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• The Role of Grassland in EU Soil Protection Strategy

  3-15

  Gyorgy Varallyay

  Views:

  64

  The 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.

• The effect of fertilization on the mineral contant of artificial grasslands 3.

  57-66

  Imre Kadar

  Views:

  67

  The 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.

• Comparing of soil and rhizoplane of grasses

  13-17

  Janos Katai

  Edina Veres

  Views:

  50

   The aims of this paper were to determine and compare the most important physical, chemical and microbial characteristics of seven grassland areas near Debrecen.
       Physical properties: moisture content (t%), clay and silt contents (Li%), soil plasticity according to Arany (K_A), were measured.  

  As were the chemical characteristics: pH, salt content (%). lime content (it depends on pH), humus content, organic nitrogen and mineral materials (nitrate nitrogen, ammonium lactate soluble phosphorous and potassium).
       The total viable number of bacteria, the amount of cellulose decomposing and nitrifying bacteria and the quantity of microscopic fungi were studied. Additionally, some soil enzyme activities, such as phosphatase and catalase as well as carbon-dioxide production were determined.
       The number of microbes and the microbiological activity of the soils were higher in autumn than in summer. The lowest number of bacteria was determined in solonchak-solonetz soil. The phosphatase enzyme activity and the CO₂ production are connected with the higher organic matter content of the soils. The increasing sodification decreased the phosphatase activity and the intensity of CO₂ production. Meadow soil type led to an increase in catalase activity.
  During the examination zhe rhizoplane of two test plants per grassland was also studied. The umber of microorganisms in the rhizoplane of test plants was usually higher than the values obtained in soil samples.
       Within one soil types there were differences between two test plants including the same or different family.
       There were no considerable differences among the number of fungi genera isolated from the soil samples and the rhizoplane or among the results obtained in summer and autumn. Independent of the soil types and plant species, Fusarium, Mucor and Penicillium genera were found in large percentages promoted by the rainy summer and autumn season. 

• The effect of fertilization on the yield and N uptake of artificial grasslands 1.

  36-45

  Imre Kadar

  Views:

  59

  The 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.

• Impact of mole migration on soil factor indicators of extensive grassland

  25-29

  Krisztina Varga

  Istvan Csizi

  Andras Halasz

  Dominik Nagy

  Csilla Bojte

  Views:

  28

  We investigated the effects of mole walks in extensive grassland soil, focusing on changes in soil factor indicators, 3-3 times per year, in 2022-2023, in Karcag. Based on our results, we found that the drier year 2022 had verifiably higher carbon emission values, only on an annual average, than the wetter year 2023. We found no verifiable differences in soil temperature and soil moisture conditions. Based on our data, it can be concluded that the mammal of choice for the year 2023, the mole, does not have a significant impact on the carbon dioxide emissions of the grassland soil. Further studies in other habitat conditions are definitely warranted.

• The effects of fertilization on a 6 years old established grassland

  19-30

  Imre Kadar

  Imre Vinczeffy

  Peter Ragalyi

  Views:

  42

  The 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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%.

• Investigation of carbon dioxide emissions from underutilized grassland

  15-25

  Krisztina Varga

  István Csizi

  Views:

  250

  Climate change-induced extreme changes are making phytomass yields of extensive grasslands in continental areas increasingly dependent on the season. This situation is exacerbated, inter alia, by the decline in grazing livestock production due to a lack of quality labour, and thus by an increase in the proportion of unused or under-utilised grassland. In our experiments, we have refined the effects of a decade of zero, mulch, mowing and meadow utilisation on carbon emissions, soil moisture and soil temperature during two different types of years. We found that zero tillage with accumulated duff in the absence of utilization had the highest carbon dioxide emission values in different years, even at lower soil moisture values. Our results confirm the fact that fallow grasslands can be considered a source of risk due to their increased greenhouse gas emissions.

• Effect of fertilization on the mineral element uptake of an established all-grass sward 4.

  3-10

  Imre Kadar

  Views:

  47

  The 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.

• Clarifying the effect of season on the early crop development of unconditionally grazed sheep

  17-22

  Istvan Csizi

  Krisztina Varga

  Andras Halasz

  Views:

  41

  The feasibility of first grazing of extensive sheep pastures was investigated by monitoring the height of grassland in the spring of 2022 and 2023 at the Karcag Research Institute, focusing on the effect of vintage in this manuscript. For 6 grassland plots with different parameters, potentially suitable for early spring sheep grazing, in a meadow on solonyec soil with no level of inputs due to environmental subsidies, we refined soil temperature, soil moisture and height of grassland vegetation at the same time of year. For both years, it was concluded that it is justified to start grazing sheep on the fallow grassland and the pasture forest.

