Grass-clover under cutting conditions: a highly productive system of intensive, high quality forage production

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: De Vliegher A. and D’Hose T.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
In this experiment, we compared grass in pure stand (300 Navailable ha‑1) and grasses mixed with red and white clover (150 Navailable ha‑1) under cutting conditions. The experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil (Merelbeke, Belgium) in 2011-2014. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne – Lp), tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae – Fa) and Festulolium (Fe) in pure stands were sown with and without clover. Grass-clover with 150 N ha‑1 produced more dry matter (+ 1.11 Mg ha‑1 year‑1) with a higher protein content in terms of crude protein % (+4.5%) and true protein digested in the small intestine (+13 g kg‑1 dry matter (DM)), but lower energy concentration (-15 VEM (fodder unit milk) g kg‑1 DM) compared to grass with 300 N ha‑1. The energy content of Lp cv Meloni and Fe cv Lifema was lower in the grassclover 150 N management than in the grass 300 N and did not change for the other grasses. Barolex (Fa), Callina (Fa) and Hykor (Fe) had significantly higher DM production, but significantly lower energy and protein content in comparison with Lp. Lifema (Fe) was less productive than the other varieties/species but had a better quality compared to Hykor (Fe) and Fa.