peer reviewed | The feeding of ruminants in the Democratic Republic of Congo is based on the use of natural vegetation. This vegetation is characterised by grasses and rarely legumes. In addition to this, the lack of legumes in the southern part of the country means that the dry season becomes longer (over 6 months). This leads farmers with the financial means, to use commercial foods, most of which are imported. Grasses which form the basis of forage remain as straws in the dry season. They have a digestibility of less than 45%, and are very low in nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as other minerals, which further limits their feed intake (Chenost and Kayouli 1997; Jarrige 1987). The use of locally available protein banks to supplement poor foods is therefore essential. In the same region, soils are increasingly contaminated with heavy metals from mining activities. The choice of sustainable and high protein plant species should be dictated by their adaptation to environmental conditions, including high levels of heavy metals in soil. They must also be adapted to the long dry season and provide fodder throughout the year. Among the species encountered, Adenodolichos rhomboideus is the most resistant to drought and is widespread in the region (INEAC 1954). It grows on normal soil or that contaminated by heavy metals (Faucon 2009; Meerts 2008 and Tshibangu et al 2014c). Two other species, Leucaena leucocephala and Stylosanthes guianensis are durable and are used in ruminant diets, but are neither widespread nor adapted to the contaminated soil Tshibangu et al 2014ab. The objective of this study was to compare the use of A. rhomboideus, L. leucocephala and S. guianensis forage as a complement to grass hay on the growth of local goats at Lubumbashi.

peer reviewed | The Algerian agricultural sector faces the challenge to meet the food needs of its population despite low agricultural capacity, resulting in increasing pressure on natural resources. This paper aims to inventory the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to livestock sector in the rural area of Chemini (province of Bejaia), taking into account the emissions due to enteric fermentation, in the form of methane, and manure management, in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. Emissions intensity, expressed in CO2- equivalents (CO2-eq) per kg of edible protein, was included in the study. Ruminants contribute to 94% of livestock GHG emissions and to 53% of protein production, with a large share due to cattle. The main part of emissions is related to enteric fermentation. High-producing cattle present the lowest emission intensity of the ruminant category with 24 kg CO2-eq per kg protein. Chickens produce 2.7% of livestock related emissions but provide 47% of animal protein. It results in low emission intensities whereas important difference is noticed between backyard and industrialized systems (around 21 versus 1 kg CO2-eq per kg protein, respectively). Improvement of animal performance should contribute to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock production in Algeria.

peer reviewed | Hays of graminaceous species (I. cylindrica and S. palidefusca) of low quality (30g/kg dry matter (DM) Crude Protein (CP) was offered to 16 goats (8 males, 8 females), alone or with one of three tropical leguminous plants (153g/kg, 104g/kg and 305,6g/kg DM respectively). The supplementation increased total DM, energy and CP intakes and consequently allowed the weight of the goats to increase. The fodder of L. leucocephala gave the best results, while that of S. guianensis gave the lowest. Fodder of A. rhomboideus is a potential nitrogen-source supplement for poor fodder in the dry season for ruminants.

The complexity of supply and demand and the nuances of trade and markets have grown exponentially as the world grows smaller. Fortunately, so have our tools to understand them and to harness the knowledge for pro-poor benefits.

The purpose of this study was to predict and compare salt accumulation in the soil profile under drained and undrained conditions. The water management simulation model, Drainmod (Ver. 6.1) was used to determine the optimal drainage system design parameters, which will decrease soil profile salinity and provide maximum crop yields in Ankara-Bala Basin of Turkey. Soil sampling points were coordinated with the Global Positioning System (GPS). Soil, crop and site parameters were obtained as an input. The model was run for 5 years from 2005 to 2010 to simulate optimum drainage design parameters (drain depth, drain spacing) while controlling soil salinity in the root zone. Soil water conditions and soil salinity level were simulated for crop rotation of corn (Zea mays) and winter wheat (Triticum). Yield of individual crops was predicted for each growing season. The results of the simulations were analyzed to identify alternatives of subsurface drainage system that would satisfy maximum crop productions. According to the simulation results, the drain spacing of 130 m and drain depth at 160 cm are recommended for Bala Basin. Soil salinity maps were created for undrained and drained conditions. Results showed that the soil salinity level and salinity stress can be reduced and yield increased by installing a drainage system.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is one of the small grain crops produced in temperate climate zone. Common oat has been studied most often due to its multifunctional characteristics and nutritional profile. The main function of the oat husk is to protect grain from harmful conditions during harvesting and storage time. Oat grain size uniformity is an important parameter to the oat milling industry. The aim of this study was to compare the husk content of common oat cultivars grown in Latvia and to obtain its changes at different grain size fractions during three growing seasons. The field trial was carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute from 2012 to 2014. Ten husked oat genotypes were studied. Oat samples were fractioned into size fractions and samples of each fraction dehulled by hand. Results showed that significant (p is less than 0.05) differences in the husk content were observed among genotypes, growing season and different grain size fractions. Significantly lower husk content was for genotype ‘Arta’ in all growing seasons. For majority of used genotypes increasing grain size the husk content decreased.