• Effect of organic fertilisation on yield and soil factor values of extensive grassland

  23-28

  Istvan Csizi

  Andras Halasz

  Views:

  44

  The effect of different rates of organic fertilizer was investigated on a natural grassland with solonyec soil conditions at the Karcag Research Institute in the second year after application. Of the mature sheep manure treatments applied at 0-10-15-20 t/ha, the 20 t/ha dose was shown to result in higher dry matter yields. In addition, the 20 t/ha dose of organic manure was shown to stimulate soil life, as supported by measurements of carbon dioxide emissions, and to help better conserve soil moisture.

• Studies on botany, forage and soils with aspects of nature conservation on grey cattle and water buffalo pastures of the Tapolcai and Káli basins: Papers of the „Challenges and Aspects in Grassland Management” conference held on 22-23 May 2008.

  47-53

  Karoly Penksza

  Julianna Tasi

  Szilard Szentes

  Csaba Centeri

  Views:

  123

  In the present work we introduce the coenological and pedological results of examination on the Balaton Upland (Badacsonytördemic, Csobánc, Káptalantóti and Kővágóőrs). Grass management plays an important role in nature conservation, rural development thus in the viability of rural population. Soil and water suffer from extreme degradation and pollution, partly because of agricultural activities, growing settlements and mining activity. We evaluated the changes in species composition and coverage, the possibly occurring regeneration or degradation and the effects of botanical composition changes on forage values, especially in case of economically valuable species. Investigations show strengths and weaknesses of having animals on grasslands. Sample sites were in Balaton Upland National Park, Hungary. Results proved that among the plants there are either weeds and/or poisonous and/or prickly species, too. We examined how important grasses and pulses appeared or disappeared, how did the number of overgrazing tolerant species changed and how did the species composition of the grazed and non-grazed land differed. Based on the results the characteristics of the examined pastures show the effects of overgrazing. With the decrease of the number of the animals, nature conservation and economical values could be increased. The examined areas had totally different soil characteristics, pH, soil thickness and nutrient content varied greatly. In the Gyulakeszi area even a small catena was found on a single pasture. The high soil organic matter and nutrient content ensure the good grass yield thus the areas are suitable for grazing and for grass cutting, too. 

• Overutilization of Pastures by Livestock

  29-35

  Levente Czegledi

  Andrea Radacsi

  Views:

  268

  Soil degradation caused by overgrazing is a worldwide problem. The degradation of an overutilized area occurs mainly where animals prefer to spend extra time because of the attractants that are around gateways, water sources, along fences or farm buildings. High grazing pressure decreases plant density which results in changes of the botanical composition of a pasture. The effect that grazing has on a plant depends on the timing, frequency and intensity of grazing and its opportunity to regrow. Overgrazing adversely effects soil properties, which results in reduced infiltration, accelerated runoff and soil erosion. Evidence has been corroborated with high bulk density values, high dry mechanical resistance and low structural stability. The degradation of the landscape may be a short-term phenomenon and recovery is possible after grazing pressures have been greatly reduced. Management practices have been used successfully to improve grazing distribution. These practices include water development, placement of salt and supplements, fertilizer application, fencing, burning, and the planting of special forages which can be used to enhance grazing by livestock in underutilized areas.
  The authors carried out their grazing experiment on the Hortobágy. The effects of overutilization by livestock on soil properties and vegetation on certain areas of grassland are presented in this paper.

• Comparison of vegetation of Hungarian Grey Cattle and Domestic water buffalo pastures in a sample area of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve

  15-31

  Norbert Peter

  Attila Furesz

  Ferenc Stilling

  Károly Penksza

  Views:

  64

  We made a coenological study on the Kelemen-szék in the Kiskunság National Park. The coenological studies were carried out twice, in 2014 and 2015. During these two surveys, we examined in total 90 quadrats of mixed grazed and fenced control areas by domestic water buffalo and Hungarian Grey Cattle. Due to the size and heterogeneity of the studied area, we intended to investigate small homogeneous areas and respective control areas. Coenological surveys were done on lower and higher lying pastures, saline soil areas and loess areas.

  The studied areas were assessed based on the Borhidi relative plant ecological indicators NB (relative nitrogen values) and WB (relative groundwater and soil moisture indicator values). The distribution of nature conservation value categories (TVK) and social behavior types (SzMT) were used to assess the areas. Cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the data.

