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Grassland Management

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Biol1001, Botany

Biol3014, Plant Physiology I

Fizi2036, Agrophysics

LauZ2042, Soil Science

LauZ4031, Mechanisation of Agriculture

Replaced course

LauZB004 [GLAUB004] Grassland Management

Course abstract

Grassland management is a part of forage production, closely connected with the establishment of a stable forage basis, thus promoting animal production. The main goal of grassland management is to provide animals with quality grass forage produced in pastures and meadows. As a branch of science, grassland management deals with the morphological traits and bioecological properties of herbage, the formation of plant groups, and the possibilities of their regulation.
The biological and ecological characteristics of grasses and legumes. The system of measures for the improvement of natural grassland, and the establishment, utilization and management of cultivated meadows and pastures.
The preparation and storage of high-quality grass forage: hay, hay-silage and silage. The preparation of canned forage. Inventory and evaluation of forage. Growing of the grass and legume seeds.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students obtain knowledge on agroecological factors influencing the herbage yield, and their interaction, on the morphology, agroecological requirements and agrotechnology of grasses, and on the quality of herbage yield.
Students are skilled to evaluate the role of agroecological factors in the formation of herbage yield, to identify different species of legumes and grasses, to detect forage quality parameters, and to use them. Students are able to choose herbage management operations and to draw up grass forage management plans for hay, hay-crop silage and wilted grass silage.
Students are competent to organize grass forage production, harvesting, first-stage processing, storage and sale, to choose the most suitable grass species, to study scientific literature, and to continue self-education in topics included in the study course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Grassland as an agricultural system; the main tasks of grassland management. Scientific research in grassland management.
2. Biological properties of the meadow and pasture plants. Division of plants into economically botanical groups: grasses, and legumes. Characteristics of the most common forage grasses of different genera.
3. Life span of the meadow and pasture plants. Vegetation phases of annual and perennial grasses, and the duration of their vegetation period.
4. Types of lawn pruning. Types of herbaceous shoots and preconditions for their formation.
5. Nutrient reserves and their importance; nutrient accumulation and utilization during the vegetation period.
6. Types of grasses depending on the characteristics of the formation of above-ground shoots and root system, leafage, leaf placement and height.
7. Types of grasses depending on the type of feeding.
8. Regrowth ability of herbaceous. Regrowth of grasses after mowing and grazing.
9. The effect of ecological factors on the growth and development of grasses. Moisture regime.
Water requirement of grasses, and factors determining it.
10. The effect of temperature and air on the growth, development and yield formation of grasses.
11. Light regime. The use of photosynthetically active radiation (FAR) in grasslands, and factors affecting it.
12. Soil conditions and their role in grassland life.
1st test on previously studied topics (points 1 to 12).

13. Natural grasslands. The areas, condition and proportion of natural meadows and pastures in the forage balance-sheet in Latvia. Classification of natural grasslands.
14. Natural grassland improvement systems and techniques.
15. The complex of measures for surface improvement of natural grasslands, and the conditions of its use. Cultural-technical works.
16. The basic meadow and pasture improvement complex. The care of turf and sward in natural meadows and pastures.
2nd test on previously studied topics (points 13 to 16).

17. Establishment of sown lawns. Pre-treatment of soil depending on site conditions. Foreplants.
18. Liming and basic fertilization of grasslands. Application of organic and mineral fertilizers: types, norms, times.
19. Mixtures of grasses. Growing of grasses in pure-stand and in mixtures. Preparation of the mixtures of herbaceous seeds.
3rd test on previously studied topics (point 19).

20. Sowing of grasses. Soil pre-sowing treatment and fertilization. Sowing times. The sowing types and techniques of grass mixtures. Maintenance of the sown area.
21. Establishment of cultivated pastures. Techniques for pasture establishment.
22. Calculation of pasture area for different livestock species.
4th test on previously studied topics (point 22).

