Effect of fertilization and artificial shading on N and various mineral content of herbaceous species
2009
Parissi, Z.M. | Koukoura, Z.
Minerals and N have a significant impact on animal performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fertilization and artificial shading on N and various mineral contents of the above ground biomass content of the species Festuca ovina, Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense. Three artificial shade treatments with 90 per cent, 80 per cent and 70 per cent reduction of the total radiation and the control (0 per cent) were tested. Species sowed in pots with soil from a Pinus brutia forest understorey. Six pots of each species were placed in each shade treatment and the control. Half of these pots were fertilized with 225 Kg per ha of N, 450 Kg per ha of P and 225 Kg per ha of K after the sowing. Additionally, 395 Kg per ha of NH4NO3 were top-dressed in April. At the end of the growing season the herbage biomass of each pot was cut at ground level and sampled. The samples were oven-dried at 60°C for 48 h and subsequently analyzed for N, P, Ca, K and Na. Shading treatments increased N content in grasses compared to control (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, N content increased in legumes only at 90 per cent shading (P less than 0.05). There was no significant effect of the shade and fertilization on Ca (P greater than 0.05). Fertilization significantly increased the P content in grasses and did not affect it in legumes. The effect of fertilization and shade in K content strongly depended on plant species. Fertilization affects the content of Na only in sun, while the effect of shade depended on plant species. The content of N as well as P, Ca and K content except Na both in grasses and legumes were putatively sufficient to meet small ruminants' maintenance demands. To conclude, a diversity of plant species should be offered to small ruminants grazing pine-based understorey in order to offer them the opportunity to select a balanced diet
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