Forage yields and nutritive values of oat and triticale pastures for grazing sheep in early spring.

Background: Small-grain winter cereals can be utilized as early spring pastures in temperate climates to relieve grazing pressure and potentially mitigate feed shortages. This study was conducted to determine the effects of triticale and oat cereal pastures grazed by sheep during early spring on forage yields, nutritive values, and nutritional requirements of sheep. Methods: The research was carried out over three consecutive years, from 2015 to 2017, at the Sheep Research Institute in Bandirma-Balikesir, located in the Marmara region of Türkiye. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design, with the two forage species, triticale and oat, randomized within each of three blocks. The animal material for the study consisted of 24 Karacabey Merino sheep, each 2 years old, with an average live weight of 57.6 ± 0.5 kg, all in the late lactation stage. In each replication, four sheep were included, resulting in a total of 12 sheep grazing in each of the triticale and oat pastures. The sheep grazed exclusively on the cereal pastures without any additional feed, and had unrestricted access to water throughout the entire period of the experiment. The dry matter yields (DMY), dry matter intakes (DMI), nutritive values, and mineral contents of the cereal species were determined. Results: The DMY showed significant differences over the years (P < 0.05). No differences in DMY were observed between pastures, with oats yielding 11.99 t ha-1 and triticale yielding 11.08 t ha-1. During the grazing period, the change in DMY was significant in all years (P < 0.05). The average DMI of the sheep was 2,003.5 g d-1 for triticale and 2,156.6 g d-1 for oat, respectively, and DMI exhibited no significant differences across pastures. Although there was no difference in DMI between 2015 and 2016, the lowest consumption occurred in 2017 (P < 0.05). Additionally, while DMI showed different trends each year based on the periods, it generally decreased by the end of the grazing period. While both pastures provided similar nutritive values, significant differences were observed in the crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro true DM digestibility (DDM), and metabolisable energy (ME) values across the years. Over the years, as the grazing period progressed, CP levels decreased while neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ADF, and acid detergent lignin (ADL) increased, resulting in reduced DDM and ME values. The phosphorus (P) content in triticale was higher than in oats, but there were no differences in the content of other minerals between them. Between the years, significant differences were observed in the levels of phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe), while changes in other elements were insignificant. The variation in mineral content during the grazing process differed over the three years. Study results indicated that the nutritional values of triticale and oat pastures are similar, and both can effectively be used to provide sufficient feed to meet the early spring forage requirements for sheep.

GranoScan: an AI-powered mobile app for in-field identification of biotic threats of wheat.

Capitalizing on the widespread adoption of smartphones among farmers and the application of artificial intelligence in computer vision, a variety of mobile applications have recently emerged in the agricultural domain. This paper introduces GranoScan, a freely available mobile app accessible on major online platforms, specifically designed for the real-time detection and identification of over 80 threats affecting wheat in the Mediterranean region. Developed through a co-design methodology involving direct collaboration with Italian farmers, this participatory approach resulted in an app featuring: (i) a graphical interface optimized for diverse in-field lighting conditions, (ii) a user-friendly interface allowing swift selection from a predefined menu, (iii) operability even in low or no connectivity, (iv) a straightforward operational guide, and (v) the ability to specify an area of interest in the photo for targeted threat identification. Underpinning GranoScan is a deep learning architecture named efficient minimal adaptive ensembling that was used to obtain accurate and robust artificial intelligence models. The method is based on an ensembling strategy that uses as core models two instances of the EfficientNet-b0 architecture, selected through the weighted F1-score. In this phase a very good precision is reached with peaks of 100% for pests, as well as in leaf damage and root disease tasks, and in some classes of spike and stem disease tasks. For weeds in the post-germination phase, the precision values range between 80% and 100%, while 100% is reached in all the classes for pre-flowering weeds, except one. Regarding recognition accuracy towards end-users in-field photos, GranoScan achieved good performances, with a mean accuracy of 77% and 95% for leaf diseases and for spike, stem and root diseases, respectively. Pests gained an accuracy of up to 94%, while for weeds the app shows a great ability (100% accuracy) in recognizing whether the target weed is a dicot or monocot and 60% accuracy for distinguishing species in both the post-germination and pre-flowering stage. Our precision and accuracy results conform to or outperform those of other studies deploying artificial intelligence models on mobile devices, confirming that GranoScan is a valuable tool also in challenging outdoor conditions.

