Explore the vast range of titles available.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of longer cutting intervals on morphogenetic and structural traits, herbage production, nutritional value, and in vitro digestibility of Guinea grass cv. Mombaça (Mombaça grass). Four cutting intervals (49, 63, 77, and 91 days) were evaluated in two crop years (2015-2016 and 2016-2017) during the rainy season, in two replicates. Cutting intervals influenced structural and morphogenetic traits, except for number of live leaves (4.35 leaves tiller-1) and final leaf length (72.94 cm) in the 2015-2016 crop year. As the cutting intervals increased, dry matter yield and stem percentage increased, whereas leaf percentage and leaf-to-stem ratio declined. Regardless of the evaluated crop year, the dry matter, acid detergent fiber, and lignin contents increased linearly; however, the neutral detergent fiber content was unaffected. Cutting intervals affected the crude protein content and in vitro digestibility. Considering leaf appearance rate, stem appearance rate, and leaf-to-stem ratio, the recommended harvest age for Mombaça grass for optimum yield and nutritional value is 77 days.

High interannual variability of forage production in semiarid grasslands leads to uncertainties when livestock producers make decisions, such as buying additional feed, relocating animals, or using flexible stocking. Within‐season predictions of annual forage production (i.e., yearly production) can provide specific boundaries for producers to make these decisions with more information and possibly with higher confidence. In this study, we use a recently developed forage production model, ForageAhead, that uses environmental and seasonal climate variables to estimate the annual forage production as approximated by remotely sensed vegetation data. Because, among other variables, this model uses observed summer climate data, the model output cannot be produced early enough in the year (e.g., spring months) to inform within‐season management decisions. To address this issue, we developed summer climate scenarios (e.g., extremely warm and dry and moderately cool and wet) that serve as an input in the model in combination with observed winter and spring climate data from a particular year. The summer climate scenarios used historical summer precipitation and temperature data (1950–2018) categorized into three, five, and seven percentile categories. These percentile values were then combined to represent summer climate scenarios, which were further used as the ForageAhead model input. We tested the optimal number of percentile categories to be used as the model input to obtain accurate prediction of forage production while also minimizing the number of possible temperature and precipitation combinations, which increases with the number of percentile categories. For the 19‐year period analysis (2000–2018), we also determined the most and least common scenarios that occurred in the western United States. When using five percentile categories for summer precipitation and temperature, we were able to capture the interannual variability in the spatial extent of abnormally low and high biomass production. The ForageAhead predictions captured similar spatial patterns of forage anomalies as another similar model (Grass‐Cast). This method can be made available in a user‐friendly automated system that can be used by livestock producers and rangeland managers to inform within‐season management decisions. This method can be especially valuable for flexible stocking as it provides a range of possible annual forage production scenarios by the end of May.

Cereal and legume mixed cropping has been widely adopted to increase forage production in the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock. Among the different mixed cropping combinations, forage sorghum and lablab bean mixed cropping can be adapted globally. However, knowledge regarding the relation between forage production, interspecific competition, and resource utilization efficiency in the forage sorghum and lablab bean mixed cropping system remains unclear. A 3-year field experiment was conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022 to investigate the effects of different cropping systems (16.5 kg·ha−1 lablab bean mixed cropping with forage sorghum [SD1], 33.0 kg·ha−1 lablab bean mixed cropping with forage sorghum [SD2], 49.5 kg·ha−1 lablab bean mixed cropping with forage sorghum [SD3], 66.0 kg·ha−1 lablab bean mixed cropping with forage sorghum [SD4], sole forage sorghum [SS], and sole lablab bean [DD]) on forage production, forage quality, competition parameters, water use efficiency (WUE), and radiation use efficiency (RUE). The results obtained revealed that mixed cropping practices enhanced forage yield by mitigating soil water depletion and optimizing canopy structures. Specifically, SD3 treatment was an efficient farming practice that increased system dry matter yield by 32.6–67.5%, crude protein yield by 12.5–15.1%, WUE by 9.2–67.4%, and RUE by 39.6–38.2% compared with other treatments. In addition, SD4 treatment increased crude protein content by 11.1% compared with forage sorghum monocropping; however, there were no significant differences in crude protein between SD3 and SD4 mixed cropping systems. The land equivalent ratio values were greater than one when forage sorghum was mixed with lablab bean, especially for the SD3 system (averaged 1.43). In addition, forage sorghum was more dominant and had higher aggressiveness (0.65) and competitive ratios (3.44) than lablab bean. This indicates that mixing cereals with legumes enhances RUE by interspecific competition. Consequently, the SD3-mixed cropping system is recommended for supporting the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock production in the arid region of China when considering forage production and nutritional quality.

