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This study was conducted at two locations, Qlyasan Agricultural Research Station and Kanipanka Nursery Station, during the 2023–2024 winter season to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer and stubble height on forage yield attributes of grass pea genotypes. A split-split plot design was used with three factors: fertilizer application (F0= no fertilizer, F1= organic fertilizer), genotypes (G1: Local, G2: IGC-2011-62, G3: IGC-2011-35, G4: IGC-2011-9), and stubble height (SH1= 5cm, SH2 = 10cm). Fertilizer application significantly increased DFY in Kanipanka. Genotype significantly influenced most forage yield attributes, with G1 showing the highest values. Stubble height significantly affected GFY and DFY, particularly in Qlyasan. Kanipanka outperformed Qlyasan in key yield attributes. Cluster analysis identified two genotype groups, indicating genetic variability. Proper management of fertilizer. Interaction effects were observed for fertilizer × genotype and fertilizer × stubble height. Genotype selection and stubble height can optimize forage yield.

This experiment was carried out during season of 2020 and 2021 at Erbil governorate to study the forage and grain yield performance of three maize hybrids Zea mays L. as influenced by irrigation skipping at different times. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The irrigation treatments were located at the main plots, and the hybrids were distributed at the subplots. Highly significant effects of irrigation treatments were recorded for forage, grain yield and most of its components at both seasons and their average. The differences among hybrids were not significant for forage yield at both seasons. It was significant for grain yield as the average of both seasons only. The fresh and dry forage yield was affected more by the skipping irrigation during the last two periods of skipping, and the same for the grain yield. That there are no significant differences between the control and skipping during the first period, as the significantly outperformed the grain yield in the last two periods of skipping.

Understanding the genetic basis for forage yield traits is essential for forage sorghum and sudangrass hybrid breeding. In this study, we constructed a high-density genetic map using a recombinant inbred line population between sorghum Tx623A and sudangrass Sa using RAD-seq and performed QTL mapping for plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), tiller number (TN), total shoot fresh weight (FW) and total shoot dry weight (DW). The map consists of 1,065 markers with a total length of 1191.7 cM. A total of 43 QTLs were detected, including three QTLs for PH, eight for SD, ten for TN, ten for FW and twelve for DW. Two QTL clusters contained overlapping QTLs for TN, FW and DW. One cluster (qTN6.2/qFW6/qDW6.1) also overlaps with qTN6.1 and qDW6.2. The sorghum ortholog of a known heterotic biomass gene ARGOS, Sobic.006G092500, was located within all the five QTLs mapped on chromosome 6. Our results showed that a high-density genetic map is useful for dissecting important traits and identifying underlying genes in sorghum and sudangrass hybrid populations.

Two studies were carried out to assess the effects of seed inoculation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) coupled to a reduced fertilizer supply on yield, economic benefit and energy balance of maize and sorghum forage cropping. The effect of dietary inclusion of mycorrhizal forages on milk yield was also examined. The control treatments (control maize and control sorghum) were non-mycorrhizal seeds fertilized with recommended doses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The inoculated treatments (inoculated maize and inoculated sorghum) were the mycorrhizal seeds fertilized with a half dose of N. For each treatment, two plots, 1.5 ha each, were used. The forages were ensiled and fed to lactating buffaloes (maize) and dairy cows (sorghum). Plant traits and yield parameters were generally found to be higher in inoculated compared to the control plants. Inoculation positively influenced the chemical composition of sorghum silage that resulted in less fibre and more protein and presented higher dry matter degradability. No differences between the control and inoculated maize silages were found. For both inoculated crops, higher profitability (+670 and 732€ for maize and sorghum, respectively), as well as an increment of net energy (+0.24 and 0.60, respectively), and energy use efficiency (+0.53 and 0.85, respectively) were observed. The use of the inoculated silages did not affect milk yield. Results suggest that seed inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi combined with the low rate of fertilizers could be a viable solution to increase the eco-efficiency and profitability in forage production without affecting forage quality and lactating cow productivity.

The objective was to evaluate the morphometric, productive and chemical aspects of purple elephant grass as a function of nitrogen fertilization. The treatments consisted of applying 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha-1 of N, using a randomized block design, with five treatments and four replications. The following were evaluated: plant height, number, length and leaf mass, stem diameter and mass, leaf/stem ratio, production of green and dry mass, support capacity for dairy cows, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and mineral matter. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% probability. The increase in N doses did not affect (p < 0.05) the morphometry of the purple elephant grass, however it positively stimulated the productivity, the animal support capacity and the bromatological components of the harvested material. The lack of response to nitrogen fertilization may be related to the edaphocilimatic conditions during the experiment and efficiency in the use of N of the variety used. The results demonstrate the high demand of the cultivar for N, actively interfering in the forage yield.

