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Spontaneous winter fire effects on semi-natural grassland
9-14Views:212The effect of uncontrolled turf fire was investigated on the meadow grassland of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Karcag Research Institute. The fire in January 2022, which was very dry, resulted in an increase in the proportion of bunchgrass and uncovered area in the burned area, based on our cenological recordings. We measured higher carbon dioxide emissions in the burned area at all measurement times using an infrared gas analyser. Soil moisture values recorded with soil probes were higher in the control grassland with intact grassland cover. Since we had the opportunity to carry out studies in a drought year, it is absolutely justified to investigate the effects of grass fires in other growing areas and under other precipitation conditions, because their more frequent occurrence in our country can be predicted.
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The effects of fertilization on 2 year old established swards. Quality and nutrient yields 8.
119-128Views:61The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the quality nutritional values and nutrient yield of an established 2 year old all-grass sward in the 29th year of a long-term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 3-5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available N, K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2002, the area had 401 mm precipitation and gave 2 cuts of grass. The 1st year results of the trial were published earlier (Kádár, 2005a, b). The main conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. The N-responses were decisive for both the hay quality and the hay and nutrient yields. The N-fertilizer increased the crude protein content and diminished the same time the crude fibre, crude ash and total sugar contents in the hay. The P-responses were not significant while the K-fertilization stimulated the crude ash accumulation in both cuts.
2. The hay yield of 2 cuts in 2002 amounted to 1,7 t/ha on the N0P0K0 plots not receiving any fertilizer during the 29 experimental years, while on the maximum N3P3K3 supply levels figured out 8.7 t/ha. The same time here the crude fibre increased from 532 kg/ha to 2876 kg/ha, crude protein from 113 kg/ha to 1100 kg/ha, crude ash from 132 kg/ha to 672 kg/ha, crude fat from 39 kg/ha to 173 kg/ha, while the crude fibre/crude protein ratio dropped from 4.7 to 2.6.
3. After 3 years storing the decisive part of carotine decomposed in the hay and gave as little as 0.9 mg/kg average value. The N-control gave 0.6 mg/kg, the 200 kg/ha/yr N-treatment resulted in 1.3 mg/kg, than the N-excess 300 kg/ha/yr plots showed again significantly less 0.9 mg/kg.
4. The 2nd cut hay had a little yield however, was rich in crude protein and crude ash having 50-70% higher average content compared with the primary hay. The crude fat content was 3-times higher in the 2nd cut hay, while the crude fibre about 20% less. The ratio of crude fibre/crude protein figured as an average 1.9, while in the low-quality primary hay amounted 4.2.
5. The N-fertilization depressed the content of N-free extract and acid detergent fibre (ADF) and enhanced the content of energy dependent protein (MFE), N-dependent metabolic protein (MFN) and nettoenergy (NE) parameters. The P fertilization did not cause any changes, while the K-fertilization decreased the N-free extract and the nettoenergy parameters (NE) and slightly stimulated the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) synthesis in the 2nd cut hay. -
The effect of fertilization on the mineral contant of artificial grasslands 3.
57-66Views:83The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the mineral element content of an established all-grass sward with seed mixture of eight grass species in the 28th year of a long term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem loamy soil. The lay-out and method of the trial as well as the fertilizer responses on the hay yield were published elsewhere (Kádár 2004). The effect of fertilization on the nutritional values and nutrient yield also described earlier (Kádár and Győri, 2005). The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally, moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m, the area was prone to drought. In 2001, however the area had a satisfactory amount of 621mm precipitation with a fairly good distribution. The grass was established on 21. September 2000. The main results and conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. As a function of N-fertilization the element content of the 1st cut hay usually increased, except for Al and Mo, which showed dilution effects. The concentration of K, Ca, Mg, Mn, P, Sr, B, Ni enhanced with 25-50%, S and Co with 60-70%, N and Cu 2-times, NO3-N and Na about 5-times compared to the N-control. The P-fertilization stimulated uptake of Mn and Mg for 10-20%; S, NO3-N and Co for 40-50%, Na and for Sr 60-70%, P for 90%, however, inhibited the uptake of Zn and Co for 20-40%, Al and Fe for 50-60%, Mo for 70% compared to the P-control.
