senduro goats had a high degree of similarity based on their morphometric characteristics, respectively.

This study was carried out in the central county of Ağrı Province in order to reveal the cattle feeding habits of cattle breeders. For this purpose, data were obtained by conducting a face-to-face survey with 400 dairy cattle owners of the enterprises in the county. According to the results obtained from this study, it was determined that 91.5% of the breeders produced their forage crops. It was also found out that barley, alfalfa, and sainfoin were the most produced plants in these enterprises. However, the production of the corn silage, which is an important source of roughage for dairy cattle, was performed at a very low level (1.2%). Dry hay (93.5%) took first place among the roughage sources used in these enterprises, and it was followed by alfalfa hay (61.5%) and wheat-barley straw (28.0%). Corn silage was used at a low level (7.8%) in the cattle enterprises. It was determined that cattle breeders in the central county of Ağrı province were deficient in terms of some information about cattle feeding practices. It was also demonstrated that it was necessary to increase the usage and production of corn silage as forage crops and to implement rational animal feeding practices in place of the old traditional animal feeding habits. Therefore, cattle breeders in the central county of Ağrı province should be involved in technical training programs about the cattle feeding and forage planting. As result of the courses given to the cattle breeders, their technical information about cattle nutrition and preparation of ration would be updated. For this purpose, it is also recommended that agricultural extension service should be boosted to increase the education level and awareness of the cattle breeders in the rural areas.

Soil salinity is a key factor to limiting agricultural products throughout the world, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, since it intervenes with plant morpho-physiology, resulting in reduced growth and development, as well as disruption of ion homeostasis. This work examined the effects of salinity stress on the mono-cropping of T. pratense, F. arundinacea, and M. sativa and CaSO4 and MgSO4 on the mixed-cropping of T. pratense and F. arundinacea under saline conditions. Plants were assessed by dry weights, physiological parameters (photosynthesis rate, SPAD, SLA), forage quality, and ion concentrations. The biomass of all mono species decreased under salinity, except M. sativa, and mixed cropping was affected less than mono-cropping. The values of the mono-cropping of SPAD were decreased in the long term, and SLA was higher than the control in mixed cropping, with the photosynthesis rate of mono-cropping being higher in medium salinity in the long-term; moreover, CaSO4 and MgSO4 enhanced the photosynthesis rate of mixed cropping. Overall, we concluded that M. sativa is tolerant to medium salinity, and mixed cropping plus MgSO4 and CaSO4 were efficient under salinity stress.

This research was carried out to determine the physical and physiological characteristics of the seeds of the forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) genotypes, and to compare the genotypes in terms of these characteristics in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture of Bingöl University in 2019-2020. As a material, seeds belonging to Creakerjack, Kristal, Özkaynak, Servet, Taşkent, and TTAE-YB2010 genotypes of forage peas were used. Length, width, surface area, average arithmetic diameter, and thousand-grain weight from physical properties of these seeds, germination rate, germination time, and average shoot length from physiological properties were taken into consideration. In the study, it was determined that forage pea seeds had an average length of 6.730 mm, a width of 6.118 mm, a surface area of 34.117 mm2, an arithmetic diameter of 6.424 mm, and a thousand-grain weight of 191.96 g. It was determined that forage pea seeds germinated in an average of 1,335 days, the average germination rate was 99.5% and the average shoot length was 4.775 cm. As a result of the research, it was determined that the Kristal variety gave good results in terms of physical properties and the Özkaynak variety in terms of physiological properties.

