Abstract
Panicum virgatum could produce cattle feed with lower costs due to the low input requirements and its perennial nature. Dry biomass yield vs. N-P-K nutrient uptake relations as well as the N-mineralization and the N-fertilization recovery fraction for Panicum virgatum (cv. Alamo) were determined under field conditions for four N-fertilization (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha-1) and two irrigation levels (0 and 250 mm), οn two soils in central Greece with rather different moisture status. It was found that the dry fodder yield on the aquic soil may reach 14 t ha-1 using supplemental irrigation; while on the xeric soil a lower yield of 9-10 t ha-1 may be produced only under supplemental irrigation. Moreover, the average N, P and K concentration was 1.3%, 0.14% and 1.3% in leaves, and 0.5%, 0.85%, and 1.5% in stems, respectively, showing the very low crop requirements. Furthermore, linear biomass yield-nutrient uptake relationships were found with high R2, pointing to nutrient use efficiency of 132 and 75 kg kg-1, for N and K respectively. The base N-uptake ranged from 71-74 kg ha-1 on the aquic to 60 kg ha-1 or less on the xeric soil. Finally, it was found that N-recovery fraction was 20% on the aquic soil and lower on the xeric. Therefore, it could be conclude that Panicum virgatum seems to be a very promising crop for fodder production and its introduction in land use systems (especially οn aquic soils of similar environments) should be taken into consideration.
Highlights
The economical crisis, especially in Mediterranean territory caused many problems
One of the main problems is the increased annually costs for fodder production such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuels etc., which leads to the increased animal feed price
New low-input and perennial crops should be examined for the production of low cost animal feed, which will be able to assess affine and profit to farmers
Summary
The economical crisis, especially in Mediterranean territory caused many problems. The increasing demand for food, energy and fiber products has faced agriculture during the last decade. Adaptation poses challenges for the integration of environmental and socio-cultural services into agricultural production. One of the main problems is the increased annually costs for fodder production such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuels etc., which leads to the increased animal feed price. Due to the price reduction of milk and meat, livestock shrinks. New low-input and perennial crops should be examined for the production of low cost animal feed, which will be able to assess affine and profit to farmers
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