engleski

Response of red clover to phosphorus fertilization

Red clover is a perennial legume, productive for 2 to 3 years. Maximum yields and the highest quality are realised in the second year of its life if the first cutting is done in early flowering (20%) and further cuttings about 45 days after the previous cut. Red clover is a highly adaptable species to various climatic conditions and soil types and therefore grows widely in numerous regions of the world. The field experiment with increased rates of P fertilization was conducted on Brinje soil of moderate fertility at beginning of May 2001. Four rates of P were applied in form of mono ammonium phosphate (MAP: 12% N + 52% P2O5) as follows (kg P2O5 ha-1): a) control, b) a + 500, c) a + 1000, d) a + 1500 and f) a + 2000. The standard fertilization included NPK 10:30:20 (416 kg ha-1) and urea (46% N) 200 kg ha-1 (total kg ha-1: 134 N + 125 P2O5 + 83 K2O). The field experiment was conducted in four replicates (experimental plot of fertilization = 64.26 m2) Maize was grown on the experimental plot for the 2001 growing season and red clover for the 2004-2006 period. The experiment was conducted by randomized block design. The statistical analysis were made according to Mead (1996) as two-factorial experiment (A = cutting ; B = phosphorus fertilization). Results indicated that red clover has potential to realise high hay yields at acid, poor and wet soils of mountain regions of the Republic of Croatia. Phosphorus fertilization had a positive effect on hay yield only when rate of P was high. It had no effects on content of macro and microelements in plant.

red clover ; phosphorus fertilization ; yield of hay

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