This thesis examines the potential of nine break crops (bean, carrot, swede, hemp, sugar beet, potato, lupin, oilseed rape and linola), against an oat control crop.  Seven rotational field trails were carried out at five sites across the UK. The most profitable break crops in this study were carrot and potato in terms of direct economic return to the farmer.  Mean annual returns were £5175 and £3668 respectively.  Cereal yields following break crops were found to be more affected by the soil fertility before the break crops were planted, than the actual break crop.  Studies on the nutrient concentration of break crops showed that by the second year of the experiment, over 50% of the break crops were deficient in either N, P or K, with N deficiency being most common.  Subsequent cereal crops mostly had adequate nutrient concentrations. Break crop and cereal yields were more strongly correlated with soil nutrient concentrations at the start of the experiment that previous crop.  Root crops showed a strong N response, sugar beet had a strong Mg response, linola, oilseed rape and oat had strong K responses, and wheat and barley yields were strongly influenced by soil N, P and Cu.  In general soil nutrients decreased over the experiment as did pH and soil organic matter. In general there was an inverse relationship between the crops yield and the crop’s nutrient concentration, so as the yield of a crop increases, the concentration of nutrients in the plant matter, or quality, decrease. The break crops, hemp, linola and carrot generally had positive effects on reducing weed populations during growth and in the subsequent cereal crop compared with the control crop.  In additional these break crops were pest- and disease-free during growth.  Other break crops, such as bean, swede and oilseed rape were shown to suffer from many weed, pest or disease problems, which may limit their potential for inclusion in an organic rotation.

Agriculture is the principal land use throughout Europe and agricultural intensification has been implicated in large reductions in biodiversity, with the negative effects on birds particularly well documented. The lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is one such species where changes in farming practices has reduced the suitability and quality of breeding habitat, leading to a drop in population size that has been so severe as to warrant its addition to the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK. Lowland areas, where agricultural intensification has generally been most pronounced, have been worst affected, however, more recently declines in marginal upland areas, previously considered refuges for breeding wader populations, have been identified. An upland livestock farm in Stirlingshire that uses an in-bye system of fodder crop management and has unusually high densities of breeding lapwings provides a basis for this project to test causal hypotheses for the decline of upland lapwing populations and to identify potential conservation management solutions. Specifically this farm plants a forage brassica in an in-bye field for two consecutive years, followed by reseeding with grass and seven, out of sixteen, in-bye fields have undergone this regime at the study site since 1997. Fields that had undergone fodder crop management supported almost 60% more lapwings than comparable fields that had not previously been planted with the fodder crop. Lapwing density was highest in the year after the fodder crop was planted, once it had been grazed, which results in a high percentage of bare ground, likely to be attractive to nesting lapwings. Lapwing densities remained above that which occurred in fields that had not undergone fodder crop management for a further four years after the field had been returned to grass. The effect of management on lapwing food resources and nesting structure was tested through a field experiment; liming increased the abundance of Allolobophora chlorotica, an earthworm species that was associated with chick foraging location at the study site, suggesting that lapwings may benefit from liming conducted as part of fodder crop management. The relationship between lapwings and soil pH is further explored across 89 sites on mainland Scotland, using soil property data to improve the predictive power of habitat association models, something which has not previously been done for any farmland bird. Adding soil and topographical data to habitat models, based on established relationships between breeding lapwings and their habitat, improved model fit by almost 60%, indicating that soil properties influence the distribution of this species. The density of breeding lapwings was highest at higher altitude sites, but only when the soil was relatively less peaty and less acidic, providing further support for the hypothesis that agricultural liming benefits lapwings. In addition to assessing the conservation benefit of fodder crop management, the economic costs are also considered. Fodder crop management provides a source of livestock fodder in the autumn and winter during a period when forage demands outstrip grass growth, and ultimately improves the grazing quality of the grass that is replaced; this system currently operates outside of any agri-environment scheme (AES). However, at the study site, planting of the fodder crop and grass is delayed to avoid agriculture operations during the breeding season, which reduces yield and hence profitability. An initial estimate of £200 ha-1 is suggested as an incentive to encourage wider adoption of fodder crop management in a “lapwing friendly” manner, although further work is required to determine if this payment level is appropriate and the current method of AES implementation may limit the suitability of fodder crop management as an AES. The results indicate that agricultural liming could benefit breeding lapwings in pasture fields where soil pH falls below pH 5.2, by increasing earthworm abundance. Where soil pH is below pH 5.2, liming should provide a cost effective mechanism for farmers to improve grass yields. Regular soil testing and liming in response to low pH, within improved or semi-improved grassland fields, where management activities such as use of nitrogen fertiliser can contribute to soil acidification, should be advocated to farmers in marginal areas as a mechanism for improving grass productivity whilst potentially benefitting breeding lapwing and other species where earthworms contribute significantly to their diet.