Impact of novel herbicide based on synthetic auxins and ALS inhibitor on weed control.

Delayed sowing of winter cereals or unfavorable weather conditions in autumn may make it impossible to carry out herbicide treatment in autumn. In such cases, weed control should be started in the spring. During this time, the plantation should be protected as effectively as possible because the weeds are at an advanced stage of growth. Therefore, they are less sensitive to applied herbicides. In the treatment, it is worth using a mixture of different mechanisms of action. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a band of tribenuron-methyl, and MCPA applied as soluble granules in spring control of dicotyledonous in winter cereals. The biological efficacy of herbicides was estimated in the 25 field experiments on winter cereals in Poland. Postemergence, a spring application of tribenuron-methyl + MCPA, effectively controls the majority of weed species present in spring: Anthemis arvensis, Brassica napus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Centaurea cyanus, Lamium purpureum, Matricaria chamomilla, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Stellaria media and Thlaspi arvense. Satisfactory control was confirmed for Veronica persica, Viola arvensis, and Galium aparine. Tribenuron-methyl with MCPA is recommended for application to winter cereals in spring. To prevent the development of resistance in weeds, it is advantageous to combine two active substances.

Vegetation height and structure drive foraging habitat selection of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) in intensive agricultural landscapes.

Habitat selection in animals is a fundamental ecological process with key conservation implications. Assessing habitat selection in endangered species and populations occupying the extreme edges of their distribution range, or living in highly anthropized landscapes, may be of particular interest as it may provide hints to mechanisms promoting potential range expansions. We assessed second- and third-order foraging habitat selection in the northernmost European breeding population of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), a migratory falcon of European conservation interest, by integrating results obtained from 411 direct observations with those gathered from nine GPS-tracked individuals. The study population breeds in the intensively cultivated Po Plain (northern Italy). Direct observations and GPS data coincide in showing that foraging lesser kestrels shifted their habitat preferences through the breeding cycle. They positively selected alfalfa and other non-irrigated crops during the early breeding season, while winter cereals were selected during the nestling-rearing phase. Maize was selected during the early breeding season, after sowing, but significantly avoided later. Overall, vegetation height emerged as the main predictor of foraging habitat selection, with birds preferring short vegetation, which is likely to maximise prey accessibility. Such a flexibility in foraging habitat selection according to spatio-temporal variation in the agricultural landscape determined by local crop management practices may have allowed the species to successfully thrive in one of the most intensively cultivated areas of Europe. In the southeastern Po Plain, the broad extent of hay and non-irrigated crops is possibly functioning as a surrogate habitat for the pseudo-steppe environment where most of the European breeding population is settled, fostering the northward expansion of the species in Europe. In intensive agricultural landscapes, the maintenance of alfalfa and winter cereals crops and an overall high crop heterogeneity (deriving from crop rotation) is fundamental to accommodate the ecological requirements of the species in different phases of its breeding cycle.

No seasonal curtailment of the Eurasian Skylark's (Alauda arvensis) breeding season in German heterogeneous farmland.

The lack of suitable nesting sites is one key driver behind the farmland bird crisis in Europe. Winter cereals become impenetrable for ground-breeding birds like the Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), curtailing breeding time. Stable Skylark populations depend on multiple breeding attempts per year; thus, the widespread cultivation of winter cereals has strongly contributed to their tremendous decline. Crop diversification is thought to be a potential measure to counteract this development. Therefore, we explored how individual Skylarks respond to the decreasing suitability of winter cereals as nesting habitats in heterogeneous but otherwise conventionally managed farmland. Our study focused on: (i) the degree to which Skylarks prematurely cease nesting activity, switch nesting habitats, or breed on linear structures like tramlines. Additionally, we analyzed: (ii) if nest success decreases throughout the breeding season and (iii) how often Skylarks make a successful breeding attempt per year. We radio-tagged 28 adults in a German population during April 2018 and 2019, tracked half of them for more than 3 months, and measured their breeding success. Additionally, we monitored nests of untagged pairs, resulting in 96 nests found. None, except one tagged individual, stopped breeding activity before July 1st. Home ranges were mainly stable, but Skylarks switched nesting habitats away from winter cereals to crops like sugar beet or set-aside. High-risk nesting sites like corn and linear structures played a minor role in breeding. Overall, Mayfield logistic regressions revealed no seasonal decrease in nest success, and tagged Skylarks had sufficient time to make 1.5-1.8 breeding attempts, of which 0.8 were successful. We suggest that heterogeneous farmland in our study area, which enabled diversely composed home ranges, prevented a curtailment of the breeding season. Thus, our study reinforces the need for crop diversification which gives Skylarks a chance to survive in modern farmland.

