• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.929-934
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• 2000

Optimum stand density of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varies with locations and climates. Stand density is one of the factors that determines herbage yield, forage quality and persistence of alfalfa. As establishment costs increase, the question arises whether present population densities are optimum for obtaining maximum herbage yield and forage quality. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the optimum plant density for highest herbage yield and forage quality for the dehydrated alfalfa industry under Edmontons climatic conditions in Alberta, Canada; 2) to compare herbage yield and forage quality of the cultivars 'Algonquin' and 'Vernal' grown at a range of stand densities. Alfalfa seedlings of both cultivars were either transplanted at spacings of 6, 10, 15 and 25 cm or direct seeded at the 4.5 cm plant spacings, providing population densities of 494, 278, 100, 45 and $16plants/m^2$. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement having three replicates; the main plots consisted of two alfalfa cultivars Algonquin and Vernal, and the sub-plots were the five population densities. The cultivar Vernal had significantly higher annual yield than did the cultivar Algonquin. There was no significant effect of plant density on herbage yield. There was no difference in crude protein (CP) between the two cultivars. At the first cut, there was a significant quadratic effect of plant density on CP content and the greatest CP occurred at the 100 plants/m2 density. Crude protein was not affected by plant density at the second cut. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not affected by plant density. The cultivar Algonquin usually had a lower ADF and NDF than cultivar Vernal. In conclusion, high population densities ($278plants/m^2$ or more) of alfalfa did not improve herbage yield and forage quality compared with low plant population densities ($100plants/m^2$ or less) of alfalfa.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.295-306
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• 1994

The object of this experiment was to suggest the suitable cutting frequency and cutting height for orchardgrass (0G)-red clover(RC) mixtures under the intensive system of short-term pasture utilization. The fields trials were conducted over 3-year period(1991-1993) to evaluate dry matter yield, botanical composition, chemical composition and CP, DDM yield on the cutting frequency (30, 40 and 50 days) and cutting height(5, 7 and 9cm) With decreasing the cutting frequency, the DM yield of OG in the OG-RC mixtures was significantly increased(P

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 1994

Measurements of hehage intake and milk yield were made on high yielding dairy cows, which were strip-grazed on Loliurn perenne sward at three levels of herbage allowance in three experimental periods. The contents of nitrogen, chrome and ash in the faeces slightly decreased with the progress of growth period of experimental sward, and the decrease of herbage allowance. There were small difference in herbage digestibility among periods or the levels of herbage allowance with falling from 82.7% to 79.1% from period 1 to period 3 and from 81.6% to79.9% from high to low level of herbage allowance. Daily herbage intake was 15.8 and 15.9 kg OMIcow at the high and medium levels of hecbage aljowance, but reduced significantly to 14.6 kg OM/cow at the low level. Herbage intakes in three periods were shown a slight decrease. Daily milk yield in terms of 4% FCM significantly decreased from 23.6 to 20.6 kg/cow from period 1 to period 3. Milk yield at the high and medium levels of herbage allowance were 23.5 and 22.2 kg/cow at the low level of herbage allowance. The highly significant (P<0.01) correlations between the level of herbage allowance and herbage intake (r=0.88), or milk yield (r=0.81) were obtained.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.758-765
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• 1999

Comparative studies of the effects of rates and frequency of application of dairy slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of alfalfa and various forage grasses have not previously been conducted. The results being reported here are part of a larger study having a primary objective of comparing the effectiveness of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), various grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures for utilizing nutrients from applied dairy slurry. The objectives of this part of the study were to evaluate the effects of various rates and frequencies of application of slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and alfalfa-orchanrdgreass and alfalfa-reed canarygrass mixtures managed as a 4-cutting management system. A randomized complete block design with treatments in a split plot arrangement with four replicates was used. The main plots consisted of 9 fertility treatments: 7 slurry rate and time of application treatments, one inorganic fertilizer treatment, and an unfertilized control. The sub-plots consisted of the two grasses and two alfalfa-grass mixture mentioned above. Slurry was composed from stored solids scraped from the alleyways of a free-stall housing barn and water added to form a slurry having about 8% solids. Manure was pumped from a liquid spreader tank into 10.4 L garden water cans for manual application to the plots. Herbage yields within species were generally unaffected by various rates of application in the first production year. Herbage yields of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures the second year were generally not affected by frequency of application for the same rate of slurry applied. Slurry application resulted in greater herbage yield increases in grasses than alfalfa-grass mixtures in the 4-cutting management system. In general, herbage dry matter yields of grasses from the dairy slurry treatments equaled or exceeded yields from the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Stand ratings of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures were not changed by manure application rates. In this study, the highest rate of slurry ($967kg\;total\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1995 plus $2,014kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1996) was not detrimental to herbage yields or stand persistence of any of the species. It was concluded that applying dairy slurry to these cool-season grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures managed in a 4-cutting system is an acceptable practice from the standpoint of herbage yield and satnd persistence and by doing so the utilization of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.766-771
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• 1999

