Explore the vast range of titles available.

Honey bee pollination of entomophilous commercial crops is a major input in agricultural management yet unlike irrigation, fertilisation and plant protection have yet to be integrated into precision agriculture practices. This study examines colony strength as a key determinant of efficient pollination. Over three years and across two study sites, we evaluated the relationship between colony strength (frames of bees, FOBs) and colony productivity using continuous hive weight monitoring. Hive weight data were analysed for both absolute gains and relative gains normalised per FOB across colony strengths. In all study periods, stronger colonies showed disproportionately higher weight gains compared to weaker colonies. For each additional FOB, the average increase in normalised weight gain ranged from 0.1 to 0.41 kg per colony, indicating a non-linear relationship between colony strength and productivity. An efficiency factor calculated for groups of strong and weak colonies ranged from 1.2 to 2.6, depending on the season and crop. Moreover, during periods of forage dearth, strong colonies exhibited lower weight losses than the weak colonies per FOB, making them more efficient under resource limited conditions. Our findings demonstrate that colony strength significantly influences foraging efficiency and colony resilience, ultimately supporting the conclusion that fewer stronger colonies will improve pollination outcomes while reducing the economic and environmental costs associated with commercial pollination services.

Background Leptochloa crinita is a native forage grass from arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas, typically used for range grazing. Forage biomass productivity (FBP) and drought tolerance are important traits exhibiting broad intraspecific variation. To investigate possible morphophysiological mechanisms underlying FBP, we monitored biomass production, both total and partitioned into different above-ground and underground plant parts, total (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal conductance (g s ), and SPAD index in a genetically-diverse L. crinita germplasm collection of 21 accessions during two years of field experiments under unrestricted water availability. Results Broad and significant variation ( p  < 0.0001) was consistently found among the accessions for total dry matter (TDM), roots dry matter (RDM), dry matter of leaves (LDM), stems (SDM), and panicles (PDM), dry matter of all the aerial plant parts combined (ADM). LA, SLA, g s , and CI. ADM, which directly estimates FBP, varied 3.3–4.2 folds. Nine of the 11 morphophysiological variables analyzed were significantly and positively correlated with FBP, in both years, being the strongest associations with SDM ( r  = 0.98), LDM ( r  = 0.73–0.89), LA ( r  = 0.77–0.88), and g s ( r  = 0.91). Analysis of individual and correlated variables indicated that greater FBP was mainly driven by a stronger photoassimilates partitioning to above-ground organs, a faster and overall greater LA development, and a prolonged functionally-active photosynthetic apparatus, as suggested by the ability of high-yielding accessions to maintain high g s and SPAD index levels for longer periods. In contrast, low-yielding accessions invested, proportionally, more biomass in roots, even under favorable water availability, reflecting a conservative resource-use strategy for these accessions. The fact that ADM and percentual biomass allocation in roots was strongly and negatively correlated ( r = -0.75 to -0.86, p  < 0.001) suggests a general trade-off between FBP and drought tolerance in this species. Conclusions This work revealed broad genetic diversity for FBP in L. crinita under non-limiting water availability conditions, and identified high-yielding accessions, of relevance for forage production in irrigated arid regions. Mechanistically, high FBP was associated with increased photoassimilates partitioning to above-ground organs, a greater and faster LA development, and an active photosynthetic apparatus for longer periods. The FBP-correlated traits identified herein will be of selection value for L. crinita breeding programs.

Ungulates are key components in ecosystems and economically important for sport and subsistence harvest. Yet the relative importance of the effects of weather conditions, forage productivity, and carnivores on ungulates are not well understood. We examined changes in elk (Cervus canadensis) recruitment (indexed as age ratios) across 7 states and 3 ecotypes in the northwestern United States during 1989–2010, while considering the effects of predator richness, forage productivity, and precipitation. We found a broad-scale, long-term decrease in elk recruitment of 0.48 juveniles/100 adult females/year. Weather conditions (indexed as summer and winter precipitation) showed small, but measurable, influences on recruitment. Forage productivity on summer and winter ranges (indexed by normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI] metrics) had the strongest effect on elk recruitment relative to other factors. Relationships between forage productivity and recruitment varied seasonally and regionally. The productivity of winter habitat was more important in southern parts of the study area, whereas annual variation in productivity of summer habitat had more influence on recruitment in northern areas. Elk recruitment varied by up to 15 juveniles/100 adult females across the range of variation in forage productivity. Areas with more species of large carnivores had relatively low elk recruitment, presumably because of increased predation. Wolves (Canis lupus) were associated with a decrease of 5 juveniles/100 adult females, whereas grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were associated with an additional decrease of 7 juveniles/100 adult females. Carnivore species can have a critical influence on ungulate recruitment because their influence rivals large ranges of variation in environmental conditions. A more pressing concern, however, stems from persistent broad-scale decreases in recruitment across the distribution of elk in the northwestern United States, irrespective of carnivore richness. Our results suggest that wildlife managers interested in improving recruitment of elk consider the combined effects of habitat and predators. Efforts to manage summer and winter ranges to increase forage productivity may have a positive effect on recruitment.