2. The P/Zn ratio showed on P-control soil optimal values of 118, while on highly P-supplied soil 278 P/Zn ratio, so indicating Zn-deficiency. As a function of PxK negative interactions, concentration of Fe dropped from 307 to 105 Al from 206 to 60, Mo from 0.44 to 0.05, Cr from 0.33 to 0.12 mg/kg in air-dry hay. The Cu/Mo ration on N-control soil showed the optimal value of approx. 10, while on heavily fertilized with N soil that of 40-80, indicating extreme Mo-deficiency.
3. The 2nd cut hay contained about 20% more N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, 40% more Cu, 70-80% more S and Mn, 90% more Fe and P, 140% more Al and nearly 5-times more Mo. The content of B did not changed, while NO3-N dropped about 40% . The Cu/Mo ratio showed value of 2.6 on N-control soil, while on heavily fertilized with N soil ratio of 7.8. The P/Zn ratio indicated on P-control soil optimal value of 150, while on overfertilized with P soil value of 269. So, the P-induced Zn-deficiency could also be proven in the 2nd cut hay, while the Cu-induced Mo-deficiency disappered.
4. The N-fertilization stimulated in the 2nd cut hay also the accumulation of elements N, K, Mg, P, Mn, Cu and Ni with 20-50% compared to the N-control. The NO3-N increased 4-times, while Na content 10-times. However the elements Fe, Al, B, Mo and Cr showed a dilution effect with 20-60%. The P-fertilization increased the concentration of Mn, Sr, Cd, Co, S and P, while decreased the content of Na, NO3-N, Cu and Zn. As a general rule, the K-fertilization hindered the accumulation of metal cations. The P-induced Cd accumulation was fully counterbalanced by increasing K-supply of soil.
5. Summarizing above we can state that the long-term fertilization can drastically (in some cases with an order of magnitude) change the concentrations and ratios of elements built in hay through synergetic or antagonistic effects. In the 1st cut hay, for example, the minima-maxima contents of measured elements varied in air-dry hay as follows: N 0.90-3.02, Ca 0.4-0.7, S 0.14-0.32, P 0.12-0.30, Mg 0.10-0.24%; Na 70-700, Fe 100-288, Al 45-250, Mn 71-130, Sr 10-22, Zn 7-14, Ba 6-11, B 3.6-8.1, Ni 0.3-1.6, Cr 0.1-0.4, Mo 0.04-0.44, Co 0.04-0.12 mg/kg. -
The effects of fertilization on 2 year old established swards. Mineral uptake 7.
107-118Views:52The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the mineral element uptake of an established 2 year old all-grass sward in the 29th year of a long-term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 3-5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available N, K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4N×4P×4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2002 the area had 401 mm precipitation and gave 2 cuts of grass. The lay-out and method of the trial as well as the fertilizer responses on the hay yield and element content were published earlier (Kádár 2006). The main conclusions drawn as follows:
1. While the hay yield was basically determined by N-fertilization which lifted the hay mass 5 times compared to the N-control, the uptake of elements was drastically modified through the N×K and N×P synergistic and antagonistic interactions.
2. As a function of N×K treatments the uptake K changed for example at the 1st cut between 23-198 kg/ha, at the 2nd cut between 9-80 kg/ha. At the same time the uptake of Na fluctuated between 0.05-7.15 kg and 0.4-4.4 kg/ha, that of Mo 0.4-3.2 g/ha and 0.2-2.3 g/ha resp. As a function of N×P treatments the uptake of P changed at the 1st cut between 3-14 kg/ha, Sr between 12-388 g/ha, Mo between 0.5-4.5 g/ha. The nutrient accumulation at the 2nd cut showed an analogical picture.
3. The K-fertilization stimulated accumulation of K and Ba, while inhibited the antagonistic metal cations’ uptake of Ca, Mg and Na. The increased P-supply rose the absorption of P, S, Sr and Ba while diminished the extracted amount of Mo, which dropped down by 1/3rd compared with the control. The liberal N-supply stimulated the incorporation of N, K, Mn, Sr and Cu resulting an increase of an order of magnitude.
