forage yield

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Hejduk S.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L) is the most important perennial legume cultivated in Central and Northern Europe. Its lack of persistence is the main limiting factor which hampers its wider use in permanent grassland. Once the plants in the 2nd or 3rd harvest year disappear, the remaining grass sward needs more nitrogen fertilizing, over-seeding or renovation. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of four red clover cultivars and two cutting frequencies on dry matter (DM) yield and clover persistence in mixture with grasses. The highest DM forage yield in the 3rd harvest year and persistence index was achieved by the cultivars Astur and Amos for 3- and 4-cut management, respectively (15.7 vs 16.6 Mg ha‑1 and 0.82 vs 0.95, respectively). There was a significant interaction between cultivar and cutting frequency in the 3rd harvest year, when only cultivar Amos increased yield and persistence index under 4-cut management. The cultivar Amos, in comparison with other cultivars, demonstrated the best results under more frequent cutting management and should be recommended, in preference, for intensively harvested permanent grasslands and/or leys.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Meripõld H., Tamm U., Tamm S. and Võsa T.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a forage legume that has been grown in Estonia for approximately 43 years. Pure galega is known to be a persistent and high-yielding crop rich in nutrients, in particular crude protein (CP). Galega is usually grown in a mixture with grass in order to optimize its nutrient concentration, increase dry matter (DM) yield and improve fermentation properties. There are certain grass species suitable for the mixture. In this study galega mixtures with reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) cv. Marathon, timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cv. Tika, red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) cv. Kauni and festulolium cv. Hykor were investigated in two successive years (2013-2014). Three cuts were carried out during in both years. Nitrogen (N) fertilization (rate of N50) was applied in spring before the first and second cuts. Early-season N applications to galega-grass swards can prevent N-deficiency in the spring. The total dry matter yield varied from 7.6 to 13.7 Mg ha‑1. The CP concentration in the DM varied from 123-188 g kg‑1. Both DM-yield and CP were dependent on the year, mixture and fertilization. High N fertilization favoured grass growth and reduced the role of galega in the sward.