Broadcast sowing of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench) often experiences unsatisfactory emergence and establishment of seedlings. This study evaluated post-seeding rotary tilling and soil packing as management practices to improve emergence and establishment of densely broadcasted forage sorghum (cv. Hazuki). Shallow tilling to a depth of about 5cm resulted in high seedling emergence rates (>60%), regardless of application or intensity of soil packing. Without tilling, although seedling emergence rates were low when no or light soil packing was applied (20-45%), the rates exceeded 60% when the soil was intermediately or firmly packed after seeding. Deep tilling to a depth of about 15cm suppressed seedling emergence particularly when combined with soil packing (mostly 30-40%). The results show that shallow rotary tilling or no tilling followed by intermediate or intense soil packing is recommended as post-seeding management for stable high seedling emergence of broadcasted forage sorghum.

View full abstract

This study was carried out to obtain information on seed dispersal of plants by defecation of cattle rotationally grazed in sown and native pastures. Sward height, height and density of inflorescence and frequency of defoliation in four monocotyledons and two forbs dominating in the sown pasture, and frequency of appearance, fructification and the occurrence of defoliation of plant species in the native pasture were measured immediately before and after movements of a herd from late spring to mid-autumn. Plant species germinating from cattle feces was also identified by applying water-diluted feces to pots filled with soil. In the sown pasture, the six dominant species fructified in late spring to early summer, when the frequency of defoliation was high (10-97%). During this season, the maximum of 87.8 seedlings/100g feces germinated, including 74.6% of Carex albata seedlings. On the other hand, in the native pasture, the number of seedlings germinating from feces was low (max. 19.1/100g feces). These results indicate that seeds of C. albata are mainly dispersed through defecation of cattle from the sown pasture into the native pasture. However, considerably low coverage of C. albata in the native pasture suggests difficulties for this species to germinate and/or establish under the actual conditions of feces on the pastures.

View full abstract

The experiment of ensiling whole rice crop (Oryza sativa L.), using one liter bottle silos, was carried out to investigate whether treatment of monosodium glutamate fermentation by-product (MSG) can alter the fermentation quality and in situ rumen degradability as silage additive. The original (MSG-1) and condensed (MSG-2) MSGs were examined in comparison of the control silage. The MSG-1 and MSG-2 silages had higher concentration of lactate but lower one of acetate and butyrate than had the control (p<0.05). The two MSG additives decreased the cell wall constituents of whole rice crop and increased the in situ rumen degradability of each plant fraction including the hull, grain, leaf and stem (p<0.05). Severe softening and solubilization of the surface of the rice leaves in the MSG-1 silage was observed to enhance the microbial degradation in the rumen by scanning electron microscopy. The results in the present study indicate that the MSG can be a new silage additive to improve the fermentation quality and rumen digestibility of forage plants.

View full abstract

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), which is distributed throughout the northwest Europe in a latitude range of 45-70°, requires a long low-temperature duration for vernalization and a long daylength for floral induction. Therefore, this grass may not be able to flower in some places in the middle latitude zone. This study examined heading characteristics of two meadow fescues, an early heading cultivar 'Tomosakae' and an extremely late heading strain 'Hokkai 9', in six places in Japan [Hamatonbetsu (45°07'N), Kunneppu (43°47'N), Sapporo (43°00'N), Morioka (39°45'N), Nasushiobara (36°55'N) and Nishigoshi (32°53'N)], in an effort to identify the factors limiting flowering of meadow fescue in Japan. 'Tomosakae' showed high flowering rates (96-100% plants), except for Hamatonbetsu (88%) and Nishigoshi (79%). On the other hand, 'Hokkai 9' showed high flowering rates (100%) only in Sapporo and Morioka, with low rates in Hamatonbetsu (72%), Kunneppu (87%), Nasushiobara (76%) and Nishigoshi (30%). The limit in flowering in Nasushiobara and Nishigoshi was attributed to short low-temperate (below 9℃) period (about 21 weeks) for vernalization. The limit in flowering in Hamatonbetsu and Kunneppu where climatic conditions for vernalization and floral induction were sufficient was attributed to the fact that plants were unable to complete the juvenile stage due to late seeding (1 August) and low autumn-winter temperature.

View full abstract