4. Between the two extreme supply levels (N0P0K0 and N3P3K3) there were found extreme differences in element uptake in 2002 as follows: 34-302 kg/ha K, 15-168 kg/ha N, 8-35 kg/ha Ca, 5-22 kg/ha S, 4-22 kg/ha P (9-51 kg/ha P2O5) and 3-14 kg/ha Mg. The incorporated Mn, Sr, Zn and Cu enhanced an order of magnitude on N3P3K3 plots compared to the N0P0K0 absolute control. Uptake of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Pb and Se left behind the detection limit of 1 g/ha.
5. To have 1 t air-dry hay it was used by grasses 17-35 kg K, 9-19 kg N, 3-5 kg Ca, 2.0-2.5 kg S, 1.3-2.5 kg P (3.0-5.7 kg P2O5), 1.4-1.9 kg Mg, 170-980 g Na, 90-170 g Fe, 60-120 g Mn and Al, 10-50 g Sr, 7-25 g Zn, 3-6 g Ba, B and Cu, 0.3-1.3 g Mo and 0.4-0.9 g Ni. Data illustrate the nutrient turnover of a grassland and may be used for assessing the nutrient demand of all-grass sward. -
The effect of fertilization on the feeding value and nutrient yield of artificial grasslands 2.
46-56Views:76The effect of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations on the nutritional values and nutrient yield of an established all-grass sward were examined in 28th year of a long-term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem loamy soil. The fertilizer responses on the development, hay yield and N-uptake were published elsewhere (Kádár, 1994). The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2001, however, the area had a satisfactory amount of 621 mm precipitation with fairly good distribution. The grass was established on 21. September 2000. The main results and conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. While the grass herbage yield was determined by the NxP supply levels, the nutritional values were influenced by the NxK interactions. As a function of NxK treatments, the N-free extract decreased from 532 g/kg (control) to 390 g/kg (N3K3), Crude-protein increased on the same plots from 64 g/kg to 183 g/kg, so the ratio of N-free extract/Crude-protein tightened from 8.3 to 2.1. Compared to the unfertilized control, the Crude-ash enhanced with 26%, while the N-dependent Metabolic Protein (MFN) with 286% on the N3K3 levels.
2. The maximum nutrient yields were measured at the first cut on the 100 kg/ha/yr N-treatment with 150 mg/kg ammoniumlactate soluble P-supply soils for Crude-fibre, Neutral and Acid Detergent Fibres (NDF, ADF) N-free extract, Crude-ash and Nettoenergy (NE) parameters. The Crude-fat and the Energy Dependent Protein (MFE) yields gave maximum surpluses using 200 kg/ha/yr N-rate with high level of 333 mg/kg AL-P2O5 supply in plow-layer. Highest crude-protein and the N-dependent Metabolic Protein (MFN) yields were connected, however, to the highest N3P3 levels, where the yield increased 5-times compared to the control.
3. At the 2nd cut, both the nutritional values and the nutrient yields changed only as a function of N-supply. Maximum nutrient yields were obtain generally at the 300 kg/ha/yr treatment. Assessing the 1st and 2nd cuts together, the 200 kg/ha/yr treatment seemed to be the best fertilization practice. Among the different NPK treatments developed extreme differences. The unfertilized for 28 years plots (N0P0K0 ) gave small nutrient yields. The moderate N-fertilization alone (N1P0K0) enhanced the yields 2-3 times. The moderate balanced fertilization (N1P1K1) gave further dramatic surpluses. The N-dependent Crude-protein and the protein fractions (MFE, MFN) as well as the Crude-fat yielded maxima values at the highest (N3P3K3) treatment.
4. Summarizing above, we can state that the satisfactory or abundant fertilization on such soil poor in NPK and in a favourable year can increase the Crude-fibre, the fiber fractions (NDF, ADF), N-free extract, Crude-ash, Crude-fat and Nettoenergy (NE) yields 3-5 times, while the N-dependent Crude-protein and protein-fractions (MFE, MFN) even 7-8-times. -
The effects of fertilization on 2 year old established swards. Yield and mineral content 6.
94-106Views:58The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the hay yield and mineral element content of an established 2 year old all-grass sward in the 29th year of a long-term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 3-5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available N, K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4N×4P×4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2002, the area had 401 mm precipitation and gave 2 cuts of grass. The 1st year results of the trial were published earlier (Kádár, 2005a, b). The main conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. As a function of N×P fertilization the two cuts of the hay yield made up 1.4-8.0 t/ha while the green herbage 5.0-24.0 t/ha. The N-fertilization was of vital importance, which increased the hay mass 5 times. The P-response was moderate in the 1st, cut while there were no K-responses at all on this soil with 135 mg/kg ammoniumlactate (AL) soluble K2O values in plough layer.
