• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.465-471
• /
• 2021

Grass breeding starts with the process of selecting grass with good traits, and this operation consumes a lot of resources. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient screening method. Stolon is a unit for the storage of carbohydrates and vegetative propagation, which enhances grass growth and grass sod. Grass varieties with active production of stolons have excellent traits because they reproduce quickly and have a high density. To select grass with such a trait, the survival rate and the production rate of stolon after transplantation of 72 grass germplasms were investigated. After transplantation, the survival rate ranged from 75% to 100%. The majority of the grass cultivars showed a 100% survival rate. Therefore, the group was divided into two groups: A grass variety showing 100% survival and a grass variety that did not show 100% survival. The grass cultivar group, which showed a 100% survival rate after transplantation, included 61 turf varieties, and the rates of stolon production in these grass varieties ranged from 0 to 100%. In contrast, 10 varieties were included in the grass cultivar group that did not show 100% survival after transplantation. These cultivars had a stolon production rate of 0 to 33%. The results suggest that grass germplasms with a 100% survival rate should be selected.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.1389-1393
• /
• 2001

A study was carried out to investigate the nutritive value and utilization of three grass species, batiki grass (lschaemum aristatum var. indicum), guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and signal grass (Bracharia decumbens) by growing goats. Eighteen growing crossbred goats $(Anglo-Nubian{\times}Fiji\;local)$ of between 9-11 months of age and pre-trial average live weight of $9.50{\pm}1.60kg$ were divided on the basis of weight to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design. The grasses constituted the diets and they were harvested fresh and chopped into pieces before they were offered to the goats. Chemical composition of the grasses, DMI, body weight gain (BWG) and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were measured. The grasses had similar DM content. The CP content of the grasses was in the range of 8.3-11.2%. Crude fiber (CF) content was between 30.9-35.2%. Ether extract (EE) was low with a range of 1.2-1.8%. Nitrogen free extract (NFE) was similar (40.9%) for batiki and guinea grasses, while signal grass had more NFE content (51.1%). The grasses are good sources of minerals (ash). OM content was higher in signal grass while guinea and batiki grasses had similar OM content. The goats on signal grass had higher DMI than those on batiki and guinea grasses (p<0.05). The goats on batiki grass had lower average BWG (p<0.05) than those on guinea and signal grasses. Nutrients digestibility were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the goats on signal grass compared to those on guinea and batiki grasses. The goats on guinea grass were better (p<0.05) in the digestibility of CP, OM, NFE and ME than those on batiki grass. However, goats on batiki were significantly better (p<0.05) in digestibility of CF than those on guinea grass. Signal and guinea grasses had more DCP than batiki grass. DE was lower in batiki grass (p<0.05) than in guinea and signal grasses. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between batiki and guinea grasses in TON. Data obtained in this experiment demonstrated that signal grass is better than guinea and signal in the nutrition of growing goats in the tropical environment of Samoa. It had the highest nutritive value, better apparent digestibility coefficients which have better growth rate and feed efficiency. In ranking, signal grass was better than guinea and batiki grasses, while guinea grass was better than batiki in nutritive value in the parameters measured. For future pasture establishment in Samoa, signal grass is recommended for consideration because of its higher nutritive value as a replacement for batiki, the most predominant grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 1995

