Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 134 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The grazing behaviour and diet selection of a vertebrate herbivore, the domestic sheep (ovis aries L.), feeding in patchy perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) monocultures was investigated. Heterogeneity or patchiness was created by manipulating (1) the nutritional content of ryegrass, (2) parameters of sward structure e.g. sward height, pseudostem and lamina length, and tiller density, and (3) brightness of ryegrass relative to the background sward. Patches were either fertilised turves transplanted into paddock swards or were created in situ by local fertilisation, trimming etc. The background sward was low in nitrogen (<1.0%N dry weight) compared with average ryegrass leys found on farms in British lowland areas. Sheep preferred to graze in transplanted patches of ryegrass. These patches were structurally similar to the background sward, but were higher in nitrogen content and digestibility as a result of fertilisation. Thus, sheep actively selected more nutritious ryegrass. There was a significant quantitative relationship between brightness and the nitrogen and water soluble carbohydrate content of ryegrass. Darker green ryegrass had a higher nitrogen content and lower water soluble carbohydrate content than lighter green ryegrass. It is suggested that sheep learned to use brightness as a cue in intra-specific forage selection. They had a high preference for short, dark green patches of similar height to the lighter green, background sward. Sheep also preferred to graze in tall patches of ryegrass (>10 cm taller than the background sward) regardless of their nutritional content or brightness relative to the background sward. It is likely that sheep use a multiplicity of physical cues associated with perennial ryegrass in diet selection. The interaction between structural and sward parameters and nutrition content of forage in influencing diet selection requires further investigation. In further experiments, an optimal foraging model, the marginal value theorem was used to make predictions about the behaviour of sheep grazing in monocultures containing highly preferred transplanted patches of tall, fertilised ryegrass. By manipulating the cost of travel between these good ryegrass patches and by detailed measurements of intake within patches by individual sheep, I was able to make quantitative predictions about the time spent grazing in each patch. Travel time and costs were increased by moving good patches further apart and by hobbling sheep to slow down their speed of movement. As predicted by the marginal value theorem, average time spent in a patch was positively correlated with average travel time between patches. For two sheep, the predicted and observed times spent in patches were statistically similar at low travel times, while at higher travel times, observed times were greater than predicted. For a third sheep, all observed times were greater than predicted. Thus overall, there was not a good quantitative fit between the model and the observed behaviour. While incorporation of the difference in the energetic cost of travel relative to that of grazing in a good patch into the model resulted in an increase in predicted optimal patch residence times, the fit between predicted and observed values was not significantly improved. Reasons for this difference between observed and predicted patch residence times are discussed. However, these experiments demonstrated that patch-use foraging models may be more useful than prey models in investigating grazing behaviour of vertebrate herbivores, and that travel time between patches of forage is a previously unidentified constraint of sheep grazing behaviour.

Sod-seeding techniques offer graziers a convenient way to introduce superior grass cultivars into underproductive permanent pastures. Production loss and erosion are minimized. In conjunction with improved grazing management and fertilization, renovation can significantly improve yield and quality of pastures. Existent vegetation must be suppressed prior to introducing new cultivars. This study was conducted on two non-irrigated pastures near Corvallis, Oregon, one dominated by annual grass species and the other by perennial grasses and clover. A split-plot design with four replications on each site was used to compare three seeding methods and either (a) two herbicides following close mowing or (b) close mowing alone. The seeding methods were drilling with an Aerway Seedmatic chisel-type drill, drilling with a Tye double disc drill, or broadcasting seed followed by harrowing. Glyphosate and paraquat were the herbicides used for vegetation suppression. Effect of fertilization was compared to no fertilization. Sod-seeded perennial ryegrass had minimal establishment at the site dominated by annual grass species. An inadequate amount of time was allowed for germination of annual grass seeds before herbicides were applied. Annual grass seedlings suppressed the newly sod-seeded perennial ryegrass. Sod-seeded perennial ryegrass was successfully established at the site dominated by perennial species within one year after planting. Broadcasting followed by harrowing of seed resulted in a higher percentage of perennial ryegrass than either the Seedmatic chisel drill or Tye double disc drill. Sod-seeded perennial ryegrass did not contribute significantly to yield until one year after planting. Glyphosate gave better control of the species present before planting leading to a higher percentage of perennial ryegrass and improved yield compared to paraquat or close mowing alone when seed was broadcast and harrowed. Fertilization of unseeded plots increased yield but was not cost-effective. / Graduation date: 1994

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 213-229.

