Search Results (142)

The Inner Mongolian Plateau is a critical region for the development of herbivorous animal husbandry in China. However, its harsh climate and poor soil quality have constrained the sustainable growth of the alfalfa industry. This 3-year field study investigated the effects of potassium (K) fertilizer on the productivity and forage quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. ‘WL168’) in such specific conditions of the region. Five rates of K fertilizer (0 (CK), 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O) were applied in three split applications. Forage harvests occurred three times annually in 2023 and 2024, and yield, yield components, and forage quality were determined. The results showed that the forage yield of alfalfa increased initially and then decreased with the rising K application rates, which paralleled the changes in the plant density, and plant height, especially the mass shoot⁻¹; forage yield was mainly correlated with mass shoot⁻¹. Appropriate K fertilizer improved forage quality, especially in 2024. With increasing application, crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDNs) first rose then declined, whereas neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) decreased steadily, leading to a consistent rise in the relative feeding value (RFV). Comprehensively considering both yield and quality under such condition, a K fertilizer application rate of 273.2 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O is suggested as a reference for this region. Full article

The present study aimed to evaluate the aerobic stability, fermentation profile, microbiological diversity, and bromatological composition of the haylage of white oats obtained using three dehydration methods: (1) Mechanical (MEC); (2) Mechanical + Bacterial chemical compound (MEC + BCC); and (3) Chemical (CHE), where Glyphosate was used as a desiccant. The haylage made with the forage dehydrated by the mechanical method showed lower aerobic stability (69.20 h) and a higher cumulative temperature from 0 to 84 h and from 0 to 168 h (12.73 °C and 25.91 °C, respectively). The haylage made with Glyphosate-desiccated forage had higher concentrations of acetic acid (3.96 g kg⁻¹) and isobutyric acid (0.78 g kg⁻¹). The microbiological diversity and richness did not differ among the haylages produced. However, the relative abundance of the genera Pantoea and Lactobacillus was higher in the haylage made with Glyphosate-desiccated forage. The bacterial chemical compound guaranteed a haylage with lower lignin content (31.97 g kg⁻¹), lower acid detergent nitrogen (7.54 g kg⁻¹), and higher hemicellulose (211.72 g kg⁻¹). The haylage made from dehydrated forage by the Mechanical + Bacterial Chemical Compound methods presented a better fermentation pattern and had lower fermentation losses, and its bromatological quality was superior to the others. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alfalfa is a widely cultivated high-quality forage crop, and salinity tolerance is one of the most important breeding goals. Glycine max SALT INDUCED NAC 1 (GmSIN1) was found to enhance salinity tolerance in soybean plants. The phylogenetic analysis showed there were two homologs of GmSIN1 in Medicago truncatula, MtSIN1a and MtSIN1b. This raised questions regarding the roles of MtSIN1s in alfalfa under salinity stress. Methods: From a Tnt1 mutant collection, we identified the mutants of MtSIN1a. We recorded the survival rate and plant height of mtsin1a-1 and mtsin1a-2 after 100 mM NaCl treatment. Subsequently, we generated 35S:MtSIN1a-GFP transgenic alfalfa lines via genetic transformation. Two lines with relatively high MtSIN1a expression, 35S:MtSIN1a-GFP#3 and 35S:MtSIN1a-GFP#4, were selected for gradient NaCl treatments. In addition, DAB and NBT staining were performed, and the H₂O₂ content and catalase (CAT) activity were determined. Then, we used RNA-seq analysis and RT-qPCR to study the mechanism of its tolerance. Results: This study found that after salt treatment, the survival rate and plant height of mtsin1a-1 and mtsin1a-2 were significantly lower than those of the WT. The mutants of MtSIN1a were sensitive to salinity stress. The transgenic alfalfa plants exhibited higher plant height, weaker DAB staining, stronger NBT staining, less H₂O₂ content, and enhanced CAT activity. The transgenic alfalfa constructed by transforming MtSIN1a showed enhanced salinity tolerance with elevated ROS scavenging. We identified MsSOD1 showing elevated expression levels in transcriptomic analysis. Conclusions: MtSIN1a is a positive regulator for enhancing salinity tolerance in alfalfa with activated ROS scavenging. Full article

