Search Results (1,123)

Nitrogen (N) sources affect forage production, soil N dynamics, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluated short-term effects of contrasting N sources on forage responses, soil health indicators, and GHG emissions in a cool-season oat (Avena sativa L.) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) system. Treatments were T1 (grass only), T2 (grass + N), T3 (grass + legume), T4 (grass + poultry litter), and T5 (grass + cattle dung). Crude protein was greater in T3 than in T4 (18% versus 13%; p = 0.02). In May, T3 had the greatest microbial C:N ratio (60.6) and soil inorganic N (45.5 mg N kg⁻¹; p < 0.01). Potentially mineralizable N was greater in T3 than in T1, T2 and T4 (3.96 versus ≤ 2.71 mg NH₄-N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹; p < 0.01). Mean daily CH₄ fluxes were greater (p < 0.01) under T5 (1106 g CH₄-C ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) than under T1 and T3 (≤−3.59 g CH₄-C ha⁻¹ day⁻¹). Mean daily CO₂ fluxes were lower in T3 and T4 than in T1, T2, and T5. There were no effects on N₂O emissions. Legume integration enhanced short-term N cycling and forage nutritive value, without N₂O emissions, over a 60-day experiment. Full article

Cultivated grasslands provide an important strategy for reducing pressure on degraded natural grasslands and increasing high-quality forage supply. However, how stand-age-related variation affects belowground–aboveground coordination and forage production in cultivated Leymus chinensis remains unclear. Here, we compared a natural L. chinensis stand (NL) with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old cultivated ‘Zhongke No. 1’ stands by integrating plant trait measurements, biomass assessment, nutrient analysis, forage quality evaluation, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. (1) Compared with NL, cultivated stands generally showed greater vegetative growth and aboveground biomass, lower fiber concentrations, and higher soluble sugar concentration and relative feed value. (2) Root and aboveground traits exhibited distinct stand-age-related patterns, with the 3Y stand showing greater root exploration traits, the 4Y stand achieving the highest aboveground biomass (4.61 t/hm²), and the 5Y stand exhibiting greater root thickening and ramet density. (3) Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations varied among stand ages, indicating shifts in nutrient status during stand development. (4) Correlation analysis and PLS-SEM revealed that root architecture, nutrient status, and aboveground morphology were closely associated with forage yield and quality variation. These findings highlight the importance of stand-age-dependent belowground–aboveground coordination for optimizing the management and utilization of cultivated L. chinensis grasslands. Full article

Durum wheat straw is an abundant by-product in Mediterranean cereal systems, but its low protein and high fiber content limit its use as ruminant feed. Integrating forage legumes as living mulches in durum wheat may enhance its feeding value through the addition of nutrient-rich legume biomass. A two-year field trial evaluated three forage legumes (Vicia sativa L., Trifolium michelianum Savi, Trifolium subterraneum L.) grown as living mulch with organic durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) under two NPK fertilization rates (target 60 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹), with or without rhizobial inoculation. Chemical composition and forage quality indices were determined for sole-wheat straw (SB) and legume biomass (LB) and subsequently used to estimate the nutritional characteristics of wheat straw–legume biomass mixtures (TSB). Biomass production was significantly affected by legume species in the first growing season and by legume species and rhizobial inoculation in the second, with Vicia sativa consistently showing the best performances. Correlation analysis showed that increasing LB contribution was significantly associated with all forage quality indices of the resulting TSB. These results indicate that rhizobially inoculated forage legume living mulch may improve the potential use of wheat straw as an on-farm feed resource in Mediterranean organic farming. Full article

Lotus corniculatus is a superior leguminous forage with multiple values including forage, ecological, ornamental and medicinal uses. It is also an ideal material for plant bioreactors. As a core technical approach, genetic transformation overcomes the constraints of traditional breeding and facilitates the targeted improvement in stress resistance and agronomic traits in this species. This review summarizes the research progress of the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of L. corniculatus, focusing on key procedures such as explant selection, strain selection, infection and co-cultivation regimes, basal medium composition, phytohormone regulation, as well as bacteria elimination and transformant screening strategies. We further elaborate on the applications of this transformation system in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses (salt, drought and heat), regulating quality-related traits, and developing plant-based vaccine bioreactors. Additionally, this paper critically discusses the major bottlenecks and challenges constraining existing genetic transformation systems in L. corniculatus, and evaluates the prospects for establishing high-efficiency and genetically stable transformation platforms. This review aims to provide theoretical foundations and technical references for germplasm innovation, molecular breeding and comprehensive utilization of L. corniculatus. Full article