23. Arrangement of pastures. Installation of pasture grounds, fences, pasture roads and watering facilities.
24. Pastures for cattle, sheep, horses, sows, and poultry.
25. Grazing systems. Free-range, pasture-ground and portion grazing systems.
26. Rational utilization of pastures. Deadlines for grazing in spring, and the cessation of grazing in autumn. The number of pasture sward grazing cycles.
27. Types of pasture productivity evaluation.
28. Maintenance of pastures. Preparation of pastures for grazing in spring. Mowing of uneaten grass. Animal manure spreading.
29. Covering the shortage of pasture grass. Green conveyor. The meaning and types of the green conveyor.
5th test on previously studied topics (points 17 to 29).

30. Theoretical basis of rational use of meadows. Mowing. Optimal terms, frequency, and cutting height.
31. The role of hay, and its preparation technologies. Basic operations of the technological process.
32. Drying techniques for hay. Physiological and biological processes of grass drying.
33. Storage of hay in heaps, sheds, and barns; the observance of hay handling rules.
34. The role of hay-silage, and its preparation technologies. The limits for green mass wilting. Basic operations of the technological process.
35. The importance and preparation technologies of silage. The role of microorganisms in the acidification process. The factors influencing the acidification process. Basic operations of the technological process.
36. Technology for the production of grass flour and cuts. Nutritional value of grass flour and cuts.
37. Recording and evaluation of grass forage. Determination of grass forage quality. Evaluation techniques.
6th test on previously studied topics (points 30 to 37).

38. Growing of grasses for seed production. Duration of the use of seed fields. Seed field harvesting.
39. Seed harvesting from perennial mixed herbaceous swards and from wild grasses.
40. Identification of the seeds of grasses and legumes according to morphological characteristics. Seed quality indicators.
7th test on previously studied topics (points 38 to 40).

Laboratory work topics:
1. Morphological and economical-ecological characterization of legumes.
2. Morphological and economical-ecological characteristics of grasses.
3. Determination of seedling material of legumes species.
4. Determination of seed material of grasses species.
5. Preparation of grass seed mixtures and calculation of seed rate.
6. Calculation of pasture areas and division into pens.
7. Determination of grassland productivity.

8. Balance of pasture grass and covering grass shortage.

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. Attendance of lectures and laboratory works at LLU is compulsory.
2. Seven tests must be completed:
1) be able to identify grasses and leguminous plants and their seeds by separate morphological characteristics. Students answer orally and in writing. Tests are evaluated by marks; 2) biological and ecological properties of grasslands and pastures; 3) natural grasslands; 4) calculation of pasture area for different domestic animal species; 5) preparation of grass seed mixtures; 6) lawn installation and use; 7) grass forage preparation technologies; 8) grass seed production.
3. Students with an average grade of 7 and higher during the semester will be exempt from passing the course exam and receive an average grade on the test that can be improved.
4. Other students have to take a written exam on all study course questions. The exam also includes the average grade received on the tests.

5. If all tests have not been successfully passed, the examination will not be allowed.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Systematic acquisition of the course using the study and scientific literature. Studying scientific literature and summarizing the topics included in the course program.
2. Processing of laboratory works and the finalization of results, and their timely submission for evaluation.
3. Timely completion of homework assignments on the topics of laboratory lessons.

4. Elaboration of a course thesis.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Marked test entries are graded according to a 10-point scale transcript.
The semester exam is graded on a 10-point scale, focusing on:
1) the logic and completeness of the presentation of the question;
2) the ability to evaluate a theoretical question in relation to production practice;

3) the use of professional and scientific terminology.