This thesis contains a literature review of Holcus lanatus and records studies on both the growth and spread of the species and the response of it and of Lolium perenne to several management and edaphic factors. Holcus lanatus is an adaptable, competitive species with ecotypes growing in a wide range of environments. It is valuable on hill land, acid, low nutrient soils and to prevent erosion. Beef cattle grazing it have made greater liveweight gains than on L. perenne. Experiments used plants growing in pots and small field plots. A growth study of spaced H. lanatus plants showed they can produce up to 240,000 seeds, most of which germinated shortly after being shed onto moist soil. Seedlings established poorly in a closed sward. Spaced plants produced runners in autumn whose plantlets established better when plants were cut regularly in spring. Holcus lanatus plants needed vernalization in order to flower. This was enhanced by and to a small extent replaced by short days. When H. lanatus plants in bud were cut, useful summer vegetative regrowth resulted. The New Zealand cultivar Massey Basyn was more productive than Oxfordshire H. lanatus in a pot trial. Holcus lanatus dominated a mixture with L. perenne in a glasshouse experiment, especially under high or infrequent cutting, but it was not so dominant in a field experiment. Cattle treading damaged H. lanatus more than it did L. perenne. Holcus lanatus responded to a high water table by producing adventitious and surface roots. Propyzamide at 2.24 and linuron at 1.12 kg a.i./ha in early summer and asulam at 1.12 or 2.24 kg a.i./ha in early September gave good control of established H. lanatus in L. perenne in preliminary trials. The agricultural significance of these results is discussed.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass has been documented in many different countries around the world and has now become a major problem in row crop production areas of Mississippi. Field experiments were conducted from 2006 to 2008 in the Mississippi Delta to evaluate various herbicide and tillage treatment programs for its control. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Highest level of control and reduction of GR Italian ryegrass biomass was observed with mechanically incorporated as well as surface applied residual herbicides in the fall of the year. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Control of GR Italian ryegrass was 86-95% with surface applications of clomazone at 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg ai/ha, s-metolachlor at 1.79 kg class=SpellE>ai/ha and KIH-485 at 0.16 kg ai/ha 171 days after emergence. Using a systems approach, preplant incorporated (PPI) class=SpellE>clomazone and/or s- class=SpellE>metolachlor followed by preemergence (PRE) application of paraquat + linuron+ non-ionic surfactant was also found to control and reduce biomass of GR Italian ryegrass.

Acroptilon repens es una especie herbácea perenne invasora en muchas partes del mundo. Fue introducida en la Argentina alrededor de 1920-30 como contaminante de semillas de alfalfa y para 1985 fue declarada plaga nacional. La maleza invade tanto las tierras bajo riego como las de secano en el Valle Inferior de Río Negro, provocando graves interferencias en la producción agrícola y ganadera. Los propágulos asexuales son la principal estrategia de propagación, que se basa en brotes subterráneos producidos por rizomas y raíces. La viabilidad de las semillas es baja. Varias estrategias de control, como herbicidas y cultivos supresores, fueron probadas localmente por el Grupo de Ecología y Control de Malezas de la UN Comahue, en los últimos años. El objetivo de esta tesis fue estudiar la respuesta de Acroptilon repens a la combinación del glifosato e inundación temporal en distintos estados fenológicos. Previamente se analizó el comportamiento fisiológico de A. repens bajo períodos cortos de inundación (menores a 20 días). Se realizaron varios experimentos de campo y de laboratorio durante cuatro años. Se midió la respuesta fisiológica, la producción y asignación de recursos de la planta, así como los cambios en las comunidades de malezas bajo los tratamientos. A los fines de evaluar la efectividad de los tratamientos, se definieron tres estadios fenológicos: roseta, desde la emergencia de los brotes caracterizado por hojas basales a nivel del suelo; prefloración, desde el inicio de la elongación caulinar caracterizado por un tallo principal con ramificaciones y formación de botones florales; y plena floración, desde la apertura de los capítulos florales hasta la senescencia de la planta. En todos los estadios fenológicos se observó que la biomasa total de la