Lodging limits oat yield, forage value, silage quality, and mechanized harvesting, but resistance cannot be explained by plant height alone. This structured narrative review synthesizes literature available through 1 June 2026 using a tiered evidence framework. After duplicate removal, the review included 119 unique references in total. These comprised 12 Level I studies with direct oat evidence, 30 Level II oat-focused studies requiring further validation, and 77 Level III comparative sources. Overall, 42 sources (35.3%) focused on oat or Avena. The strongest direct evidence supports roles for basal-internode geometry and mechanics, cell-wall composition, canopy architecture, planting density, nitrogen management, and genotype-specific responses to plant growth regulators. However, the direction and magnitude of these effects depend strongly on genotype × management × environment interactions. Evidence for root lodging remains limited because root traits are rarely examined together with direct anchorage measurements and soil mechanical properties. Image-based phenotyping also lacks independently validated, multi-environment oat datasets for model development. Genome-wide association studies and multi-omics analyses have identified candidate loci, genes, and pathways, but independent, homoeolog-aware validation is still needed. We recommend standardized reporting of lodging type, field severity, basal-internode mechanics, root–soil conditions, and imaging protocols. We also propose resource-matched deployment and staged priorities, from phenotyping harmonization to multi-environment validation and causal analysis of belowground mechanisms. Full article

The scarcity of effective selective herbicides has made weed management a limiting factor for alfalfa yield and large-scale cultivation. This study aimed to preliminarily screen selective herbicides with acceptable safety to alfalfa and establish an effective weed management program based on sequential pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications through greenhouse screening and multi-year field trials. The greenhouse herbicide safety evaluation showed that, among the 22 herbicides tested, the post-application of 2 pre-emergence herbicides (s-metolachlor and prodiamine) and 5 post-emergence herbicides (benazolin, bentazon, fluazifop-p, imazethapyr, and nicosulfuron) showed a relatively higher survival rate (~4× the standard dose) on two alfalfa cultivars through assessing visual efficacy, plant height, and dry biomass per plant. However, even herbicides that result in relatively high plant survival can produce induce significant growth inhibition and biomass reduction when applied at high doses. Those herbicides were further tested under field conditions (2020–2023) for evaluation of weed control efficiency and alfalfa plant biomass yield potential and nutritive values. Among the herbicide application regimes, the pre-application of prodiamine followed by post-application of bentazon or fluazifop-p showed the most effective weed control efficacy (70–85% reduction of weed biomass in the alfalfa plot), which was greater than the reductions achieved with all single-herbicide applications (24–48%) and sequential application of s-metolachlor followed by the five post-emergence herbicides (25–46%). Additionally, the optimized combinations had no significant effect on the 1st and subsequent alfalfa plant height compared to that of alfalfa in weed-free control. No significant reductions in alfalfa yield or nutritive value were observed in the herbicide-treated plots treated with prodiamine followed by bentazon or fluazifop-p compared with the weed-free control. Collectively, sequential application combining pre- (prodiamine) and post-emergence (bentazon or fluazifop-p) herbicides shows effective weed control in alfalfa under the tested conditions, which provides a useful weed management program to enhance alfalfa forage production and nutritive values. Full article

Wildlife baiting sites represent localized disturbance hotspots within natural habitats and may substantially alter plant diversity. We investigated these effects in the Mátra Mountains (Hungary) by surveying 20 baiting sites across two regions and two elevational zones. Vegetation was sampled using 1 × 1 m quadrats positioned along 20 m transects. Results revealed a highly significant (p < 0.001) degradation gradient centered around bait stations. Management intensity appeared to override natural environmental gradients, as invasive species cover differed significantly between regions (p < 0.001), with higher values in Western Mátra (1.88%) than in Eastern Mátra (1.15%). Weed cover showed a similar, although non-significant trend (15.66% vs. 7.84%). Landscape-level analysis identified the surrounding road network as a key dispersal corridor, with road density positively correlated with weed cover. Sites equipped with automatic baiting systems recorded significantly higher weed cover (16.15%) than traditional sites (7.36%). The frequent occurrence of crop species (Zea mays L., Triticum aestivum L.) together with invasive plants (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Xanthium spinosum L.) suggests that agricultural forage serves as a major pathway for the introduction of non-native seeds. As management intensity was more strongly associated with these patterns than environmental gradients, anthropogenic factors appear to be the primary drivers of localized changes in plant community composition and biodiversity. Full article

