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PERSISTENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF LEGUMES IN THE PASTURE SWARD ON BLACK SOIL AND PEAT-MUCK SOIL - M. Warda

Department of Grassland, Agricultural University, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

SUMMARY

The aim of the studies was to determine the effect of soil conditions on the maintenance of legumes in pasture sward and the role of legumes in pasture productivity. The studies were carried out on black soil and peat-muck soil. White clover, birdsfoot trefoil, black medic and alfalfa were the components of the grassy mixtures. Pastures were grazed rotationally by cattle four times per season. The effect of the legume species was significant for productivity of pasture during the first three years of studies. The influence of habitat factors was significant for the persistency of investigated legumes and their maintenance in the sward during the pasture season. White clover persisted best in sward on both soil types and had quite good survival of alfalfa cv. The legend in the sward on black soil confirms its suitability to the pasture mixtures on mineral soil under rotational grazing conditions.

Keywords: legumes, pasture sward, persistency, productivity, soil type.

INTRODUCTION

Enrichment of sown and long-lasting swards with particular legume species depends on soil and climatic conditions. According to the studies of Warda and Krzywiec (1998), presence of white clover in the grassy sward ensured better ground cover of pasture on peat-muck soil. It was confirmed that pasture productivity was directly linked to surface cover and turfness of pasture. The establishment and maintenance of legumes seems to be important to counteract grassland degradation in low-costs systems. The aim of these studies was to determine the effect of soil conditions on the maintenance of legumes and their role in pasture sward.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study was initiated in 1994 and conducted over four years. Two pasture experiments were established on black soil and peat-muck soil. A complete randomized block design with four replications, each plot size 5 x 8 m, was used. Soils under experiment had acid reactions and differed in ground water level. Contents of basic nutrients were insufficient in both soils. Four species mixtures were sown in proportion 50 percent of legume and 50 percent of grasses (Lolium perenne L., Phleum pratense L., Dactylis glomerata L.). Trifolium repens L. cv. Rema, Lotus corniculatus L. cv. Skrzeszowicka, Medicago lupulina L. cv. Renata and Medicago sativa L. cv. The legend was the components of mentioned mixtures. Pastures were fertilized with K and P, respectively 66 and 44 kg ha1. Nitrogen fertilization was differentiated according to the type of soil: black soil - 90 kg and peat-muck soil - 45 kg ha1. Pasture swards were grazed rotationally by cattle four times during the grazing season. Plant samples were taken before all grazings for separation into constituent species and for DM.

RESULTS

Influence of habitat factors was significant for persistency of legumes and their maintenance in the pasture sward (Figure 1). Better initial growth of legume species was observed on peat-muck soil. Since the second year of pasture utilization there has been a confirmed decrease in Lotus corniculatus, Medicago lupulina and Medicago sativa, particularly in wetter conditions. White clover persisted the best in the sward on both soil types. After four years of pasture utilization, quantity of white clover in the sward exceeded 40 percent. However, less seasonal fluctuations of this species during the grazing season was observed on peat-muck soil. Medicago sativa cv. The legend survived quite well in the sward on black soil until the end of the third year. Species of legume and its persistency in the sward were the factors affecting pasture yield during three years of pasture utilization (Table 1). White clover had the best positive effect on productivity of pastures. Significant yield-creating influence of birdsfoot trefoil was marked on the black soil during the first two years of experiment.

DISCUSSION

The content of investigated legume species underwent dynamic changes during the years of study. Changes depended on soil type, ground water level and species of legume participating in pasture sward. The experiments were established in a very dry year and then plants had better conditions for their growth and development on organic soil with higher level of ground water. That was marked by higher content of all legumes species in the pasture sward on peat-muck soil than black soil. Results of studies conducted by Ostrowski and Daczewska (1989) indicated the important role of water availability for persistency of white clover. The next year's birdsfoot trefoil, black medic and alfalfa decreased faster in the sward in wetter conditions of organic soil. At the same time stability of white clover in the pasture sward was observed in both habitats. It is known that the presence of legumes in grassy sward affects higher productivity of pasture. To profit from the advantages of the legumes, the maintenance of their sufficiently large proportion in the pasture sward is required (Pflimlin, 1994, Warda, 1996). Thus, far white clover is the most important pasture legume. However, reliance of animal production on grassland forage tends also to exploit alternative legume species. Medicago sp. investigated in these studies are usually not used in Poland for grazing but have quite a good survival of alfalfa cv. The legend in the sward on black soil seems to confirm its suitability to the pasture mixtures on mineral soil in rotational grazing conditions. Lotus corniculatus is reasonably well adapted to lower fertility conditions than Trifolium repens and can persist quite well in sward utilized by cutting. Unfortunately, persistency of Lotus species under grazing is rather low (Hopkins et al., 1996). Further studies on the potential of this species and its peristency, especially under grazing management are needed. The conclusion is that the choice of legumes well adapted to habitat conditions and to the way of management can ensure their good persistency and productivity in the sward.

Table 1. Relationship between yield and content of legumes in the pasture sward in 1994-1996, expressed as a correlation coefficient ®.

Legume species

Black soil

Peat-muck soil

Trifolium repens

0.72

0.74

Lotus corniculatus

0.70x

0.30x

Medicago sp.

0.42

0.13x

in 1994-1995x



Figure 1. Maintenance of legumes in the pasture sward on black soil and peat-muck soil in the years 1994-1997.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by the Polish Committee of Scientific Studies (Komitet Badan Naukowych).

REFERENCES

Hopkins, A., Martyn, T.M., Johnson, R.H., Sheldrick, R.D. & Lavender, R.H. 1996. Forage production by two Lotus species as influenced by companion grass species. Grass and Forage Science, 51, 343-349.

Ostrowski, R. & Daczewska, M. 1989. Response of grass-clover mixture under pasture utilization on water deficit and irrigation (in Polish). Zeszyty Problemowe Postlepow Nauk Rolniczych, 343, 239-244.

Pflimlin, A. 1994. Optimum management of grass-clover swards for beef and dairy cows in Western France. Workshop Proceedings of the 15th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Wageningen, 51-58.

Warda, M. 1996. Evaluation of development, persistency and yields of some white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars in the grass mixtures for pasture use (in Polish). Seria Wydawnicza - Rozprawy Naukowe, 191, Wydawnictwo Akademii Rolniczej, Lublin, 61.

Warda, M. & Krzywiec, D. 1998. Importance of white clover in limitation of grassland degradation under postboggy habitat (in Polish - in press).


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