The effect of nitrogen use on perennial ryegrass seed yield and forage quality parameters

Bumane, S. . Skriveri Research Centre; Berzins, P. . Skriveri Research Centre; Leep, R.H. . Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences; Dietz, T. . Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

The effect of nitrogen use on perennial ryegrass seed yield and forage quality parameters

2004

Bumane, S. (Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Skriveri (Latvia). Skriveri Research Centre) | Berzins, P. (Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Skriveri (Latvia). Skriveri Research Centre) | Leep, R.H. (Michigan State Univ. (USA). Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences) | Dietz, T. (Michigan State Univ. (USA). Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences)

Since 1988, Department of Agriculture of the Michigan State University (MSU) and the Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU) have had an agreement for cooperation in research and information exchange. The objective of the research described in this paper is to obtain productivity results for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) at different rates of mineral nutrition in both Michigan and Latvia. The State of Michigan and Latvia's geographical locations are similar. The country of Latvia lies east of the Baltic Sea. Michigan, likewise, is located east of a large body of water, Lake Michigan, providing both locations similar weather patterns. Although the experiments were carried out independent of each other and the measured results were analyzed for each location, this paper compares the similarities and differences in both location outcomes. Field experiments in Latvia - at the Skriveri Research Centre, LLU were carried out on sod podzolic sandy loam soil (Argiaquic Argiaboll) in the year 2001. The following mineral fertilizer rates were used: N and P2O5, each 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, K2O - 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg haE(-1). This research examines the effects of varying mineral fertilizer rates on forage quality, seed and straw yields by using the perennial ryegrass cultivars 'Spidola'. In Michigan, field trials were conducted on a Capac loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aeric Achraqualfs) at the Michigan State University Research farm in East Lansing Michigan. Five levels of N fertilizer rates were used: 0, 112, 224, 336, and 448 kg haE(-1) of N. Diploid cultivars 'Aries' and tetraploid cultivars 'Quartet' were used in the field experiments. The average biomass yield from perennial ryegrass 'Spidola' was 1.96-4.28 t haE(-1) (on dry matter basis), but the average seed yield was 0.423-0.835 t haE(-1) and straw yield - 2.852-6.940 t haE(-1) in the first year stand. The average biomass yield from perennial ryegrass 'Aries' was 5.96-14.85 t haE(-1), from cultivar 'Quartet' - 6.56-16.64 t haE(-1), but crude protein (CP) ranged between 165-235 and 162-231 g kgE(-1), respectively.

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