Vergleich von verschiedenen Leguminosenarten in Reinsaat und Gemenge im Hinblick auf Ertrag, Futterqualität, Stickstofffixierungsleistung und Vorfruchtwirkung. Projektbeschreibung und erste Ergebnisse.

Problemstellung / Ziel: Im Ökologischen Landbau spielen die zur symbiontischen N2- Fixierung befähigten Körnerleguminosen eine zentrale Rolle bei der Eiweißversorgung von Nutztieren. Körnerleguminosen stellen nicht nur eine sich selbst mit N versorgende Druschfrucht dar, sondern tragen über N-reiche Ernterückstände zusätzlich entscheidend zur N-Versorgung ihrer Folgefrüchte bei. Der Anbau von Körnererbsen hat in den letzten Jahren gegenüber Ackerbohnen zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. Hauptgrund dafür war die verbesserte Ertragssicherheit durch die Entwicklung der „semi-leafless“ Erbsensorten. Durch den gestiegene Bedarf an Protein im Ökologischen Landbaues ergeben sich zudem Anbaupotentiale der im Vergleich zu Erbsen deutlich proteinreicheren Lupinen. Vergleichende umfassende Analysen der Leistungen der drei Arten Ackerbohnen, Erbsen und Lupinen im Hinblick auf Ertrag, Futterqualität bei Nutzung als Ganzpflanzensilage, N-Fixierungsleistung und Vorfruchtwirkung liegen nur in sehr bescheidenem Umfang vor und sind daher Ziel der hier vorgestellten Untersuchun

Examining the Variables Leading to Apparent Incongruity between Antimethanogenic Potential of Tannins and Their Observed Effects in Ruminants—A Review

In recent years, several secondary plant metabolites have been identified that possess antimethanogenic properties. Tannin-rich forages have the potential to reduce methane emissions in ruminants while also increasing their nutrient use efficiency and promoting overall animal health. However, results have been highly inconclusive to date, with their antimethanogenic potential and effects on both animal performance and nutrition being highly variable even within a plant species. This variability is attributed to the structural characteristics of the tannins, many of which have been linked to an increased antimethanogenic potential. However, these characteristics are seldom considered in ruminant nutrition studies—often because the analytical techniques are inadequate to identify tannin structure and the focus is mostly on total tannin concentrations. Hence, in this article, we (i) review previous research that illustrate the variability of the antimethanogenic potential of forages; (ii) identify the source of inconsistencies behind these results; and (iii) discuss how these could be optimized to generate comparable and repeatable results. By adhering to this roadmap, we propose that there are clear links between plant metabolome and physiology and their antimethanogenic potential that can be established with the ultimate goal of improving the sustainable intensification of livestock

Nitrous Oxide Emission from Forage Plantain and Perennial Ryegrass Swards Is Affected by Belowground Resource Allocation Dynamics

Soil–plant interactions affecting nitrous oxide (N2O) are not well-understood, and experimental data are scarce. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a 3 × 3 full factorial design, comprising three mineral N fertilizer rates (0, 150 and 300 kg N ha−1) applied to monoculture swards and a binary mixture of Plantago lanceolata and Lolium perenne. The parameters measured included daily N2O emissions, aboveground (AG) and belowground biomass (BG), N and C yields, as well as leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity in the soil as an indicator for soil microbial activity. Nitrous oxide emission and LAP were measured using the static chamber method and fluorimetric microplate assays, respectively. Cumulative N2O emissions were about two times higher for P. lanceolata than L. perenne monoculture swards or the mixture (p < 0.05). The binary mixtures also showed the highest N use efficiency and LAP activity, which significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the C concentration in the belowground biomass. Plantago lanceolata was generally ineffective at reducing N2O emissions, probably due to the young age of the swards. Among the biological factors, N2O emission was significantly associated with biomass productivity, belowground C yield, belowground N use efficiency and soil microbial activity. Thus, the results suggested belowground resource allocation dynamics as a possible means by which swards impacted N2O emission from the soils. However, a high N deposition might reduce the N2O mitigation potential of grasslands

Yield Progress in Forage Maize in NW Europe—Breeding Progress or Climate Change Effects?

