Increasing the efficiency of cultivation of alfalfa and cereal grass mixtures on eroded slopes

Abstract

Purpose. To highlight the features of formation of the botanical composition and the yield of dry matter from alfalfa-cereal and deer vetch-cereal mixtures, depending on the modes of use and fertilization when grown on slopes. To substantiate the technological elements of increasing the efficiency of forage production from slope meadow lands. Methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, comparative calculation. Results. The greatest yield of dry matter in the experiment was formed on the grass mixture of deer vetch with reed fescue and timothy grass during the mowing of the herbage. On average for the 2016-2018 on this grass mixture 8.37 t/ha of dry matter were obtained without fertilization, and 9.52 t/ha – with the application of phosphorus fertilizer at a dose of P60. Less by 0.94-1.14 t/ha the yield of dry matter was obtained from the cut grass stand when using a mixture of alfalfa with reed fescue and timothy grass. With pasture use of herbage, the yield of dry matter from the grass mixture based on deer vetch was also higher compared to the herbage based on alfalfa. So, on the variant without fertilization, in total for four grazing cycles, the dry matter yield from the grass mixture of deer vetch + perennial ryegrass + timothy grass + reed fescue amounted to 5.44 t/ha, and from the grass mixture of alfalfa + perennial ryegrass + timothy grass + reed fescue – 4.86 t/ha. When using nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers (N90(30+30+30)P60), the yield of dry matter from pasture herbage increased to 6.10 t/ha and 5.90 t ha, respectively. Conclusions. So, the improved elements make it possible to form a cut grass stand on the basis of a mixture of deer vetch with timothy grass and reed fescue with dry matter yield of 9.52 t/ha. In the botanical composition of green mass of the cut grass stand of this mixture, the share of the legume component was 48.2-63.6%. For the pasture use, the grass mixture of deer vetch + perennial ryegrass + timothy grass + reed fescue is recommended, which provides 5.44-6.10 t/ha of dry matter in four grazing cycles.