Effect of ensiling and rumen digestion by cattle on weed seed viability
-
-
Authors: R. E. Blackshaw, and L. M. Rode
Date: 1991
Journal: Weed Science
Volume: 39
Number: 1
Pages: 104-108
Summary of Methods: Twelve species of weeds common on Canadian Prairie that are common contaminates in grain and forages were selected for two pen trials examining seed viability. Experiment 1: examined seeds after they were exposed to silage incubation, rumen digestion for 24 hours and silage incubation and rumen digestion. Experiment 2: determined the rate of 4 seed viability decline over time of 4 species of weeds in the rumen.
Article Summary / Main Points: Downy brome, foxtail barley and barnyard grass were not viable after either the rumen digestion or silage incubation. All grass seeds were non-viable after both rumen digestion and ensiling unlike broadleaved weeds. Seed viability of some species did not decline at a steady rate and took a sharp decline probably following degradation of the seed coat.
Vegetation Types: All Vegetation Types
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Weeds Rangelands Bromus tectorum
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: weed seed dissemination, weed seed germination, weed seed survival, rumen, wild oats, avena fatua, green foxtail, setaria viridis, downy brome, bromus tectorum, foxtail barley, hordeum jubatum, redroot pigweed, amaranthus retroflexus, common lambsquarters
Annotation: This was a pen trial with no actual grazing. Weed seed viability after time in the rumen was both a factor of basal diet of cattle and the weed species examined. In this study ensiling reduced weed seed viability overall and these findings are contrary to other research necessitating addition research in this area.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-