Soil salinization is an abiotic stress that hinders crop growth, agricultural productivity, and environmental protection. In this study, alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) and tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) were sown in seven inter-cropping ratios, with monocultures as controls to explore the effects of inter-cropping grasses on yield, water-soluble salt content, pH, and total nitrogen in saline-alkali land, and to establish whether inter-cropping can alleviate salinity and alkalinity. In addition, this study aimed to screen and identify the best alfalfa and tall fescue inter-cropping ratio. The results revealed that (1) Alfalfa and tall fescue had the best productivity and the highest crude protein content at an inter-cropping ratio of M6F4, M7F3, and M8F2, respectively. Besides, inter-cropping improved the land-use efficiency of saline land by altering the plant stem-leaf ratio to adapt to the resource competition. (2) Alfalfa and tall fescue inter-cropping at M3F7, M4F6, and M7F3 decreased the 21% soil salt and 7.8% pH and increased the 34.7% total nitrogen content. (3) Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations among soil salt content, pH, nitrogen, inter-cropping yield, stem-leaf ratio, and plant competition rate. These findings indicate that inter-cropping alfalfa and tall fescue in the ratio M6F4, M7F3, and M8F2 best improves the utilization efficiency of saline land.

Background Meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P.Beauv.) is highly adapted to managed rotational grazing systems with sufficient rest periods to promote regrowth and sward longevity. It is not well adapted to intensive grazing with set stocking that results in limited regrowth periods and defoliation heights less than 10 cm. Methods Six populations were identified on farms that used relatively intensive grazing with a combination of set stocking and rotational grazing and a relatively sparse population density of meadow fescue plants. These populations were subjected to three cycles of selection for persistence on their farm of origin and on an experimental research farm where the plots were frequently mowed with a residual sward height of 5 cm. Original and selected populations were evaluated under both defoliation regimes. Results Five of the six populations responded to selection with increased persistence under grazing, but four of these had correlated selection responses toward reduced forage accumulation, suggesting selection for a more prostrate growth habit. Conclusions Selection under frequent mowing led to some increases in persistence, but the increases were significantly less than for the selections under grazing pressure, strongly indicating selection pressure for different plant traits between grazing and mowing. Cattle grazing meadow fescue pasture in remnant oak savanna near Fennimore, Wisconsin.

Legume tree One of the crops that may function as a viable source of animal feed and be utilized for land reclamation on former mining sites. Ex-tin mining land, which is widely spread in Indonesia, has the potential to transform to productive agricultural land, as long as the land is given sufficient inputs through land rehabilitation. The legume tree has drought resistance, hence limiting its potential for development on many types of land, including post-tin mining areas in the Bangka Tengah District of Bangka Island. The objective of this research is to assess the adaptation of two legume tree species in post-tin mining environments. The research was completed throughout the period from 2017 to 2020. Experiments using Randomized block design (RBD) with two different species of treatments, were repeated a total of five times. Two species tested were (1) Leucaena leucocephala cv Taramba, and (2) Indigofera zollingeriana . Data growth and yield components are harvested every three months and yield is subjected to analysis using the Duncan test at a significance level of 5 %. The research result indicated that all of the tested two species of legume tree were well-adapted to post-tin mining in Bangka Tengah District, Bangka Island. The fresh yield of L.leucocephala cv Taramba was higher (9.1 %) than I.zollingeriana but the quality was similar, so the two species can be developed on post-tin mining areas as forage material for an animal in Central Bangka District, Bangka Island.

Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential nutrients for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth, but P deficiency in soil is a common phenomenon. Applying an appropriate amount of P fertilizer for alfalfa in the establishment year improves winter survival, helps achieve sustainable high yields, and promotes the best economic returns. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different P fertilization rates (0, 22, 44, and 66 kg P ha−1) on winter survival, forage yield, and root traits of two late-summer seeded alfalfa cultivars (dormant and semi-dormant) in the establishment and first production year. Our results showed that applying an appropriate amount of P fertilizer can increase forage yield and enhance the persistence of late-summer seeded alfalfa by promoting the development of crown and root traits and improving winter survival, especially for semi-dormant cultivars. Late-summer seeding and application of appropriate P fertilizer rates are effective agronomic methods for alfalfa in cold and arid winter regions, and can be used as strategies to improve fertility and stabilize soil from wind erosion for sustainable agriculture. To obtain high rate of survival in winter, the optimal P fertilization rates for the dormant and semi-dormant alfalfa cultivars in this study were 31.4 and 41.3 kg P ha−1, whereas the optimum P application rates for high forage yields were 31.3 and 31.5 kg P ha−1, respectively.

