Search Results (151)

Background/Objectives: Soil salinity is a major constraint on legume productivity worldwide, threatening forage pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivation in semiarid regions. This study evaluated the effect of exogenous melatonin in attenuating NaCl-induced salinity stress across diverse forage pea genotypes. Methods: A three-factor factorial experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions, testing three NaCl levels (0, 100 and 200 mM) and four melatonin concentrations (0, 100, 150 and 200 µM) across 13 genotypes with three replications (468 pots). Nine vegetative traits were measured and analyzed by factorial ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. Results: Increasing NaCl from 0 to 200 mM reduced plant height by ~28% and node number by ~32%. Application of 100 µM melatonin under 100 mM NaCl reduced canopy temperature from 28.1 °C to 23.7 °C and restored SPAD values from 21.7 to 26.5 under 200 mM NaCl. By contrast, 200 µM melatonin under severe salinity paradoxically suppressed SPAD to 8.9 and reduced root length. Emirbey and Kirazlí showed the greatest vegetative growth, while Özkaynak exhibited the highest chlorophyll content. Conclusions: 100 µM melatonin emerged as the optimal concentration for alleviating moderate salt stress in forage pea, and genotype selection is critical when deploying melatonin as a biostimulant under saline conditions. Direct measurement of biomass, yield, and forage quality under field conditions remains an essential next step before agronomic deployment. Full article

Under the combined influence of climate change and long-term mowing pressure, natural mowing grasslands in the Altai Mountain meadow region of Xinjiang have undergone degradation, primarily manifested as a decline in the proportion of high-quality forage species and an increase in forbs, which has severely constrained grassland-based livestock production and regional ecological security. For the restoration of degraded natural mowing grasslands, systematic assessments of the effects of legume–grass mixture overseeding on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) are still lacking; existing studies have mostly focused on single ecological functions, and the understanding of how different species mixtures drive synergistic vegetation–soil system recovery and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study targeted degraded natural mowing grasslands in Altai and selected seven species: Onobrychis viciifolia cv. Qitai, Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4, Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan, Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis, Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1, and Elymus dahuricus. Overseeding mixtures with different species compositions were established under a uniform legume–grass ratio of 2:8. Through a fixed-point field observation experiment conducted from 2024 to 2025, we integrated indicators of quantitative community characteristics, forage nutritional quality, soil physical properties, and soil chemical properties to construct aboveground EMF (AEMF), belowground EMF (BEMF), and overall EMF indices. The effects of different legume–grass mixtures on the restoration of degraded natural mowing grasslands were evaluated, candidate mixtures suitable for different restoration goals were screened, and the driving mechanisms were elucidated. The results showed that: (1) The restoration effects of different legume–grass mixtures on degraded natural mowing grasslands differed markedly. Community composition changed after overseeding, and some mixtures rapidly formed a grass-dominated community structure. (2) Superior mixtures significantly increased community cover and aboveground biomass, improved forage quality, and enhanced soil fertility to a certain extent. (3) Overseeding resulted in a greater improvement in aboveground EMF than in belowground EMF. In the first year, EMF exhibited synchronous enhancement across all functions, whereas in the second year, the system shifted to a phase of functional reorganization. (4) Based on the 2024–2025 field trial results, candidate legume–grass mixtures suitable for different restoration objectives were preliminarily identified: for comprehensive ecological restoration, a mixture of 5% Onobrychis viciifolia cv. Qitai + 15% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 15% Dactylis glomerata + 15% Poa pratensis + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended; for rapid productivity recovery, a mixture of 10% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 10% Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4 + 30% Poa pratensis + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended; and for producing high-quality forage, a mixture of 10% Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4 + 10% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 30% Dactylis glomerata + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended. This study clarifies the goal-specific suitability of different legume–grass mixtures in terms of productivity enhancement, quality improvement, and soil function recovery, and provides a reference for the ecological restoration and subsequent regional verification of degraded natural mowing grasslands in the Altai Mountain meadow area. Full article

