Influence of Slight Shading, Sward Density and Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Nutritive Value of Lolium multiflorumo Lam.

Abstract

AbstractIn a two year factorial field trial the influence of slight shading (daylight reduced by 27 %), row spacing (15 and 30 cm respectively) and N fertilization (60 and 120 kg* ha−1*cut−1 respectively) on yield and nutritive value of Lolium multiflorum (Lam.) was investigated. Three cuts were taken in the seeding year and four in the full harvest year. Shading reduced DM yield by 4 % at low and 16 % at high level of N fertilization. Higher amount of N fertilizer increased yield by 28 % without and 12 % with shading. Row spacing was of minor importance; on average wider spacing decreased yield by 9 %. Increasing N fertilization and shading had the same effects on nutritive value: crude protein (CP), nitrate content and protein/energy ratio (P/E) went up, whereas energy value (NEL) went down. Compared to the effects of shading or N fertilization, the influence of sward density on nutritive value was small. The effect of shading and high fertilization on nutritive value was similar in both years. However for vegetatively grown forage in the seeding year shading caused P/E values and nitrate contents too high for an adequate ruminant feeding which was already evident at low level of N fertilization; also increased supply of N fertilizer without shading deteriorated the nutritive value. On the other hand forage of the full harvest year (at reproductive stages) showed too high P/E values only in shaded and highly fertilized plots. Therefore N fertilization ought to be limited at periods when the grass only grows vegetatively and/or light intensity is low, like e.g. in autumn. None of the experimental treatments had any marked effect on the fibre content of the forage (ADF) in the seeding year; in the full harvest year, however, when plants grew reproductively, shading as well as higher N fertilization increased ADF content. There was no significant correlation between ADF and NEL for vegetatively grown plants but a close relation for plants which were at reproductive stages.