An experiment was conducted to study the comparative performance of cattle fed young or mature guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. ecotype A) and urea supplemented rice straw. Evaluation was based on intake and digestibility parameters. Twelve crossbred bulls calves weighing $90{\pm}15$ kg were offered young (4 weeks regrowth) or mature (9 weeks regrowth) grass in the long or chopped (10-15 cm) form, and rice straw supplemented with urea. The diets were offered 30-60% in excess of voluntary intake, and the experiment consisted of two periods. The crude protein content of the young grass, mature grass and the straw offered were 12.2, 5.4 and 7.7%, respectively, and the refusal was 10.1, 3.9 and 7.0%, respectively. The organic matter digestibility of the young grass (69%) was significantly higher than the mature grass (62.5%) and straw (55.8%) diets. The organic matter intake (kg/100 kg LW/day) of the unchopped and chopped grass diets were 2.6 and 3.3 respectively, and these values were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the young grass (2.3) and straw (2.1) diets. The digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of the mature grass diet offered in the chopped form (2.1 kg/100 kg LW/day) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the other three diets. The DOMI of the young and mature grass offered in the long form was similar (1.6 kg/100 kg LW/day), but were significantly better (p < 0.01) than the urea supplemented straw diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.523-528
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of jambo grass (Sorghum $bicolour{\times}Sorghum$ sudanefe) silage and mott grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silage as a replacement of conventional fodder (jambo grass) in the diet of lactating Nili buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Thirty early-lactating ($45{\pm}4$ days), multi-parous Nili buffaloes, ten in each group, were allotted to three experimental diets. Jambo grass and mott grass were ensiled with molasses (at 2% of fodder DM) in two trench silos for 30 days. The control diet (JG) contained 75% jambo grass while the other two diets contained 75% jambo grass silage (JGS) and 75% mott grass silage (MGS). The remaining 25% DM in each diet was supplied by concentrates. Diets were mixed daily and fed twice a day ad libitum for 120 days. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher with the JG diet compared with JGS and MGS diets. However, DMI as % body weight did not differ significantly in buffaloes fed either fodder or silage based diets. Crude protein (CP), digestible CP and NDF intakes were significantly higher on JG compared with silage-based diets. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were similar in buffaloes fed JG, JGS and MGS diets. Milk yield (4% FCM) was similar in buffaloes fed JG and silage based diets. Fat, total solids, solid not fat, CP, true protein and non-protein nitrogen content of milk were similar in buffaloes fed fodder or silage based diets. The present results indicated that jambo grass and mott grass ensiled with 2% molasses for 30 days could safely replace the conventional fresh grass fodder (75% DM) in the diet of lactating Nili buffaloes without affecting their milk yield.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2003

Seedborne fungus Bipolaris spicifera, which has not been previously reported in Korea, was detected from import-ed grass seeds in the country. The most frequently detected fungi from the seeds were Fusarium species, Ulocladium atrum, B. spicifera, Alternaria, and Cuvularia lunata among 17 different seed samples of the family Gramineae. Detection frequencies of B. spicifera were 11,8,5% in Bermuda grass, tall fescue, and mixed lawn grass imported from USA, respectively, and 9％ in mixed lawn grass imported from Italy. This suggests that important seedborne pathogen could be spread between countries through seed sources. The pathogen was seed-transmitted causing damping-off of Bermuda grass seedlings and showed strong pathogenicity to vice, corn, Bermuda grass, sorghum, and tall fescue. However, it did not infect wheat and blue grass.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2010

This study carried out to understand the thermal characteristics of various surface material which compose the city through the observation in the summer. To examine passive cooling effect of planting of building, it is arranged four different materials that is natural grass, grass block, concrete slab and artificial grass. The results of this study are as follows; (1) Natural grass and grass block show the lower surface temperature because of the structures of leaf can do more thermal dissipation effectively. (2) There is little surface temperature between artificial grass and concrete. But there is little high surface temperature difference between natural grass and concrete because of latent heat effect. (3) The concrete can play a role of the tropical nights phenomenon as high heat capacity of concrete compare with other materials. (4) It is nearly same color in artificial grass and natural grass but there is large difference between natural grass and artificial grass at albedo. There is different albedo in near infrared ray range. (5) A short wave radiation gives more effect at the globe temperature than long wave radiation. (6) The artificial turf protected the slab surface temperature increase in spite of thin and low albedo materials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.556-562
• /
• 2010