planta disminuyó con la intensidad del estrés impuesto (de 0 a 20 días de inundación). La biomasa subterránea fue afectada en mayor proporción que la biomasa aérea debido a la redistribución de los recursos. Las variables fisiológicas evidenciaron que A. repens es tolerante al estrés por inundación, disminuyendo su actividad biológica sin condicionar la supervivencia. Luego de la inundación a campo, debido a los cambios en las condiciones agroecológicas, se observó la germinación de nuevas poblaciones de A. repens así como también la emergencia de nuevas cohortes a partir de propágulos asexuales, reconstituyendo la densidad inicial de plantas una vez suspendido el tratamiento. La diversidad de la comunidad de malezas acompañantes, 75 días después de suspendido el tratamiento, aumentó en los lotes donde se inundó por 20 días. La acción de los tratamientos de glifosato y tiempos cortos de inundación fue más efectiva que cada uno de los métodos de forma individual, permitiendo mantener la efectividad del glifosato con dosis menores. / Acroptilon repens is an invasive perennial herbaceous species in many parts of the world. It was introduced in Argentina around 1920-30 as a contaminant of alfalfa seeds and by 1985 it was declared a national pest. It invades both the irrigated land and the dry land in the Lower Valley of Río Negro, causing serious interference in agricultural and livestock production. The asexual propagules are the main propagation strategy, which is based on underground shoots produced by rhizomes and roots. Seed´s viability is low. Several control strategies, such as herbicides and suppressant crops, were tested locally by the Group of Weeds Ecology and Control of the UN Comahue, in recent years. The objective of this thesis was to study the response of Acroptilon repens to the combination of glyphosate and temporary flooding in different phenological stages. Previously, the physiological behavior of A. repens was analyzed under short periods of flooding (less than 20 days). Several field and laboratory experiments were conducted over four years. The physiological response, the biomass production and allocation of plant resources were measured, as well as the changes in weed communities under the treatments. In order to evaluate the treatment´s effectiveness, three phenological stages were defined: rosette, from emergence of the shoots characterized by basal leaves at ground level; preflowering, from the beginning of the caulinar elongation characterized by a main stem with ramifications and flower buds formation; and full flowering, from the floral chapters opening to the plant senescence. In all the phenological stages it was observed that the total biomass of the plant decreased with the intensity of the imposed stress (from 0 to 20 days of flooding). The underground biomass was affected in greater proportion than the aerial biomass due to the redistribution of resources. The physiological variables showed that A. repens is tolerant to flood stress, decreasing its biological activity without conditioning survival. After field flooding, due to changes in agro-ecological conditions, the germination of new populations of A. repens as well as emergency of new cohorts from asexual propagules was observed, reconstituting the initial density of plants once the treatment was suspended. Weed´s accompanying community diversity, 75 days after the treatment was suspended, increased under the treatments where it was flooded for 20 days. The action of glyphosate treatments and short flood terms was more effective than each of the methods individually, allowing maintaining the effectiveness of glyphosate with lower doses.

Panicum coloratum var. coloratum (n.v. mijo perenne) es una forrajera con excelentes aptitudes para el Sudoeste Bonaerense, que aporta sustentabilidad a los sistemas agropecuarios en un ambiente con importantes limitaciones productivas y que permite realizar un planteo forrajero que aporte alimento en el período estival, cuando los rodeos demandan una mayor cantidad de forraje. Esta especie aún ha tenido menor difusión que otras pasturas megatérmicas, y la causa de su baja adopción por los productores se debe a las dificultades que presenta la etapa inicial de su cultivo. Las características de las semillas de mijo perenne, como su pequeño tamaño -asociado a escasas reservas-, su maduración asincrónica, su elevada dehiscencia y la dormición primaria en semillas nuevas, causan una reducción en la calidad comercial, así como en la eficiencia de su implantación. Estos rasgos se asocian a caracteres silvestres que conserva la especie, debido a que aún ha tenido un menor mejoramiento que otras gramíneas. El estudio