The studies were carried out in a field experiment in the north of the Arkhangelsk region. Under study were twocomponent grass stands of the first and second year of life, composed of cereal (meadow fescue, reed fescue) and legume grasses (meadow clover and blue alfalfa ). It has been established that in the climatic conditions of the Northern region the studied perennial grasses do not go through the full life cycle during the first year of life: meadow clover develops up to the root rosette phase, blue alfalfa – up to the branching phase, cereals ‒ to the tillering phase. In the first year, the yield is formed due to the legume component, especially meadow clover, which occupies 73 % of the structure. In the second year of life, cereal grasses increase their influence on the yield formation up to 93 %. The most productive variant in the second year was the “reed fescue + meadow clover” variant. With a higher ratio of the cereal component (67 %) in total for two mowings in comparison with the control variant "meadow fescue + meadow clover", the increase in dry matter yield was 2.81 t/ha (LSD05 = 1.46 t/ha), the output of exchange energy was 30.56 GJ/ha higher, crude protein yield increased by 0.22 t /ha. Agrophytocenoses of reed fescue and meadow clover in the first year of intensive use make it possible to obtain green fodder with the protein content in 1 kg of dry matter at the level of 114.28 g ‒ 153.33 g and sugars 133.54 g ‒ 154.65 g depending on the mowing. High loss of blue alfalfa in the grass stand is due to its weak winter hardiness and the effect of low spring temperatures during the period of the beginning of regrowth. Thus, in the conditions of the European North of Russia among legume-cereal grass stands during the first two years of life the grass mixture of meadow clover and reed fescue has been identified as perspective. There has been noted a potential for regulation the feed nutritional value (protein, sugars and fiber content) by means of grass mixture components selection.

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum var. westerwoldicum) is cultivated in various areas of the world as a feed for live stock. Efforts to improve the production of high-quality feed in the face of deepening climate change have increased the demand for growing non-traditional types of crops, including ryegrass. The aims of the research were to determine the spectrum of weed and fungal pathogen species and to assess dangerous species of weeds and pathogens which negatively affect forage crops of annual ryegrass grown in dry conditions. In 2018-2019 the occurrence of weeds and fungal pathogens of ryegrass was evaluated in field conditions. The assessed lands were located in dry climatic conditions of South Moravia (Czech Republic). The vegetation recording was done on phytosociological plots of 12 m2. A total of 57 weed species were identified in the plots, where 12 species were toxic and 16 species were undesirable. The most problematic weeds and poisonous species were: Aethusa cynapium, Datura stramonium, Equisetum palustre, Euphorbia helioscopia, Fumaria officinalis and Solanum nigrum, which can cause health problems if present in cattle feed. A pathogenic infection caused by Blumeria graminis, Puccinia graminis var. graminicola and P. coronata var. coronata, Gaeumannomyces graminis and Drechslera sp. was identified on the ryegrass plants in the experimental plots during the vegetation. Blumeria graminis was the most abundant, but it did not endanger the final feed. The data was processed by CCA analysis.

It is well known that the need for quality roughage to maintain the level of intake by livestock is not met in Turkey. It is a fact accepted by everyone that the resulting deficit is tried to be compensated by using cereal straw. The annual roughage production of Turkey is 29.6 million tons, which meets 37.6% required amount for maintenance of 17.1 million animal units in Turkey. The quality roughage needed in Kırşehir province is 836.3 thousand tons for 181.8 thousand animal units, whereas the current roughage production is only 97.4 thousand tons. The roughage deficit of Turkey is 49 million tons while this deficit is 738.9 thousand tons in Kırşehir. The deficiency in roughage production in Turkey is much more critical in Kırşehir province. The compensative ratio of quality roughage production in Kırşehir province is only 11.6%. Therefore, increasing the quality of roughage production has become an urgent obligation for both Turkey and Kırşehir province. The funded roughage production by the government has led to a significant increase in the cultivation areas and the amount of production. However, even these increases are far from meeting the current need. To reach the targeted quality roughage production; (1) the culture of forage crops should be adopted by the producers, (2) the forage crops should economically be competitive with the other crops, (3) the farmers should be convinced of the benefits of roughage other than the need for animal feeding, and (4) pastures should be improved and used according to management rules.

