Explore the vast range of titles available.

Parallel monitoring of 222 Rn and its short-lived progeny (218 Po and 214 Pb) were carried out from November 2007 to April 2008 close to the top of the Schauinsland mountain, partly covered with forest, in South-West Germany. Samples were aspired from the same location at 2.5 m above ground level. We measured 222 Rn with a dual flow loop, two-filter detector and its short-lived progeny with a one-filter detector. A reference sector for events, facing a steep valley and dominated by pasture, was used to minimize differences between 222 Rn and progeny-derived 222 Rn activity concentrations. In the two major wind sectors covered by forest to a distance between 60 m and 80 m towards the station progeny-derived 222 Rn activity concentration was on average equal to 87% (without precipitation) and 74% (with precipitation) of 222 Rn activity concentration. The observations show that most of the time both detector types follow the same pattern. Still, there is no single disequilibrium factor that could be used to exactly transform short-lived progeny to 222 Rn activity concentration under all meteorological conditions.

Fast and accurate quantification of the available pasture biomass is essential to support grazing management decisions in intensively managed fields. The increasing temporal and spatial resolutions offered by the new generation of orbital platforms, such as Planet CubeSat satellites, have improved the capability of monitoring pasture biomass using remotely sensed data. Here, we assessed the feasibility of using spectral and textural information derived from PlanetScope imagery for estimating pasture aboveground biomass (AGB) and canopy height (CH) in intensively managed fields and the potential for enhanced accuracy by applying the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. Our results demonstrated that the texture measures enhanced AGB and CH estimations compared to the performance obtained using only spectral bands or vegetation indices. The best results were found by employing the XGBoost models based only on texture measures. These models achieved moderately high accuracy to predict pasture AGB and CH, explaining 65% and 89% of AGB (root mean square error (RMSE) = 26.52%) and CH (RMSE = 20.94%) variability, respectively. This study demonstrated the potential of using texture measures to improve the prediction accuracy of AGB and CH models based on high spatiotemporal resolution PlanetScope data in intensively managed mixed pastures.

The article considers the issues of geobotanical survey of the “Baytak-Ravat-Jakub» pasture spot of Batken city applying geoinformational technologies. A geobotanical survey of pastures is a survey conducted to determine the productivity of pastures, the botanical composition of herbage, the quality of herbaceous vegetation, its habitats, and the possibility of using pastures for grazing various types of farm animals. Traditional field method and the method of geoinformational mapping is applied for the geobotanical survey of pastures which is capable for storing and processing pasture monitoring data. As a result of monitoring pastures using geoinformational technologies, the cartographic material is created with the boundaries of pasture contours and the yield. The regional pasture committees determine geobotanical composition and assessment of the condition of pastures, organizing the rational utilization of pastures and their protection. The research materials will be may can be recommended for use.

Abstract There are currently 180 million hectares under pasture in Brazil, and despite the country being one of the largest meat producers, there remain around 64 million hectares that show signs of degradation and contribute to the substantial loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). The aim of this study, therefore, was to derive the factors for SOC stock changes in managed pastures and evaluate the potential for SOC sequestration when converting degraded pastures to well-managed or recovered pastures in Brazil. The study involved 169 paired comparisons, including different types of pasture spread over 14 states in Brazil, and analysed the data in linear mixed-effect models deriving the SOC stock change factors for various soil depths (30 to 100 cm) over 30 years since the change in management. The results showed that for 30 years at a depth of 0–30 cm, compared to native vegetation, nominal pasture (non-degraded grassland, but with no significant management improvements) and improved pasture increased SOC stocks by 15% and 8%, whilst degraded pastures reduced the stocks by 10%. However, the recovery of degraded pastures enhances the SOC by 23%. In terms of the rates of SOC change, pasture degradation leads to losses of 0.25 Mg C ha−1 year−1, whilst nominal or recovered pastures can sequester SOC at rates from 0.25 to 0.54 Mg ha−1 year−1. Overall, it was estimated that the recovery of degraded pastures can sequester up to 3445 Tg of CO2. Nominal management or simple improvement practices can maintain or enhance SOC stocks, helping to mitigate the GHG emissions of livestock in Brazil.

Background The ability to finish livestock on pasture over the summer–autumn period could improve the profitability of red meat enterprises in drought‐prone temperate regions. In south‐eastern Australia, traditional perennial options are limited by poor warm‐season performance (phalaris, Phalaris aquatica L.) and widespread environmental constraints (lucerne, Medicago sativa L.). We aimed to identify perennial species suitable for summer–autumn finishing. Methods We tested pure swards of summer‐active perennial grasses and herbs (20 cultivars across 14 species) in replicated small‐plot experiments at two sites on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. We assessed early persistence, productivity and warm‐season nutritive characteristics over 2–3 years. Results Lucerne and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) persisted well through drought and produced herbage of high quantity and quality through summer–autumn. Digit grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud.) was highly persistent and productive but nutritive values were generally poor. Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) were productive but less persistent through drought, while nutritive values were sometimes inadequate. Conclusions Chicory is a good alternative to lucerne, given its excellent summer–autumn performance, ability to survive droughts and superior acid soil tolerance. If appropriate management resolves issues with persistence and nutritive value, several of the other species could also be used to close the warm‐season feed gap in drought‐prone temperate environments. Pasture quality and quantity limit summer–autumn livestock production in drought‐prone temperate environments. We evaluated summer‐active perennial grasses and herbs over the warm season in south‐eastern Australia. Lucerne and chicory consistently showed high persistence, productivity and nutritive value. Digit grass, cocksfoot, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, prairie grass and plantain also showed potential.

In this article, the state and the main factors leading to the degradation of pastures of Uzbekistan are considered. To solve this problem, the technology and planting scheme are proposed, and a constructive scheme of combined soil-processing and planting tool for its implementation is developed.

Current livestock practices do not meet current real-world social and environmental requirements, pushing farmers away from rural areas and only sustaining high productivity through the overuse of fossil fuels, causing numerous environmental side effects. In this narrative review, we explore how the Voisin Rational Grazing (VRG) system responds to this problem. VRG is an agroecological system based on four principles that maximise pasture growth and ruminant intake, while, at the same time, maintaining system sustainability. It applies a wide range of regenerative agricultural practices, such as the use of multispecies swards combined with agroforestry. Planning allows grazing to take place when pastures reach their optimal resting period, thus promoting vigorous pasture regrowth. Moreover, paddocks are designed in a way that allow animals to have free access to water and shade, improving overall animal welfare. In combination, these practices result in increased soil C uptake and soil health, boost water retention, and protect water quality. VRG may be used to provide ecosystem services that mitigate some of the current global challenges and create opportunities for farmers to apply greener practices and become more resilient. It can be said that VRG practitioners are part of the initiatives that are rethinking modern livestock agriculture. Its main challenges, however, arise from social constraints. More specifically, local incentives and initiatives that encourage farmers to take an interest in the ecological processes involved in livestock farming are still lacking. Little research has been conducted to validate the empirical evidence of VRG benefits on animal performance or to overcome VRG limitations.