Yield and quality phytomass of alluvial meadow in interaction with temperature and rainfall

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to assess an effect of rainfall, temperature and fertilization on grassland dry matter (DM) production and quality. Five treatments control (C0N), PK, N50PK, N100PK and N150PK were established in the western part of “Zvolenská kotlina” basin (Slovakia) on alluvial meadow. The paper consists of experimental data collected during 11 years (2008 – 2018). The highest DM production was found in the treatment with the rate of 150 kg/ha, the lowest crude protein (CP) content was identified with the unfertilized treatment. However fertilization showed no statistically significant impact on dry matter production or CP content. Variability in rainfall over growing period was an important factor affecting DM production with statistically significant (P<0.01). To contrary, there was no relationship between average temperature over growing period and DM production or CP content. On average, the highest CP content was found in years with the normal rainfall and the normal average temperature.

Keywords

• alluvial meadow
• alopecurion pratensis
• fertilization
• dry matter production
• crude protein
• rainfall
• temperature