This study was carried out to investigate the floristic features (family, preference by grazers, growth form and response to grazing) and qualities of forage species collected from mountainous rangeland (Akdağ Mountain, Ladik) in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey. Forage samples were collected five times by 15-day intervals from the before-flowering stage to the after-flowering stage in 2015 and 2016. The total number of species was 105 species belonging to 73 genera and related to 26 families. Of the total species, 20 were from Poaceae (19.0%), 30 were from Poaceae (28.6%). Rests of the species belonged to other families (52.4%) dominated by families such as Asteraceae (13/55) and Lamiaceae (6/55), of which 26 species were weeds harmful to animals. While the percentages of decreaser, increaser and invader species were 16.2, 12.4 and 71.4, those of annual, biennial and perennial species were 31.9, 2.9 and 65.2, respectively. The number of species preferred by grazing was 74 (70.5%), while the number of non-preferable species was 31 (29.5%). The ME (MJ kg-1), RFQ and quality category of legumes, grass, and other botanical families were found as 8.88±0.07, 130.9±3.05 and very good, 8.00±0.07, 83.2±1.62 and good, and 8.98±0.07, 141.0±3.62 and premium, respectively. These results can be used as a management tool to improve rangeland quality and sustainability. The evidence from this study is that floristic pattern is not merely a result of invader forage species, but also might be a beneficial result that deserves further study for mountainous rangelands.

High soil salinity, drought, and poor soil fertility, especially phosphorus (P) deficiency, are serious challenges for crop production in arid and desert climate regions. In these regions, irrigation water (mostly groundwater) is saline, and fertilization is one of the strategies used to cope with salinity stress. Crop livestock is one of the major agricultural activities in marginal regions, and blue panicum (Panicum antidotale Retz.), the perennial forage grass, has the potential to furnish forage demand. Thus, a field experiment testing the combination of three levels of irrigation water salinity and three P rate was carried out to evaluate the potential of P fertilizer to enhance yield and salinity tolerance of blue panicum grass. The experiment was conducted for two years between 2019 and 2020 in Foum el Oued, Laayoune, Morocco. It was implemented in a split-plot design with three replications considering irrigation water salinity as the main plot and P rates as sub-plot treatments. The evaluated P rates were 0, 90, and 108 kg P2O5 ha−1 (P1, P2, and P3, respectively), and the irrigation water salinities were 5, 12, and 17 dS·m−1. The results revealed that increasing irrigation water salinity significantly decreased the biomass production and stomatal conductance of blue panicum. Increasing irrigation water salinity from 5 to 12 and 17 dS·m−1 decreased fresh biomass production by 20 and 29%, respectively. Irrigation water salinity also decreased (p < 0.05) leaf N, P, K, Ca, and Zn concentration. However, supplementation of P fertilization enhanced (p < 0.05) biomass production and stomatal conductance mainly by improving leaf OM, Zn, and Fe content. P fertilization at 108 kg P2O5 ha−1 increased fresh biomass by 27%, 32%, and 19% under 5, 12, and 17 dS·m−1, respectively. Considering increased fresh biomass yield, P application at the rate of 108 kg P2O5 ha−1 can be suggested for saline drylands. P application is recommended to reduce the adverse effects of high salinity on growth and productivity and improve salinity tolerance of blue panicum in salt-affected arid and desert regions.