Puccinellia tenuiflora is a perennial halophytic grass commonly regarded as a pioneer species for the ecological restoration of saline–alkali land. Its adaptive capacity and subsequent utilization value are shaped by interacting structural, physiological, molecular, ecological, and management-related factors. This review summarizes recent studies on saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora, with emphasis on root structural barriers, Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, organic-acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, ion transport, and multi-omics regulation. To better understand the integrated stress response, we propose a functional framework that distinguishes first-line defenses from downstream cellular repair mechanisms. First-line defenses include root apoplastic barriers (Casparian strips and suberization) that restrict Na⁺ entry, plasma-membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters (e.g., SOS1) that mediate active Na⁺ exclusion, and K⁺-retention mechanisms (e.g., AKT1, HKT2;1) that preserve cytosolic K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis—these operate rapidly to prevent ion imbalance at the onset of stress. Downstream repair and acclimation mechanisms include osmotic adjustment via compatible solutes (e.g., proline, glycine betaine), organic-acid accumulation (especially citric acid) for pH regulation and chelation, ROS scavenging systems, and proteomic/phosphoproteomic reprogramming that repair stress-induced damage and restore metabolic balance. Furthermore, saline–alkali stress involves both short-term osmotic shock and long-term ionic toxicity, and available evidence suggests a temporal shift in the relative importance of these mechanisms: osmotic adjustment and rapid ion exclusion dominate during the initial hours to days of stress, whereas organic-acid metabolism, ROS buffering, and molecular reprogramming become increasingly important during prolonged exposure, sustaining tissue integrity and enabling long-term persistence. Current evidence indicates that saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora results from the combined action of several processes, including restricted Na⁺ entry, K⁺ retention, organic-acid accumulation, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and organ-specific molecular responses. This review also discusses the significance of P. tenuiflora in community establishment, saline–alkali land restoration, and post-restoration forage utilization. Field studies and limited feeding trials suggest that P. tenuiflora can provide biomass and utilization potential after community stabilization. However, based on current evidence, it is more appropriate to define its forage value as a post-restoration utilization extension rather than as that of a fully developed specialized forage crop. Further studies are required on nutritional quality, mineral-element safety, long-term field management, and animal feeding validation. Full article

This article presents a spatial assessment of rangeland productivity, forage resources, and the potential carrying capacity of saiga (Saiga tatarica (L., 1766)) habitats within the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve (Kazakhstan). This research integrated field geobotanical surveys, remote sensing data, and spatial modelling approaches. During fieldwork conducted in July 2025, 44 geobotanical descriptions were completed. Long-term Sentinel-2 imagery (2015–2025), spectral vegetation indices, and ensemble machine learning algorithms (Random Forest and Gradient Boosted Decision Trees) were used to model rangeland productivity. The study area includes 16 types of rangelands. The forage resource base is primarily formed by dry-steppe communities dominated by Stipa, Festuca, and Artemisia. At the same time, halophytic vegetation containing Atriplex, Bassia, and Halocnemum provides additional forage resources under arid and saline conditions. The total annual forage reserve was estimated at 3,308,921.2 centners, and the potential annual carrying capacity was calculated at 363,033 saiga individuals across 313,868 ha. These values represent the theoretical forage-carrying capacity of the territory and should not be interpreted as actual population estimates. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating remote sensing, field observations, and machine learning methods for assessing forage resources and spatial heterogeneity of rangeland ecosystems in the steppe regions of Kazakhstan. Full article