This research was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The research encompasses five different studies to assess nutrient cycling in intensive and extensive grazing systems with a view to optimising livestock production. The first study was designed to assess the effect of teff-lucerne mixtures on teff, lucerne and teff-lucerne mixture yields. Lucerne and teff-lucerne mixtures benefited from the association. The overall soil N content of the teff-lucerne mixture plots was greater than the teff alone plots. The second study focused on teff-leucaena association evaluation. It had two leucaena plant row spacings as treatments, 180cm and 120cm, respectively. Teff grown in mixture with leucaena produced a total teff dry matter (DM) of 7931.57 kg ha¯¹ for the 180cm row spacing and 8329.57 for the 120cm row spacing compared to the 3548.93 kg ha¯¹ of DM obtained from the teff alone treatment. The teff-Ieucaena stand also had a greater DM yield response to leucaena row spacing compared to the teff alone. In terms of nutritive quality, all stands from the teff-leucaena plots were better than the quality obtained from the teff alone plots. Total N content of teff from the l80cm row spacing was 21.83 g kg¯¹ and that from the 120cm 16.07 g kg¯¹ compared to the total nitrogen (N) content of 19.77 g kg¯¹ of the teff alone treatment. The total phosphorus (P) content was 2.73, 1.96 and 2.07 g kg¯¹ for the 180cm, 120cm and teff alone treatments respectively. However, the total soil N content was higher for the teff alone plot than for the teff-leucaena plots, which are 1.91, 1.48 and 100 g kg¯¹ for the teff alone, 180cm and 120cm treatments respectively. The third study was designed to assess the effects of different N fertilizer application rates on teff yield response. The rates applied were 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha¯¹. There was significant difference in teff response of the three N fertilizer application rates compared to the control and teff DM yield response was lower for the 150 kg N ha¯¹ (838 kg ha¯¹) treatment compared to the control (553 kg ha¯¹). Both teff DM and nutritive value were higher in the plots treated with N fertilizer than in the plot which received no N fertilizer (control). The soil N content was also higher in those plots treated with N fertilizer. Study four was conducted on the Department of Grassland Science's grassland management techniques trial field at Ukulinga. The effects of nutrient cycling under different management techniques such as burning, mowing and grazing on grass yield response, plant quality and soil nutrients were assessed. However, the response of grass DM yield and P content was not significant but the three treatments had a significant effect on grass N content. Their effect on soil N content was also significant and the grazing plot had the greatest soil N levels. The last study was conducted in the rural areas of Okhombe and Zwelitsha to assess the effects of grazing intensity on grass yield response, plant quality and soil nutrient status at different distances from homesteads. Grass DM yield and nutritive value declined when distance from the homestead increased. The soil N content also was higher nearer to the homestead than further away. Most farmers, particularly in developing countries including those in Eritrea, often experience that their animals prefer forages from some plants such as lucerne, leucaena, and other indigenous leguminous plants. They also observe that they get greater yield from crops grown near leguminous plants or in rotation with legumes. They are also still using manure from their animals to fertilize their croplands. Therefore, it is still the duty of the researchers to demonstrate to farmers on farm studies to convince farmers that it is because leguminous plants have the ability to add quality and quantity to the feed of the animals and soil nutrients to the croplands. Hopefully, this study will convey to farmers the use of growing integrated grassllegume pastures and crops, and illustrate that livestock have their own role in transporting nutrients and hence use them as good means of distributors of soil nutrients. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:56:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao.pdf: 149957 bytes, checksum: d219d7c38eca166d0eac355501df82ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-28 / The project goal was to study the productivity and quality of forage produced bromatological from monoculture of sorghum and maize and intercropping of them with dwarf pea, sunn hemp, white lupine, sunflower and radish. The experiment was installed in the area of agricultural production of the Campus II Unoeste in Presidente Prudente-SP, on April 3rd, 2008. The experimental design was a split plot with four replications, with the following treatments: monoculture of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays) and sorghum consortium + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan var. Dwarf) sorghum + sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), Sorghum + Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sorghum fodder radish (Raphanus sativus), sorghum + white lupine (Lupinus albus), maize + pigeon pea dwarf, corn / sunn hemp, corn / sunflower corn + radish and corn + white lupine. The plots were scaled with eight rows of sowing of six meters. Biomass were collected at 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing for the quantification of plant material and chemical analysis. Statistical analysis consists of analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5% probability to compare treatment means. The single or intercropped sorghum was more efficient during low nutritive value, especially for syndications with sunflower, hemp and pigeon, which may have occurred because plants are more adapted to the dry climate of the region. Since the time of cutting that stood out with a productive balance and quality of the composition was 90 DAS. / O objetivo do projeto foi estudar a produtividade e a qualidade bromatológica de forragem produzida a partir de monocultivos de sorgo e milho, bem como a consorciação