The Relationships between Plant Developmental Traits and Winter Field Survival in Rye (Secale cereale L.).

Overwintering cereals accumulate low temperature tolerance (LTT) during cold acclimation in the autumn. Simultaneously, the plants adjust to the colder season by making developmental changes at the shoot apical meristem. These processes lead to higher winter hardiness in winter rye varieties (Secale cereale L.) adapted to Northern latitudes as compared to other cereal crops. To dissect the winter-hardiness trait in rye, a panel of 96 genotypes of different origins and growth habits was assessed for winter field survival (WFS), LTT, and six developmental traits. Best Linear Unbiased Estimates for WFS determined from five field trials correlated strongly with LTT (r = 0.90, p < 0.001); thus, cold acclimation efficiency was the major contributor to WFS. WFS also correlated strongly (p < 0.001) with final leaf number (r = 0.80), prostrate growth habit (r = 0.61), plant height (r = 0.34), but showed weaker associations with top internode length (r = 0.30, p < 0.01) and days to anthesis (r = 0.25, p < 0.05). The heritability estimates (h2) for WFS-associated traits ranged from 0.45 (prostrate growth habit) to 0.81 (final leaf number) and were overall higher than for WFS (h2 = 0.48). All developmental traits associated with WFS and LTT are postulated to be regulated by phytohormone levels at shoot apical meristem.

Triticale silage replaces sorghum silage in finishing of Braford heifers / Silagem de triticale substitui silagem de sorgo na terminação de novilhas da raça Braford

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sorghum silage substitution with different proportions of triticale silage on the performance and carcass of Braford heifers. Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly assigned to four diets where sorghum silage was replaced at 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100% for triticale silage in a feedlot system. During sixty-tree days of the experiment, the feed intake, feed ratio conversion, and average daily gain were measured. The heifers were slaughtered and the effects of the sorghum and triticale silage in carcass characteristics were evaluated. The replacement of sorghum silage with triticale silage did not affect the feed intake and average daily gain (P> 0.05). Feed gain ratio was higher for the heifers that received lower proportions of triticale silage (0% and 30%) in replace sorghum silage (P <0.05). Eye loin area and fat thickness were similar among treatments (P<0.05). Other carcass characteristics, such as slaughter live weight, dressing percentage, conformation and fat classification were similar among experimental treatments (P<0.005). Triticale silage can replace sorghum silage for finishing beef heifers in feedlot system and provides similar carcass characteristics.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da substituição da silagem de sorgo por diferentes proporções de silagem de triticale no desempenho e na carcaça de novilhas Braford. A silagem de sorgo foi substituída em 0%, 30%, 60% e 100% pela silagem de triticale como fonte de volumoso na alimentação de 24 novilhas da raça Braford, em um sistema de confinamento. O período experimental total foi de 63 dias para a avaliação do consumo dos componentes da ração, a conversão alimentar e o ganho médio diário. Ao final do experimento, os animais foram abatidos e avaliados em relação às características de carcaça. A substituição da silagem de sorgo pela silagem de triticale não apresentou efeito no consumo dos componentes da ração e no ganho médio diário entre as novilhas (P>0,05). A conversão alimentar foi melhor para as novilhas que receberam menores proporções de silagem de triticale (0% e 30%) em substituição à silagem de sorgo (P<0,05). As características das carcaças foram semelhantes entre os animais independentemente da fonte de volumoso. A silagem de triticale apresenta-se como alimento alternativo à silagem de sorgo em regiões de transição climática para a terminação de novilhas de corte, proporcionando o mesmo desempenho animal e as mesmas características de carcaça.(AU)

Selecting appropriate focal species for assessing the risk to birds from newly drilled pesticide-treated winter cereal fields in France.