Awns are crucial spike traits in Poaceae plants and are closely associated with seed development. Elymus nutans Griseb. is a high-quality alpine forage and an essential grass species for ecological restoration. To reveal the regulatory mechanism of awns on thousand seed weight in E. nutans, 20 E. nutans germplasm accessions were used as experimental materials in this study. Superior germplasms were screened via phenotypic correlation analysis. The screened superior germplasm was subjected to awned and de-awned treatments. Physiological indicators during seed development under the two treatments were measured at the milk stage, dough stage, and full ripe stage, and transcriptome sequencing was further used to identify the core regulatory pathways and key genes. The results showed that awn length was extremely significantly positively correlated with thousand seed weight (p < 0.01), and the optimal germplasm PI 655186 with superior awn length and thousand seed weight was obtained. Compared with the de-awned treatment, the awn-retained treatment significantly increased the contents of soluble sugar and starch in seeds from the milk stage to the dough stage and enhanced the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD to maintain redox homeostasis. Transcriptome analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in pathways including starch and sucrose metabolism and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, among which UGDH, GLCAK, VTC2_5, and APX were identified as key genes regulating seed development, and WGCNA showed that the brown module was significantly correlated with soluble sugars and starch, with hub genes consisting of seven 60S ribosomal proteins and one prolyl 4-hydroxylase. In conclusion, awns positively affect the thousand seed weight of E. nutans seeds by promoting the synthesis of storage substances, optimizing the antioxidant enzyme system, and regulating the ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway and the expression of hub genes. These findings clarify the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which awns regulate seed thousand seed weight and provide a theoretical basis and gene resources for the innovation of high-yield and high-quality germplasms of alpine forage grasses. Full article

Tropical forest restoration has increased in the past decades, with possible advancements given the UN declaration of the “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration”. However, robust assessments to compare ecosystem functions among restored forest stages are essential. We evaluated 13 actively restored forest stands ranging from 3 to 21 years of age and compared measures of forest biodiversity, structure, and ecosystem function to four 70+ year old “reference” stands that serve as restoration “targets” in the study region of the Premontane wet forest of Costa Rica. The restored stands were planted with an average of 13 tree species on abandoned pastures that were fallow for at least two years. Sixteen tree-stand attributes and six ecosystem function estimates were assessed, including: annual biomass (C) accumulation, N-fixation potential, threatened species conservation, and the provision of avian frugivore forage, insect habitat, and insect pollination. Using Principal Component Analysis, linear modeling, and Mahalanobis distance analyses, we learned that planting a diversity of tree species sets the stage for forest recovery at early restoration ages, with an inflection point at 15 years towards older reference forest characteristics and functions. Given that all restoration ages provided tree diversity and some level of ecosystem functions, the value of all restored stands in the landscape is notable. The assessment methods are easily employed, thereby providing an accessible tool to restoration practitioners. Full article

Characterized as one of the most controversial and widely used grasses in various regions, buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link) is considered a significant and problematic invasive exotic species and an adaptable and resilient forage source with relatively high biomass production and resistance to harsh agroecological conditions. Objective: The objective of this documentary research is to present a systematic review of buffelgrass dynamics, focusing on its global management and specifically on the arid regions of Mexico, particularly Sonora. This review highlights its forage potential, invasive capacity, adaptability, and the different scales of its multifactorial relationship within the productive-environmental sphere. Methods: Information on buffelgrass in various regions of the world, with an emphasis on arid regions, was reviewed and summarized. This information was gathered from a selection of 59 articles, considering common aspects such as appropriate methodologies, location within the geographical limits of aridity, and originating from Web of Science repositories. The search criteria included “Pennisetum ciliare and Cenchrus ciliaris”, “invasion”, “livestock”, “forage”, “sustainability”, and “restoration”, among other key concepts, with a timeframe limited to the year 2026. This allowed for the definition of thematic axes for the descriptions presented. Main results: The results highlight various treatments in agriculture and livestock farming, its use in combination with other grasses, and the implementation of adjuvants, which improves its performance. In this regard, its use as a substitute for primary forage with 500 mm of annual irrigation is emphasized, achieving biomass production levels of up to 18.4 t ha⁻¹. Conclusions: Buffelgrass in vulnerable arid territories, such as Sonora, Mexico, could improve soil cover, nutrient content, and biological presence; however, in a state of equilibrium, it can cause alterations that are difficult to reverse and that compromise local ecology and water resources. Full article