de estos problemas y el desarrollo de técnicas que mejoren la performance de las semillas han sido objetivos de este trabajo. El aumento de la eficiencia durante la germinación e implantación se realizó mediante la aplicación de distintas técnicas de acondicionamiento de semillas (priming), que consiste en realizar una hidratación controlada, sin permitir que la semilla germine. Sus beneficios se reflejaron en aumentos muy significativos en el poder germinativo, el crecimiento y supervivencia de las plántulas mediante un proceso de invigorización. Además, otorgó mayor tolerancia a condiciones desfavorables durante el desarrollo, como la deficiencia hídrica y la salinidad. Los acondicionamientos que resultaron más efectivos fueron los de hidropriming (solo con agua destilada), matripriming rápido (con papel de filtro de baja retención de agua) y osmopriming con cloruro de calcio (CaCl2) al 2%. Los tiempos y temperaturas con los que se obtuvieron los mejores resultados fueron cuando se aplicó priming durante 12 horas a 25 °C, aunque también con 24 horas y 30 °C se obtuvieron mejoras significativas. Para entender el origen de la baja calidad de las semillas y la reducida eficiencia durante la implantación, se realizaron estudios en invernáculo sobre la maduración, dehiscencia y retención de semillas en las panojas. En los 3 años evaluados, aumentó gradualmente la producción y retención de semillas. Además, se encontró que en la parte apical de las panojas era donde ocurría la abscisión más temprana, y que la parte basal retuvo un porcentaje muy bajo de semillas. La parte media de la inflorescencia fue la que tuvo mayor retención y cantidad de semillas. Luego de 5 semanas después de la antesis las semillas tenían un peso mayor, pero la máxima retención ocurrió entre 7 y 8 semanas después de la antesis. Estas evaluaciones pueden colaborar en la determinación del momento óptimo de cosecha, de modo de encontrar el período en el cual las semillas alcancen el máximo peso y estado de madurez, pero evitando una pérdida excesiva por dehiscencia. / Panicum coloratum var. coloratum (perennial millet) is a forage with excellent aptitudes for Buenos Aires Southwest, which provides sustainability to agricultural systems in an environment with important productive limitations and which provides food in the summer period, when the herds demand a greater amount of food. This specie has still had less diffusion than other megathermic pastures, the cause of its low adoption by producers (farmers) is due to the difficulties of initial stages growth. The characteristics of perennial millet seeds, such as small size -associated with scarce reserves-, asynchronous maturaty, high dehiscence and primary dormancy in fresh seeds, cause a reduction in commercial quality, as well as the efficiency of their establishment. These traits are associated with the maintenance of wild genetics characters, because it has still undergone less improvement than other grasses. The study of these problems and the techniques development to improve seed performance have been objectives of this work. The increase in efficiency during germination and establishment was carried out by applying different seed priming techniques, which consists of performing controlled hydration, without allowing seed germination. Its benefits were reflected in very significant increases in germination percentage, growth and seedling survival through an invigorization process. In addition, it granted greater tolerance to unfavorable development conditions, such as water deficiency and salinity. The most effective priming were hydropriming (only with distilled water), rapid matripriming (with filter paper with low water retention) and osmopriming with 2% calcium chloride (CaCl2). Best results were obtained were when priming was applied for 12 hours at 25 °C, although significant improvements were obtained 24 hours and 30 °C. Seed maturity, dehiscence and seed panicles retention were carried out in greenhouse essays to understand low seed quality origin and low estabishment efficiency. Seed production and retention gradually increased during the 3 years study. Furthermore, it was found that panicle apical part was where earliest abscission occurred, and that the basal part retained a very low seed percentage. The inflorescence middle part had the highest seed retention and seed number. Five weeks after anthesis, seeds had higher weight, but maximum retention occurred between 7 and 8 weeks after anthesis. These evaluations can help in determining the optimal harvest moment, in order to find the period in which seed reaches maximum weight and maturity state, but avoiding excessive loss due to dehiscence.