2. On those plots well supplied with PK the 100 kg/ha/yr N-treatment gave a total of 48 kg surplus hay/kg N applied. The 200 kg/ha/yr N-treatment yielded 11 kg, while the 300 kg/ha/yr N-treatment yielded 4 kg surplus hay/kg N applied. The NO3-N content of the 1st cut hay increased over permitted 0.25% level when using the maximum N-rate and made up this NO3-N form 26% of the total-N pool. The optimum PK-supplies in this site seems to be about 130-150 mg/kg AL-P2O5 and AL-K2O in plow layer with 200 kg/ha/yr N applied.
3. N-fertilization enhanced the content of N, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu and NO3-N, while the concentration of S, P, Al, Fe, B and Mo dropped in the primary hay. The increasing P-supply stimulated the uptake of P, Ca, Mn, Sr and Ba, while hinderned the uptake of S and Mo. The K-fertilization rose the content of K and Ba and diminished the concentration of Mo and the antagonistic metal cations like Ca, Mg and Na.
4. The NPK fertilization-induced Mo-deficiency can first of all jeopardized the fodder quality in this site. On the unfertilized plots the hay showed around 1.0 mg Mo /kg D.M., while on the N3P3K3 plots 0.1-0.2 mg/kg D.M. The P/Mo ratio lifted from 2-4 thousand up to 20 thousand. In the 2nd cut this phenomena partly disappeared, while developed the P-Zn antagonism. On P-control plots measured 15 mg/kg Zn
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GYEPGAZDÁLKODÁSI KÖZLEMÉNYEK, 2006/4.
dropped to 10 mg/kg while the P/Zn ratio rose from 167 up to 364.
5. The 2nd cut hay had a little yield, yet was rich in minerals having 30-50% higher average element content compared with the primary hay. However the N, Al, Fe and Mo showed 2-times higher concentrations in the 2nd cut hay. There were found extra large, 25-fold differences in hay Na content as a function of N×K supply levels under synergetic effect of N and antagonistic effect of K treatment.
6. Summarizing the above we can state that the long-term fertilization may drastically change the content and ratios of elements built in hay through synergetic or antagonistic effects. In the air-dried 1st cut hay for example, the minima-maxima concentrations of measured elements varied as follows: N 0.7-3.0%, K 1.3-3.0%, Ca 0.3-0.5%, Mg 0.13-0.21%, S 0.15-0.32%, P 0.10-0.32%; Na 50-1400, Mn 60-120, Al 50-120, Fe 70-140, Sr 8-170, Zn 6-40, Ba and B 3-6, Cu 2.5-5.5, Ni 0.4-1.4, Mo 0.1-1.0 mg/kg. -
The effect of fertilization on the yield and N uptake of artificial grasslands 1.
36-45Views:67The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations on the development, yield and N-uptake of an established all-grass sward were examined in the 28th year of a long-term fertilization experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, super phosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2001, however, the area had a satisfactory amount of 621 mm precipitation with a fairly good distribution. The grass was established on 21. September 2000. The main results and conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. Grass herbage had a very favourable wet year in 2001 with over 700 mm rainfall during the total vegetation period. The hay yield of unfertilised control plots was by the 1st cut 1.7 t/ha, by the 2nd cut 1.2 t/ha, while the N3P3K3 treatment gave 8.8 t/ha and 4.2 t/ha resp., so NPK fertilization increased the air-dried hay yield from 3 t/ha to 13 t/ha (1st+2nd cuts together).
2. The N-requirement of the young grass was moderate while the P-response significant by the 1st cut. The optimum P-supply was at the 150 mg/kg ammonium lactate soluble AL-P2O5 in the plow layer. There were no K-responses on this soil with 135 mg/kg AL-K2O values.
3. There were no P responses any more by the 2nd cut even on the low P-supply soil, with 66 mg/kg AL-P2O5 value, while the applied N increased the hay yield 4 times. The optimum N content in the hay, leading to maximum yield, amounted 2% by the 1st cut and 2.5-3.0% at the 2nd cut. Applied N decreased air-dried content at the 1st cut from 33% to 31%, at the 2nd cut from 27% to 21%.
