• Title/Summary/Keyword: Tropical Grass

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Biomass Structure and Dry Matter Dynamics in a Fire Influencing Montane Subtropical Humid Grassland, Western Ghats Southern India

  • Paulsamy, S;Manian, S.;Udaiyan, K.;Arumugasamy, K.;Nagarajan, N.;Kil, B.S.
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.227-232
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    • 2001
  • The biomass structure for three major components viz., the dominant grass, Chrysopogon zeylanicus Thw., the 'other grasses' and the'remaining species'and dry matter dynamics for total community were studied over a period of one year in an annual fire influenced subtropical humid grassland community in Western Ghats, India. The biomass of aboveground, belowground and litter compartments were high as in other humid grasslands and generally have positive correlation with rainfall, rainy days and relative humidity with the exception of litter parts. The above and belowground net primary productions (4,561 and 722 g/㎡, respectively) were also higher and were comparable with other humid tropical grasslands. The turnover of organic matter was rapid, Of the total input of 14.47 g/㎡ into the system, about 86.3% was allocated to above ground parts and 13.7% to below ground parts. The total disappearance was 2.56 g/㎡ and it was accounted to be 17.68% of the total output. The net surplus of dry matter (82.32%) in the post fire community indicates that the grassland was maintained in a seral stage. Hence it is suggested that prescribed burning may keep this ecosystem in a highly productive and seral stage.

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Acaricidal effects of herb essential oils against Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) and qualitative analysis of a herb Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal)

  • Rim, In-Sook;Jee, Cha-Ha
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.44 no.2 s.138
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    • pp.133-138
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    • 2006
  • This experiment was undertaken to screen the acaricidal effects of herb essential oils (pennyroyal, ylang ylang, citronella, lemon grass, tea tree, and rosemary) at different doses (0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, and $0.00625{\mu}l/cm2$) and exposure times (5, 10, 20, 20, 30 and 60 min) on house dust mites Dermatophgoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus. The most effective acaricidal components of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) were analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Of these essential oils, the most effective was pennyroyal, which is composed essentially of pulegone (> 99%), at a dose of $0.025{\mu}l/cm^2$, which at an exposure time of 5 min killed more than 98% of house dust mites. In the pennyroyal fumigation test, the closed method was more effective than the open method and maximum acaricidal effect was 100% at $0.025{\mu}l/cm^2$, 60 min. The results show that herb essential oils, in particular, pennyroyal was proved to have potent acaricidal activity.

Comparison of ecophysiological and leaf anatomical traits of native and invasive plant species

  • Rindyastuti, Ridesti;Hapsari, Lia;Byun, Chaeho
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.24-39
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    • 2021
  • Background: To address the lack of evidence supporting invasion by three invasive plant species (Imperata cylindrica, Lantana camara, and Chromolaena odorata) in tropical ecosystems, we compared the ecophysiological and leaf anatomical traits of these three invasive alien species with those of species native to Sempu Island, Indonesia. Data on four plant traits were obtained from the TRY Plant Trait Database, and leaf anatomical traits were measured using transverse leaf sections. Results: Two ecophysiological traits including specific leaf area (SLA) and seed dry weight showed significant association with plant invasion in the Sempu Island Nature Reserve. Invasive species showed higher SLA and lower seed dry weight than non-invasive species. Moreover, invasive species showed superior leaf anatomical traits including sclerenchymatous tissue thickness, vascular bundle area, chlorophyll content, and bundle sheath area. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that leaf anatomical traits strongly influenced with cumulative variances (100% in grass and 88.92% in shrubs), where I. cylindrica and C. odorata outperformed non-invasive species in these traits. Conclusions: These data suggest that the traits studied are important for plant invasiveness since ecophysiological traits influence of light capture, plant growth, and reproduction while leaf anatomical traits affect herbivory, photosynthetic assimilate transport, and photosynthetic activity.

Analysis of Research Trend on Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) (한국 잔디류의 연구동향 분석)

  • Hyun, Yun-Hea;Choi, Byeong-Jin;Kim, Yoon-Joong;Joo, Young-Kyoo
    • Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.89-95
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    • 2012
  • Korean lawn grass, which belongs to Zoysia genus in Gramineae family, is one of the major turfgrass which is widely adapted to its native niches in the temperate region of the north east Asia through tropical regions including Philippine, Thailand and Australia. The Turfgrass Information Center' database provides 5,340 descriptive records including 638 referred papers and 1,370 technical reports concerning 'Zoysia'. The database focused on researches on golf courses and lawn care industries. The researches provide informations on seed technology and use of plant protectant for pest management in turf management industries. The purpose of this study is to analyze and classify the research contents of zoysiagrasses which have been published in Korean journals. The total number of research papers published in Korean journals were 274 including 102, 38, and 134 in the 'Botanical', 'Environmental' and 'Cultural' researches, respectively. Publication in foreign journals by Korean investigators were not counted in this research. Research fields concerning golf course maintenance and plant protectant are believed to be necessary when compared to international trends. Moreover, advanced research efforts for the development of new cultivars with various environmental and disease resistance should be accomplished.