Poultry litter and fertilizers are normally added as soil amendments. The effects of poultry litter and inorganic fertilizers on three mixed-season perennial forages were studied for two years in the field to understand growth dynamics, metals, and nutrient uptake. The primary objective was to investigate the heavy metal and nutrient concentrations, biomass yield and forage potential of a cool-season forage, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), relative to warm-season forages, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Forage cuttings and soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals and nutrients using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Total biomass yield was higher by 66% and 50% in switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively, compared with stinging nettle for the first year. While the warm-season forages yielded more biomass over the cool-season forage, metal concentrations were significantly higher for all elements in the cool-season forage. Stinging nettle showed greater macro-nutrient uptake with 103.20 kg ha−1, 0.87 kg ha−1, 27.49 kg ha−1 and 32.08 kg ha−1 for Ca, Fe, Mg, and P, except for K with 223.51 kg ha−1 compared with 267.29 kg ha−1 and 283.96 kg ha−1 for switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively. Heavy metals were also higher in stinging nettle but were within the allowable limits for forages, indicating its potential as a resource for forages and nutrient cycling, particularly when double-cropped with warm-season forages.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) represents an important leguminous forage crop in farming as well as in systems of animal husbandry. It is known for its wide usage for grazing, hay, silage as well as in the form of green manure and cover crop. Our study aims to assess the influence of weeds on quality and quantity of three different aged alfalfa plots. A list of registered weed plant species divided by harvesting periods on each of the surveyed plots is offered. The biomass productivity and its correlation to the effects of artificial fertilizers, alfalfa age and the frequency of weeds are provided. We concluded that using mineral fertilizers in a controlled manner will help to reduce considerably the amount of weeds and also that alfalfa crops will be best to be replaced after four years as its productivity will start afterwards to drop sharply, whereas the number and frequency of weeds will increase conversely.

The species belonging to the genus Echinochloa represent the main weeds in rice fields worldwide. Heavy soils are especially appropriate for this crop that is often grown in monoculture. A drought period in 2012 impeded farmers from sowing rice in some parts of the region of Aragon (northeastern Spain) and, unusually, they seeded alternative crops such as winter cereal, fescue (Festuca arundinacea), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). A total of 20 fields were selected, in which rice had been grown in monocrop until 2011 and several crop sequences were established afterwards; weed vegetation was recorded in spring, summer and autumn 2014-16 to find out if the crop rotations reduced weed infestations. Winter cereal and fescue were the crops with the highest soil cover; ryegrass and lucerne had difficulties in installation probably due to the heavy soil textures. Echinochloa spp. plants were found in the winter cereal stubble after having grown fescue for the previous two years and rice before that; in the forage fields, small plants of earing Echinochloa spp. adapted to mowing were detected. Recommendations for Integrated Weed Management that arise from the observations are ploughing the winter cereal stubble before seed shed of the emerged Echinochloa plants, assuring a high density of the forage crops, and efficient herbicide control in rice fields.

Dynamics of weed density with a natural background of weeds in agrophytocenoses of sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), pure grown (100%) and in mixtures with cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) (50:50%) and sown under a cover of pea (Pisum sativum L.) were tested in field trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria. It was found that the weed infestance and species composition changed depending on the type of еdificator. The species composition in weed associations was the highest in pure grown Lotus corniculatus L. In mixtures of Onobrychis sativa L. + Dactylis glomerata L. the highest weed infestance was recorded, and the lowest in Onobrychis sativa L. under cover of Pisum sativum L. Weed infestance in mixtures was lower as compared to pure grown swards, except Medicago sativa L. + Dactylis glomerata L. For the specific environment of study the highest part for annual dicotyledonous weed species (from 0.0 to 49.5%), followed by perennial dicotyledonous (from 3.7 to 58.2%) was obsereved. There was a strong variation in the percentage in agrophytocenoses of Convolvulus arvensis L. (from 0.0 to 11.4%), Sonchus arvensis L. (from 0.0 to 19.0%) and Erigeron canadensis L. (from 0.0 to 47.8%), whereas Matricaria recutita L. varied within narrow range (0.0 to 3.7%). The dependance allows to be used for developing more effective weed control systems in the studied forage crops and mixtures.

