Medicago sativa

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Fychan R., Crotty F.V., Scullion J., Sanderson R. and Marley C.L.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Using shallow tillage (e.g. direct drilling) is one approach that farmers could use to reduce establishment costs within dairy systems, but soils are often compacted by machinery during field operations. Research has shown that different forage species may alter the physical properties of soil. An experiment investigating the effects of forage species established by direct drilling, either with or without sward-lifting, on soil compaction was established on a previously compacted area of silt loam at Trawscoed, Aberystwyth University. Treatments consisted of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), white clover (Trifolium repens) or lucerne (Medicago sativa) established by direct drilling compared to ryegrass established by ploughing, with each of these treatments set up either with or without prior sward-lifting. The existing ryegrass sward was used as a control. Triplicate plots (17×3 m) of each treatment were sown on 17 July. Sward-lifting reduced soil penetration resistance for all treatments in all soil layers between 7.5 and 37.5 cm, but increased resistance in the 0-7.5 cm layer. Ploughing reduced soil penetration resistance in all soil layers between 0-22.5 cm. Soil penetration resistance within the 0-7.5 cm layer of soil was lower in existing ryegrass plots than lucerne plots during early establishment.

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

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Lazarev N.N. and Starodubtseva A.M.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Productive longevity of different alfalfa varieties depends on soil fertility, weather conditions, intensity of use and disease incidence. The pasture-type alfalfa (Medicago varia Martyn.) variety Pastbischnaya 88 was tested for long-term persistence on well cultivated soils. In the 5th and 6th years of use 36-72 plants were left per 1 m2 and dry matter yields reached 5-7 Mg ha‑1. Thinning of the swards was recorded both after unfavourable winter conditions and due to the diseases in the summer period. By the 15-17th year of use the productivity of alfalfa-based swards declined to 2.8-3.12 Mg ha‑1. Being well provided with P and K on the sod-podzolic soil, alfalfa persisted in the mixtures with smooth brome even in its 18th year of use. Presence of 1-7 alfalfa plants per 1 m2 provided significantly higher yields than pure grass stands. Smooth brome is a good companion grass in alfalfa-grass mixtures for long-term twice-a-season use. This species considerably resisted dandelion invasions and did not suppress alfalfa. The key condition of smooth brome persistence in mixtures with other gramineous grasses is annual application of N90. Without mineral nitrogen fertilization the swards were invaded by wild grasses and dandelion, and the share of smooth brome decreased to 10-18%. On moderately rich soils serious thinning of alfalfa-timothy swards was already recorded in the 4th year after sowing. Their productivity declined to a level of 1.58-2.92 Mg ha‑1. Productivity of alfalfa-grass mixtures exceeded that of the single-species timothy crop by 1.8-2.0 times.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Marley C.L., Scott M.B., Davies J.W., Sanderson R. and Fychan R.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Dairy farmers are under increasing pressure to maximise their use of home-grown high-protein forages to achieve sustainable intensification. The use of shallow tillage, such as direct drilling, is one approach farmers could use to reduce the establishment costs when incorporating these forages into high-output pasture-based systems. Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a high yielding forage with high crude protein concentration which is highly palatable to ruminants. An experiment investigated the effect of establishment date and method on lucerne establishment. Findings showed that competition from grass was the main factor affecting the lucerne establishment. The yield of lucerne, established after either a first or second silage cut, either by ploughing or direct drilling, did not differ among treatments where herbicide was used. If lucerne is to be successfully established without the use of herbicide, it should be sown after ploughing not by direct drilling, and after a first silage cut.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Simić A., Dželetović Ž., Vučković S., Geren H. and Mandić V.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Intensive livestock production is concentrated in the northern part of Serbia, particularly in the vicinity of Belgrade. This area is very important for forage production, but the main power stations of the Serbian power supply system are located in this region and these produce high emissions of fly ash. Forage plants are exposed to the pollution effects of fly ash, and some agricultural systems are located very close to the Nikola Tesla A (TENT-A) power station. A study of three forage plants (Medicago sativa, Phalaris arundinacea, Melilotus officinalis) was done on ‘TENT-A’ ash deposit in order to analyse bioaccumulation of maximally exposed plants. Plant samples were collected at tillering stage and concentrations of 10 elements were analysed. The results show lower concentrations of trace metals in the herbage shoots than in the ash, which had excessive contents of As, Ni and Cr. None of the examined species accumulated a high amount of the above-mentioned elements, even though they were from different families, with different morphology and dry matter yield. Alfalfa had the highest concentrations of As and Ni among the species that were analysed.