  The data were assessed based on both habitat condition in terms of naturalness condition. On the other hand, relative ecological indicators of the occurred species. Our objectives were to provide a detailed description of the vegetation composition of the study areas, to assess the changes in grassland composition and their conservation impacts as a result of grazing and its abandonment, to assess the impact of grazing on the occurrence of protected species and weed species, and to assess grazing as a conservation habitat management practice.

  The examination of the species composition showed that the loess and saline soil areas grazed by domestic water buffalos and Hungarian Grey Cattle provided a better composition of grassland in terms of natural condition compared to the control areas. In the dense and tall Puccinellia swards vegetation type, grazing requires more attention, because it is more vulnerable to grazing, has fewer species and is more damageable.

• The effect of fertilization on the feeding value and nutrient yield of artificial grasslands 2.

  46-56

  Imre kadar

  Zoltan Gyori

  Views:

  62

  The 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.

• Horticultural applicability of Festuca taxa I.

  3-9

  Eva Horvathne Baracsi Horvathne Baracsi

  Peter Cserhati

  Laszlo Menyhart

  Tunde Szabo-Szolosi

  Greta Mecseri

  Attila Furesz

  Gergely Papay

  Karoly Penksza

  Views:

  126

  This survey is connected to OTKA-125423, which examines the vegetation of sandy grasslands along the Danube. During this survey, two potentially horticulturally usable Festuca species was analysed: Festuca wagneri and Festca tomanii. The main questions were the following: are they usable in an urban environment? Do the to species differ significantly? Have they any morphotaxonomic feature which can by utilized in horticultural practice? Specimens of the two taxa, which were planted either into normal garden soil or into pots differed greatly. Specimens of F. tomani were usually larger and more uniform. Both taxa had the pot treatment well. Though the average lengths of leaves and inflorescence stems tended to be higher on the soil mixed with perlite, the coverage values were lower on it; thus adding expensive perlite to the soil might not be rewarding for the farmer. The two species differed from each other in several morphological parameters. The diversity of Festuca wagneri showed well in this survey, and this taxons parameters would be also useful in horticultural practice. 

• Különböző komposztadagok hatása az extenzív gyep talajának néhány tulajdonságára

  9-14

  Views:

  66

  After the millennium the utilization of the Hungarian grasslands is particularly important. We considered the priorities of the Darányi Ignácz Plan where the efficient utilization of the agricultural areas - including grasslands, pastures- by increasing the number of ruminants is the part of the rural strategy. The effective utilization of the by-product, the manure in croplands or pastures is particularly important, taking the increasing fertilizer prices within the continuously opening price scissor of the industrial-agricultural products into account. The patent of the Karcag Research Institute of CAAES RISF UD, the TERRASOL compost is a good alternative for farmers. We have already published the primary results of our grassland fertilization experiment, where we investigated the utilization of different compost doses and evaluated these from economic point of view. In this paper we examined the changes of the properties of the soil in the different treatments. We visualized our results by using GIS methods. We measured the moisture content, the penetration resistance and the CO2 emission of the soil of the four treatments. We determined that the 20 t/ha of compost dose is considered as sufficient to improve the investigated properties of the grassland soils under the droughty conditions of 2012. 

• Spontaneous winter fire effects on semi-natural grassland

  9-14

  Gabriella Furo

  Krisztina Varga

  Istvan Csizi

  Andras Halasz

  Views:

  157

  The 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.

• The effects of fertilization on 2 year old established swards. Yield and mineral content 6.

  94-106

  Imre Kadar

  Views:

  45

  The 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
  94
  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.

• Investigation of early season phytoproduction in sheep pastures

  3-7

  Istvan Csizi

  Krisztina Varga

  Views:

  120

  In the droughty spring of 2021, we investigated the rate of phytoproduction development in extensive grassland plots with solonyec soil conditions from the perspective of sheep grazing. During the empirical time interval of the start of potential sheep grazing, data were recorded on a total of 7 occasions at 6 different sites registered under one parcel number. Our results showed that the highest soil moisture values during the study period were measured in the fallow grassland, while the highest soil temperature values were measured in the grassland used as enclosed pasture. Plant height values were highest in the fallow grassland and in the grassland of the pasture forest. The lowest plant height was recorded in the enclosed pasture, although the highest nutrient availability was also measured here.

