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Publication Date
1981
Description
Measurable energy storage on grassland ecosystems was examined for 5 years at the Fujinita site under the same rotation program with two grazing intensities. Daily global solar radiation and photosynthetic active radiation were measured as the energy sources in the ecosystem. Primary production by pasture plants and amount grazed by cattle were estimated by the biomass differences inside and outside of protection cages. For the estimation of energy produced or stored by plants or cattle, calorific values were examined for dominant plant species at the Fujinita site. Seasonal changes in digestibility were investigated to ascertain the energy of herbage digested by cattle. For the evaluation of stored energy in cattle, ARC (1965) feeding standards were adopted according to the increment of body weight. From energy accumulation, the energy conversion efficiency through the system was calculated. Out of 9.74 x 105 kilocalories (kcal)/m2/yr of global solar radiation, the rates of 6.50 x 10-3 and 5.78 x 10-3 were utilized in primary production for light (L) and heavy (H) grazing, respectively. Intensive grazing (H) resulted in greater utilization of photosynthate and a higher digestibility of pasture plants (0.600 and 0.695 for plot H and 0.523 and 0.657 for plot L). Overall efficiency beginning with solar radiation and terminating as stored energy in cattle was 7 .43 x 10-5 and 9.61 x 10-5 for plot L and plot H, respectively.
Citation
Akiyama, T; Takahashi, S; Shiyomi, M; and Okubo, T, "Energy Flow and Conversion Efficiency in Grazing Grassland" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1981-2023). 21.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section7/21)
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Energy Flow and Conversion Efficiency in Grazing Grassland
Measurable energy storage on grassland ecosystems was examined for 5 years at the Fujinita site under the same rotation program with two grazing intensities. Daily global solar radiation and photosynthetic active radiation were measured as the energy sources in the ecosystem. Primary production by pasture plants and amount grazed by cattle were estimated by the biomass differences inside and outside of protection cages. For the estimation of energy produced or stored by plants or cattle, calorific values were examined for dominant plant species at the Fujinita site. Seasonal changes in digestibility were investigated to ascertain the energy of herbage digested by cattle. For the evaluation of stored energy in cattle, ARC (1965) feeding standards were adopted according to the increment of body weight. From energy accumulation, the energy conversion efficiency through the system was calculated. Out of 9.74 x 105 kilocalories (kcal)/m2/yr of global solar radiation, the rates of 6.50 x 10-3 and 5.78 x 10-3 were utilized in primary production for light (L) and heavy (H) grazing, respectively. Intensive grazing (H) resulted in greater utilization of photosynthate and a higher digestibility of pasture plants (0.600 and 0.695 for plot H and 0.523 and 0.657 for plot L). Overall efficiency beginning with solar radiation and terminating as stored energy in cattle was 7 .43 x 10-5 and 9.61 x 10-5 for plot L and plot H, respectively.