Yield increases in forage maize (Zea mays L.) in NW Europe over time are well documented. The driving causes for these, however, remain unclear as there is little information available regarding the role of plant traits triggering this yield progress. Ten different hybrids from the same maturity group, which have typically been cultivated in Northwest Germany from 1970 to recent and are thus representing breeding progress over four decades, were selected for a 2-year field study in northern Germany. Traits that were investigated included leaf area index, leaf architecture, photosynthesis, radiation use efficiency, root mass, root length density, and turnover. Based on a mixed model analysis with these traits as co-variates, parameters related to leaf characteristics, in particular the number and length of leaves, the radiation use efficiency, and the leaf orientation, were identified as most influential on the yield progress (0.13 tons ha-1 year-1). In contrast to our hypothesis, root biomass only increased negligibly in newer hybrids compared to older ones, confirming the ‘functional equilibrium’ theory for high input production systems. Due to an abundance of nutrients and water in such high input systems, there is no incentive for breeders to select for carbon partitioning toward the rooting system. Breeding evidence to increase forage quality were also negligible, with no change in cob starch concentration, forage digestibility, nor NDF content and NDF digestibility. The observed increase in yield over the last four decades is due to a combination of increased temperature sums (~240 GDD within 40 years), and a higher radiation interception and radiation use efficiency. This higher radiation interception was driven by an increased leaf area index, with a higher number of leaves (16 instead of 14 leaves within 40 years) and longer leaves of newer compared to older hybrids. Future selection and adaptation of maize hybrids to changing environmental conditions are likely to be the key for high productivity and quality and for the economic viability of maize growing and expansion in Northern Europe

Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1 Is Released in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease that is associated with increased serum levels of markers of systemic inflammation. The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) is a recently identified activating receptor on neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophage subsets. TREM-1 expression is upregulated by microbial products such as the toll-like receptor ligand lipoteichoic acid of Gram-positive or lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, sera from 12 COPD patients (GOLD stages I–IV, FEV1 51 ± 6%) and 10 healthy individuals were retrospectively analyzed for soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) using a newly developed ELISA. In healthy subjects, sTREM-1 levels were low (median 0.25 ng/mL, range 0–5.9 ng/mL). In contrast, levels of sTREM-1 in sera of COPD patients were significantly increased (median 11.68 ng/mL, range 6.2–41.9 ng/mL, P<.05). Furthermore, serum levels of sTREM-1 showed a significant negative correlation with lung function impairment. In summary, serum concentrations of sTREM-1 are increased in patients with COPD. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the relevance of sTREM-1 as a potential marker of the disease in patients with COPD

Nitrogen availability determines the long-term impact of land use change on soil carbon stocks in grasslands of southern Ghana

Enhancing the capacity of agricultural soils to resist soil degradation and to mitigate climate change requires long-term assessments of land use systems. Such long-term evaluations, particularly regarding low-input livestock systems, are limited. In the absence of suitable long-term experiments, this study assessed the outcome of C inputs and outputs across an array of plant functional groups in arable and permanent systems of a tropical savannah after more than 50 years of consistent land use. Soil samples were taken (0–30 cm depth) from arable crop fields, grazed–seeded grassland, cut–use permanent crops and native grassland. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks ranged from 17 to 64 Mg SOC ha−1 (mean ± sd = 32.9 ± 10.2 Mg ha−1). SOC stocks were lower for grazed–seeded grassland relative to cut–use grass, legume trees and shrubs. Accordingly, while the conversion of the native grassland to grazed pastures caused an estimated loss of 44 % of SOC over the period, the conversion to woody legumes resulted in slight (5 %), incremental gains. Within sown systems, nitrogen (N) availability seemed to be the most critical factor in determining the fate of the SOC stocks, with the soil N concentration and SOC being highly correlated (r – 0.86; p < 0.001). In total N, P and K were significant predictors of SOC density in the soils. Moreover, secondary plant metabolites in legumes, namely tannins, were identified as having an impact on SOC. The results from this study provide the theoretical basis for testing the hypothesis that improved soil fertility management and the use of tannin-rich plants have the potential to promote long-term SOC storage in the savannah ecological region

Linking metabolites in eight bioactive forage species to their in vitro methane reduction potential across several cultivars and harvests

