Understanding the stability of chloropyromorphite (CPY) is of considerable benefit for improving risk assessment and remediation strategies in contaminated water and soil. The stability of CPY in the rhizosphere of phosphorus-deficient ryegrass was evaluated to elucidate the role of root-secreted low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on the dissolution of CPY. Results showed that CPY trea...

the objective followed in this study was to investigate the transport and degradation of herbicides under different herbigation vs. conventional spraying systems in soil. metribuzin and potassium bromide (kbr) were applied in soil plots by four application methods, including conventional spraying without delay in initial irrigation (cs1), conventional spraying with an initial 24-h delay in irri...

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the most widely grown temperate grass species globally. Intensive plant breeding in ryegrass compared to many other crops species is a relatively recent exercise (last 100 years) and provides an interesting experimental system to trace the extent, impact and trajectory of undomesticated ecotypic variation represented in modern ryegrass cultivars. To explor...

An experiment investigated whether the inclusion of chicory (Cichorium intybus) in swards grazed by beef steers altered their performance, carcass characteristics or parasitism when compared to steers grazing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Triplicate 2-ha plots were established with a chicory/ryegrass mix or ryegrass control. Forty-eight Belgian Bluecross steers were used in the first gra...

There is uncertainty about the potential reduction of soil nitrous oxide (N(2)O) emission when fertilizer nitrogen (FN) is partially or completely replaced by biological N fixation (BNF) in temperate grassland. The objectives of this study were to 1) investigate the changes in N(2)O emissions when BNF is used to replace FN in permanent grassland, and 2) evaluate the applicability of the process...

Cinnamoyl CoA-reductase (CCR) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyze key steps in the biosynthesis of monolignols, which serve as building blocks in the formation of plant lignin. We identified candidate genes encoding these two enzymes in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and show that the spatio-temporal expression patterns of these genes in planta correlate well with the deve...

An Italian "Dalita" ryegrass (Lolium italicum) and a European lucerne (Medicago sativa) were harvested at 5 different growth stages to determine the anatomical factors limiting their digestibility and in particular the effects of lignification of the tissues. In vitro digestibility, cell wall contents of the whole plant and stem of lucerne and of the whole plant, stem and leaf blade of ryegrass...

Sheep were fed once daily with 300 or 600 g dried perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or white clover (Trifolium repens). Total rumen contents were sampled once daily at various intervals up to 24 h after feeding for 6 d. Total weight of fresh rumen contents and dry matter (DM), organic matter and particulate matter concentrations were measured and the particle size distribution of rumen conten...

Environmental risks resulting from increasing application of herbicides have raised many concerns about human health and safety of agro ecosystems and environment. Hence, it is very important to find practical and effective methods for reducing the use of pesticides in environment as well as the increasing the efficiency of these compounds. Addition of adjuvants to spray solutions could be cons...