High-Andean grasslands in the Central Andes of Peru are severely degraded by Lepidium meyenii (maca) cultivation, compromising pasture structure and forage availability for sustainable livestock production. A factorial field experiment evaluated restoration timing and pasture-oriented seed mixtures by manipulating resting time after abandonment (0, 1, 2, and 3 years) and restoration treatment (control; Festuca dolichophylla monoculture; full mixture of Dactylis glomerata + Lolium spp. + Trifolium repens + F. dolichophylla; and mixture without F. dolichophylla) across 64 plots. Vegetation was assessed eight months after seeding, and responses were analysed with ordination, PERMANOVA with restricted permutations, PERMDISP, and generalised linear models and mixed-effects models for diversity metrics. Community composition differed significantly among resting times and seed treatments, with resting time explaining the largest proportion of variance (R² = 0.353), followed by treatment (R² = 0.236), while the interaction was significant but smaller (R² = 0.102, p = 0.002). PERMDISP detected significant differences in multivariate dispersion for both Resting Time and Treatment, indicating that compositional differences may reflect both centroid shifts and heterogeneity among groups. Passive recovery and Festuca-only plots showed slower, more variable compositional change, whereas productive mixtures produced clearer, treatment-specific trajectories over time, suggesting possible divergence in community development patterns, rather than providing formal evidence of distinct alternative stable states. Establishment was consistently high for D. glomerata and Lolium spp., supporting rapid ground cover, which may be associated with short-term forage potential, while F. dolichophylla showed chronically low establishment consistent with limited germination performance. The invasive Pennisetum clandestinum was most pronounced under passive recovery and was reduced under seeded mixtures, suggesting a potential competitive suppression effect. Overall, early seeding with productive mixtures appeared to influence community assembly trajectories, while resting time remained the dominant driver of compositional variation, suggesting potential implications for restoration management in maca-degraded landscapes, although outcomes related to sustainable grazing systems were not directly evaluated. Full article

Soil–Forage–Livestock systems (SFL-systems) integration is fundamental for sustainable land management in arid lands, where conventional crop production is often unfeasible. Aridisols dominate dryland agroecosystems and their edaphic constraints, together with climatic limitations, constitute a major bottleneck for fertility and productivity in key arid regions worldwide. This narrative review provides a taxonomic and edaphic framework to guide sustainable SFL-systems and integrates current approaches and technological applications for forage production in arid environments, focusing on an edaphic-digital scheme that combines organic and inorganic soil amendments with AI-based decision support to improve Aridisols productivity and resilience. Searches of the literature (ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Clarivate Web of Science; English, 2021–2025) screened 309 records and selected 169 references; seminal older works were consulted for context. Representative quantitative outcomes from the reviewed literature include SOC increases of ~15–30% after multi-year organic inputs; forage biomass gains of ~10–25% following amendments that correct sodicity; and water-productivity improvements up to ~30% with hydrogels or biochar. AI tools can improve soil diagnostics and amendment selection (diagnostic accuracy improvements of ~15–30% in recent studies) and generate predictive models of amendment–response that facilitate optimization of application rates and water use. The novel contribution of this review is the explicit linkage of SFL-systems and amendment-based soil restoration with AI-driven diagnostics and decision support, providing actionable metrics and research priorities to translate digital diagnostics into measurable forage gains in arid and semi-arid regions. Overall, the evidence suggests that targeted soil restoration, reinforced by AI-based support systems, is a feasible strategy to increase forage availability and ecosystem service provision in drylands. Full article