Tillage conservation practices (CA), traditional agriculture (TA), and liming influence soil properties and crop yield. However, it is essential to demonstrate which tillage and liming practices improve soil properties and forage corn yield. This study compared soil properties and forage corn production in two tillage systems with the addition of dolomite and lime, which formed four treatments. The tillage in the first three days surpassed the TA soil CO2 emission, with 64.8% more CO2 than in the CA soil, and the TA hydraulic conductivity and bulk density were more suitable than those in the CA soil. The CA soil had 233 earthworms m−2 more than in TA. The TA green forage corn yielded 6.45 t ha−1 more than in CA, with a higher P, Ca, and Mg foliar content than in CA, but in the CA, the foliar N and K were higher than in TA. The liming increased soil cations (except K), highlighting the lime on dolomite with—52% Al and + 4.85 t ha−1 of forage corn compared to the control. Soil CO2 emission was far lower in CA than in TA, with a slightly lower forage yield, and other soil properties were improved, meaning lower land preparation costs and time savings than in TA. Lime improved acidic soil faster than dolomite, generating higher forage yields.

This study aims to evaluate the correlation among growing degree-days (GDD), canopy height (CH), and leaf area index (LAI) for Guinea grass irrigated, considering the different combinations of the nitrogen and boron rates and cycles of regrowth. The experiment was carried out from August/2017 to August/2018 in a field experiment, and the climate of the region is classified as subtropical. A randomized block design arranged in a factorial scheme (4x3x11) with four replications was used. The treatment was (i) boron fertilization: 0, 1, and 2 kg ha-1; and (ii) nitrogen fertilization: 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 kg ha-1 distributing to 11 growth/cutting cycles. We observed the high correlation between GDD and the parameters evaluated of CH and LAI. The nitrogen results showed a low influence on canopy height and the leaf area index, and boron results did not influence these parameters.

The recommended sowing rate of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is about 10 kg pure live seed ha−1, but it is debated if increasing the sowing rate enhances forage yield and quality in the sowing year. This study was conducted to: (i) determine the optimal sowing rate to maximize forage yield; and (ii) determine the relationship between plant and stem density with forage yield and nutritive value. Experiments were conducted at three sites in North Dakota between 2013 and 2016. Six sowing rates [1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg ha−1 pure live seed (PLS)] were evaluated. Results indicated that total forage yield in the sowing year was lower only with the lowest sowing rate. Maximum total forage yield in the sowing, first, second, and third production years was obtained with 73, 52, 37, and 36 plants m−2 and 575, 495, 435, and 427 stems m−2, respectively. In the sowing and first production year, both plant and stem density predicted forage yield similarly. In older stands, stem density predicted forage yield slightly better. Forage nutritive value was similar among sowing rates indicating an increase in sowing rate does not enhance forage nutritive value. In conclusion, increasing the sowing rate above the recommended rate (10 kg PLS ha−1) does not increase forage yield or quality.

1. Recent studies have revealed many potential benefits of increasing plant diversity in natural ecosystems, as well as in agroecosystems and production forests. Plant diversity potentially provides a partial to complete substitute for many costly agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, imported pollinators and irrigation. Diversification strategies include enhancing crop genetic diversity, mixed plantings, rotating crops, agroforestry and diversifying landscapes surrounding croplands. 2. Here we briefly review studies considering how increasing plant diversity influences the production of crops, forage, and wood, yield stability, and several regulating and supporting agroecosystem services. We also discuss challenges and recommendations for diversifying agroecosystems. 3. There is consistently strong evidence that strategically increasing plant diversity increases crop and forage yield, wood production, yield stability, pollinators, weed suppression and pest suppression, whereas effects of diversification on soil nutrients and carbon remain poorly understood. 4. Synthesis. The benefits of diversifying agroecosystems are expected to be greatest where the aims are to sustainably intensify production while reducing conventional inputs or to optimize both yields and ecosystem services. Over the next few decades, as monoculture yields continue to decelerate or decline for many crops, and as demand for ecosystem services continues to rise, diversification could become an essential tool for sustaining production and ecosystem services in croplands, rangelands and production forests.

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.