In addressing the challenges of low pelletization qualification rates, poor uniformity between seeds and powder, and difficulties in optimizing equipment parameters for agropyron seed coating, this paper integrates numerical simulation with experimental verification to optimize the working parameters of pelletization coating. The study investigates the impact of vibration frequency, vibration direction, vibration amplitude, rotational speed, and inclination angle on seed-powder mixing uniformity and single-seed pellet qualification rates through both physical experiments and simulation tests. The study found that the coefficient of variation obtained through discrete element simulation can serve as a reliable surrogate indicator for evaluating pelletization coating quality, with its variation trend highly consistent with the single-seed pellet qualification rate observed in physical experiments. A secondary regression orthogonal design experiment used these indicators to establish a second-order regression equation, thereby performing single-objective optimization of the regression model. The results showed that the relative errors between simulation and physical test parameters were 1.24% for vibration frequency, 1.08% for coating pan rotational speed, and 0.17% for coating pan inclination angle. This demonstrates the high reliability of the coefficient of variation as a surrogate indicator for pellet qualification. With the optimized parameters, the qualification rate of single-seed pellets for agropyron seeds reached 95.3%, and the relative error between model predictions and physical tests was 1.7%. These findings validate the use of the second-order regression equation for predicting and analyzing single-seed pellet qualification rates and provide valuable insights for designing small-grain forage seed pelletization coating machines and optimizing coating parameters. Full article

Insufficient forage is a significant factor limiting the development of animal husbandry in high-altitude pastoral areas. This study aims to identify suitable high-quality forage Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) varieties for cultivation in the Qaidam Basin and determine their optimal harvest period. Seven triticale varieties were selected as experimental materials, and their production performance and nutritional quality were comprehensively analyzed at four different growth stages [booting stage (BTS), heading stage (HDS), flowering stage (FLS), and milk stage (MKS)] in 2024 and 2025, utilizing Pearson correlation analysis, PCA, and TOPSIS methods. The results indicated that as the reproductive period progressed, plant height, dry matter yield, and dry matter content exhibited a continuous increase. In contrast, indicators such as stem diameter, number of green leaves, and fresh biomass yield initially increased before subsequently declining. The MKS soluble sugar content (SS) and relative feed value (RFV) were the highest, crude protein (CP) and crude ash content (CA) decreased, the neutral detergent fiber content (NDF) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) content reached their peak in the HDS. The relative forage quality (RFQ) reached its peak during the flowering period. Comprehensive analysis showed that the top five rankings are QSM-8 > JSM-3 > QSM-1 > JSM-2 > QSM-7. In the Qaidam Basin, the optimal harvest period from the FLS to the MKS ensures both high yield and good nutritional quality, making it suitable for promotion in the Qaidam Basin region and similar ecological zones. Full article

Urochloa brizantha (Brizantha) is cultivated under varying altitudinal and management conditions. Twelve full-sun (monoculture) plots and twelve shaded (silvopastoral) plots were established, proportionally distributed at 170, 503, 661, and 1110 masl. Evaluations were conducted 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after establishment. The conservation and integration of trees in silvopastoral systems reflected a clear anthropogenic influence, evidenced by the preference for species of the Fabaceae family, likely due to their multipurpose nature. Although the altitudinal gradient did not show direct effects on soil properties, intermediate altitudes revealed a significant role of CaCO₃ in enhancing soil fertility. These edaphic conditions at mid-altitudes favored the leaf area development of Brizantha, particularly during the early growth stages, as indicated by significantly larger values (p < 0.05). However, at the harvest stage, no significant differences were observed in physiological or productive traits, nor in foliar chemical components, underscoring the species’ high hardiness and broad adaptation to both soil and altitude conditions. In Brizantha, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in stomatal size and density was observed under shade in silvopastoral areas, where solar radiation and air temperature decreased, while relative humidity increased. Nonetheless, these microclimatic variations did not lead to significant changes in foliar chemistry, growth variables, or biomass production, suggesting a high degree of adaptive plasticity to microclimatic fluctuations. Foliar ash content exhibited an increasing trend with altitude, indicating greater efficiency of Brizantha in absorbing calcium, phosphorus, and potassium at higher altitudes, possibly linked to more favorable edaphoclimatic conditions for nutrient uptake. Finally, forage quality declined with plant age, as evidenced by reductions in protein, ash, and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD), alongside increases in fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF). These findings support the recommendation of cutting intervals between 30 and 45 days, during which Brizantha displays a more favorable nutritional profile, higher digestibility, and consequently, greater value for animal feeding. Full article