• Effect of NPK fertilization and manure load on the grazed natural permanent grassland

  16-25

  Imre Kadar

  Petr Ragalyi

  Laszlo Szeman

  Laszlo Marton

  Sandor Nagy

  Views:

  56

  1. The 2^nd year effects of fertilization at Cserkeszőlő site were not proven statistically in hay yield. However, the NP-fertilization and the sheep manure gave 1-1.5 t/ha hay surpluses at Bakonszeg farm. The mineral composition of the hay did not change significantly as a function of treatment neither at Cserkeszőlő, nor at Bakonszeg site.
  2. Elevated, in some cases extreme high K, N, Ca, P, Mg, S and partly Sr, Cd, B concentrations were found in the above ground plant tissue on the resting hump; as well as Fe, Na, Al, Cr and Co concentrations on the driveway. Plant samples were not cleaned or washed so surface pollution could also contribute to the abnormal composition.
  3. According to soil analyses the organic matter content increased in the 0-40 cm layer at watering-place and screen wall. The NO₃-N content can reach 250-300 kg/ha level in the 0-1 m soil layer under the watering-place. The potassium rose more fold in the 0-40 cm layer at passageway, watering-place and near to screen wall. The NH₄-acetate+EDTA-soluble P content of the whole 0-1 m layer showed 2-fold excess at driveway, 4-fold at resting hump, watering-place and screen wall, as well as 23-fold at passageway.
  4. The resting hump and passageway showed Zn pollution/accumulation. This phenomenon needs to be cleared by more examination. The soluble Fe increased in the topsoil near to screen wall, while soluble S in the topsoil of the watering place and around screen wall. The 0-20 cm soil layer had 72 mg/kg NH₄-N and 25 mg/kg NO₃-N, so N load can reach 300 kg/ha. The rear, suffering grass stand on this place can not use this N-pool, so here point pollution can be significant.

   

• The seasonal effect on the vegetation of Hungarian grey cattle pasture in 2022 and 2023 - A case study

  29-36

  Eszter Kovespataki

  Ildiko Turcsanyi-Jardi

  Barnabas Wichmann

  Eszter Salata-Falusi

  Views:

  44

  The "Szűzföld" area, managed by the Pro Vértes Public Foundation, has been managed for nature conservation and economic grazing since 1998 with Hungarian grey cattle. In the present work the vegetation data of the pasture were analysed for the years 2022-2023, in order to investigate the effect of the weather conditions in an extremely dry year (2022) and an extremely wet year (2023) using 2 × 2 m coenological records. To analyse the ecological indicators of species, we used Borhidi's relative plant ecological indicators: relative nitrogen demand (NB) and relative soil water and soil moisture (WB) scores. We also assessed the data according to Simon's conservation value categories (TVK) and Borhidi's social behaviour types (SBT). The grassland management assessment of the vegetation was based on the forage value scores of the species used by Klapp et al.

  The results showed no significant differences in species in the two years, but significant differences in cover values. In the year with rainfall, the proportion of accompanying species decreased, while the proportion of weeds and natural disturbance tolerant species increased. The amount of grasses and legumes increased, which are important for grassland management.

• Semi-intensification of an extensive grassland by plant and soil conditioning

  25-27

  Gyorgyi Kovacs

  Vivien Pal

  Geza Tuba

  Istvan Csizi

  Jozsef Zsembeli

  Views:

  96

  In the last century, the area of European grasslands was declining, as a significant part of them were turned to built-up areas, broken or afforested. In addition to the area reduction, in a significant part of Central, Northern and Western Europe, cultivation has been intensified in the cases of former natural and semi-natural, mostly extensively cultivated grasslands in order to produce higher biomass. Pesticides, organic and mineral fertilizers are also used on the lawns, the frequency of mowing increased and the lawns were reseeded. The structural of grasslands also changed significantly. 

• Benefits from pastures

  129-137

  Imre Vinczeffy

  Views:

  51

  The value of a pasture is determined by natural factors as well by productional methods. In this study, natural factors, such as rainfall, temperature, altitude and soil composition, are examined - these also influence the floral composition of a pasture, which is, again, important regarding the value of a pasture. As regards productional methods, requirements of environment protection as well as professional management are emphasised on the basis of wide-scale experiments conducted in Hungary.

• The impact of production factors on the yield formation of grasses of various exploitation

  13-18

  Marta Bajnok

  Gabor Torok

  Reinhard Resch

  Karl Buchgraber

  Julianna Tasi

  Views:

  118

  The 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. 

• The effects of fertilization on 2 year old established swards. Quality and nutrient yields 8.

  119-128

  Imre Kadar

  Views:

  45

  The 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.