Abundance Frequency of Plant Species as Animal Feeds to Determine Ideal Cattle Grazing

Article Preview

Abstract:

The objectives of this study were to determine the dominant frequency of plant species, and provide useful information toward the conservation management of animal feed in grazing areas, Hiroshima, Japan. The numbers of plant species were 32 and 21 in spring and summer, respectively. The appearance frequency of plant species more than 50% in the spring, consist of Veronica arvensis (75.57%), Trifolium repens (73.86%), Paspalum dilatatum (69.32%), Lamium purpureum (68.75%), Trifolium dubium (65.34%), Cerastium glomeratum (63.64%), whereas in summer, it consists of Paspalum notatum (98.30%), Trifolium repens (81.25%), Paspalum dilatatum (78.98%), and Kyllinga brevifolia (74.43%). It was observed that the frequencies of plant species were 16.64 and 21.55 cm; vegetation cover rates were 77.18 and 81.36%; chlorophyll content were 41.72 and 36.28 mg/g Fw, and species numbers were 17.91 and 10.18, in spring and summer, respectively. Findings of this research propose that Trifolium repens (clover), Rumex japonicus (weed), and Paspalum dilatatum (grass) are dominant species in the studied areas that can be utilized as animal feeds.

Info:

* - Corresponding Author

[1] M.A. Altieri, Biodiversity and pest management in agroecosystems, Howarth Press, New York, 1994.

Google Scholar

[2] L. Astigaraga, Peyraud, L. Delaby, Effect of nitrogen fertilizer rate and protein supplementation on the herbage intake and the nitrogen balance of grazing dairy cows, Animal Res. 4 (2002) 279-293.

DOI: 10.1051/animres:2002022

Google Scholar

[3] M.D. McMahon et al., Too close for comfort: Effect of trap spacing distance and pattern on statistical inference of behavioral choice test in the field, Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 136 (2010) 66-71.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2010.01001.x

Google Scholar

[4] R.J. Whittaker et al., Species richness on towards a general, theory of species diversity hierarchical theories of diversity, J. Biogeography. 28 (2001) 453-470.

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2699.2001.00563.x

Google Scholar

[5] P. Dumont, Appearance of biomarkers of in-vitro ageing after successive stimulations of WI-38 fibroblast with IL-1a and TNF-a: Senescence associated 𝛽-galactosidase activity and morphotype transition, J. Anat. 197 (2000) 529-537.

DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2000.19740529.x

Google Scholar

[6] I.J. Gordon, Intake and Diet Selection by Sheep Grazing Grass/Clover Patches, Proceedings of the 18th International Grassland Society, 23 (1997), Session 5 ID NO. 25:5-11.

Google Scholar

[7] A.J. Rook et al., Effect of long-term changes in relative resource availability on dietary preference of grazing sheep for perennial ryegrass and white clover, Grass and Forage Sci. 57 (2002) 54-60.

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2494.2002.00301.x

Google Scholar

[8] M. Meisser et al., Foraging behavior and occupation pattern of beef cows on a heterogeneous pasture in the Swiss Alp, Czech J. Ani. Sci. 50 (2014) 84-95.

DOI: 10.17221/7232-cjas

Google Scholar

[9] K. Kawamura et al., Mapping herbage biomass and nitrogen status in an Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L) field using a digital video camera with balon system, Journal of Applied Remote Sensing. 5(1) (2011) 053562.

DOI: 10.1117/1.3659893

Google Scholar

[10] Braun-Blanquet, Pflanzensosiologie: Grunzuge der Vegetation-skunde, 3te aufl. Spring-Verlag, 1964.

Google Scholar

[11] L.C. Bliss, Rosine and lipid contents in alpine tundra plants, Ecology. 43 (1962) 753-757.

DOI: 10.2307/1933473

Google Scholar

[12] J. Sharma et al., Phosphorus solubilizing capabilities of microorganisms isolated from grapevine rhizophere and non rhizhosphere soil, J. Eco-Friendly Agric. 7 (2012) 38-42.

Google Scholar

[13] Marquis, Effect of deer browsing on timber production in Alleghheny harwood forest of Northwestern in Pennsylvania. U.S, Forest Service Research Paper NE-475, 1981.

DOI: 10.2737/ne-rp-475

Google Scholar

[14] N.G. Tilghman, Impact of white-tailed deer on forest regeneration in Northwestern Pennsylvania, J. Wildlife Manag. 53 (1989) 524-532.

DOI: 10.2307/3809172

Google Scholar

[15] J.R. Brown, J.W. Stuth, How herbivory effects grazing tolerant and sensitive grass in a central Texas grassland: integrating plant response across hierachical level, Oikos. 67 (1993) 291-298.

DOI: 10.2307/3545474

Google Scholar

[16] C.P.H. Mulder C.P.H, Vertebrata herbivores and plants in the Arctic and subarctic: Effect on individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems, Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 2 (1989) 29-55.