Seasonal climate variability and agronomic management profoundly influence both the productivity and nutritive value of temperate hay meadows. We analyzed five years of data (2019, 2020, 2022–2024) from 15 meadows in the central Spanish Pyrenees to quantify how environmental variables (January–June minimum temperatures, rainfall), management variables (fertilization rates (N, P, K), livestock load, cutting date), and vegetation (plant biodiversity (Shannon index)) drive total biomass yield (kg ha⁻¹), protein content (%), and Relative Feed Value (RFV). Using Random Forest regression with rigorous cross-validation, our yield model achieved an R² of 0.802 (RMSE = 983.8 kg ha⁻¹), the protein model an R² of 0.786 (RMSE = 1.71%), and the RFV model an R² of 0.718 (RMSE = 13.86). Variable importance analyses revealed that March rainfall was the dominant predictor of yield (importance = 0.430), reflecting the critical role of early-spring moisture in tiller establishment and canopy development. In contrast, cutting date exerted the greatest influence on protein (importance = 0.366) and RFV (importance = 0.344), underscoring the sensitivity of forage quality to harvest timing. Lower minimum temperatures—particularly in March and May—and moderate livestock densities (up to 1 LU) were also positively associated with enhanced protein and RFV, whereas higher biodiversity (Shannon ≥ 3) produced modest gains in feed quality without substantial yield penalties. These findings suggest that adaptive management—prioritizing soil moisture conservation in early spring, timely harvesting, balanced grazing intensity, and maintenance of plant diversity—can optimize both the quantity and quality of hay meadow biomass under variable climatic conditions. Full article

Monoculture and legume–grass mixed cropping are the two most common planting methods, with mixed cropping generally demonstrating higher hay yield and superior nutritional quality compared to monoculture. However, research on legume–grass mixed cropping for establishing cultivated pastures in typical sand-fixing vegetation areas of the Mu Us Sandy Land remains scarce. These knowledge gaps have hindered the synergistic integration of forage production and ecological restoration in the region. This study conducted mixed cropping trials in the sand-fixing vegetation zone of the Mu Us Sandy Land using Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus), Mongolian wheatgrass (Agropyron mongolicum), and Standing milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens) to investigate the effects of species combinations and planting ratios on forage productivity and nutritional quality, aiming to determine the optimal planting strategy. Results showed that in the first establishment year, the yield of all mixed cropping systems significantly exceeded that of monocultured Dahurian wildrye and Mongolian wheatgrass. All mixed cropping combinations exhibited land equivalent ratios (LER) and relative yield totals (RYT) below 1, indicating varying degrees of interspecific competition during the first year, with grass species generally demonstrating stronger competitive abilities than legumes. Mixed-cropped forages showed higher crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash content compared to monocultures, alongside lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels, suggesting improved relative feed value (RFV). Among the combinations, E₅A₅ and E₆A₄ (5:5 and 6:4 ratio of Dahurian wildrye to Standing milkvetch) achieved higher RFV, with RFV gradually declining as the legume proportion decreased. In conclusion, both monoculture and legume–grass mixed cropping are viable in the Mu Us Sandy Land’s sand-fixing vegetation areas and the E₅A₅ combination (5:5 ratio of Dahurian wildrye to Standing milkvetch) as having the highest overall score, demonstrating that this mixed cropping ratio optimally balances yield and nutritional quality, making it the recommended planting protocol for the region. This mixed cropping system offers a theoretical foundation for efficiently establishing artificial pastures in the Mu Us Sandy Land, supporting regional pastoral industry development and desertification mitigation. Full article

Oats (Avena sativa L.) are forage grasses moderately tolerant to saline-alkali soil and are widely used for the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali land. Using the oat varieties collected from the Qaidam Basin as experimental materials, based on the analysis data of the main agronomic traits, quality, and soil physical and chemical properties of different oat varieties at the harvest stage. The hay yield of Molasses (17,933.33 kg·hm⁻²) was the highest (p < 0.05), the plant height (113.59 cm) and crude fat (3.02%) of Qinghai 444 were the highest (p < 0.05), the fresh-dry ratio (2.62), crude protein (7.43%), and total salt content in plants (68.33 g·kg⁻¹) of Qingtian No. 1 were the highest (p < 0.05), and the Relative forage value (RFV) of Baler (122.96) was the highest (p < 0.05). In the 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm soil layers of different oat varieties, the contents of pH, EC, total salt, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and HCO₃⁻ showed a decreasing trend at the harvest stage compared to the seedling stage, while the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, Cl⁻, and SO4²⁻ showed an increasing trend. The contents of K⁺ and Na⁺ maintained a relatively balanced relationship between the seedling stage and the harvest stage in the two soil layers. Qingtian No. 1, Qingyin No. 1, and Molasses all rank among the top three in terms of production performance and soil physical and chemical properties, and they are the oat varieties suitable for cultivation in the research area. Full article