dos mesmos com guandu-anão, crotalária juncea, tremoço branco, girassol e nabo forrageiro. O experimento foi instalado na área de produção agrícola do Campus II da Unoeste, em Presidente Prudente-SP, no dia 03 de abril de 2008. O delineamento experimental foi em parcelas sub-divididas, com quatro repetições, com os seguintes tratamentos: monocultivos de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) e milho (Zea mays), e consórcios de sorgo + guandu-anão (Cajanus cajan, var. anão), sorgo + crotalária juncea (Crotalaria juncea), sorgo + girassol (Helianthus annuus), sorgo + nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativus), sorgo + tremoço branco (Lupinus albus), milho + guandu-anão, milho + crotalária juncea, milho + girassol, milho + nabo forrageiro e milho + tremoço branco. As parcelas foram dimensionadas com oito linhas de semeadura de seis m de comprimento. Foram coletadas fitomassas aos 60, 90 e 120 dias após a semeadura para quantificação da material vegetal e análises bromatológicas. O estudo estatístico consta de análise de variância e teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade para comparar as médias dos tratamentos. O sorgo solteiro ou consorciado mostrou-se mais eficiente na maioria das avaliações bromatológicas, com destaque para as consorciações com girassol, crotalária e guandu, fato que pode ter ocorrido por serem plantas mais adaptadas ao clima seco da região. Sendo que a época de corte que se sobressaiu com um equilíbrio produtivo e qualidade bromatológica foi a de 90 DAS.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:51:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao.pdf: 149957 bytes, checksum: d219d7c38eca166d0eac355501df82ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-28 / The project goal was to study the productivity and quality of forage produced bromatological from monoculture of sorghum and maize and intercropping of them with dwarf pea, sunn hemp, white lupine, sunflower and radish. The experiment was installed in the area of agricultural production of the Campus II Unoeste in Presidente Prudente-SP, on April 3rd, 2008. The experimental design was a split plot with four replications, with the following treatments: monoculture of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays) and sorghum consortium + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan var. Dwarf) sorghum + sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), Sorghum + Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sorghum fodder radish (Raphanus sativus), sorghum + white lupine (Lupinus albus), maize + pigeon pea dwarf, corn / sunn hemp, corn / sunflower corn + radish and corn + white lupine. The plots were scaled with eight rows of sowing of six meters. Biomass were collected at 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing for the quantification of plant material and chemical analysis. Statistical analysis consists of analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5% probability to compare treatment means. The single or intercropped sorghum was more efficient during low nutritive value, especially for syndications with sunflower, hemp and pigeon, which may have occurred because plants are more adapted to the dry climate of the region. Since the time of cutting that stood out with a productive balance and quality of the composition was 90 DAS. / O objetivo do projeto foi estudar a produtividade e a qualidade bromatológica de forragem produzida a partir de monocultivos de sorgo e milho, bem como a consorciação dos mesmos com guandu-anão, crotalária juncea, tremoço branco, girassol e nabo forrageiro. O experimento foi instalado na área de produção agrícola do Campus II da Unoeste, em Presidente Prudente-SP, no dia 03 de abril de 2008. O delineamento experimental foi em parcelas sub-divididas, com quatro repetições, com os seguintes tratamentos: monocultivos de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) e milho (Zea mays), e consórcios de sorgo + guandu-anão (Cajanus cajan, var. anão), sorgo + crotalária juncea (Crotalaria juncea), sorgo + girassol (Helianthus annuus), sorgo + nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativus), sorgo + tremoço branco (Lupinus albus), milho + guandu-anão, milho + crotalária juncea, milho + girassol, milho + nabo forrageiro e milho + tremoço branco. As parcelas foram dimensionadas com oito linhas de semeadura de seis m de comprimento. Foram coletadas fitomassas aos 60, 90 e 120 dias após a semeadura para quantificação da material vegetal e análises bromatológicas. O estudo estatístico consta de análise de variância e teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade para comparar as médias dos tratamentos. O sorgo solteiro ou consorciado mostrou-se mais eficiente na maioria das avaliações bromatológicas, com destaque para as consorciações com girassol, crotalária e guandu, fato que pode ter ocorrido por serem plantas mais adaptadas ao clima seco da região. Sendo que a época de corte que se sobressaiu com um equilíbrio produtivo e qualidade bromatológica foi a de 90 DAS.

This dissertation thesis researches the impact of ecological conditions on the permanent graminaceous cover not faraway from the peatland in the Borkovice region. These ecological conditions primarily mean water regime of the habitat. The nutritive regime and the fodder crop value are monitored in this thesis. These data were acquired with the help of the vegetation composition, using bio-indikative methods. Resulting values are described in the thesis, and their mutual relations are also stated there. In accordance to the ascertained results, proper pratotechnic measures were proposed. These measures try to harmonize the productive and non-productive functions.

In the years 2005-2006 it was practised the analysis of plant production and the evaluation of typological structure of selected grasslands in selected farming business. It were evaluated the gualitative indices of produced roughage. It were evaluated the area sof annual crops, multi-annual fodder crops and of permanent grasslands and the produce of fodder of fodder crops and the sort and categories of stock cattle.