Due to the geographical structure of Siirt Province, mainstay of a significant part of the population is based on livestock and crop production. Livestock is usually carried out in the form of meadows-pastures livestock. The most essential feed group in animal production is forage. At present, the dry hay amount provided from meadow-rangelands and forage crops are 130.461 and 60.177 tonnes, respectively. On the other hand, there are 101.899 of animal existence equivalent to livestock unit in Siirt. The fodder requirements of these animals are 464.914 tons per year. Total fodder production of province from natural meadow-range areas and forage crop cultivation is 190.638 tonnes but this is enough for 41% of animal existence. Therefore, management techniques must be followed and should be accelerated to the breeding studies to increase productivity in existing meadow-rangelands. Besides, cultivation area of forage crops should be increased and the crop rotation systems must be developed and priority should be given to forage crops within the crop rotation system particularly in fallow areas.

The solid feed needed for cattle breeding in the province of Van is generally obtained from pastures, meadows and feed grains. The majority of people rely on agricultural and food of animal origin in the so called province which has got a high potential of agriculture and animal breeding. In terms of animal breeding, providing the solid feed is of great importance. The production of solid feed from pastures and meadows stretching into an area of 1.359.022 hectares is almost 67.951 tons. Another area of 1.045.859 hectares where the feed grains are raised has a potential of productions adding up to 899.540 tons. There are predictably 172.000 great cattle in the province of Van. These animals need on average 619.200 tons of feed grains just to be able to survive annually. However high quality solid feed production is almost 967.491 tons, which means that there is approximately 36% percent of deficit as for the demand of the feed grains. There needs to be scientific, technical, economical and social measures taken into consideration in order to solve such demand and consumption problems of feed grains. Governmental support so as to expand the areas for feed grains and enhance the production of high quality feeds should continue and the problem of seed or seedbeds should be solved. It is highly significant that the producers or farmers involved in seed production need to be included into governmental support as well. Moreover the producers or farmers have to be informed of the importance the proper usage of solid feed sources with a rational feeding procedure so as to get the highest value of animal breeding and products.

Water scarcity has greatly increased the need for research into alternative irrigation methods. Irrigation with treated wastewater (TW) is considered an important alternative in terms of reducing our dependence upon groundwater and freshwater. In this study, we examined the effects of irrigation with TW on the nutrient contents of two alfalfa cultivars and compared them with the nutrient contents of plants irrigated with well water (WW). The two cultivars (Alhassawy—a local cultivar and CUV101) were cultivated from 2013 to 2015 and sampled twice. For both cultivars and in both sampling periods, irrigation with TW significantly affected the macronutrient and micronutrient contents of alfalfa tissues. Plants irrigated with TW had higher K and Ca contents, but lower N, P, and Mg contents. No significant variation in S content was noted between plants irrigated with WW and TW. Furthermore, cultivar and cutting time had significant effects on nutrient contents, and these variables interacted with the effect of the water type used for irrigation. However, before TW can be regularly used in irrigation processes, further long-term studies are needed that consider the variations in water treatment efficiency and differences between cultivated sites in addition to the crop being irrigated with TW.

Mediterranean agricultural areas are dominated by cropping systems based on winter cereals crops, summer irrigated crops, foragebased systems, and mixed succession with bare fallow. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is widely used to assess the environmental performance of these cropping systems, since it is strongly influenced by management practices and environmental conditions. This study evaluates the sustainability of representative intensive cropping systems of Southern Italy, in terms of SOC stock changes and CO2 emissions in the long-term perspective, using a process-based model (RothC10N) combined with a GIS-based spatialization procedure. On the basis of SOC modelling, results showed that crop management practices currently adopted by farmers did not guarantee SOC sequestration in all the rotations (–4.29 Mg C ha–1). The sustainability of cropping systems can be improved through management practices such as the retention of crop residues into the field and/or the rational use of irrigation for the summer crop (6.73 Mg C ha–1). This finding could help policy makers to provide suggestions for a more effective local implementation of agro-environmental measures.