Naked oat (Avena nuda L.) is an important dual-purpose crop for grain and forage in cold regions; however, its high fatty acid content renders seeds prone to deterioration during storage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on artificially aged naked oat seeds and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Non-aged seeds (Naged) were subjected to artificial aging at 45 °C and 100% relative humidity for 24 h (Aged), followed by priming with 30 mg L⁻¹ ZnO NPs for 6 h (Daged). Antioxidant enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically, and transcriptome sequencing was performed on an Illumina platform to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways. We found that ZnO NPs increased catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 3–4-fold, restored germination rate from 75% to 98%, and enhanced seed vigor index. A total of 21,403 DEGs were detected, with 15,841 stably expressed in response to nano-priming. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst rapidly induced up-regulation of AP2/EREBP transcription factor family members, which subsequently activated antioxidant enzyme genes to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. Metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated that the phenylpropanoid pathway was reprogrammed, characterized by down-regulated lignin biosynthesis and up-regulated flavonoid production, thereby enhancing ROS scavenging capacity. Additionally, the pentose phosphate pathway was activated to provide additional NADPH for antioxidant defense, and up-regulated ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) facilitated starch accumulation. Notably, the 40S ribosomal protein S13 exhibited the highest connectivity in protein–protein interaction networks, was up-regulated 2.1-fold, and was enriched in post-translational modification processes. These findings suggest that nano-priming with ZnO NPs represents a promising biotechnological strategy for enhancing seed vigor and storability in naked oat, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and the seed industry. Full article

Alpine meadow degradation is a serious challenge for animal husbandry and ecosystem safety in the Qilian Mountain area, northwest China. Although some restoration methods have been used, fertilization practices still rely heavily on chemical fertilizers. As a type of green and effective fertilizer, microbial fertilizer was put into a degraded alpine meadow in this study, and six fertilization treatments, including no fertilization (CK), diammonium phosphate (600 kg∙ha⁻¹) (DP), microbial fertilizer (75 kg·ha⁻¹) (MF), diammonium phosphate (600 kg∙ha⁻¹) with microbial fertilizer (75 kg·ha⁻¹) (DPMF1), diammonium phosphate (450 kg∙ha⁻¹) with microbial fertilizer (75 kg·ha⁻¹) (DPMF2), and diammonium phosphate (300 kg∙ha⁻¹) with microbial fertilizer (75 kg·ha⁻¹) (DPMF3), were conducted on a moderately degraded alpine meadow using field plot experimental methods to evaluate the effects of reduced chemical fertilizer combined with microbial fertilizer on the vegetation and soil characteristics of degraded alpine meadow in 2023 and 2024. The results indicated that DP showed the highest biomass production in the two study years, but there was no significant difference between DPMF2 and DP in 2024. The dominance of originally fine forage Kobresia humilis and Medicago ruthenica showed the highest values for the DPMF3 treatment in 2023 and for the DPMF2 treatment in 2024. The vegetation Shannon–Wiener diversity and richness indices of DPMF1, DPMF2 and DPMF3 were significantly higher than those of CK. However, community diversity decreased in the second year of fertilization. DPMF2 treatment significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter, available nitrogen and available phosphorus in 2024. Grey correlation analysis indicated that 450 kg·ha⁻¹ of diammonium phosphate combined with 75 kg·ha⁻¹ of microbial fertilizer was the most suitable regime for moderately degraded alpine meadow restoration in the study area. Full article