Identifying focal bird species appropriate to the situation in which a plant protection product is used is important for refined risk assessment (EFSA ). We analyzed the results of extensive field observations of newly drilled cereal fields in France in autumn over 2 seasons to determine real bird focal species. In 2011, birds were observed before and after drilling on wheat and barley fields drilled with imidacloprid-treated seeds (i.e., "treatment" fields) or seeds treated with compounds other than imidacloprid (i.e., "alternative treatment" fields). Bird abundance, species richness, and diversity were significantly higher in wheat fields than barley fields; these findings led us to monitor only wheat fields in 2012. Statistical analyses did not show a significant effect of the drilling itself or between the treatment fields and the alternative treatment fields on the number and type of bird species. These results led to the pooling of 2011 data on all fields for focal species determination. Similarly, all bird monitoring data generated in 2012 before and after drilling were pooled and analyzed. Rules for determination of candidate focal species detailed in the EFSA () guidance were followed. Carrion crow, wood pigeon, gray partridge, skylark, common starling, and pied wagtail were the bird species most frequently observed on wheat fields. This list of candidate species was processed to determine the most relevant focal species according to the method of Dietzen et al. (); this process resulted in the selection of skylark, gray partridge, wood pigeon, and pied wagtail as focal species to assess risks to birds for pesticides applied during drilling of winter cereals in France (September through November). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000-000. © 2018 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Physiological and Biochemical Response of Winter Triticale Crowns at Different Soil Moisture Levels.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The spring growth of winter cereals depends on the viability of the crowns as it is the key organ of the spring renewal of leaves, stems and roots. After the plants out of wintering, the impact of stressful conditions in the spring period negatively affects the viability of the crowns of winter cereals. The study was aimed at studying the physiological and biochemical reactions of the crowns of winter triticale, depending on the moisture level of the soil after wintering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The physiological and biochemical reaction of crowns of winter triticale to the change of the soil moisture-30, 60, 90 of the field capacity (FC) was studied under the controlled conditions of the vegetation experience. The viability of crowns winter triticale, water content, free proline, water-soluble carbohydrates and the qualitative composition of dehydrins were investigated. RESULTS: Plant survival and steady water content during the first 10 days is associated with an increase in the concentration of free proline, high content of water-soluble carbohydrates and dehydrins in crowns, regardless of the soil moisture level. At later stages of spring growth resumption (20 and 30 days), a decrease in carbohydrates, dehydrins and proline was noted in the crowns of winter triticale at all the studied levels of soil moisture. These substances are likely playing an important role in the osmotic regulation and protection of the components of the cells of crowns at the initial stage (10 days) of the plants growth resumption. CONCLUSION: The higher content of proline and the low water content of the tissues of crowns were noted in plants in the variant with a lack of moisture. Water deficiency in the period of growth resumption after wintering has a negative effect on the survival of plants.

Características produtivas e nutricionais do feno de trigo cultivado em dois níveis de adubação nitrogenada e estádios de colheita / Productive and nutritional characteristics of wheat hay cultivated in two nitrogen fertilization levels and harvest stages

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a produção de fitomassa fresca e de fitomassa seca, assim como a composição física e bromatológica do feno do trigo cultivar BRS Umbu sob efeitos de dois níveis de adubação nitrogenada (120kg ha-1 e 180kg ha-1) e dois estádios fenológicos de colheita (pré-florescimento e grão farináceo). O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x2, composto por quatro tratamentos com quatro repetições. Não houve interação (P>0,05) entre os níveis de adubação nitrogenada e os estádios fenológicos de colheita para todas as variáveis. A produção de fitomassa seca (P<0,05) nos estádios de grão farináceo e pré-florescimento foi de 10.171 e 4.982kg ha-1, respectivamente. A maior dose de N incrementou a produção de fitomassa seca em 775kg ha-1. Houve aumento da participação de espigas com o avanço do ciclo, apresentando-se 43,0% e 16,2% nos estádios grão farináceo e pré-florescimento, respectivamente. No estádio fenológico de pré-florescimento, a participação de folha verde foi superior (37,1% contra 9,8% da MS total). O feno colhido em estádio de grão farináceo apresentou menores teores de proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro. Os fenos produzidos apresentaram características distintas, o que permite seu uso em diferentes estratégias de alimentação de ruminantes.(AU)

The objective was to evaluate the production of the fresh and dry weight, physical and chemical composition of wheat hay, cv. BRS UMBU, under effects of two levels of nitrogen fertilization (120kg ha-1 and 180kg ha-1) and two harvest stages (pre-flowering and grain dough). The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial 2X2, composed of four treatments with four replications. There was no interaction (p>0.05) between the levels of nitrogen fertilization and growth stages of harvest for all variables. The production of dry matter in the dough stage and pre-flowering were 10.171 and 4.982kg ha-1, respectively. The higher N rates increased the production of dry matter of 775kg ha-1. There was increased participation of spikes with the advancement of the cycle, presenting 43.0% and 16.2% in the dough stage and pre-flowering, respectively. In the growth stage of pre-flowering, the share of green leaf was higher (37.1% against 9.8% of the total MS). The hay harvested at dough stage had lower NDF and CP levels. Thus, each treatment presented favorable characteristics allowing its use in different strategies in ruminant nutrition.(AU)

Forage yields and feeding value of small grain winter cereals for lambs.

