Productivity of sown meadow herbage depending on the elements of growing technology

Abstract

The results of research on the influence of species composition of grass mixtures, the level of fertilizing, and growth stimulator Fumar on the productivity of sown meadow herbage on typical low-humus chernozems of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe are presented.

The experimental part of the work was performed in the scientific laboratories of the Forage Production, Land Reclamation, and Meteorology Department in the production unit of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine "Agronomic Research Station". The territory of the research station is located in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe and is a part of Bila Tserkva agro-soil district. The experimental plots were laid on typical low-humus chernozems, coarse-grained light loam in terms of mechanical composition, which are characterized by a high content of gross and mobile forms of nutrients. The climate of the region is characterized by unstable humidity and moderate temperatures. The average annual air temperature is 6-8 ° C. The annual amount of precipitation reaches 562 mm, during the growing season - 354-394 mm (63-70% of the annual norm), which falls unevenly throughout the year.

The purpose of the study is to establish patterns of high productivity formation of sown perennial grasses depending on the species composition and fertilizers on typical low-humus chernozems of Right-Bank Forest-Steppe.

The analysis of fertilizers effect showed that the highest productivity on all stands was provided by the combined application of complete mineral fertilizer and biostimulator of growth Fumar (N₆₀P₆₀K₉₀ + Fumar), where productivity compared to the option without fertilizer on average over the years of research on alfalfa t/ha of dry mass or by 9%, on its mixtures with cereals - by 0.89–1.19 t/ha, or by 9–11%, and on cereal herbages - by 2.79 t/ha, or by 54% at LSD 0.41 t/ha. Productivity from the use of growth stimulant Fumar increased by 0.27-0.32 t/ha of dry weight or 2-4% and depended a little on the species composition of herbages.

High efficiency of alfalfa inclusion in leguminous-cereal grass mixtures, as well as use of single-species alfalfa sowing for fodder purposes, especially on backgrounds without mineral nitrogen, was revealed. The productivity of these herbages in comparison with cereal herbages on nitrogen-free backgrounds (variants without fertilizers and P₆₀K₉₀) on average for 2014–2016 increased from 3.74–4.10 to 8.06–8.68 t/ha of fodder units, from 0.57-0.66 to 1.70-1.96 of crude protein, from 93.7-101.4 to 182.1-206.2 GJ/ha of gross energy and from 38.9-42.7 to 82.4–91.3 GJ/ha of metabolic energy or by1.8–3.0 times, while on backgrounds with nitrogen application (variants N₆₀P₆₀K₉₀ and N₆₀P₆₀K₉₀ + Fumar) - respectively from 5.73–5.93 to 8, 27–9.22 t/ha, from 1.13–1.21 to 1.89–2.29 t/ha, from 139.8–144.8 to 192.5–219.1 GJ/ha, and from 59.6–61.7 to 89.4–98.2 GJ/ha, or by 1.4–1.6 times. Comparison of the productivity of alfalfa-cereal mixtures with single-species sowing of alfalfa shows that on the same backgrounds it was at the same level with slight fluctuations.

On average, in the first three years of use, the most influential factor in the yield of 1 ha of dry mass is the factor of grass cover with a share of 60%. The share of fertilizer factor is 40%.

The inclusion of alfalfa in legumes and cereal mixtures, as well as the use of single-species sowing for fodder purposes compared to cereals in the background without mineral nitrogen on average for the first three years of use, increases the productivity of sown grasslands from 5.12-5.54 to 10,44–10.78 t/ha of dry weight, from 3.74–4.10 to 8.06–8.68 t/ha of feed units, from 0.57–0.66 to 1.70 1.96 of crude protein and from 38.9–42.7 to 82.4–91.3 GJ/ha of exchange energy or by 1.8–3.0 times, while on backgrounds with N₆₀ application - from 7.28–7.59, respectively, to 9.42–9.71 t/ha, from 5.73–5.93 to 8.27–9.22 t/ha, from 1.13–1.21 to 1.89–2.29 t/ha and from 59.6–61.7 to 89.4–98.2 GJ/ha, or only by 1.4–1.6 times.

Among the alfalfa-cereal herbages in the first two years of use, the most productive was the agrocenosis, the cereal part of which is represented by smooth bromegrass and English bluegrass.

The lowest, but quite high productivity of alfalfa and alfalfa-grass herbages is provided without fertilizers, which on average for the first three years of use ranges from 9.95 to 10.86 t/ha of dry weight, 1.70 to 1.85 t/ha of crude protein, 82.4–85.8 GJ/ha of metabolic energy, while cereals, respectively, 5.12 t/ha, 3.74 t/ha, 0.57 t/ha, 38.9 GJ/ha.