4. On the soil, well supplied with PK, the 100 kg/ha/yr N treatment gave the maximum hay surpluses: at the 1st cut 61 kg, at the 2nd cut 14 kg, that is a total of 75 kg hay/kg N applied. The 200 kg/ha/yr plots yielded 43 kg, 300 kg/ha/yr yielded 34 kg hay/kg N applied. The primary sward hay had 0.34% NO3-N in the 300 kg/ha/yr treatment, which was over the allowable 1.25% NO3-N limit for animal foodstuff. The NO3-N content in the N-control plots amounted 0.06%, in the 100 kg/ha/yr treatment 0.10%, in the 200 kg/ha/yr treatment 0.22%. At the 2nd cut the hay had generally, half as high NO3-N content as in the 1st cut hay in all treatments.
5. The apparent recovery of applied N, using difference method, was even more than 100% on the well supplied with PK soil suggesting that in these instances grass herbage could make a good use of soil NO3-N pool accumulated in soil during the previous period and not used by the crops. -
The Role of Grassland in EU Soil Protection Strategy
3-15Views:74The three most important life quality criteria are: healthy and good-quality food, clean water and pleasant environment. All three are closely related to the sustainable management of natural resources; conservation of soil and water resources; rational land use and landscape preservation. Soils are conditionally renewable natural resources, consequently, their rational use, conservation, and the maintenance of their multipurpose functionality have particular significance both in the national economy and environment protection. The main soil functions are: integrator (transformer) of other natural resources; most important media for biomass production; storage of heat, water, nutrients, pollutants; buffer of various natural and human-induced stresses; huge natural filter (preventing groundwater pollution); detoxication media of various harmful substances; habitat for soil biota, gene-reservoir, media of biodiversity; conservator of the natural and human heritage.
The maintenance of these functions is the key-element of sustainable development on all levels of the decision-making process: Globe → continent → region → country → subregion → settlement → farm → field. The EU Strategy for soil protection focuses attention on 8 environmental threats, for their prevention, elimination or moderation:
– water and wind erosion;
– decrease in organic matter resources;
– compaction and structure destruction;
– soil sealing;
– the increasing frequency, duration and degree of extreme moisture events: flood, waterlogging – drought;
– point and non-point (diffuse) soil pollution;
– salinization/alkalization/sodification;
– decline in biodiversity (decreasing number and activity of soil organisms, narrowing their species spectra).
The EU-conform Soil Conservation Strategy of Hungary was elaborated during the last decades on the basis of long-term soil survey, soil analyses, soil mapping and soil monitoring activities. It comprises three main tasks:
– the prevention, elimination or moderation of soil degradation processes;
– the reduction of the unfavourable economic, ecological, environmental and social consequences of extreme moisture regimes;
– the control of the biogeochemical cycle of elements: optimum nutrient supply of plants; prevention of harmful soil pollution and contamination of the „food chain”.
Grassland management has to play a significant role in these actions. In addition to fodder production, rational grassland management can considerably contribute to the storage, buffer, filter and gene-reservoir functions of soil, to the improvement of soil moisture regime, to the moderation of extreme moisture conditions, and to the reduction of soil losses caused by water or wind erosion. In spite of these favourable impacts grasslands (covering about 12% of Hungary) have never been in the focus of Hungarian agriculture.
Grasslands were always restricted to marginal lands (sands, salt affected soils, peatlands, floddplains) with low and risky (highly weather-dependent) biomass production and low animal carrying capacity. Relatively productive grasslands were upturned for corn in large hilly areas (resulting serious erosion losses and landscape deterioration); the huge floodplain grasslands were used for other agricultural crops after flood control and river regulation; peatland grasslands were also considerably reduced by the drainage of these areas and used (not always successfully and efficiently) for arable crops. Huge areas became seriously degraded wastelands or „weedlnds” due to irregular grazing, lack of weed control, plant nutrition, water management. Under improper management not only the biomass production decreased considerably but the soil conservation functions of grassland were also deteriorated, sometimes dramatically. The poor and degraded grassland vegetation were not able to prevent (or at least moderate) water erosion losses in hilly areas, wind erosion losses in the dry sand regions or „over-drained” ameliorated peatlands, and even their gene-reservoir functions are sometimes threatened seriously.
