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Publication Date

1977

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Every year since 1950, the Yoke Branch of the Lithuanian Research Institute of Agriculture have been conducting experiments to determine efficient ratios of mineral fertilizers on peri­odically flooded bottomland meadows along the lower course of the river Niemen. These studies are performed under a programme for developing the fundamentals of a sustained forage basis for industrialized production of dehydrat­ed feed. Fields trials and laboratory experiments have revealed that rates of 240 kg N/ha are optimal for these grasslands. With that level of nitrogen fertilization the yields of dry matter, crude protein and carotene were found to increase, whilst the crude fibre content declined. Nitrogen is applied in split dressings of 60 kg/ha before each cut or of 120 kg/ha before the second and third cuts. P205 and K20 are applied in spring or after the first cut. Four cuts per year proved adequate. The variation of the botanical composition of the plant stand was also investigated after applying 240 kg N/ha in split dressings of 60 kg for each cut during the early stages of growth. Top grasses were generally found to persist whilst the share of bottom grasses increased and that of legumes and forb declined.

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Influence of nitrogen on yield and variations of the botanical composition of the plant stand at different cutting frequency on periodically flooded meadows bor­dering the lower course of the river Niemen

Every year since 1950, the Yoke Branch of the Lithuanian Research Institute of Agriculture have been conducting experiments to determine efficient ratios of mineral fertilizers on peri­odically flooded bottomland meadows along the lower course of the river Niemen. These studies are performed under a programme for developing the fundamentals of a sustained forage basis for industrialized production of dehydrat­ed feed. Fields trials and laboratory experiments have revealed that rates of 240 kg N/ha are optimal for these grasslands. With that level of nitrogen fertilization the yields of dry matter, crude protein and carotene were found to increase, whilst the crude fibre content declined. Nitrogen is applied in split dressings of 60 kg/ha before each cut or of 120 kg/ha before the second and third cuts. P205 and K20 are applied in spring or after the first cut. Four cuts per year proved adequate. The variation of the botanical composition of the plant stand was also investigated after applying 240 kg N/ha in split dressings of 60 kg for each cut during the early stages of growth. Top grasses were generally found to persist whilst the share of bottom grasses increased and that of legumes and forb declined.