As a typical agricultural waste, the resource utilization of corn stover (CS) plays a crucial role in the coordinated optimization of ecological and economic benefits. In order to enhance the utilization of CS resources, Lentilactobacillus (L.) buchneri (LB) and different proportions of Artemisia argyi (AA) were added to CS to investigate the impact of additives on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of corn stover silage (CSS). This study revealed that the separate addition of AA or LB in CS effectively improved the silage quality and aerobic stability. Specifically, LB exhibited the lowest pH value of 3.72 at 90 d of fermentation, while the NH₃-N content was 0.07 g/kg DM during the anaerobic fermentation stage and 0.19 g/kg DM during the aerobic exposure stage (p < 0.05). Mixing 30% AA increased the lactic acid content, lowered the pH, maintained a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus, and reduced mycotoxin levels. In terms of aerobic stability, all AA-treated groups demonstrated superior performance compared to the LB treatment. Additionally, it was observed, that in the 30% AA group, Candida exhibited the highest relative abundance. Importantly, the addition of AA upregulated carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism during the ensiling process, and their relative abundances remained high during aerobic exposure. Fully utilizing CS resources as feed to provide fiber and nutrients for ruminants can not only reduce the pressure on forage demand but meet the development needs of “grain-saving” animal husbandry, which is conducive to solving the contradictions of “human–animal competition for food” and “human animal competition for land”. Full article

Alfalfa, as a high-quality forage resource, has high nutritional value. Due to the high phenotypic similarity among its varieties and the susceptibility to environmental influences, challenges are encountered in variety identification and breeding. In this study, 23 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were screened to distinguish 49 alfalfa varieties, among which 21 SSR markers showed polymorphic fragments. The results indicated that these 21 markers were highly polymorphic, with an average of 5.91 alleles per SSR marker locus and an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.66, suggesting a strong discriminatory efficiency. The results of a population genetic diversity analysis showed that there was a relatively high level of genetic diversity among the tested materials. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) results indicated that the genetic variation within the population of the 49 alfalfa germplasm samples was the main source of the total variation. The results of genetic distance and genetic identity analyses showed that the genetic relationship between population 1 and population 4 was the most distant, while the relationship between population 2 and population 3 was the closest. The cluster analysis results showed that samples S16 and S55 formed a separate branch; that is, there were two main genetic subgroups. These results confirm that SSR markers are effective tools for genetic characterization and precise discrimination of alfalfa varieties and have important application values in breeding, variety registration, and germplasm resource conservation. Full article

It is crucial to clarify the relationship between ecological industry development and ecological civilization construction, as well as their driving forces, to promote high-quality local development. The ecological environment of the karst region is fragile, and it faces a contradiction between ecological preservation and economic advancement. Coordinating the relationship between economic development and ecological protection is crucial for achieving sustainable development in rural karst regions. This study identified karst characteristics in Guizhou province, China, by constructing an index system for ecological industry development and civilization construction. It employed the entropy weight method to calculate a comprehensive score and utilized a coupling coordination model to analyze interactions and symbiotic coordination. Finally, a linear regression analysis model was employed to analyze the impact of ecological industrial development on the construction of ecological civilization. The results indicate the following: (1) The ecological industry and ecological civilization construction levels exhibited a relatively stable growth trajectory across three research areas from 2011 to 2021, with the ecological civilization construction index outperforming the ecological industry development index. (2) The correlation analysis indicated a relationship between the two indices in the research areas, and the divergence trend among the three research areas rose in a uniform direction, indicating a strong positive correlation between the two indices. From the perspective of the coupling degree (C), the degree of coupling between ecological industry and ecological civilization construction in the three research areas exceeded 0.9, indicating a high level of coordination. This suggests that ecological civilization construction and ecological industry in these research areas are effectively coordinated and exist in a state of harmonious co-promotion. There were differences from the coupling coordination degree (D) perspective, but they increased in the three research areas. (3) The regression analysis results indicate that the per capita agricultural output value, per capita forestry output value, per capita forage industry output value, industrial solid waste utilization rate, energy consumption per unit of GDP, tourism income, rocky desertification level, and proportion of the labor force population with a high school education or higher significantly contribute to the development of ecological civilization. The per capita forestry output value greatly advances ecological civilization, significantly enhancing ecological culture and security. The coefficients are 0.0354 and 0.0393, respectively, indicating that a 1% rise in the per capita forestry output value results in increases of 0.0354% and 0.0393% in the ecological culture and security indices. Full article