Effects of Condensed Tannins in Mao (Antidesma thwaitesianum Muell. Arg.) Seed Meal on Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Nitrogen Utilization in Goats

  • Gunun, P.;Wanapat, M.;Gunun, N.;Cherdthong, A.;Sirilaophaisan, S.;Kaewwongsa, W.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.29 no.8
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    • pp.1111-1119
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    • 2016
  • Mao seed is a by-product of the wine and juice industry, which could be used in animal nutrition. The current study was designed to determine the effect of supplementation of mao (Antidesma thwaitesianum Muell. Arg.) seed meal (MOSM) containing condensed tannins (CT) on rumen fermentation, nitrogen (N) utilization and microbial protein synthesis in goats. Four crossbred (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) goats with initial body weight (BW) $20{\pm}2kg$ were randomly assigned to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The four dietary treatments were MOSM supplementation at 0%, 0.8%, 1.6%, and 2.4% of total dry matter (DM) intake, respectively. During the experimental periods, all goats were fed a diet containing roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40 at 3.0% BW/d and pangola grass hay was used as a roughage source. Results showed that supplementation with MOSM did not affect feed intake, nutrient intakes and apparent nutrient digestibility (p>0.05). In addition, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) were not influenced by MOSM supplementation, whilst blood urea nitrogen was decreased quadraticly (p<0.05) in goats supplemented with MOSM at 2.4% of total DM intake. Propionate was increased linearly with MOSM supplementation, whereas acetate and butyrate were remained the same. Moreover, estimated ruminal methane ($CH_4$) was decreased linearly (p<0.05) when goats were fed with MOSM at 1.6% and 2.4% of total DM intake. Numbers of bacteria and protozoa were similar among treatments (p>0.05). There were linear decreases in urinary N (p<0.01) and total N excretion (p<0.01) by MOSM supplementation. Furthermore, N retention was increased linearly (p<0.05) when goats were fed with MOSM supplementation at 1.6% and 2.4% of total DM intake. Microbial protein synthesis were not significantly different among treatments (p>0.05). From the current study, it can be concluded that supplementation of MOSM at 1.6% to 2.4% of total DM intake can be used to modify ruminal fermentation, especially propionate and N utilization in goats, without affecting the nutrient digestibility, microbial populations and microbial protein synthesis.

Erosion and Recovery of Coastal Dunes after Tropical Storms (태풍의 통과로 인한 해안사구 지형의 침식과 회복)

  • Choi, Kwang Hee;Jung, Pil Mo;Kim, Yoonmi;Suh, Min Hwan
    • Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.17-27
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    • 2012
  • Coastal dunes help stabilize the coastal landscape and protect the hinterland through dynamic interaction with sand beaches. Sometimes dune erosion occurs during the tropical cyclones, while dune recovery may naturally follow after the event. As the typhoon Kompasu passed through the Korean Peninsula early-September in 2010, it caused a rise in water in association with the storm, wave run-ups, and heavy rains in coastal areas. As the result, coastal dunes along the west coast of Korea were severely damaged during the storm. However, the degree and extent of erosion and recovery of dunes were found to be related with the condition of beach-dune systems including gradients of foreshore and front slope of the dune, sediment supply, vegetation, wind activity, and human interferences. Some dunes retreated landward more and more after the erosional event, while others recovered its original profile by aeolian transport processes mainly during the winter season. Vegetated dunes with pine trees were less recovered after the erosion than grass-covered dunes. In addition, dunes with artificial defense were more eroded and less recovered than those without hard constructions. According to the observation after the severe storm, it is likely that the sand transport process is critical to the dune recovery. Therefore, the interactions between beach and dune must be properly evaluated from a geomorphological perspective for the effective management of coastal dunes, including natural recovery after the erosion by storm events.

EFFECT OF WORK CRUSHING SUGARCANE ON PREGNANCY AND LACTATION IN CATTLE AND BUFFALOES

  • van Thu, N.;Pearson, R.A.;Preston, T.R.;Fajersson, P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.427-438
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    • 1996
  • The suitability of female cattle ($Brahman{\times}Holstein$) and buffaloes (Murrah / Jafarabadi) for work on a sugarcane crusher was tested. The animals were fed chopped sugarcane tops and elephant grass supplemented with rice bran and urea-molasses blocks. In experiment 1, six cattle and six buffaloes, (with three animals seven to eight months pregnant at the start of the experiment in each group), worked individually, alternate weeks for 90 minutes a day for 6 d/week. Within the 90 min, cattle did more work than buffaloes (p < 0.05), and non-pregnant animals did more than pregnant animals, but cattle crushed significantly (p < 0.05) more cane per day than buffaloes. During work animals lost weight, but gained the weight back during resting weeks, when fodder intakes were higher. There were no significant differences in live weight change and fodder intakes between pregnant and non-pregnant animals during the six weeks. In experiment 2, four pairs of lactating cows and buffaloes crushed sugarcane for 3 h/d, 6 d/week for three weeks. Work done was higher in cattle than buffaloes, but cane crushed was marginally lower. All animals lost weight during work, particularly in the first week, but gained weight during the week after work. Daily milk yield was lower during the working weeks ($-0.55{\pm}0.15kg$) than in the week before work. Butter fat yield showed no significant change. One buffalo showed ovarian activity and oestrus behaviour during the work. Two cows showed ovarian activity within one month after the work. It was concluded that pregnant and lactating cows and buffaloes can effectively operate a cane crusher, however a temporary reduction in milk yield can be expected in the working period, and ovarian activity may be suppressed.