The first paper of this series compared the effects of rates and frequencies of application of dairy slurry on herbage yields and stand persistence of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass mixtures managed as a 4-cutting system. This paper compares the effects of rates and frequencies of application of dairy slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of alfalfa, orchardgrass, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and alfalfa-orchardgrass mixture managed as a 5-cutting system. The results presented here are part of a larger study having a primary objective of comparing alfalfa, various grasses, and alfalfa-grass mixtures for utilizing nutrients from dairy slurry applied to established stands. A randomized complete block design with treatments in a split plot arrangement with four replicates was used. The main plots consisted of 9 fertility treatments: 7 slurry rate and frequency of application treatments, one inorganic fertilizer treatment, and an unfertilized control. The sub-plots were the forage species. Manure used for the study was composed from stored solids scraped from the alleyways of a free-stall dairy barn. Water was added to from a slurry having about 8 % solids. Slurry was pumped from the liquid spreader tank into 10.4 L garden watering cans for manual application to the plots. Herbage yields of alfalfa, tall fescue, and alfalfa-orchardgrass were generally not affected by slurry application rates and were not significantly different from the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Tall fescue significantly outyielded all other forage species at all manure and the inorganic fertilizer treatments in the second year when rainfall during the growing season was unusually high. Grasses generally had a greater response to manure applications than alfalfa and alfalfa-orchardgrass. Increasing rates of manure did not increase herbage yields of alfalfa and alfalfa-orchardgrass. Herbage yields within each species were not affected by frequency of application of the same total rate. Stand ratings of alfalfa, orcahrdgrass and alfalfa-orchardgrass were significantly lower for the very high manure application rate compared to the control treatment. Based upon the results of this study, multiple annual applications of slurry manure can be made onto these species at rates up to $1,700kg\;total\;N\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ without detrimental effects on herbage yield and stand persistence.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 1997

Glasshouse investigations were carried out to investigate the development and yield of Atylosia scarabeoides on soils of the northern guinea savanah zone of Nigeria. Seeds were sown at four rates 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg/ha. Single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer was applied at sowing at four rates 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha. Seeding (plant) population at one month and at harvest was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by seeding rate but not fertilizer level. Fresh herbage yield was strongly (p < 0.01) dependent on fertilizer level, with the highest (not significant) dry matter yield at 90 kg SSP/ha. Seeding rate had no significant effects on herbage yield. The crude protein content of herbage rose with increase in fertilizer level although there were no significant differences between the various seeding and phosphorus rates. No significant interactions were observed between seeding rate and phosphorus lever. The yields were generally high, indicating good prospects for pasture development with A. scarabeoides in the zone, although field trials would be of benefit.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 1990

Changes in dry matter yield, crude components, nutrients uptake($P_2O_5$, $K_2O$, CaO, MgO) and sulphur containing amino acid(cysteine, methionine) of orchardgrass(Dacty1is glomerata. L) and alfalfa(A4edicago sativa. L) by gypsum application(as sulphur source, 0, 2. 5, 10, 20kg SIlOa) were investigated to understand the effect of sulphur on herbage production in pasture, which was established in 1987 as means of hand broadcasting. The effect of gypsum on dry matter yield at different cutting times during growing seasons has not been found both in orchardgrass and in alfalfa, but in respect to annual total dry matter yield there were increment in herbage yield (P<0.05) of alfalfa at 5, 10, 20kg SIlOa in 1989 and the amounts of sulphur taken up in herbage slightly increased according to the rates of gypsum application. Maximum apparent recovery of sulphur was 7.55% at 2kg SIlOa in orchardgrass and was 17.8% at 5kg S/lOa in alfalfa. There were no any great differences in the content of crude components of both species and this trend was similar with the mineral contents of orchardgrass. But in alfalfa, the amounts of $K_2O$, CaO, and $P_2O_5$ taken up were increased by gypsum application and the increment in the amounts of minerals taken up in herbage at 20kg SIlOa were 14.9 of $K_2O$, 9.1 of CaO, and 2.5kgIlOa of $P_2O_5$ as compared to those of at untreated plot. Cysteine and methionine were not influenced by gypsum applicaton not only in orchardgrass but also cysteine in alfalfa, however, the content of methionine in alfalfa was slightly increased at 2, 5, lOkg SIlOa and at 20kg SIlOa was reverse.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1997