Due to its superior drought tolerance, high biomass yield, and stress resistance, sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) has emerged as an ideal candidate for sustainable forage production in arid, semi-arid, and mildly saline–alkaline regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing corn silage (CS) with either forage sorghum silage (FSS) or sugar sweet sorghum silage (SSS) on goat meat quality, the rumen microbial community, and meat composition. Thirty 3-month-old Boer goats (average body weight: 13.44 ± 1.67 kg) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments; the control group contained 50% corn silage (CON), while the experimental groups contained 50% FSS (group I), 70% FSS (group II), 50% SSS (group III), or 70% SSS (group V), with each group receiving the same concentrate diet but different roughage sources. The results showed that compared to the CON group (50% CS), the experimental groups had a significantly increased average daily weight gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and slaughter rate (SR). It is noteworthy that group III (50% SSS) showed a significant increase of 12.4% in SR (p < 0.01). Analysis of the silage characteristics and changes in the rumen microbial community revealed that feeding SSS and FSS increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus in the rumen, further enhanced the degradation and conversion of silage neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and promoted the synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids. Specifically, FSS significantly increased the amino acid content in the meat, while SSS effectively improved the crude protein (CP) and crude fat (CF) contents. In conclusion, replacing 50% CS with FSS or SSS can effectively improve the meat quality and growth performance of Boer goats. Full article

The application of digestate as a fertilizer offers a promising alternative to synthetic inputs on permanent grasslands, with benefits for productivity and environmental performance. This four-year study evaluated the impact of two digestate application methods—disc injection (I) and band spreading (S)—combined with four dose variants (0, 20, 40, and 80 m³·ha⁻¹), including split-dose strategies. Emissions of ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄) were measured using wind tunnel systems immediately after application. Vegetation status was assessed via Sentinel-2-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Water Index, and Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index, and agronomic performance through dry matter yield (DMY), net energy for lactation (NEL), and relative feed value (RFV). NH₃ and CO₂ emissions increased proportionally with digestate dose, while CH₄ responses suggested a threshold effect, but considering solely the disc injection, CH₄ flux did not increase markedly with higher application rates. Disc injection resulted in significantly lower emissions of the monitored fluxes than band spreading. The split-dose I_40+40 variant achieved the highest DMY (3.57 t·ha⁻¹) and improved forage quality, as indicated by higher NEL values. The control variant (C, no fertilization) had the lowest yield and NEL. These results confirm that subsurface digestate incorporation in split doses can reduce emissions while supporting yield and forage quality. Based on the findings, disc injection at 40+40 m³·ha⁻¹ is recommended as an effective option for reducing emissions and maintaining productivity in managed grasslands. Full article

This study explored the impact of licorice stem and leaf forage in the diet of meat sheep on their growth performance, physiological parameters, immunity, and gut microbiota. Conducted in the Hotan region of Xinjiang, the experiment involved 40 healthy local Hotan sheep (5–6 months old) that were randomly assigned to four groups, with both corn stalks and corn grain partially substituted at varying levels (30%, 40%, and 50%) by licorice stems and leaves for 80 days. Daily feed intake and refusal were recorded to assess feeding behavior and efficiency, while body weight was measured every 20 days to monitor growth performance. On day 80, blood samples were collected via venipuncture for biochemical and immune function analysis, followed by slaughter to obtain meat samples for quality assessment. Results showed that dietary licorice supplementation significantly improved growth performance. Sheep in the 40% replacement group had the highest final body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05), indicating better feed efficiency. These findings suggest that replacing corn stalks and grain with licorice stems and leaves at a 40% ratio can significantly improve growth performance. Biochemical results showed improved protein metabolism and lipid profiles, with increased TP and ALB and decreased TC and TG levels. Immune indicators, including IgG, IgM, IgA, and IL-6, were also elevated in licorice-fed groups. In summary, licorice stems and leaves demonstrated clear nutritional and immunological benefits, especially at the 40% inclusion level. Gut microbiota analysis showed that licorice stems and leaves increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes while reducing Bacteroidota. At the genus level, UCG_005 and Bacteroides increased with higher licorice concentrations, whereas Treponema decreased. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that UCG_005 was positively correlated with TP, ALB, IgM, and IL-6 and negatively correlated with TG and TNF-α. These findings suggest that using licorice stems and leaves as a replacement for both corn stalks and corn grain modulates gut microbiota composition and is closely associated with immune and biochemical responses in sheep. Full article