DURABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL SWARD WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF RED FESCUE SITUATED ALONG THE SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL BALKAN MOUNTAIN VI. STATE OF MIXED SWARD OF RED FESCUE, KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS AND BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

Abstract

The state of mixed swards of red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and birdsfoot trefoil was studied, situated along the slopes of the Central Balkan Mountain, during the period of 1st to the 13th year of their creation. At a high degree of soil gleying, (at) the low part of slope, the dry matter yields were within the limits of 2.8 t/ha –1 (1997, south–easterly exposure) up to 10.66 t/ha –1 (1999, north–easterly exposure). At a low degree of soil gleying, (and) high part of the slope, the dry matter yields were within the limits of 2.34 t/ha –1 (1994, westerly exposure) up to 14.34 t/ha –1 (1995, east exposure). The most prominent in productive terms for period of study are variants at the east and south–easterly exposure, slightly gleyed soil. The participation of the sown species in the total forage yield is variable quantity. They reach (at their most) up to 96% in 1998, north exposure, slightly gleyed soils an up to 97% in 2000, north–east exposure, highly gleyed soils. Their share was small in 2004 (44%) and in 2006 (42%) on a westerly slope, highly eroded soils. Кey words: red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, birdsfoot trefoil, Balkan Mountain, slopes.