Rational grassland management is an important element of both the European and Hungarian Soil Conservation Strategy. Its scientific bases are well-known. The details have to be determined by further research and scientific programs. The existing knowledge should be broadcast using all available information channels: teaching and education on various levels; demonstrations; media programs, etc. A proper system of stimulating economy regulations should be developed and formulated in various-level legal documents. But first of all an environment-friendly moral must be developed accepting the concept of sustainable grassland management.
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The Special Value of Pastures in Hungary
5-24Views:96For centuries, Hungary used to be a beef store for European cities, from Strasburg to Venice. The cattle born and raised on Hungarian pastures were favoured for the excellent quality meat they produced.
In the 19th century, the tradition of keeping livestock on pastures was gradually replaced by stabling and feeding farm animals with monocultures grown on ploughland. The best pastures were ploughed over and only 30% of those that survived were actually used for grazing. Today, it is mainly pastures in national parks that are used for grazing, while this practice is not typical elsewhere.
Based on several decades’ experiments, it can be established that grazing livestock has several beneficial effects:
– pastures provide the most valuable feed for livestock, which sustain their good health conditions,
– livestock cease to be a source of environment pollution for towns and villages,
– manure raises the nutritive value of pastures,
– all the above makes farming more economical
This study provides evidence for the above, based on experiments and production experience. -
The effects of fertilization on a 6 years old established grassland
19-30Views:67The effect of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined in the 33rd year of a long-term fertilization experiment on the yield and mineral element content of a 6 years old established all-grass sward in 2006, with seed mixture of eight grass species. The trial was established on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4N×4P×4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, super phosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. The 1st cut was made on 08th June, the 2nd one on 11th September. During the vegetation period of 8.5 months in 2006, the site had a total of 397 mm precipitation. The lay-out, method and main results of the trial were published earlier (Kádár, 2004, 2008; Kádár és Győri, 2004, 2005). Main conclusions of this study are as follows:
- The 1st cut hay yield gave the ¾ of the total yield. Highest yields were reached with the 200 kg/ha/year N-fertilization on soil well supplied with P (Ammonium-lactate soluble P2O5: 214 mg/kg). The yield of NP control plots increased from 1.5 t/ha to about 7.5 t/ha as a function of the N×P positive interaction. The rising P supply alone was not able to enhance the yield, however the N fertilization gave 3.5 t/ha hay surplus even in the P-control treatments. N and P fertilization together resulted in 6.0-6.5 t/ha yield surpluses. The effect of K fertilization also reached 1 t/ha on the NP levels where the ammonium-lactate soluble K2O content fell below 150 mg/kg.
- The 2nd cut hay gave 0.5 t/ha on the NP-control plots unfertilized for 33 years, and 2.5 t/ha on the 300 kg/ha/year N treatment with well P-supply. The two cuts together resulted in yield levels between 2-10 t/ha according to the extreme NPK supply. In this year, with relatively good amount of precipitation, the hay yield surpluses for 1 kg N were 47-33-23 kg for the 100-200-300 kg/ha treatments.
- The C/N ratio of the 1st cut was narrowed (from 52 to 24) with N-supply and the concentration of N as well as most of the cations increased with the rising N fertilization. In the low yield of the 2nd cut the elements, metals were accumulated. The P, S and Sr were enriched in hay as a result of rising P supply, as superphosphate contains these elements. Antagonistic effect of P predominated in the uptake of other elements, metals (Na, Zn, Cu, Mo, Cr, Co). K content of the hay was lifting while other elements were dropping with the increasing K fertilization partly as a result of dilution effect (N, P, S) and mainly because of cation antagonism (Ca, Mg, Na, Sr). K-B antagonism also appeared.
- The N×K interactions resulted in 2-fold Sr and 18-22 fold Na content changes while N×P caused 18-22 fold changes in Mo contents, especially at the 2nd cut. As it can be seen, fertilization can have drastical effects on soil and crops. The induced element deficiencies or oversupplies can lead to diseases, disturbances in the metabolism of animals, so the soil and fodder analyses are necessary.