Development of Seashore Paspalum Turfgrass with Herbicide Resistance

  • Kim, Kyung-Moon;Song, In-Ja;Lee, Hyo-Yeon;Raymer, Paul;Kim, Beom-Seok;Kim, Wook
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.427-432
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    • 2009
  • Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) is a warm season grass and indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of coastal areas worldwide. The species is used as feed for cattle and horses and has been very successful for golf courses worldwide. One of the most outstanding characteristics of seashore paspalum is its tolerance to saline soils compared to other warm season turfgrasses. The development of new seashore paspalum cultivars with improved traits could be facilitated through the application of biotechnological strategies. The purpose of this study was to product for herbicide resistant seashore paspalum using Arobacterium-mediated transformation and this study is the first report on transformation and herbicideresistant transgenic plants in seashore paspalum. Embryogenic calli were induced from the seeded variety of pseashore paspalum. Embryogenic calli were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 carrying the binary vector pCAMBIA3301 with two genes encoding gusA and bar. Transformed calli and plants were selected on medium containing 3 mg/l PPT. PCR detected the presence of the gusA and bar gene, indicating both genes are integrated into the genome of seashore paspalum. A chlorophenol red assay was used to confirm that the bar gene was expressed. By application of herbicide BASTA, the herbicide resistance in the transgenic seashore paspalum plants was confirmed.

Effects of Replacing Ground Corn with Cassava Chip in Concentrate on Feed Intake, Nutrient Utilization, Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Microbial Populations in Goats

  • Chanjula, P.;Ngampongsai, W.;Wanapat, M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.20 no.10
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    • pp.1557-1566
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    • 2007
  • Ten male crossbred (Thai $Native{\times}Anglo$ Nubian) goats with average live weight of $27{\pm}2$ kg were randomly assigned according to a $5{\times}5$ replicated Latin square design to receive five diets, $T_1$ = concentrate with 0% cassava chip (CC), $T_2$ = 25% CC, $T_3$ = 50% CC, $T_4$ = 75% CC and $T_5$ = 100% CC. Fresh elephant grass (FEG) was offered ad libitum as the roughage. A metabolism trial lasted for 21 days during which liveweight changes and feed intakes were measured. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among treatment groups regarding DM intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients (DM, OM, NDF and ADF), except for $T_5$ (100% CC) which was lowest (p<0.05) in digestion coefficient of CP than $T_1$ and $T_3$. Rumen parameters (ruminal pH, $NH_3$-N and volatile fatty acids), blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose and packed cell volume were similar among treatments. Moreover, rumen microorganism populations were not affected (p>0.05) by cassava inclusion. The amount of N absorption and retention were similar among treatments, except for $T_5$ which tended to be slightly lower. Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that the optimal level of cassava inclusion to replace corn in goat diets was in the range of 25-75% of CC when fed with FEG and it was a good approach in exploiting the use of local feed resources for goat production.

Effects of Adding Urea and Molasses on Napiergrass Silage Quality

  • Yunus, M.;Ohba, N.;Shimojo, M.;Furuse, M.;Masuda, Y.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.11
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    • pp.1542-1547
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    • 2000
  • To standardize proper formulation of urea and molasses, the former to increase crude protein content of tropical grass and the latter for improving its silage quality, we examined the fermentation quality of silage of fresh and wilted napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) with different levels of urea and molasses with or without lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Silage was made of napiergrass with conditions of fresh young (Exp. 1),young wilted for half day (Exp. 2) and fresh mature (Exp. 3). Chopped plant materials of about 1cm length were ensiled into a laboratory silo and incubated for one month at $25^{\circ}C$. The treatments were the combination of 0, 0.2 and 0.6% of urea and 0, 2 and 5% of molasses (fresh material basis) with or without LAB inoculation. After opening the silo, pH, organic acids, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) and total nitrogen (TN) were determined. Addition of molasses significantly (p<0.01) lowered pH values in three experiments. Though molasses addition increased lactic acid production even at a higher level of urea, pH values at 0 and 2% molasses were significantly increased by urea in fresh and wilted young silages, but in fresh mature silage it occurred only when molasses was not added. VBN/TN at 0.6% urea were decreased significantly by the highest molasses in three experiments. Significant increases in TN by the increasing of urea addition were observed at all levels of molasses in wilted young and fresh mature silages. In conclusion, a combination of 5% molasses and 0.6% urea could improve the nutritive and fermentation qualities of napiergrass silage under young, wilting and mature conditions.