The ingestive behavior of sheep supplemented with concentrate in Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum pastures were evaluated during the dry season. Twenty four male sheep of ½ Santa Inês x ½ undefined breed genotypes were used. The treatments were four feeds of cultivar grasses: B. brizantha cvs. Marandu and Piatã, P. maximum cvs. Massai and Aruana. The ingestive behavior of the animals was recorded during two periods of 24 hours. The grazing time, rumination, idleness (minutes day-1), bite rate (bites minute-1), and the frequency of the animals activities in relation to defecation, urination and search for water, concentrated and mineral salt were observed. There was interaction between time of the day and evaluated cultivars based on the grazing time and bite rate response. Sheep grazing on marandu-grass showed higher grazing time between 11 am to 4 pm (257 minutes), compared to animals grazing on aruana-grass (217 minutes). The bite rate was higher for sheep on massai-grass between 11 am to 4 pm (34.32 bits minute-1). There was no grass effect for idleness and rumination, which can highlight the similarity of chemistry characterization and high percentage of structural components in evaluated pastures. The structural limitations and feed mass composition in the dry season caused effects on the ingestive behavior of idleness and bite rate of supplemented sheep in Brachiaria and Panicum pastures.

Mediterranean agricultural areas are dominated by cropping systems based on winter cereals crops, summer irrigated crops, foragebased systems, and mixed succession with bare fallow. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is widely used to assess the environmental performance of these cropping systems, since it is strongly influenced by management practices and environmental conditions. This study evaluates the sustainability of representative intensive cropping systems of Southern Italy, in terms of SOC stock changes and CO2 emissions in the long-term perspective, using a process-based model (RothC10N) combined with a GIS-based spatialization procedure. On the basis of SOC modelling, results showed that crop management practices currently adopted by farmers did not guarantee SOC sequestration in all the rotations (-4.29 Mg C ha-1). The sustainability of cropping systems can be improved through management practices such as the retention of crop residues into the field and/or the rational use of irrigation for the summer crop (6.73 Mg C ha-1). This finding could help policy makers to provide suggestions for a more effective local implementation of agro-environmental measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volontary Ingestion and Apparent Digestibility of a Ration Based on Mucuna pruriens var. utilis Seeds Flour Completed with Forage on Rabbits. Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (mucuna) detoxified seeds flour is used as a vegetable protein source, in a basal diet of fifteen growing rabbits divided in five groups of tree. Each rabbit received per day a fixed quantity of basal diet (130.5 g DM), but as only feed (RP) for control group; plus 40.5 g DM of Panicum maximum forage and, 60 g DM of one of the four experimental legumes of Aeschynomene histrix (RH), Mucuna pruriens (RFM), Stylosanthes scabra Secca (RS) and Tridax procumbens (RT) for the others groups. The experiment conducted in Benin has lasted 26 days, split in 19 days for diet adaptability and 7 days for data collection. Voluntary daily feed intake varied from 28 to 42 g/kg of dry mater (DM) of live weight (LW) for basal diet and from 10.5 to 18 g DM/kg of LW for Panicum maximum. Green forage consumption of Aeschynomene histrix, Mucuna pruriens and Stylosanthes scabra were higher compared to the one of Tridax procumbens (P< 0.01). The supply of green forage to basal diet has increased the total daily feed intake that is about 67 to 89 g DM/kg of LW and 26 to 39 g DM/day for dung production.Water intake is higher for rabbit fed with RP diet. Feed resource RFM but also RS and RH have been digestible with 70%, 61% and 54% DM. They gave high weight gain of 30-22 g/day.

The importance of haploid and doubled haploid (DH) techniques for basic and applied research, as well as to improve the speed of genetic gain when applied in breeding programs, cannot be overstated. They have become routine tools in several major crop species, such as maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). DH techniques in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), an important forage species, have advanced to a sufficiently successful and promising stage to merit an exploration of what their further developments may bring. The exploitation of both in vitro and in vivo haploid and DH methods to (1) purge deleterious alleles from germplasm intended for breeding; (2) develop mapping populations for genetic and genomic studies; (3) simplify haplotype mapping; (4) fix transgenes and mutations for functional gene validation and molecular breeding; and (5) hybrid cultivar development are discussed. Even with the comparatively modest budgets of those active in forage crop improvement, haploid and DH techniques can be developed into powerful tools to achieve the acceleration of the speed of genetic gain needed to meet future agricultural demands.