Aims Intensive dairy regions have an opportunity to enhance recycling of manure nutrients within forage rotations improving the system sustainability. This study investigated the combined effect of winter double crops and tillage on nutrient uptake, yield, and forage quality under annual manure applications with silage corn ( Zea mays ). Methods The 2 × 4 split block study consisted of conventional (CT) vs minimal (MT) tillage, and combinations of manure (M) vs synthetic fertilizer (S) and winter triticale (x Triticosecale ) (D) vs fallow (F) for each tillage type. Plant tissue was collected for annual forage yield, nutrient concentrations, and forge quality. Results In soils, M significantly increased SOC, TN, Olsen P, K, Na, and Zn (20–96%) along with multiple enzyme activities (45–75%) and decreased NH 4 -N and Ca (9–26%) compared to synthetic fertilizers, regardless of tillage and winter crop. Manure increased tissue N, P, and K for both corn silage (12–39%) and triticale (31–45%) regardless of tillage. However, tillage effects were seen for corn Na and triticale Mg, Na, Zn, Ca, and Mn. Triticale removal of all nutrients was significantly greater with manure application (77- 97%) regardless of tillage. While inclusion of winter double crop removed 1.1 – 1.8 times as much NPK as winter fallow, triticale tissue K exceeded maximum concentrations for feed forages. Manure increased crude protein for both forages; however, M also increased triticale fiber content and reduced feed energy compared to synthetic fertilizer. Conclusion Winter triticale can increase forage production and enhance manure nutrient utilization in forage rotations.

Silvopasture, as an integrated land use practice that combines trees, forage and livestock, has been in existence for millennia. There are many variants of this land use in both the temperate and tropical regions of the world practiced at small and large scales. Modern silvopasture; however, is not just a new name for an old practice. It is rooted in sound ecological principles and demands skills in managing complexity. Scientific evidence of the ecological and economic benefits of silvopasture has been accumulating rapidly over the last few years and hence the objective of this thematic issue was to bring together a collection of original research and review articles that dealt with these different dimensions. There are 28 articles included in this thematic issue categorized into four groups based on their primary focus, (1) forage production and quality (2) livestock performance (3) environmental benefits, and (4) challenges in designing and developing silvopasture. The information presented has deepened our understanding of some of the biophysical and socioeconomic dimensions of silvopastoral systems; however, it also has revealed some of the research gaps. Addressing these research gaps will help improve not only the economic and environmental sustainability of these systems, but their social acceptability as well.