Despite the potential of Eragrostis nigra in alleviating forage shortages and controlling soil erosion, there is little information about how nitrogen fertilization and row spacing affect its forage and seed production. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 45, 90, 135 kg hectare⁻¹ (ha⁻¹)) and row spacing (20 cm, 40 cm) on its forage yield, nutritive value, seed yield and quality. Results showed that forage dry matter yield (DMY) and harvested seed yield (HSY) increased with higher N rates; however, no further enhancement was observed at 135 kg per ha⁻¹, making 90 kg ha⁻¹ optimum. This may be because excessive nitrogen disrupts the carbon–nitrogen metabolic balance. N fertilization increased the relative feed value by enhancing crude protein content and decreasing acid detergent fiber. Relative to the 20 cm spacing, the 40 cm spacing averagely raised PSY and HSY by 34.7% and 21.3%, respectively. The quadratic regression model yielded maximum predicted HSY values of 27.6 and 26.7 kg ha⁻¹, achieved at optimal N rates of 135 and 98.6 kg ha⁻¹ for the 20 cm and 40 cm spacings, respectively. Thousand-seed weight (TSW), germination index, and vigor index were significantly improved by row spacing and N application (p < 0.05). Seed yield enhancement from N was positively correlated with increases in number of fertile tillers (FT), number of spikelets per tiller and seed set (p < 0.05). Furthermore, FT and TSW had the strongest direct effects on seed yield, with standardized path coefficients of 0.362 and 0.390. Our findings highlight that an application rate of 90 kg ha⁻¹ N combined with 40 cm row spacing could be recommended as the efficient agronomic practice for maximizing forage yield, nutritive value, and seed yield in E. nigra. Importantly, this regime also enhances economic returns while reducing N leaching risks, thereby supporting more sustainable forage production systems. Full article

Goat milk composition is an important determinant of the nutritional, technological, and economic value of dairy products and is influenced by feeding management. This study examined the associations between feeding practices implemented during different lactation stages and goat milk quality, expressed as a latent construct comprising fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat, in semi-intensive dairy goat farms in Northern Greece. Data were collected from 242 commercial farms through milk sampling and a structured questionnaire on feeding management, animal characteristics, and farm practices. Associations between feeding practices and milk quality were evaluated using structural equation modeling. The final model showed satisfactory fit and explained 46.6% of the variance in the latent milk-quality construct. Moderate concentrate supplementation (300–500 g/day) during mid and late lactation showed the strongest positive association with milk quality, followed by grass–legume hay, protein concentrate supplementation, dairy mixes containing vitamins and minerals, pasture intake of 3–4 kg/day, and goat balancer use. Annual milk yield was negatively associated with milk quality, whereas goat age showed a positive association. These findings indicate that lactation-stage-specific feeding management emphasizing moderate concentrate supplementation and high-quality forage is associated with improved milk composition and may help optimize feeding strategies in semi-intensive dairy goat systems. Full article

Winter fallow fields are widely distributed in southern China, where legume–grass mixtures are considered a useful approach for improving land-use efficiency and forage productivity while maintaining agroecosystem functions. Previous studies on the use of winter fallow fields have generally focused either on monoculture or on crops subjected to a single cut. These studies have primarily assessed aboveground productivity, whereas soil bacterial community responses have received comparatively little attention. Consequently, limited information is available on how different seeding combinations and cutting times affect aboveground biomass and soil bacterial community structure in mixed-cropping systems. A fixed-site field experiment involving annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) was conducted on yellow clay soil. Five annual ryegrass-Chinese milk vetch seeding combinations (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) were established as proportions of their respective monoculture seeding rates. The same plots were maintained for five consecutive winter growing seasons, from autumn 2021 to spring 2026. Plant and soil samples were collected only during the final growing season (2025–2026), at four cutting times in January, March, April, and May. These samples were used to assess the effects of seeding combination and cutting time on forage productivity, root traits, soil fertility, and soil bacterial community structure. Among all groups, the 75% annual ryegrass + 25% Chinese milk vetch group (R75M25) exhibited the best overall performance, with cumulative yields after four cuttings of 17,274.21 kg·ha⁻¹ dry matter, 2717.02 kg·ha⁻¹ crude protein, and 12,220.46 kg·ha⁻¹ digestible dry matter. In addition, the R75M25 group maintained relatively high contents of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in soil. The top three phyla of soil samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, with a total relative abundance of >60%. Among these, Proteobacteria showed the greatest relative abundance in monoculture, whereas the seeding combination had a reduced proportion of it. In addition, its relative abundance rose steadily with cutting time. At the genus level, RB41, Gemmatimonas, and Sphingomonas dominated the soil bacterial community. The seeding combinations did not alter soil bacterial alpha diversity. Cutting times significantly reduced the phylogenetic diversity index and drove the temporal differentiation of taxa such as Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The inclusion of an appropriate proportion of Chinese milk vetch improved forage nutritional value while maintaining high biomass accumulation in southern China, with the R75M25 group showing the best overall performance in winter fallow fields. Full article