- Considering the leaf diagnostical data, the satisfactory level will be at 200 kg/ha/year N supply and 150 mg/kg ammonium-lactate soluble P2O5 and K2O level or above. The S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn supply were satisfactory even at the control plots, while the Zn, Cu and B levels showed deficiency. The P/Zn and K/B ratios became adversely wider in some treatments, as well as the narrowing of the Cu/Mo ratio denotes Cu deficiency and Mo oversupply.
- The amount of elements uptaken by hay as a sum of the two cuts and as a function of the supply/yield varied between the following values in kg/ha: 17-163 N; 36-122 K; 9-48 Ca; 6-17 P; 4-15 S; 3-14 Mg; 0,3-8,0 Na; 0,2-1,4 Fe; 0,2-0,9 Al and Mn. The other elements showed the following uptake: Zn 33-194, Sr 28-141, Ba 5-46, Cu 5-39, B 5-26, Mo 3-6 g/ha.
- The botanical composition was drastically modified by the aging of the grass and the nutrient supply. Only three species remained out of the eight sown species and one immigrated. Coverage of the tall fescue was between 21-70% according to the N×P supply and 44% as average; coverage of cocksfoot varied between 4-24% depending on the treatment and 18% as an average; coverage of crested wheatgrass was between 0-28% and 9% as an average; the immigrant smooth brome covered 0-24% and 9% as an average; Weed cover was 3-4% as an average at the 1st cut. Weeds thrived mainly on those areas where the grass thinned away (extreme NP-deficiency or oversupply). The total plant coverage on NP-deficient soil was about 50%, while on treatments well supplied with NP it amounted 95-97%.
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Effect of fertilization on the aminoacid content and aminoacid yield an established all-grass swarde 5.
11-20Views:79The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the amino acid content and yield of an established all-grass sward with seed mixture of eight grass species in the 28th year of a long term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem loamy soil. The lay-out and method of the trial, as well as the fertilizer responses on the hay yield and quality parameters, were published elsewhere (Kádár, 2005; Kádár and Győri, 2005). The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. In 2001, however, the area had a satisfactory amount of 621mm precipitation with a fairly good distribution. The grass was established on 21. September 2000. The main results and conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. The content of GLU, ASP, HIS and ARG increased in the crude protein of the 1st cut hay as a function of N-fertilization up to 12-19%. The same time the content of PRO decreased up to 23%, CYS up to 25%, TRY up to 42% and ALA up to 48% compared to the N-control. The P fertilization raised the concentration of ASP, LEU, GLY, HIS, PHE and CYS, while the content of ALA dropped down to 41% that of P-contol.
2. As a function of NxP positive interactions the content of ASP rose from 7.2 to 10.3%, HIS from 3.8 to 5.8%, ARG from 3.2 to 4.2% compared to the NP control, while the content of ALA diminished from 5.8 to 2.2%, TRY from 1.3 to 0.6%. The K fertilization also depressed the TRY synthesis. The N0P0K0 plots showed 1.59% TRY in protein, while the N3P3K3 maximum supply plots only 0.35%.
3. The yield of amino acids was enhanced 3-4 times by N fertilization, 2.0-2.5 times by P fertilization and 20-30% by K fertilization. The amino acid yield increased on the N3P3K3 plots, compared to the N0P0K0 plots, in the case of ALA and TRY 3-4 times. Most of the other amino acids yielded 8-12 times more, HIS 14 times, PRO 16 times, GLY 18 times and CYS 20 times more. The maximum yield of essential amino acids made up 774 kg/ha, the total amino acid yield 1552 kg/ha and crude-protein 1779 kg/ha in the 1st cut hay.
