Aftergrass ability of grass stands for hay-pasture use in the autumn period

Abstract

Aim. To identify the best types of perennial grasses in terms of fertility in their pure form and mixtures, and to develop a technology for the formation and use of sown meadow phytocenoses in the Forest Steppe during their autumn alienation in the system of an extended pasture conveyor for meat breeds of cattle. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical, system analysis. Results. The article on onion growing considers the problems of quality provision of meat cattle with green fodder not only in the summer, but also in the autumn period. On the basis of many years of experimental research, the article reveals the processes of formation of perennial grasses depending on the weather and climate conditions, species composition, fertilization system, and the timing of the removal of the pasture mass in the fall. The indicators of the transformation of the quality of the green mass of аftergrass depending on the terms of deepening of the autumn period are given. According to the results of field research, it was established that early-ripening and medium-ripening perennial grasses in the autumn period form a sufficient supply of grass at the root (oats) for livestock grazing, in the range of 2.3-3.1 t/ha with moderate moisture supply and application of nitrogen fertilizers with a dose of N20 under the pasture moving. Early-ripening and medium-ripening perennial grasses produce a 1.4–1.6 times higher yield than late-ripening coenoses over the years of use. This pattern was stable over the years of use. Аftergrass cereal grasses of the autumn period were of sufficient quality and met the zootechnical standards for feeding cattle of the meat sector. The supply of green fodder with organic nutrients and mineral elements for the cultivation of аftergrass on the background of N20 was characterized by the following indicators: the content of raw protein in the dry weight of the fodder was in the range of 11–15.3%, fat – 2.4–3.1%, raw fiber – 27.7–35.3%, potassium – 2.39–2.75%, calcium – 0.51–0.68%. The digestibility of cereal grass fodder was 58-72%. Conclusions. Among the perennial grasses, the following types of grasses showed better seeding in the autumn period on dry meadows with the application of nitrogen fertilizers with a dose of N20: thornless sedge, oriental sedge and ryegrass, the share of which in the yield of seeded grass mixtures depends on the intensity of precipitation after 3 years of use was at the level of 62–71%, and in some dry years even more.