Pisum sativum L. (field or garden pea), is widely cultivated in Europe. The purpose of this investigation was to see whether pea varieties differ in their yield and content of protein and nutrients. Another aim was to select the best varieties suitable for breeding or production. A field experiment with different varieties of peas (‘Bruno’, ‘Capella’, ‘Clara’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’) was carried out at the Estonian Crop Research Institute in 2014. Yields (t haE-1) were not statistically different. Crude protein content (g kgE-1 in dry matter) was lowest in ‘Clara’; all other varieties had a higher content of protein, within much the same range. The lowest N content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra‘, ‘Mehis’ (44) and the highest in ‘Bruno’ (45). The lowest P content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella‘ and ‘Vitra’; the highest was found in ‘Bruno’ and ‘Mehis’. The lowest K content was found in ‘Mehis’, then ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra’ and the highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Ca content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Mehis’, ‘Vitra’, and highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Mg content was found in ‘Capella’, followed by ‘Clara’ and the highest in the other varieties ‘Bruno’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’. Thus, choice of the right variety for pea cultivation is very important, but depends on the local agro-climatic conditions. This investigation has been developed with the help of the project EUROLEGUME, funded from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under the grant agreement no. 613781.

In Estonia, the most promising perennial grass used as raw material for production of heat energy is reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden) implement a technology including single harvest of the above-ground biomass from frozen soil early in spring. This technology cannot be used in Estonia as the ground does not freeze to the extent of bearing harvesting machines every year. Harvesting in spring is virtually impossible as herbage lodges excessively under the snow weight. A divided harvesting method of reed canarygrass was tested in field trials in 2010–2013 at the Estonian Crop Research Institute. Herbages were cut in July at the height of 60–65 cm, mass was dried as hay, stubble hay was left to grow and was harvested next spring before the growth started but soil had become dry. The effect of seeding rate, row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer on the dry matter yield of reed canarygrass was investigated. The amount of produced heat by trial variants was calculated. The variant with narrow spacing (15 cm), seeding rate of 8 kg haE-1 and usage of fertilizer N70 in the beginning of growth and N70 kg haE-1 after the first cut was giving the best results. Two cuts of this variant yielded on average 8.12 t haE-1 per year, of which the stubble hay, harvested in spring and with better combustion properties, made 64%. Energetic value of the yield was 138 GJ haE-1 per year.

Sapropel or gyttja are the terms that relate to specific water body sediments containing a high level of organic matter formed from the remains of water biota mixed with mineral components. One of the most promising utilisation ways of sapropel is agriculture and forestry where this natural material can be used as soil amendment to enrich soil fertility, neutralise acidity, improve water capacity and reduce phytoavailablity of excess of metallic elements. The aim of this study was to perform plant germination and early seedling tests using various sapropel samples and to reveal response of plant development depending on the type of sapropel to be used as soil amendment. Pure natural sapropel and sapropel/sand substrate of such types as peaty, organic-sandy, cyanobacteria, green algae and carbonatic sapropel, derived from four lakes of eastern Latvia, were tested. Seeds of cucumber Cucumis sativus and tomato Solanum lycopersicum as dicotyledons and perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne as monocotyledon were chosen for the experiment. Seed germination and early seedling tests were performed in PHYTOTESTKIT plates. Seeds were germinated in thermostat at a temperature of 26 °C for 7 days but early seedling development was achieved after 23- 30 days (depending on plant species) under daylight conditions at a temperature of 20 °C. Developed radicles and hypocotyls were measured, shoots and roots were weighed. The obtained results showed a distinctive effect of applied sapropel type on the development of plants depending on species and substrate – substrate containing pure natural sapropel is effective for cucumber and perennial rye-grass, but not for tomato.