Soil phosphorous (P) is the most limiting plant nutrient globally, reducing forage plant productivity. Although inorganic P fertilizers are used, about 75–90% of P becomes unavailable for plant uptake, hence, the strategies to enhance P uptake acquisition, such as the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation, are crucial. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions at the University of Fort Hare, where three legume species ( Vigna unguiculata , Lablab purpereus and Mucuna pruriens ) were grown for 90 days under five P fertilizer levels (0; 0.68; 1.36; 2.04 and 2.72 g P/pot) with or without AMF-inoculation, resulting in 30 treatment factorial arrangement, each replicated 4 times. Agronomic responses to P fertilization and AMF-inoculation were assessed. Plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and leaf and stem yield were significantly influenced ( p  < 0.001) by the interaction of phosphorus (P) fertilizer levels, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation, and legume species. Inoculated plants showed remarkable growth, reaching heights of 94.2 to 159.0 cm compared to 61.1 to 117.0 cm in uninoculated plants. Additionally, inoculated plants had stem diameters twice as large as those of uninoculated plants when grown with 1.36 g P/pot, outperforming other P fertilizer levels by day 90 across all legume species. Likewise, chlorophyll content of inoculated plants (78.1–90.7 soil plant analysis development (SPAD)) was significantly higher than uninoculated plants (56.9–69.1 SPAD) at 1.63 P g/pot compared to 0, 0.68, 2.04 and 2.72 g P/pot. Moreover, inoculated plants attained relatively higher leaf (123.3–144.0 g/pot) and stem yield (75.2–121.8 g/pot) than uninoculated plants at 1.36 g P/pot compared to 0, 0.68, 2.04 and 2.72 g P/pot. Overall, AMF-inoculation improved growth and productivity of forage legumes, but its effects depended on the P fertilizer level, with 1.36 g P/pot being the potential optimum fertilizer rate for soil nutrition of legume pastures.

This study aimed to evaluate the forage production, nutritional value, soil chemical properties, and rhizosphere microorganism composition of maize–legume intercropping systems in fallow paddy fields. Before seeding, the fields were sprayed with 1000 kg ha−1 of nitrogen composite fertilizer (NPK: 21-17-17). From 2020 to 2021, maize was intercropped with seven different legume cultivars at the National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. Of the seven legumes, the intercropped lablab (Lablab purpureus [L.] Sweet) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) showed the greatest plant heights because the maize plants supported their climbing habit. The forage productivity of the intercropped soybean cultivars, Chookdu 1 and 2, lablab, and cowpea, was relatively high compared with those of the other legumes. Chookdu 1 and 2 showed higher forage productivity in monoculture than when intercropped. When intercropped with maize, the Daewon and Daepung soybean cultivars showed the lowest neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents and the highest crude protein in 2020. However, the forage productivity of Daewon and Daepung was low, indicating unsuitability for intercropping with maize in paddy fields. The microorganism composition in the root rhizosphere showed a higher proportion of Proteobacteria under legume than maize cultivation. Proteobacteria were substantially more abundant in soils intercropped with lablab than in the lablab monoculture. Maize and cowpea appeared to be the best intercropping combination considering forage productivity and feed value. However, the Chookdu 1 and 2 cultivars and lablab also showed potential for intercropping with maize in paddy fields.

Nitrogen fertilization plays a crucial role in optimizing plant growth, but excessive application can lead to nutrient leaching, environmental pollution, and soil degradation. This study investigates the impact of nitrogen application rates (0–400 kg·ha−1) on the growth, biomass allocation, and carbon sequestration capacity of Pennisetum hydridum (Imperial Bamboo, PHY), a fast-growing tropical grass increasingly used for forage and bioenergy production in subtropical regions. Despite its agronomic potential, nutrient management strategies for P. hydridum remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that moderate nitrogen application (100–200 kg·ha−1) would enhance growth and nutrient use efficiency, while maintaining environmental sustainability. Results show that moderate nitrogen levels (100–200 kg·ha−1) significantly enhanced biomass production, with the highest aboveground biomass observed at 180 days under T2 (100 kg·ha−1) and T3 (200 kg·ha−1), reaching 166.5 g/plant and 140.6 g/plant, respectively. In contrast, excessive nitrogen application (400 kg·ha−1) led to a decline in biomass (T4, 76.8 g/plant) and impaired carbon sequestration efficiency. In addition, it was found that nitrogen uptake increased with moderate fertilization, with T2 and T3 showing optimal nitrogen use efficiency. Soil analysis revealed that soil organic matter and total nitrogen content were positively correlated with root biomass, with significant linear relationships between soil nitrogen, carbon/nitrogen ratios, and PHY biomass. Specifically, the total nitrogen content in rhizomes and fibrous roots showed coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.65 and 0.67, indicating a strong correlation with soil nitrogen levels. Furthermore, nitrogen application increased soil nitrate (NO3−-N) and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations, with T4 showing the highest levels at 90 days (41.35 mg/kg for NO3−-N and 15.6 mg/kg for NH4+-N), signaling potential nutrient loss to the environment. These findings underscore the importance of sustainable nitrogen management for maximizing the growth potential of P. hydridum, while minimizing environmental risks in subtropical agricultural systems.