Information on silage corn yield and quality can help silage growers and users choose varieties that best fit their needs and area. We conducted a silage corn variety trial using seven varieties for use in Central Arizona. Variety 28Z47 produced the higher silage yield with an average of 30.4 ton/acre and the variety 28V71 had the highest crude protein content (8.13%) among the eight. Varieties that produced higher yield, higher crude protein, and lower NDF than the average of the eight varieties were 851VT3 and TMF-2L-872.

Optimizing late N applications in durum wheat is highly needed to obtain adequate protein levels without affecting grain yield. A simple and rapid method for estimating crop yield at flowering stage and crop N status is required to make immediate N application decisions for increasing grain protein content. There were significant differences in grain yield and grain protein among N treatments and durum varieties. Using information on soil properties, weather data, crop management, and variety growth, DSSAT crop model predicted durum grain yield accurately. Canopy reflectance index NDVI at flowering time were closely correlated with crop yield and protein content. The results indicate the potential of using crop models and canopy reflectance index in durum wheat yield prediction and N management.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

ABSTRACT Legumes are becoming increasingly important in cropping systems due to their beneficial effects on soil nutrient availability. Including legumes into a cropping system not only positively affect many soil physical properties and increases soil nitrogen (N) supply, but is also reported to have a positive impact on soil phosphorus (P) availability. Although a series of studies have examined the effect of grain legumes in rotation on increasing soil N and P fertility after several years, the effect of forage legumes like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) on soil P availability, the yield and P uptake of subsequently grown crops remain unknown in Western Canada. To address this gap, a four year field experiment was conducted in four soil zones of Saskatchewan: Dark Brown soil zone (Saskatoon), thin Black soil zone (Lanigan), Brown soil zone (Swift Current), and Gray soil zone (Melfort). The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the impact of including a two-year period of forage legumes alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) along with annual crops on soil P forms, amounts and availability and uptake of P by the crops in rotation and (ii) to evaluate the effect of the different crop rotations over the four years on soil P dynamics and P balance. After two years of forage legume and annual crop rotations, it was observed that alfalfa and red clover removed more P from the soil in the hay harvest as compared to the amount of P removed in grain in the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) - pea (Pisum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) - flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) rotations at all four sites (P < 0.10). However, the four crop rotations did not significantly affect the amount of soil available P and P supply rate at all four sites (P > 0.10) despite greater P uptake and removal by forage legumes relative to annual crops in 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Also, similar amounts of labile and stable P were measured in the different sequentially extracted chemical fractions after two years of different crop rotations at all sites (P > 0.10). Grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) crops grown following two years of forage legume and annual crop rotations were positively affected by forage legume rotations at Saskatoon, Lanigan and Melfort (P < 0.10). Wheat P uptake was improved significantly by two years of red clover at Lanigan, Swift Current and Melfort (P < 0.10) but canola P uptake was not affected by different crop rotations at all locations (P > 0.10). The amount of soil available P and P supply rate measured after wheat and canola harvest were not affected by different crop rotations at all sites (P > 0.10) despite the greater P removal by forage legumes during the first two years of the four year crop rotation period at all sites and the enhanced P removal by wheat and canola crops following forage legume rotations at Lanigan and Melfort. This suggests that forage legumes are able to maintain soil P fertility in the face of greater P removal by crops in rotation, at least in the short-term. Four years of continuous cropping with the minimum amount of fertilizer P addition resulted in a significant reduction of soil P fertility over time at all locations (P < 0.10). The lack of a significant effect of rotation treatment on available P levels in the soil does not rule out that there is an effect but variability prevented its detection. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of several cycles of this rotation over a number of years on soil P availability and the P uptake of crops in rotation.

Weather index insurance has become a popular subject in agricultural risk management. Under these policies farmers receive payments if they experience adverse weather for their crops. Spatial basis risk is the risk that weather observed at stations does not correspond to the weather experienced by the farmer. The objective of this research is to determine to what extent spatial basis risk can be impacted by the interpolation technique used to estimate weather conditions. Using forage crops from Ontario, Canada, as an example, a temperature based insurance index is developed. Seven different interpolation methods are used to estimate indemnities for forage producers. Results show that the number of weather stations in the interpolation area has a larger impact on spatial basis risk than the choice of interpolation technique. For insurers wishing to implement this type of insurance, more focus should be placed on increasing the number of available weather stations. / October 2016

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / J.S. Drouillard / Three studies were conducted to investigate alternative ingredients and processing methods for manufacturing low-moisture blocks. Study 1 was designed to determine if ruminal lactate could be transiently increased by feeding fructose-based blocks to heifers fed prairie hay, thus providing substrate for establishment of lactate utilizing microbes. Low-moisture blocks comprised of 96% fructose and 4% vegetable oil (DM basis) were manufactured and dosed via ruminal fistulas. Administration of fructose blocks resulted in transient increases in ruminal lactate (P < 0.05), accompanied by transient decreases in pH (P < 0.05). Ruminal fluid incubated with semi-defined lactate medium became more turbid (P < 0.05) as a result of prior exposure to fructose blocks suggesting greater capacity for lactate metabolism. In study 2 a portion of the molasses was replaced by corn steep liquor (CSL) or condensed corn distiller’s solubles (CCDS). Heifers were fed a forage-based diet and supplemented with 1 of 4 supplement blocks. Supplements were a 30% CP molasses block manufactured at ambient pressure and high temperatures (Mol-30). The remaining treatments were manufactured at reduced pressure and temperature and were a 30% CP block with 36% CSL (CSL-30); a 40% CP block with 40% CSL (CSL-40); or a 40% CP block with 25% CCDS (CCDS-40). Supplementing with Mol-30 and CSL-40 resulted in greater DMI (%BW) than with CCDS-40 (P < 0.05). Supplementing with CSL-30 improved efficiency and ADG compared to Mol-30 (P < 0.01). Study 3 evaluated the affect of cooking temperature on blocks containing CSL fed to heifers receiving a forage-based diet. Heifers were offered no supplement (Control) or a 15% CSL block manufactured at ambient pressure and high temperature (HT-15). The remaining treatments were manufactured at reduced pressure and temperature and were a 15% CSL block (LT-15); or 40% CSL block (LT-40). Control heifers had the lowest DMI and LT-40 had the greatest (P < 0.05). Feeding heifers LT-15 or LT-40 improved ADG compared to heifers fed HT-15 or no supplement (P < 0.05). Heifers fed LT-40 tended to be more efficient than those fed HT-15 and Control (P = 0.07).