Medicago ruthenica L., a superior forage crop within the genus Medicago (Fabaceae), is endowed with remarkable stress tolerance and an abundance of bioactive compounds, conferring significant ecological and forage value. Existing reviews primarily focus on a single research direction, and the most recent findings are dated, failing to cover breakthroughs at the molecular level. This paper systematically synthesizes the latest research progress in five key areas: genetic diversity and genomic studies, biotic stress responses, abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms (drought, salinity, and low temperature, etc.), utilization (including genetic breeding, ecological restoration, and forage development), and future research prospects. This review addresses critical gaps in existing literature, particularly regarding advances in genomic sequencing, biotic stresses, and research on stress-associated microorganisms. Research indicates that M. ruthenica exhibits extensive genetic diversity, and its genome contains numerous positive selection signals associated with stress resistance. It can tolerate multiple abiotic and biotic stresses through morphoplasticity, physiological metabolic regulation, and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, its symbiosis with microorganisms such as rhizobia significantly enhances its stress tolerance. M. ruthenica demonstrates outstanding application potential in degraded grassland restoration and high-quality forage production. Future research should focus on mining stress-resistant genes, optimizing molecular breeding techniques, and integrating artificial intelligence into breeding practices. That will facilitate its transformation from a regional endemic resource to a commercially viable functional species, thereby providing robust support for ecological security and the sustainable development of grassland-based livestock husbandry in cold and arid regions. Full article

Climate change threatens the stability of temperate grassland ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, a core part of the Eurasian Steppe, by driving widespread shifts in plant species distributions. Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn., a dominant native perennial herb in Inner Mongolian steppes, is ecologically vital for degraded grassland restoration and forage supply, but its response to future climate change is unclear. Here, we used an optimized MaxEnt model to assess its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. We processed 228 initial occurrence records into 112 valid points, selected 11 non-collinear environmental variables, optimized model parameters with the R package ENMeval, and projected distributions for the 2050s and 2100s under CMIP6 SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, while quantifying habitat fragmentation with landscape metrics. We found that annual mean temperature and annual precipitation dominate A. cristatum distribution (total contribution ~87%), with current highly suitable habitats concentrated in central-eastern Inner Mongolia. Future scenarios show stable core suitable habitats with northward and westward shifts, habitat fragmentation will slightly increase. Our findings clarify the climate response of A. cristatum and support its conservation and adaptive grassland management. Full article

Seed aging is a major constraint for plant establishment in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, where poor seed vigor directly limits species persistence and restoration success. Desert species are particularly vulnerable to storage- and stress-induced deterioration, yet practical strategies to recover germination capacity in aged seeds remain limited. This study aimed to quantify aging-induced losses in germination performance and to evaluate whether exogenous gibberellic acid (GA₃) can partially restore seed vigor through physiological, biochemical, and hormonal regulation. Fresh seeds (FS), naturally aged (NA), and artificially aged (AA) seeds of four desert species (Salsola affinis C.A.Mey., Trigonella arcuata C.A.Mey., Ceratocarpus arenarius L., and Alyssum desertorum Stapf) were exposed to graded GA₃ concentrations (0–500 mg L⁻¹). Germination indices (GP, GR, GI, VI), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT), lipid peroxidation (MDA), phytohormones (IAA, ABA, cytokinins), and multivariate trait relationships were assessed. Without GA₃, NA reduced germination potential by 22.8–33.6%, while AA caused more severe losses of 42.4–67.8%, depending on species. Germination rate declined by 15.7–32.5% under NA and 36.4–65.2% under AA. GA₃ application improved all germination indices up to 200 mg L⁻¹ (GA200), which increased GP by 22.8–32.0% and vitality index by 17.0–28.5% compared with GA₀, whereas GA500 showed diminishing returns. Aging suppressed antioxidant enzymes by 15–20% (NA) and 30–45% (AA) and increased MDA by up to 50%, while GA200 enhanced SOD, POD, and CAT and reduced MDA by 8–18%. Aging also reduced IAA and cytokinins (~28–50%) and increased ABA (27.7–77.4%), with GA200 partially restoring hormonal balance. In conclusion, GA₃ at an optimal dose (200 mg L⁻¹) partially reverses aging-induced physiological and hormonal constraints, improving germination and vigor, although recovery remains limited under advanced deterioration. Full article

