Role of nitrogen on perennial ryegrass seed production and forage quality
2015
Bumane, S., Latvian Plant Protection Research Centre, Riga (Latvia) | Adamovics, A., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
Perennial ryegrass is a short-lived bunch-grass with shallow root system and suitable for grazing. It is a major component in different seed mixtures that are used for grassland management and forage production. Ryegrass requires high fertility level for good production especially adequate nitrogen supply. The objective of presented research was to study the effect of fertilisers for seed yield and forage quality of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) ‘Spidola’ (4n) – a popular forage grass cultivar in Latvia – using different NPK fertiliser application rates. Field experiments was carried out at the Skriveri Research Institute of Agriculture on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil (LuvicPhaeozem, WRB 2014), pHKCl 6.5, plant available P2O5 95 and K2O 132 mg kgE-1 (Egner–Riehm), soil organic carbon 20 g kgE-1 (Tyurins’ method). The following mineral fertilizer rates were used: N and P2O2, each 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, K2O – 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg haE–1. A randomised complete block design with four replications was used. Obtained 3-year average seed production was from 311 to 727 kg haE-1, but in 2nd production years – from 102 to 617 kg haE-1. The highest 3-year average was obtained using N90 P30 K120 fertiliser application. Increases fertiliser rates increased lodging. The crude protein content in grass ranged between 80-118 g kgE-1 in dry matter (DM). At the end of heading stage, perennial ryegrass had comparatively high crude fibre content (267 to 289 g kgE-1 DM) at all treatments that significantly affected digestibility of forage. The average biomass yield from perennial ryegrass was 2.11-5.77 t haE-1 (on DM basis). The average chemical composition (on DM basis, g kgE-1): P 2.1-3.0; K 16.5-2.9; Ca 2.4-3.4; Mg 1.2-1.6.
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