Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Solar and supplemental energy dynamics were compared for several years in three different livestock feed production systems including, a) double cropping with barley and corn for whole-crop-silage, b) perennial cutting meadow of orchardgrass for hay-making, and c) grazing by fattening Holsteins with six cool-season grasses. The results obtained are; (1) In the double cropping system, the plot receiving slurry manure (S2) maintained the highest energy yield (3.86xl05MJ, 92,350 Meal of energy for each hectare of land, or 0.94% of overall efficiency as compared to global solar radiation) throughout the 5-year experimental period. (2) From the orchardgrass meadow, 1. 93x105MJ, 46,130 Meal/ha of energy yield (0.47% of overall efficiency) was observed in the plot with chemical fertilizer application (Hl). (3) While in the grazing grassland, 1.36x105MJ, 32,490 Meal/ha of energy (0.33% of overall efficiency) was harvested by grazing (Pl). (4) These differences in feed production systems were reduced at the digestible energy yield level, as, S2: 0.51 %, Hl: 0.28% and Pl: 0.23%, respectively. (5) Output/Input ratios were low when chemical fertilizer was applied, and high in plots to which barnyard manure was applied. ( 6) Output/Input ratios at digestible energy levels in the grazing plots were close to the highest efficiency.

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Comparison of Energy Conversion During Forage Production and Supplemental Investment Efficiencies in Different Livestock Feed Production Systems

Kyoto Japan

Solar and supplemental energy dynamics were compared for several years in three different livestock feed production systems including, a) double cropping with barley and corn for whole-crop-silage, b) perennial cutting meadow of orchardgrass for hay-making, and c) grazing by fattening Holsteins with six cool-season grasses. The results obtained are; (1) In the double cropping system, the plot receiving slurry manure (S2) maintained the highest energy yield (3.86xl05MJ, 92,350 Meal of energy for each hectare of land, or 0.94% of overall efficiency as compared to global solar radiation) throughout the 5-year experimental period. (2) From the orchardgrass meadow, 1. 93x105MJ, 46,130 Meal/ha of energy yield (0.47% of overall efficiency) was observed in the plot with chemical fertilizer application (Hl). (3) While in the grazing grassland, 1.36x105MJ, 32,490 Meal/ha of energy (0.33% of overall efficiency) was harvested by grazing (Pl). (4) These differences in feed production systems were reduced at the digestible energy yield level, as, S2: 0.51 %, Hl: 0.28% and Pl: 0.23%, respectively. (5) Output/Input ratios were low when chemical fertilizer was applied, and high in plots to which barnyard manure was applied. ( 6) Output/Input ratios at digestible energy levels in the grazing plots were close to the highest efficiency.