4. As a result of NxP interactions the ratio of ASP/ALA changed from 1.2 to 4.7, that of ARG/TRY from 2.5 to 6.3, that of HIS/TRY from 2.9 to 9.7 with the increased NP supply. Thus, fertilization can induce an imbalance of amino acids and so change or deteriorate the biological quality of protein. In similar circumstances the forage may require a TRY supplement to restore the imbalance of amino acids. -
The impact of production factors on the yield formation of grasses of various exploitation
13-18Views:138The lawn – following the forest – is the best manner of land use. 10.75 percent of Hungarian territory is grassland. 90-95 percent of the grass’s root system can be found in the upper 10 cm layer of the soil therefore and because of the large evaporating surface the grasses have a great water demand and weather sensitivity. Beside the nutritional ability and some extreme properties of soil (for ex. great salinity) there is an influence on formation of the grass-type and the yield. In our experiments the sites were utilised 2, 3 and 4 times yearly. At two sites for four years (2006-2009) and at one site for two years (2009-2010) the quantity and the distribution of the yield as well as other parameters were examined, which are not reported in this paper. This experiment is a part of a climate research project run at 27 sites in Austria. The laboratory analyses were carried out uniformly in the LFZ Raumberg- Gumpenstein Research Institute. The most important results of this study are the following: The productivity of the grass type formed on the Little Cumania lowland is very limited. In case of drought there was the highest yield decrease and at the same time in case of good precipitation there was the smallest increase of yield. The effect of grass utilization by late first cut at the poorestsoil site was very unfavourable. At the grass sites of better quality, the utilization manner of 3 or 4 growth, resulted in a better adaptation to the climatic extremities.
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Effect of fertilization on the mineral element uptake of an established all-grass sward 4.
3-10Views:57The effects of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined on the mineral element uptake of an established all-grass sward with seed mixture of eight grass species in the 28th year of a long term fertilization field experiment set up on a calcareous chernozem loamy soil. The lay-out and method of the trial as well as the fertilizer responses on the hay yield, nutritional values and element content were published elsewhere (Kádár, 2005, 2005a; Kádár és Győri, 2005). The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally, moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4Nx4Px4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m, the area was prone to drought. In 2001, however, the area had satisfactory amount of 621 mm precipitation with a fairly good distribution. The grass was established on 21. September 2000. The main results and conclusions can be summarised as follows:
1. As a function of NxP positive interactions the element uptake of the 1st cut hay expressed as mean of K treatments increased between the N0P0 control and the maximum N3P3 levels as follows: K 62-190, N 45-218, Ca 16-51, S 5-24, P 4-24, Mg 4-16, Na 0.5-5.0 kg/ha; Mn 282-968, Sr 35-170, Zn 32-73, Ba 29-55, B 18-44, Cu 8-40 g/ha. The uptake of Ba increased from 23 to 62 g/ha, that of Ni from 1.5 to 8.9 g/ha as a result of KxP positive interactions. Uptake of Mo measure on K0P0 soil, however, dropped from 1.6 g/ha to 0.4 g/ha on the K3P3 soil as a function of negative KxP interactions.
2. The 2nd cut hay harvested on 9th October 2001 showed only N-effects. The hay yield measured on N-control soil was 1.0 t/ha while on 300 kg/ha/yr N-treatment 3.9 t/ha. The uptake of Fe, Ba and Mo increased 2-fold; uptake of Ca, S, P, Sr, Zn and Co 3-4-fold, uptake of K, N, Mg, Mn, Ba and Cu 5-6-fold, while uptake of Na 33-fold with the maximum N-rate, compared to the N-control and as means of PK treatments.
3. The 2 cuts together gave on the unfertilised control 3 t/ha, while on the N3P3K3 maximum supply level 13 t/ha hay yield. The uptake of Fe, Cr, B, Ni, Mo and Co increased 2-3 times, uptake of Ca, Mg, Mn, K, Zn, Ba and Cu 5-6 times, uptake of S, Sr and P 7-8 times, uptake of N 10 times, while uptake of Na 16 times on the maximum N3P3K3 supply levels, compared to the unfertilised control. The maximal mass of uptaken K and N made up 388 kg/ha, Ca 80 kg/ha, S 49 kg/ha, P 42 kg/ha (96 kg/ha P2O5), Mg 24 kg/ha in 2001.
4. To have 1 t of air-dry hay it was used by grasses as a mean of 25 kg K (30 kg K2O), 20 kg N, 6 kg Ca (8-9 kg CaO), 2-3 kg S, 2 kg P (5 kg P2O5) and 2 kg Mg (3-4 kg MgO). For microelements: 300 g Na, 200 g Fe, 120 g Mn, 100 g Al, 16 g Sr, 13 g Zn, 8 g Ba, 5 g B, 5 g Cu, 1-2 g Ni, 1 g Mo, 0.2 g Cr and 0.1 g Co. The As, Hg Cd, Pb and Se were under detection limit of 1 g. Data may serve for assessing the nutrient demand of all-grass sward.