1. Due to climate change, an increasing frequency and severity of drought events are expected to impair grassland productivity, particularly of intensively managed temperate grasslands. 2. To assess drought impacts, a common field experiment to manipulate precipitation was set up at three sites (two Swiss and one Irish) using monocultures and mixtures with two and four key forage species. Species differed in their functional traits: a shallow-rooted nonlegume (Lolium perenne L.), a deep-rooted non-legume (Cichorium intybus L.), a shallowrooted legume (Trifolium repens L.) and a deep-rooted legume (Trifolium pratense L.). A 9-week summer drought was simulated, and soil water status, above-ground biomass yield and plant nitrogen (N) limitation were compared to a rainfed control. 3. Based on soil water measurements, the drought induced severe stress at both Swiss sites and extreme stress at the Irish site. Under severe stress, the legumes were more drought resistant and showed an average change in above-ground biomass (CAB, compared to rainfed control) of only -8% and -24% (for the two Swiss sites), while the non-legumes had an average CAB of -51% and -68%. The lower resistance of non-legumes coincided with an apparent limitation of plant N, which further increased under drought. Under extreme drought (Irish site), growth nearly ceased with an average CAB of -85%. 4. During a 6-week post-drought period with adequate water supply (Swiss sites), formerly drought-stressed species were highly resilient and either attained (legumes) or clearly outperformed (non-legumes) the yield level of the rainfed controls. This outperformance coincided with post-drought reductions in N limitation in formerly drought-stressed species. As a result, aggregated over the drought and the post-drought periods, a negative drought impact was found only for the shallow-rooted L. perenne at one of the severely stressed sites. 5. Significant overyielding by multispecies mixtures was evident under rainfed control conditions (+ 38% across all three sites, P < 0·05) and was equally apparent under severe drought (+ 50%, P < 0·05). This overyielding was greatest in mixtures with approximately equal species proportions and was sufficiently large that drought-stressed mixtures at least attained the same yield as the average of the rainfed monocultures. Under extreme drought, growth almost ceased in monocultures and mixtures. 6. Synthesis and applications. Yields of selected species of intensively managed temperate grasslands are either resistant to a single severe drought or are highly resilient as soon as soil moisture levels recover after the drought event. However, these forage species seem unable to cope with an extreme drought event. Combining species in mixtures can compensate for yield reductions caused by severe drought and it offers a practical management tool to adapt forage production to climate change.

Earth’s tropical savannas typically support high biomass of diverse grazing herbivores that depend on a highly fluctuating resource: high-quality forage. An annual wet–dry cycle, fire and herbivory combine to influence forage quality and availability throughout the year. In the savannas of northern Australia, a depauperate suite of large native (marsupial) herbivores (wallaroos [Osphranter spp.] and the agile wallaby [Notamacropus agilis]) compete for resources with non-native large herbivores introduced in the late nineteenth century, particularly bovines (feral and managed cattle [Bos spp.] and feral water buffalo [Bubalus bubalis]) that now dominate the landscape. Anecdotal reports of recent population declines of large macropods and negative impacts of bovines highlight the need to better understand the complex relationship between forage, fire and abundance of native and introduced large herbivores. The pyric herbivory conceptual model, which posits complex feedbacks between fire and herbivory and was developed outside Australia, predicts that native and introduced large herbivores will both respond positively to post-fire forage production in Australian savannas where they co-occur. We used grazing exclosures, forage biomass and nutrient analyses and motion-sensor camera-trapping to evaluate the overall robustness of the pyric herbivory model in the Australian context, specifically whether forage quantity and quality are impacted by herbivory, season and fire activity, and which forage attributes most influence large grazing herbivore abundance. Forage quantity, as measured by live, dead and total herbaceous biomass and proportion of biomass alive, was higher inside herbivore exclosures, even at relatively low densities of herbivores. Forage quality, as measured by fibre content, was not affected by herbivory, however, crude protein content of live herbaceous biomass was greater outside herbivore exclosures. Recent fire was an important predictor of all measures of forage quantity and quality. Recent fire occurrence decreased overall quantity (biomass) but increased quality (decreased fibre content and increased crude protein content); late dry season fires resulted in forage with the highest crude protein content. The predictions of the pyric herbivory conceptual model are consistent with observations of the feeding behaviour of introduced bovines and some large macropods in northern Australian savannas, lending support to the global generality of pyric herbivory in fire-prone grassy biomes.

