engleski

Changes in grassland yield and botanical composition under contrasting managements

The objective of the current field study was to examine the effect of nitrogen (N) application (0-N0 and 150 kg ha-1 year-1-N150) and rotational grazing by cattle (C) and sheep (S) on grassland dry matter (DM) yield and botanical composition. A higher total DM yield was obtained under sheep grazing (P<0.05) than under cattle grazing, whereas grazing by cattle resulted in higher values of dead plant material compared to grazing by sheep (P<0.01). Application of 150 kg ha-1 N resulted in 19.2 % higher grassland DM yield in comparison with N0 (P<0.01). Sheep grazing was less detrimental to legumes DM yield than was cattle grazing (P<0.05), whereas omission of N application (N0) resulted in higher legumes DM yield and their contribution to total DM yield compared to N150 (P<0.01). A grazing management x N rate interaction (P<0.05) was recorded for legumes DM yield and their contribution to total DM yield. Application of 150 kg ha-1 N resulted in 29% higher grasses DM yield and 9% in higher grasses contribution to total DM yield in comparison with N0 (P<0.01). As the grass content increased, the contribution of legumes and forbs declined when fertilized with 150 kg ha -1 N.

botanical composition; nitrogen; sheep grazing; cattle grazing; yield

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