In intensive agriculture, N supply often exceeds crop requirements, even in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ). In farmland, the N surplus gives rise to NO3− leaching and consequent groundwater pollution. The present study aimed at proposing measures to reduce N leaching and hence improve N efficiency in a buffalo livestock farm located in the NVZ of Latina plain (Central Italy). The farm was cultivated with forage crops in a double annual crop rotation: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in winter and silage corn (Zea mays L.) in summer. Mineral and organic fertilizers were supplied to both crops. The annual N budget and soil solution NO3-N concentrations were evaluated using a modeling approach. The performance of the WinEPIC model in simulating the response of the NO3-N concentration in percolation to the N application rate was assessed and validated by field measurements of the NO3-N concentration in the soil solution. Three scenarios were proposed to identify the best practice to minimize the environmental impact of N application without significant yield loss. Also, recommendations of best practices in N fertilization and animal manure spreading were given. This study thus provides useful preliminary information for decision-making in agriculture/environmental policies.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how the promotion of integrated forage/ruminant-livestock industries forms a key plank in efforts to improve rural household livelihoods in Western China. Design/methodology/approach – The paper critiques how this industry development has proceeded in the case of Qingyang prefecture in Gansu. The way in which the industry policy has manifested from central to local levels of government is outlined along with how the industry policy relates to other measures intended to improve household livelihoods. Findings – The outcomes of this forage-livestock industry policy do not always match the intention, and the paper examines the various disconnects that arise between government agencies, government and households and households and the market. The foremost challenge for policy makers is in connecting households and markets. Originality/value – Identifying the impacts of policy and institutional settings associated with forage-livestock systems is crucial if improvements are to be made and as these systems become more widespread in Western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruminant livestock depends primarily on forage and grazing resources from both natural pastures and from cultivated land. Low-input large-scale grazing systems constitute a substantial part of what is termed High Nature Value farmland in Europe. Developing a typology of categories of livestock systems within a region is an important step in understanding land uses that involve ruminant livestock systems and their use of feed resources, and in appraising policy options. This study developed a typology based on the municipalities of the region of Aragon in the north-east of Spain on the basis of the feed resources for ruminant livestock. A clustering analysis was applied to the following three types of criteria: (i) crop types; (ii) vegetation types of uncultivated land and (iii) stocking rate of dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep and goats. A total of thirty-nine variables were used. The cluster methodology allowed relatively homogeneous groups of municipalities, termed territories, with differentiating characteristics to be obtained. A Geographic Information System was applied to locate spatially the territories. From the twelve territories identified, it was concluded that there was a low use of natural pastures and high use of resources of cultivated origin in livestock systems in Aragon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest is increasing in Uruguay in management practices that can store carbon in soils, such as the use of perennial forage crops. Previous studies on agricultural soils have focused on organic carbon in surface soil layers. However, due to the ability of perennial forages to develop extensive root systems, the potential exists for these crops to add carbon in the subsoil. A 38-year rotation experiment on a silty clay loam soil in southwestern Uruguay was used to examine the effect of a crop rotation including periods of pasture on total organic carbon (TOC) and particulate (>53 μm) organic carbon (POC) at soil depths of 20–40 and 40–60 cm. Analysis showed the pasture rotation had higher POC concentrations at both depths than an annual crop rotation. This may indicate increased addition of organic carbon in the pasture rotation and signal a future change in TOC and mineral-associated organic carbon levels. Total organic carbon was higher in the rotation including pasture at a P level of 0.14. These results present preliminary observations on the management effects of including perennial forages in rotations on subsoil carbon levels, using a long-term experiment resource to assess very slow changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]