Mixtures of annual legumes with cereal grasses in forage production are considered to have great advantages and are extensively used in the agro–pastoral region of China. However, the effect of sowing ratio on forage yields and economic benefits of oat (Avena sativa L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) intercropping remains largely unknown. A 2 yr field experiment was conducted with seven sowing ratios (sowing ratio of oat as 0, 25, 33, 50, 67, 75, and 100%) for oat and common vetch intercropping in northeastern China. Intercropping showed significant advantages in forage yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), and net income in the 2 yr. Oat was the dominant partner in the mixtures, strongly outcompeting common vetch. A sowing ratio of oat at 50% produced the highest forage yields of 10.8–11.1 t ha‐1 in spring seeding and 4.9–7.7 t ha‐1 in summer seeding, which were 28.7–66.4% and 12.6–166.9% higher than those in monocultures, respectively, if we considered two years together. In any case, oat forage yield just slightly decreased with a decreasing share in the intercrops, whereas common vetch forage yields strongly decreased. The highest LERs were detected in a sowing ratio of oat at 50%, which was 11–57% higher than other sowing ratios. Similarly, the highest annual net incomes of US $1,336 and $ 1,088 ha‐1 were also obtained in a sowing ratio of oat at 50% in the 2 yr. In conclusion, oat and common vetch intercropping have greater forage yields and economic benefits compared with the corresponding monocultures in the agro–pastoral region of China, and a sowing ratio of oat at 50% is recommended. Core Ideas The oat–common vetch intercropping system was established in the agro–pastoral region of China. Forage yields in oat–common vetch intercroppings were 12.5–166.9% higher than in monoculture. The highest land equivalent ratios were detected in 50% oat sowing ratio, which was 11–57% higher than others. The sowing ratio of oat at 50% resulted in highest forage yield and economic benefits.

Intercropping is an agricultural technique where many crops are grown together on the same field, and it is becoming more widely acknowledged for its ability to improve productivity in food and forage production. This farming method allows for the strategic integration of a profitable crop with cover or non-profitable crops to achieve reciprocal benefits, while also spreading advantages across different agricultural systems. Intercropping designs differ to attain greater crop yields, reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers, and enhance water-use efficiency, especially in the demanding circumstances of arid and semi-arid countries. This study examines new mechanisms via which intercropping enhances sustainable agriculture, including recent progress in ecological, genetic, and microbial interactions that enhance plant growth and resilience. The adaptability of the Mediterranean region, for varied agricultural methods is also assessed, with a particular focus on the possibilities for implementing intercropping systems. This study provides a thorough analysis of existing research, emphasizing the many advantages of intercropping and its contribution to the progress of sustainable agriculture.

Increasing atmospheric [CO₂] and temperature are expected to affect the productivity, species composition, biogeochemistry, and therefore the quantity and quality of forage available to herbivores in rangeland ecosystems. Both elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) and warming affect plant tissue chemistry through multiple direct and indirect pathways, such that the cumulative outcomes of these effects are difficult to predict. Here, we report on a 7-yr study examining effects of CO₂ enrichment (to 600 ppm) and infrared warming (+1.5°C day/3°C night) under realistic field conditions on forage quality and quantity in a semiarid, mixedgrass prairie. For the three dominant forage grasses, warming effects on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and tissue [N] were detected only in certain years, varied from negative to positive, and were relatively minor. In contrast, eCO₂ substantially reduced IVDMD (two most abundant grasses) and [N] (all three dominant grass species) in most years, except the two wettest years. Furthermore, eCO₂ reduced IVDMD and [N] independent of warming effects. Reduced IVDMD with eCO₂ was related both to reduced [N] and increased acid detergent fiber (ADF) content of grass tissues. For the six most abundant forage species (representing 96% of total forage production), combined warming and eCO₂ increased forage production by 38% and reduced forage [N] by 13% relative to ambient climate. Although the absolute magnitude of the decline in IVDMD and [N] due to combined warming and eCO₂ may seem small (e.g., from 63.3 to 61.1% IVDMD and 1.25 to 1.04% [N] for Pascopyrum smithii), such shifts could have substantial consequences for the rate at which ruminants gain weight during the primary growing season in the largest remaining rangeland ecosystem in North America. With forage production increases, declining forage quality could potentially be mitigated by adaptively increasing stocking rates, and through management such as prescribed burning, fertilization at low rates, and legume interseeding to enhance forage quality