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Browsing by Author "Paneru, Bidur"

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    Conversion of open pasture to hardwood silvopasture enhanced soil health of an ultisol
    Poudel, Sanjok; Bansal, Sangeeta; Podder, Swarup; Paneru, Bidur; Karki, Sangita; Fike, John H.; Kumar, Sandeep (Springer, 2022-12)
    Black walnut (Juglans nigra) and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) have gained particular interest for use in silvopastures and other temperate agroforestry systems. However, measures of soil health indicators in these deciduous hardwood silvopastures over time have received limited attention. This study assessed soil health indicators in 25-year-old black walnut- (BSP) and honeylocust-based silvopastures (HSP) and compared with those from adjacent open pasture (OP) systems. Soil samples collected from 0 to 10 cm depth were analyzed for soil organic matter (OM), carbon and nitrogen fractions, glomalin-related soil protein, soil enzymatic activities, and microbial community structure. The soil OM content in HSP (64 g kg(-1)) was greater (p < 0.05) than BSP and OP (55 g kg(-1)). The BSP soils had about 45% and 52% more (p < 0.05) microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen than OP soils. The HSP soils had 60% greater (p < 0.05) microbial biomass nitrogen than OP soils. The BSP supported greater (p < 0.05) beta-glucosidase and urease activities than the HSP and OP treatments, while greater (p < 0.05) beta-glucosidase activity was measured in HSP than OP. Total phospholipid-derived fatty acid and actinomycetes abundance were greater (p < 0.001) in OP compared to BSP and HSP while the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi abundance was greater (p < 0.05) in OP than in HSP. These findings indicate that black walnut and honeylocust trees in the silvopastures with proper management can improve certain soil health parameters over time depending on tree characteristics and the age of the system.
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    Effect of silvopasture system on fearfulness and leg health in fast-growing broiler chickens
    Paneru, Bidur; Pent, Gabriel J.; Nastasi, Shawna; Downing, Adam K.; Munsell, John F.; Fike, John H.; Jacobs, Leonie (2023-02)
    A silvopasture system intentionally integrates trees, forages, and livestock, allowing dual land use. These systems can provide high-quality habitat for broiler chickens; however, such systems have not been widely adopted by the broiler industry in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of silvopasture versus open pasture access on fearfulness and leg health in fast-growing broiler chickens. A total of 886 mixed-sex Ross 708 chicks in Experiment 1 (Exp 1) and 648 chicks in Experiment 2 (Exp 2) were housed in coops and had access to 16 (Exp 1) or 12 (Exp 2) 125m2 silvopasture plots (x̄ = 32% canopy cover) or open pasture plots (no canopy cover) from day 24 of age. Fearfulness was measured using a tonic immobility test (tonic immobility duration), and leg health was assessed by quantifying footpad dermatitis, hock burns, gait, and performing a latency-to-lie test on days 37-39 of age. Birds in the silvopasture treatment were less fearful than birds in the open pasture treatment. Overall, birds in both silvopasture and open pasture systems had excellent leg health. Silvopasture birds had lower footpad dermatitis scores than open pasture birds. Silvopasture birds tended to have worse gait than open pasture birds in Exp 1, but not in Exp 2. Hock burn scores and latency-to-lie did not differ between treatments in Exp 1 or Exp 2. Raising birds in silvopasture reduced fear and improved footpad health compared to birds raised in open pastures, which indicates that silvopasture systems provide some benefits for affective state and leg health in fast-growing broilers.