Large-scale forest ecological restoration is commonly expected to improve habitat quality and promote population growth of forest-dependent herbivores. Yet, whether vegetation recovery facilitates or constrains herbivore growth and habitat use at local scales within nature reserves remains unclear, as vegetation recovery and canopy closure might alter forage availability and lead to ecological mismatch between vegetation features and population dynamic. Here, we used the endangered species South China sika deer as the study species, and its dominant distribution region—Qingliangfeng Biosphere Reserve—as the study area. Using decadal camera-trapping data (2015–2024) and extracted vegetation and other environmental variables, we quantified decadal trends in sika deer activity intensity and interannual variation in vegetation (leaf area index, LAI, and normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI). We incorporated topographic and anthropogenic disturbance variables and applied generalized linear mixed models and generalized linear models to analyze its habitat use. We found that: (1) Numbers of independent photographs and the relative abundance index of sika deer increased significantly and consistently from 2015 to 2024. (2) LAI exhibited substantial interannual variability without a stable trend. In contrast, segmented regression identified a clear temporal breakpoint in NDVI, with a significant increasing trend before 2021 followed by a pronounced decline thereafter. (3) In all years, distance to settlement had a significant and negative effect on activity intensity, whereas distance to road, elevation, and year had significant positive effects. LAI and NDVI showed negative and weak effects on sika deer activity intensity. In specific years, LAI had a significantly negative effect in early periods whereas NDVI became significantly negative in mid and late periods. Other environmental variables exhibited interannual heterogeneity. Our findings demonstrate that vegetation recovery within the reserve does not automatically improve habitats for forest-dependent herbivores and could lead to a potential ecological mismatch. Full article

Understanding the forage resources that sustain endangered herbivores under strong seasonal constraints is essential for effective habitat restoration. Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), an endemic ungulate restricted to the Qinghai Lake Basin on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, persists in fragmented subpopulations facing pronounced seasonal bottlenecks in forage availability. Here, we investigated seasonal dietary strategies and forage selectivity across nine geographically isolated subpopulations by integrating fecal microhistological diet analysis with vegetation surveys and availability-corrected Jacobs’ electivity indices. Gazelle diets were compressed in early spring, dominated by graminoids (Poaceae and Cyperaceae), but expanded substantially during summer, with increased contributions from Fabaceae and Rosaceae and significantly higher richness and niche breadth. Electivity analyses revealed a hierarchical spectrum of preferences structured around core foundation taxa consistently selected across seasons, complemented by season-specific priority resources during spring bottlenecks and summer abundance. Basin-wide pairwise ranking further identified seasonal priority forage taxa with varying spatial consistency across subpopulations. These findings provide a seasonally explicit framework for identifying key forage targets and guiding evidence-based restoration and zoned management within Qinghai Lake National Park, offering transferable insights for conserving endangered plateau herbivores under fragmentation and strong seasonal resource limitation. Full article

Past restoration of hardwood forests prioritized planting of woody vegetation cover, particularly oaks (Quercus spp.). This restoration regime often did not consider other microhabitat components, which failed to restore habitat complexity. Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea (Walter) Muhl.) was an important microhabitat feature for creating a dense understory structure within the hardwood forest landscape. Many bird species are associated with stands of giant cane (canebrakes) for food, cover, and nesting ground. The decline of canebrakes may reduce nesting and foraging habitat, negatively impacting bird communities. Here, we used a hierarchical multi-species occupancy model to assess how giant cane and its associated overstory forest structure influenced breeding bird occupancy in southern Illinois. Bird surveys were conducted from May to July 2022–2024 at 100 site-years using passive acoustic monitoring. Responses to the vegetation structure (tree density and size) and canebrakes varied among species and nesting guilds (overstory, understory, and ground). Occurrence probabilities of 54% of the bird species increased with the presence of canebrake. We did not find any significant relationships between bird occupancy and vegetation structure and canebrake characteristics. Overall, maintaining a hardwood forest stand with a heterogeneous canopy cover would create variations in light environments, allowing canebrakes to benefit bird species across nesting guilds. Full article