dry matter yield

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Dhamala N.R., Søegaard K. and Eriksen J.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
In highly productive temporary grasslands in Europe, plant diversity is usually low. Some non-leguminous species have shown a high competitive ability in temporary grasslands and can increase plant diversity without compromising yields. In an experiment, the competitiveness and productivity of three forb species: chicory (Cichorium intybus), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and caraway (Carum carvi), grown in different proportions in mixtures including traditional sown grassland species, perennial ryegrass and red clover, were examined with slurry application as an additional factor. Dry matter (DM) yield and botanical composition were measured during one complete growing season. Annual DM yields were mostly similar when forbs were included in the grassland mixture. A three-species mixture (perennial ryegrass, red clover and ribwort plantain) had the highest yield potential, especially for the slurry application treatment. Chicory and ribwort plantain were highly competitive in the mixtures. The response in the DM yield of perennial ryegrass to slurry application was considerable, but no consistent trend was found in the forbs. In conclusion, forbs contributed to increased plant species diversity and herbage DM yield, and fertilisation had positive effect on herbage yield of grassland mixtures.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Hyrkäs M., Sairanen A., Kykkänen S., Virkajärvi P. and Isolahti M.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Scandinavian milk and beef production is based on high-quality grass silage. Harvesting time of grass, especially in the first cut, is the major factor that determines the optimization of dry matter yield and forage digestibility, and the subsequent improved feeding efficiency and productivity of the animals. The aim of this study was to explore how the number of harvests, three different cultivar mixtures and timing of the last harvest affect the amount and nutritive value of total yield and overwintering of the sward. The experiment was conducted at Maaninka and Sotkamo, Finland, during the 2013-2014 growing seasons. Experimental design of the study was split-split-plot with four replicates. Plots were sown with a mixture of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). Three different mixtures of varieties of these species were used. The three-cut harvesting strategy produced higher dry matter and energy yield and higher digestibility than the two-cut harvesting strategy. Delaying the second cut increased the total dry matter yield and decreased D-value more than delaying the third cut. Differences between cultivar mixtures were observed but the interaction with number of harvests was minor.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Kizeková M., Jančová Ľ., Dugátová Z., Čunderlík J., Kanianska R., Makovníková J. and Tomaškin J.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
The paper presents the effect of weather variables on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a field experiment, the total dry matter yield and its distribution during the growing period, content of crude protein and fibre of monocultures of Trifolium pratense and Medicago sativa and grass-legume mixtures under the climatic conditions of hilly region in Central Slovakia during two dry years was investigated. Medicago sativa cv. Kamila and Tereza grown as monocultures or as mixtures with Festulolium braunii (cv. Achilles) outperformed Trifolium pretense cv. Fresko and Veles and provided a well-balanced total and seasonal dry matter yield during both years. Across all experimental years, crude protein content was significantly higher at Medicago sativa monocultures and mixtures when compared to Trifolium pratense monocultures (P