Las malezas causan perjuicios económicos al competir con los cultivos por la captura y utilización de los recursos escasos disponibles, fundamentalmente luz, agua y nutrientes minerales del suelo. Por este motivo, es necesario realizar operaciones de control sobre las poblaciones de malezas para reducir sus tamaños hasta niveles aceptables y lograr así los rendimientos esperados en los cultivos. De los numerosos métodos de control existentes, el control químico, a través del uso de herbicidas, es el principal método para el manejo de dichas poblaciones. En la actualidad, el uso intensivo de herbicidas es cuestionado debido a los perjuicios que ocasionan sobre la flora y fauna benéfica, la contaminación de suelos y aguas y los posibles residuos en alimentos, la posibilidad de la aparición de poblaciones de malezas resistentes a los mismos y por sus potenciales efectos sobre la salud humana. Por esta razón, en los últimos años se entiende necesario efectuar un uso racional de los métodos químicos y combinarlos, de ser posible, con prácticas mecánicas y culturales para controlar las poblaciones de malezas con bajo impacto ambiental. Esta actividad, que se ha identificado como deseable para muchos de los agroecosistemas productivos de Argentina en los que se han empezado a manifestar malezas problemáticas, puede verse beneficiada por el desarrollo de herramientas de soporte a la toma de decisiones basadas en modelos matemáticos. En la presente tesis se estudiaron aspectos de la biología y la ecología del raigrás perenne (Lolium perenne) como maleza de cultivos de trigo en la región semiárida del sudoeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, y se desarrollaron modelos matemáticos con el objetivo de diseñar herramientas que permitan predecir el comportamiento a campo de la maleza y controlarla de la manera más eficiente, de modo de maximizar el rinde del cultivo y, por ende, las ganancias netas del productor, y al mismo tiempo reducir el impacto ambiental de las prácticas de control sobre el agroecosistema en cuestión. En el Capítulo 2 se presentan los resultados del estudio de los cambios en los parámetros térmicos asociados a la germinabilidad de las semillas de L. perenne en función del tiempo de postmaduración a campo y se propone un modelo de tiempo térmico de postmaduración orientado a predecir la salida de la dormición primaria de las semillas de la especie. En el Capítulo 3 se construyeron modelos de la producción de semillas de L. perenne y se estimó el tiempo térmico necesario para pasar de un estadío fenológico al siguiente. En el Capítulo 4 se propone un modelo de planeamiento operativo del control químico, con el objetivo de determinar los momentos óptimos de aplicación de herbicidas en cultivos de invierno orientado a maximizar el beneficio económico de la actividad teniendo en cuenta el impacto ambiental. En el Capítulo 5 el modelo propuesto se aplica al sistema trigo – raigrás. Finalmente, en el Capítulo 6 se realiza una discusión general de la tesis, se enumeran las principales conclusiones que surgieron a partir de los resultados y se destacan las líneas de investigación futuras asociadas al trabajo en ella desarrollado. / Weeds cause economic losses by competing with crops for the available scarse resources, mainly light, water and mineral nutrients from the soil. For this reason, it is necessary to control weed populations in order to reduce its sizes to an acceptable level and reach the expected crop yields. There are numerous control methods and, among them, chemical control is the most popular. Nowadays, the intensive use of herbicides is questioned because of the damage caused to benefic flora and fauna, soil and water pollution, the appearance of residues in food, the probability of developing weed resistant populations and its potential effects on human health. For this reason, in the last years, it has been reputed necessary to make a more rational use of chemical methods, and combine them, if possible, with mechanical and cultural strategies to control weed populations at a low environmental impact. This activity has been considered desirable for many productive agroecosystems of Argentina with presence of problematic weeds, and can benefit from the development of decisión support systems based on mathematical models. In this thesis, aspects of the biology and ecology of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as a weed of wheat crops in the semiarid región of the south-west of Buenos Aires province have been studied, and mathematical models developed as tools that allow the prediction of the weed behaviour in the field and their control in a more efficient way, in order to maximize crop yield and net income, and at the same time reducing the environmental impact of control practices on the agroecosystem. In Chapter 2, results are presented of the study of thermal parameters change associated to L. perenne seed germinability as a function of after-ripening time in the field, and an after-ripening thermal time model is proposed, as an attempt to predict primary dormancy loss of the species seeds. L. perenne seed production models were developed in Chapter 3, and the thermal time needed for phenological state change was also estimated in this chapter. Chapter 4 proposes an operational planning model of the chemical control, in order to find the optimal application time of herbicides in winter crops, to maximize the economical benefit also considering the environmental impact. In Chapter 5, the model proposed in Chapter 4 was applied to the wheat – perennial ryegrass system. Finally, in Chapter 6 there is a general discussion of the present thesis, the principal conclusions of the results are listed and related future research work is highlighted.

Bibliography: leaves 213-229. / xxiii, 229, 26 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 2000