Many farmers apply cattle slurry on grassland, often in excess of crop N requirements, resulting in groundwater contamination. Our research objective was the development of grassland management systems that reduce undesirable sideeffects on other compartment of the ecosystem. Field experiment was conducted during 1991~1993 on sandy loam soil at AllgZiu south western Germany. Different sets of conditions were tested such as : zero fertilization, reduced sluny application$(l20kg N ha^{-1}yr^{-1})$, intensive sluny application(conventional sluny application, $240kg N ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$). The plots of the reduced slurry application had no significant effect on dry matter yields, digestible dry matter and net energy of herbage. Dry matter yield of zero fertilization was significantly lower than that of usual slurry application, however the content of Ca and Mg in herbage tended to increase. We conclude that reduced sluny application can be applied on grassland without adverse effects on dry matter production and quality of herbage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2001

Experiments were conducted on established grassland sward at Gongiam, Kwangju, and Kyung-gi in Korea from 1995 to 1997. The influence of mineral-N fertilizer or animal manure(AW) on herbage dry matter(DM) yield, N yield, the recovery of AM-N, and soil N and organic matter(0M) content in the mixed sward('potomac' orchardgrass, 'fawn' tall fescue, and 'kenblue' Kentuky bluegrass) was investigated. The treatments were replicated three times in a split plot block design. AM(the main plots) was applied at 200kg N ha ' year ' on each plot. The types of AM were cattle feedlot manure(CFM), pig manure fermented with sawdust(PMFS) and Korea native cattle slurry(KNCS). Three levels of mineral-N fertilizer, as urea, ranging from 0 to 200kg N $ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$ in 100kg increments, were superimposed on each plot. The fertilizers and AM were applied in two equal dressings(the end of March and middle of November). AM and mineral fertilizer had significant effects(p<0.05) on herbage DM and N yields. Herbage yields in KNCS were higher than those in CFM and PMFS(p

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.514-522
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• 2017

Objective: The study aimed to assess the N use efficiency (NUE) of pig slurry (in comparison with chemical fertilizer) for each regrowth yield and annual herbage production and their nutritive value. Methods: Consecutive field experiments were separately performed using a single application with a full dose of N (200 kg N/ha) in 2014 and by four split applications in 2015 in different sites. The experiment consisted of three treatments: i) control plots that received no additional N, ii) chemical fertilizer-N as urea, and iii) pig-slurry-N with five replicates. Results: The effect of N fertilization on herbage yield, N recovery in herbage, residual inorganic N in soil, and crude protein were significantly positive. When comparing the NUE between the two N sources (urea and pig slurry), pig slurry was significantly less effective for the earlier two regrowth periods, as shown by lower regrowth dry matter (DM) yield, N amount recovered in herbage, and inorganic N availability in soil at the 1st and 2nd cut compared to those of urea-applied plots. However, the effect of split application of the two N sources was significantly positive at the last two regrowth periods (at the 3rd and 4th cut). The two N sources and/or split application had little or no influence on neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and in vitro DM digestibility, whereas cutting date was a large source of variation for these variables, resulting in a significant increase in in vitro DM digestibility for the last two regrowth periods when an increase in NDF and ADF content occurred. Split application of N reduced the N loss via nitrate leaching by 36% on average for the two N sources compared to a single application. Conclusion: The pig slurry-N was utilized as efficiently as urea-N for annual herbage yield, with a significant increase in NUE especially for the latter regrowth periods.