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the dynamics that affect the nutrient content of forages with advancing growth stages is critical for designing equally dynamic feeding programmes. This study compared the agronomic characteristic and feeding values of forages from barley, rye, wheat, oats and triticale weekly from tillering (Z 24-25) to dough stages of maturity (Z 83-87). RESULT: Digestible dry matter yield of cereal species increased rapidly (P < 0.05) from 1.9 t ha(-1) at tillering to 7.8 t ha(-1) at ear emergence (Z 50-55) and remained stable (P > 0.05) until the dough stage when it increased to 10.4 t ha(-1) . The nutritive quality of cereal species decreased with advancing growth stages, and this was more pronounced in barley and rye with rapid reductions in their energy and digestibility values. Changes in the nutritive value of cereal forages indicated a strong relationship (P < 0.05) with the leaf-stem ratio of the plants. The animal response reflected the changes in feeding value of cereal species with advancing growth stages. The average live weight gain of lambs decreased (P < 0.05) from an average of 203 g d(-1) on 2 May to 142 g d(-1) on the 13 June. CONCLUSION: Wheat and oats, and to a lesser extent triticale, provided higher quality forages than barley and rye. All cereal species had poor feeding qualities between ear emergence and milk stages (Z 71-75). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Application times, sources and doses of nitrogen on wheat cultivars under no till in the Cerrado region / Épocas de aplicação, fontes e doses de nitrogênio em cultivares de trigo sob plantio direto na região do cerrado

Proper management of nitrogen fertilization and using cultivars with high productive potential are essential to obtain high wheat yield. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the effects of different N doses and sources, one with a nitrification inhibitor, applied at sowing or as side dressing, on the production components and yield of two wheat cultivars irrigated, under no till, cultivated in a region of low altitude Cerrado (Selvíria - MS). A randomized block design was used in a 5x3x2x2 factorial arrangement, that is, five nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200kg ha-1), three nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfonitrate with nitrification inhibitor (Entec®), ammonium sulfate and urea) and two nitrogen application times (at sowing or side dressing) on two wheat cultivars ('E 22' and 'E 42') with three replications. There was no difference for grain yield between the wheat cultivars and among the nitrogen sources. The application of nitrogen totally at sowing is feasible as well as the traditional application at sowing and side dressing. The nitrogen doses increased the leaf N content of the 'E 22' cultivar, resulting in a reduction in the hectolitric mass of the 'E 42' cultivar and increased grain yield of the 'E 22' and 'E 42' wheat yield cultivars, respectively, up to doses of 126 and 122kg ha-1 N, regardless of the application time and the nitrogen source.

O manejo adequado da adubação nitrogenada e a utilização de cultivares de alto potencial produtivo são essenciais para obtenção de altas produtividades de trigo. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses e fontes de N, sendo uma com inibidor de nitrificação, aplicadas no sulco de semeadura ou em cobertura, nos componentes de produção e na produtividade de duas cultivares de trigo irrigado, sob plantio direto, cultivado numa região de cerrado de baixa altitude (Selvíria - MS). O delineamento estatístico foi o de blocos ao acaso, em um esquema fatorial 5x3x2x2, ou seja, cinco doses de N (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200kg ha-1), três fontes de N (Entec®, sulfato de amônio e uréia) e duas épocas de aplicação de N (na semeadura, ao lado das linhas ou em cobertura), em duas cultivares de trigo ('E 22' e 'E 42'), com 3 repetições. Não houve diferença para produtividade de grãos das cultivares de trigo e entre as fontes de N. A aplicação do nitrogênio totalmente em semeadura é viável, assim como a aplicação tradicional em semeadura e cobertura. O incremento das doses de nitrogênio aumenta o teor de N foliar da cultivar 'E 22', proporciona redução da massa hectolítrica da cultivar 'E 42' e aumenta a produtividade de grãos das cultivares de trigo 'E 22' e 'E 42', respectivamente, até as doses de 126 e 122kg ha-1 de N, independente da época de aplicação e da fonte de N.