Yield potential and quality of forage mixtures of alfalfa with cocksfoot and tall fescue depending on the nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

The study was performed at the Institute for Animal Husbandry in the three year period, in field and laboratory conditions. The experiment involved two mixtures of grasses and legumes: mixture A ( alfalfa (cv. K -28 ), 50% and cocksfoot (cv. K-40 ), 50% ) and mixture B (alfalfa (cv. K -28 ), 33.3 % , cocksfoot (cv. K -40) , 33.3 %, and tall fescue (cv. K -20) , 33.3 % ), and pure stand of alfalfa (M). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. Fertilization was carried out using the split method, in quantities of 0, 70 and 140 kg N ha -1. The aim of this study was to determine the phytocoenological stability of mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), the yield and quality of fodder obtained from the grassland, depending on the mixture composition and nitrogen fertilization. Studied factors had a statistically significant impact on dry matter yield and protein yield. Alfalfa has achieved significantly higher yields compared to its mixtures. Dry matter yield increased with the addition of N fertilizers. Protein yield was highest in pure alfalfa crop, followed by its mixture cocksfoot. Fertilization has also increased protein yield.