Influence of harvest season, cutting frequency and nitrogen fertilization of mountain meadows on yield, floristic composition and protein content of herbage

Olívio Bochi Brum,Sonia Andrés,Secundino López,Ricardo García,Alfredo Calleja

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982009000400002

Olívio Bochi Brum, Sonia Andrés + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-35982009000400002

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of cutting frequency, harvest season and nitrogen fertilization on yield and floristic composition of the herbage harvested from a mountain meadow. The meadow was divided into 22 plots, each receiving a different N P K fertilization treatment. The study lasted seven years, and during the first three years (1985-1987) each plot was harvested twice per year (June and September) according to a traditional harvest system, whereas in the years 1989-1991 each plot was harvested three times per year (spring, summer and autumn) following a more intensive harvest system. Nitrogen fertilizer favoured the development of the grasses in spring, thus reducing the proportion of legumes in the two cut harvest system, whereas grasses reached an advanced stage of maturity before the first cut in late June. However, the three cut harvest system entailed an earlier first cut in spring. As a result, the production of legume biomass was significantly increased both in the first cut and in the subsequent regrowths. No significant response in total herbage production to the N fertilizer was observed in the more intensive harvest system. Therefore, the three cut harvest system without nitrogen fertilization seemed to be the most suitable practice for the management of these botanically-complex mountain meadows. These results may contribute to design fertilization and management practices of mountain hay meadows to optimize their productivity and sustainability.

Highlights

Mountain meadows are an important source of feed for livestock, especially when harvested as hay for the winter period
In farm animal production systems based on intensively managed grasslands, this biological N input may be insufficient for pasture and animal demands, and nitrogen fertilization may be required in order to avoid a reduction of the leaf expansion rate and, the total herbage production (Mazzanti et al, 1994; Belanger & McQueen 1998; Madakadze et al, 1999)
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the harvest season, cutting frequency and N fertilization rate on yield and chemical or floristic composition of the herbage harvested from permanent mountain meadows

Summary

Introduction

Mountain meadows are an important source of feed for livestock, especially when harvested as hay for the winter period. In farm animal production systems based on intensively managed grasslands, this biological N input may be insufficient for pasture and animal demands, and nitrogen fertilization may be required in order to avoid a reduction of the leaf expansion rate and, the total herbage production (Mazzanti et al, 1994; Belanger & McQueen 1998; Madakadze et al, 1999). This may be an expensive alternative which increases the risk of environmental damage and counteracts grassland biodiversity. To attain a sustainable system of utilization of mountain hay meadows, an increase in productivity through fertilization and management practices is desirable, providing it is compatible with important environmental issues such as the biodiversity in species-rich meadows or the risk of pollution of groundwater (Peyraud & Astigarraga, 1998; Duru & Delaby, 2003; Topp & McGechan, 2003)

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