The objective of the present study was to compare feed and water intakes, growth performance and carcasscharacteristics of indigenous lamb fed diets containing various levels of halophyte Sporobolus grass hay. Forty male and female lambs were randomly and equally allotted with 5 lambs of each sex per treatment to four dietary treatment groups, which were initially formulated to have 100, 70, 30 or 0.0% Sporobolus grass hay, as a source of forage replacement for conventional Rhodes grass commonly used in the region. The lambs receiving 0.0% Sporobolus grass hay (100% Rhodes grass hay) served as the control. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Male lambs were slaughtered at the end of the feeding trials. The average daily feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher for the animals fed different levels of Sporobolus grass hay than for the control animals. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), i.e., kg feed/kg BW, was similar in all treatment groups. Although lambs fed the diet with 70% Sporobolus grass hay had heavier carcass weights, the differences were not significant. In conclusion, growth performance or carcass characteristics of fattening indigenous lambs were not influenced by the inclusion of different levels of Sporobolus grass hay in the diet. Because of this, Sporobolus grass hay represents an alternative forage resource for sustaining small ruminant production in the saline coastal and subcoastal areas of the world.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.1090-1097
• /
• 2001

Nine tons of fresh rice straw from early-maturing varieties was ensiled with 50 g urea $kg^{-1}$ DM straw in plastic bags immediately after threshing. Five months after storage, preserved straw was used to partially replace elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schumach) for lactating cows. Eight crossbred Holstein lactating cows (75% of Holstein blood) in their second to fourth lactation and in mid-lactation were arranged in a balanced design with two squares consisting of $4\;periods{\times}4\;treatments$ (100% grass ad lib. as a control; 75% grass+urea treated fresh rice straw (UTrFRS) ad lib.; 50% grass+UTrFRS ad lib.; 25% grass+UTrFRS ad libitum) in one square. A concentrate supplement was given at a rate of 400 g per day per kg of milk produced. Samples of fresh straw taken in the field and UTrFRS and elephant grass taken at feeding time were evaluated in a degradation trial with 3 fistulated heifers (undefined blood ratio of crossbred of Sindhi and local yellow cattle). Straw preserved for 5-9 months was in nearly all cases of good quality. Crude protein (CP) content was increased 2.1 fold and 48 h dry matter loss (DML) was 20% higher compared to dry straw. Elephant grass cultivated intensively was low in DM content and 10% higher in 48 h DML compared to UTrFRS. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher for the mixture of UtrFRS and Elephant grass, and highest when one-third of the roughage was UTrFRS. Higher DMI of mixed roughage diets was probably due to the low DM content of elephant grass in the sole grass roughage diet. Increasing substitution of elephant grass with UTrFRS up to 75% of the roughage component increased milk fat content and had no effect on milk yield and other milk composition parameters. Feeding UTrFRS, partially replacing elephant grass in the diets of lactating cows in the dry season can reduce the cost of roughage.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 2019

In vitro antioxidant effect of 50% ethanol extract from Napier grass (Penninsetum purpureum) was investigated. The yield and polyphenol content of the Napier grass extract were $6.3{\pm}0.35%$ and $79.6{\pm}3.65{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalents/mg-extract, respectively. Antioxidant ability of the Napier grass extract such as fee radical and cation radical scavenging activities, reducing power, nitrite scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity proportionally increased as concentration of the extract increased. $EC_{50}$ values of the Napier grass extract for free radical scavenging, cation radical scavenging, reducing power, and nitrite scavenging were 1,930.0, 350.0, 840.0, and $1,470.0{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. In the presence of $85.0{\mu}g/mL$ of the Napier grass extract, lipid peroxidation was potently inhibited by 74.6%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.206-209
• /
• 1997

The effect of supplementation of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterrophyllus) tree leaves and mashkalai (Vigna mungo) barn on the intake and digestibility of freshly cut common grass by Black Bengal goats was evaluated. Twelve castrated goats of approximately 5-6 months age were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: freshly cut common grass ad libitum, common grass+100g Jackfruit tree leaves and common grass+100g mashkalai bran. Although digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen and neutral detergent fibre were very similar in the grass alone and mashkalai bran supplemented goats but the values were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those observed in the Jackfruit leaves supplemented goats. Supplementation of mashkalai bran promoted higher (p < 0.05) digestible nutrients intake with the consequent higher daily live weight gain (75 g) than those fed grass alone (31 g). It could be concluded that mashkalai bran could be a suitable supplement for goats consuming common grass in the tropics and subtropics.