DOI: 10.1078/1433-8319-00064

Google Scholar

[17] A.J. Hester et al., Impact of large herbivores on plant community structur dinamics and concervation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. (2006) 97-141.

Google Scholar

[18] J. Chen, M. Shiyomi, Y. Yamamura, Frequency distribution model for spatial patterns of vegetation abundance, Ecol. Mod. 211 (2008) 403-410.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.09.017

Google Scholar

[19] M.J. Metzger et al., The ATEAM vulnerability mapping tool, Quantitative approaches in systems analysis no. 27, CD-ROM publication, Office C.T. de Wit Graduate School for Production Ecology and Resource Concervation (PE and RC), Wagenigen, the Netherlands a climatic stratification of the environment of Europe, 2004.

Google Scholar

[20] P.B. Adler, D.A. Raff, W.K. Launeroth, The effect of grazing on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation, Oecol. 128(4) (2001) 465-479.

DOI: 10.1007/s004420100737

Google Scholar

[21] S.J. McNaughton, Compensantory plant growth as response to herbivore, Oikos. 40 (1983) 329-336.

Google Scholar

[22] D.J. Augustine, Mc Naughton, Ungulate effect on the functional species composition of plant communities: herbivore selectivity nd plant tolerance, J. Wildlife Manag. 62 (1988) 1165-1183.

DOI: 10.2307/3801981

Google Scholar

[23] D. Tillman, The ecological consequences of change in biodiversity a search for general principles, Ecology. 80 (1999) 1455-1474.

Google Scholar

[24] M.L. Rosenzweig, Species diversity in space and time. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995.

Google Scholar

[25] D. Tillman, Community invisibility recruitment limitation and grassland biodiversity, Ecology. 78 (1997) 81-92.

DOI: 10.1890/0012-9658(1997)078[0081:cirlag]2.0.co;2

Google Scholar

[26] S. Kuksal et al., Phytosociological investigation and live from pattern of grazing lands under pine canopy in temperature zone, Northwest Himalaya India, Res. J. Bot. 4 (2009) 55-69.

DOI: 10.3923/rjb.2009.55.69

Google Scholar

[27] M. Nannete, L. Deacon, C. Robinson, Greater nitrogen and/or phosporus availability increase plant species cover and diversity at a High Artic popular semi desert, Polar Biol. 30 (2007) 559-570.

DOI: 10.1007/s00300-006-0213-7

Google Scholar

[28] S. Zaman, Effect of rainfall and grazing on vegetation yield and cover of two arid rangelands in Kuwait, Environ. Conserv. 24 (1997) 344-350.

DOI: 10.1017/s0376892997000453

Google Scholar

[29] C. Skarpe, Structure of the woody vegetation in disturbed and undisturbed arid Savana, Botswana, Plant Ecology. 87 (1990) 11-18.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00045650

Google Scholar

[30] R.A. Richards, Selectable traits to increase crop photosynthesis and yield of grain crop, J. Exp Bot. 51 (2000) 447-458.

DOI: 10.1093/jexbot/51.suppl_1.447

Google Scholar

[31] L.C. Hulbert, Fire and litter affect in undisturbed bluestem prairie in Kansan, Ecology. 50 (1969) 874-877.

DOI: 10.2307/1933702

Google Scholar

[32] B.A. Kimball, Carbon-dioxide and agricultural yield: An assemblage and analysis of 430 prior observations, Agronomy J. 75 (1983) 779-778.

DOI: 10.2134/agronj1983.00021962007500050014x

Google Scholar

[33] Cao M, F.I. Woodward, Dynamic responses of terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling to global climate change, Nature. 393 (1998) 249-252.

DOI: 10.1038/30460

Google Scholar

[34] D.T Tissue, W.C Oechel, Response of Eriphorum vaginatum to elevated CO2 and temperature in the Alaskan Tussock Tundra, Ecology. 68 (1987) 401-410.

DOI: 10.2307/1939271

Google Scholar

[35] N.C.H. Fetcher et al., Long term elevation of atmospheric CO2 concentration and the carbon exchange rate saplings of Pinus taeda L. and Liquitambar styrachiflua L, Tree Physiol. 4 (1988) 255-262.

DOI: 10.1093/treephys/4.3.255

Google Scholar

[36] R.F. Sage, T.D Sharkey, J.R. Seeman, Acclimation of photosynthesis to elevated CO2 in five C3 species, Plant Physiol. 89 (1989) 590-596.

DOI: 10.1104/pp.89.2.590

Google Scholar

[37] W.C. Oechel, B.R. Strain, Native species responses Chapter 5, pp.118-154, in B.R. Strain and J.D Cure (eds), Direct Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Vegetation, State of the Art Report, U.S Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Science, Carbon Dioxide Research Division. Washington, DC, 1985.

DOI: 10.2172/6134866

Google Scholar

[38] R.M. Gifford, H. Lambers, J.I.L Morison, Respiration of crop species under CO2 enrichment, Physiologia Plantarum. 63 (1985) 351-356.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1985.tb02309.x

Google Scholar