This study proposes a biomimetic multi-objective optimization framework for airflow distribution design in mine ventilation systems by integrating sensitivity screening with an improved multi-objective sparrow search algorithm (IMOSSA). The design problem is formulated with network-balance, critical branch airflow, fan-boundary, and adjustable-resistance constraints, while theoretical ventilation air power and pressure-drop disturbance are minimized as two conflicting objectives. Resistance-perturbation sensitivity analysis is used to identify high-impact adjustable branches and construct branch-specific search bounds, thereby forming a compact and physically feasible decision domain. Inspired by the foraging and vigilance behaviors of sparrow populations, IMOSSA is employed as a swarm-intelligence Pareto-search engine and integrates three strategies: chaotic opposition-based elite initialization to enhance initial population diversity, density-penalized external-archive guidance to maintain Pareto-front diversity, and stagnation-triggered differential–Cauchy perturbation to improve late-stage escape capability. ZDT and DTLZ benchmark functions verify the computational reliability of IMOSSA; in particular, on the multimodal ZDT4 function, IMOSSA achieves GD, IGD, and HV values of 0.0096, 0.0195, and 0.8479, respectively, indicating strong robustness in complex Pareto-front search. A mine ventilation network case further validates the engineering applicability of the proposed framework. For 13 adjustable branches, the compromise solution reduces model-computed ventilation air power from 313.61 kW to 281.11 kW, corresponding to a reduction of 10.36%, with a pressure-drop deviation of 354.15 Pa; the energy-priority solution further reduces the power to 256.91 kW, corresponding to a reduction of 18.08%. The results show that the proposed biomimetic multi-objective optimization framework can provide computable and interpretable Pareto decision support for airflow distribution design in mine ventilation systems. Full article

Pastures are the dietary basis of grazing systems in regions such as southern Chile, and their botanical composition and management can influence ruminal fermentation and associated by-products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture type and defoliation frequency (DF) on in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and methane and ammonia production. Four pasture types were evaluated: Bromus valdivianus Phil. monoculture (Bv), Lolium perenne monoculture (Lp), a binary mixture of both species (LpBv), and a multispecies pasture (Msp). All pastures were managed under two defoliation frequencies (150 and 300 growing degree days [GDDs]) and sampled across four seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring). Samples were dried at 60 °C, ground, and incubated for 48 h at 39 °C using the ANKOM RF automated gas production system, with ruminal inoculum collected from rumen-cannulated cows. Total gas production, methane production, and concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia (NH₃) were evaluated. The CH₄ proportion was affected by the DF × season interaction, and CH₄ intensity was affected by the pasture type × DF interaction. Total gas production was greater for Lp than for Bv and Msp and was greater at 300 than at 150 GDD. Total VFAs showed a pasture type × DF × season interaction. Across pasture types, NH₃ concentration was lower at 300 than at 150 GDD. Overall, no treatment consistently reduced methane output. Extending the defoliation interval may reduce ruminal NH₃, but its environmental benefit should be evaluated together with seasonal methane responses and potential trade-offs in forage nutritive value and animal performance. Full article

Alfalfa spring black stem and leaf spot (ASBS), caused by Ascochyta medicaginicola, threatens alfalfa yield, forage quality, and stand persistence. Conventional resistance assessments of alfalfa cultivars generally rely on disease incidence, disease severity, or the percentage of healthy plants. Although these measures describe symptom occurrence and development, they do not capture biomass retention or root growth after infection. In this study, 12 alfalfa cultivars were spray-inoculated with A. medicaginicola under greenhouse conditions and evaluated 14 days after inoculation. Disease incidence was positively correlated with the disease severity index and negatively correlated with relative fresh weight, relative dry weight, and relative root length. We integrated these five indicators using a membership-function-based standard-deviation coefficient weighting method to derive a comprehensive response score (D value). D values ranged from 0.0340 to 0.9611. Magnum 2 had the highest D value, followed by Gannong No. 3, Adrenalin, and Dryland, whereas Thunder, Zhongmu No. 1, and Aohan had the lowest values. Compared with the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance classification based on the percentage of healthy plants, the D-value ranking provided additional discrimination among cultivars within the same resistance class under the present greenhouse conditions. The first two principal components explained 89.24% of the total variation and separated resistant, intermediate, and susceptible response types. Thus, combining disease suppression with growth retention yielded a complementary quantitative description of cultivar performance under the conditions tested. Full article