An in vitro Hohenheim gas test was conducted to analyze the fermentation end-products from 17 cultivars of eight polyphenol containing forage species. The polyphenol composition and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features of all the cultivars were analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS in leaves of vegetative or generative plants. The samples were incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG, a tannin-binding agent) to separate the tannin-effect on methane (CH4, ml/200 mg DM) production from that of forage quality. Sulla and big trefoil, two particularly PA rich species, were found to have the highest CH4 reduction potential of up to 47% when compared to the samples without PEG. However, concomitant reduction in gas production (GP, ml/200 mg DM) of up to 44% was also observed. An increase in both GP and CH4 production under PEG treatments, confirms the role of tannins in CH4 reduction. Moreover, PA structural features and concentration were found to be an important source of variation for CH4 production from PA containing species. Despite having low polyphenol concentrations, chicory and plantain were found to reduce CH4 production without reducing GP. Additionally, interspecies variability was found to be higher than intraspecies variability, and these results were consistent across growth stages, indicating the findings' representativeness

Assessing the Potential of Diverse Forage Mixtures to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions In Vitro

Methane emissions from ruminants are a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, eight different forage species were combined in binary mixtures with Lolium perenne in increasing proportions, in vitro, to determine their methane reduction potential in ruminants. Species were sampled in two consecutive years where possible. The aims were: a) to determine if mixtures with specific forages, particularly those rich in plant specialized metabolites (PSM), can reduce methane emissions compared to ryegrass monocultures, b) to identify whether there is a linear-dose effect relationship in methane emissions from the legume or herb addition, and c) whether these effects are maintained across sampling years. Results showed that all dicot species studied, including the non-tannin-containing species, reduced methane production. The tannin-rich species, Sanguisorba minor and Lotus pedunculatus, showed the greatest methane reduction potential of up to 33%. Due to concomitant reductions in the forage digestibility, Cichorium intybus yielded the lowest methane emissions per digestible forage unit. Contrary to total gas production, methane production was less predictable, with a tendency for the lowest methane production being obtained with a 67.5% share of the legume or herb partner species. Thus, linear increments in the partner species share did not result in linear changes in methane concentration. The methane reduction potential differed across sampling years, but the species ranking in methane concentration was stable

Mast cell-derived mediators promote murine neutrophil effector functions

Mast cells are able to trigger life-saving immune responses in murine models for acute inflammation. In such settings, several lines of evidence indicate that the rapid and protective recruitment of neutrophils initiated by the release of mast cell-derived pro-inflammatory mediators is a key element of innate immunity. Herein, we investigate the impact of mast cells on critical parameters of neutrophil effector function. In the presence of activated murine bone marrow-derived mast cells, neutrophils freshly isolated from bone marrow rapidly lose expression of CD62L and up-regulate CD11b, the latter being partly driven by mast cell-derived TNF and GM-CSF. Mast cells also strongly enhance neutrophil phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen species. All these phenomena partly depend on mast cell-derived TNF and to a greater extend on GM-CSF. Furthermore, spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils is greatly diminished due to the ability of mast cells to deliver antiapoptotic GM-CSF. Finally, we show in a murine model for acute lung inflammation that neutrophil phagocytosis is impaired in mast cell-deficient Kit W-sh /Kit W-sh mice but can be restored upon mast cell engraftment. Thus, a previously underrated feature of mast cells is their ability to boost neutrophil effector functions in immune response

Linking metabolites in eight bioactive forage species to their in vitro methane reduction potential across several cultivars and harvests

An in vitro Hohenheim gas test was conducted to analyze the fermentation end-products from 17 cultivars of eight polyphenol containing forage species. The polyphenol composition and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features of all the cultivars were analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS in leaves of vegetative or generative plants. The samples were incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG, a tannin-binding agent) to separate the tannin-effect on methane (CH4, ml/200 mg DM) production from that of forage quality. Sulla and big trefoil, two particularly PA rich species, were found to have the highest CH4 reduction potential of up to 47% when compared to the samples without PEG. However, concomitant reduction in gas production (GP, ml/200 mg DM) of up to 44% was also observed. An increase in both GP and CH4 production under PEG treatments, confirms the role of tannins in CH4 reduction. Moreover, PA structural features and concentration were found to be an important source of variation for CH4 production from PA containing species. Despite having low polyphenol concentrations, chicory and plantain were found to reduce CH4 production without reducing GP. Additionally, interspecies variability was found to be higher than intraspecies variability, and these results were consistent across growth stages, indicating the findings' representativeness