Compulsory reading

1. Adamovičs A. (2017) Zālāju ierīkošana un izmantošana. Mācību grāmata; otrs, papildinātais izdevums. Jelgava, 140 lpp.
2. Augkopība // A. Ružas redakcijā. Jelgava, LLU, 2004. –374 lpp.
3. Augkopība // Rokasgrāmata / A. Ružas redakcijā. Jelgava, 2001. – 324 lpp.
4. Alfa and Alfa Improvement (1998) Ed. by Hanson A.A., Barues D.K., Hill R.R. et al. No. 29 in the series Agronomy, American Society of Agronomy. Crop Science Society of America J. Soil. Science Society of America. – Medison, Wisconsin, USA. 1084 p.
5. Champan G. P. (1996) The biology of grasses. Oxon: CAB International. XIV, 273 p.
6. Clover science and technology (1985) Editor N.L.Taelor, by Number 25 in the series Agronomy, Wisconsin, USA. 616 p.
7. Cool-season forage grasses (1996) Ed. by L.E. Moser et al.; American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Society of America. Madison, Wiskonsin: USA. 841 p.
8. Forages. Volume I. An introduction to Grassland Agricultur. (2013) Under the Editorial Authorship of Robert F. Barnes, C. Jerry Nelson, Michael Collins, Kennet J. Moore with 42 contributing authors. Jowa State University Press, Ames, Jowa USA. 556 p.
9. Forages. Volume II. The science of Grassland Agriculture (2013) Under the Editorial Authorship of Robert F. Barnes, C. Jerry Nelson, Michael Collins, Kennet J. Moore with 94 contributing authors. Jowa State University Press, Ames, Jowa USA. 791 p.
10. Frame J. and Laidlaw A.S. (2014) Improved Grassland management. The Growood Press Ltd, United Kingdom. 352 p.
11. Frame J. (1992) Improved Grassland management. Farming Press, United Kingdom. 351 p.
12. Grassland nitrogen (1995) D.C. Whitehead. – Wallinford: CAB International. 397 p.
13. Grundlagen der landwirtschaflicher Pflanzenproduktion (1997) Verlag Eugen Ulmen. 860 s.
14. Principles of Seed Science and Technology (1995) Larry O. Copeland, Miller B. McDonald. Chapman & Hall. 409 p.
15. Handbuch des Phlanzenbaues (1997) Hrsd. Des gesamtw. Herbert Hanus. – Stutgart, Hohenheim: Ulmer.

16. Koломейченко В. В. (2015) Кормопроизводство. Санкт-Петербург, Москва, Краснодар, Лань, 656 c.

Further reading

1. David J. Gibson (2009) Grasses and Grassland Ecology. Oxford University Press, USA. 320 p.
2. Freimanis P., Holms I., Lauva J. (1982) Lopbarības ražošana tīrumos. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 310 lpp.
3. Grassland Productivity and Ecosystem Services (2011) Ed. by Gilles Lemaire, John Hodgson, Abad Chabbi. CABI. 296 p.
4. Klapp E. (1971) Wiesen und Weiden. Berlin und Hamburg: Verlag Paul Parey. 620 s.
5. Klapp E. (1971) Wiesen und Weiden. Berlin und Hamburg: Verlag Paul Parey. 620 s.
6. Krūklande M., Priekulis J. (1981) Zālaugu konservēšana hermetizētās glabātavās. Rīga: Avots. 164 lpp.
7. Ramane I., Liberts V. (1987) Lopbarības ķīmiskā konservēšana. Rīga: Zinātne. 58 lpp.

8. Tērauds V. (1972) Pļavas un ganības. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 311 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

Zinātniskie žurnāli un rakstu krājumi, kas pieejami LLU FB abonētajās datu bāzēs, piemēram:
Rural Sustainability Research (LLU Raksti), Agronomijas Vēstis, Agronomy Research, Žemdirbyste=Agriculture, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Sec. B Soil and Plant Science, LF konferenču un semināru Rakstu krājumi utt.
Populārzinātniskie žurnāli Saimnieks, AgroTops utt. – atbilstoši tematikai.

Notes

Compulsory course for Agriculture Professional Bachelor’s Degree Program in the subdiscipline “Field Crops”, the 5th semester.