The influence of surface improvement of mountain riparian meadows of the Carpathians Mountains on their productivity and the quality of food

Abstract

Goal. To determine the features of the formation of efficiency, chemical composition, nutritive value, and energy content of grass forages depending on surface improvement of meadows of the mountain-forest belt of the Carpathians Mountains. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical-statistical. Results. It is shown that productivity of dry matter for 1 ha over 3 years of research made on average: for haymaking – 2.15–4.77 t, for perennial mowing — 1.95–4.11 t. For haymaking usage, the highest productivity was at sowing the mixtures of cereal grasses on the background of N60P30K60. For perennial mowing usage, the highest productivity was at sowing white clover on the background of P30K60. It respectively made 12% and 85% more than in the variants without interplanting, and 122% and 111% more than in the variants without surface improvement. The best uniformity of distribution of crop biomass was obtained for perennial mowing with interplanting white clover on the background of P30K60. In this case, the share of the 1st mowing was 39%, 2nd — 33, and 3rd — 28% with the unevenness expressed by the coefficient of variation of 18%. From measures of surface improvement of forage quality as to chemical composition (a primarily, increase of the content of crude protein) they noted the introduction of N60P30K60 or 15 t/ha of manure. For perennial mowing, a similar effect was noted for interplanting white clover on the background P30K60. Regardless of the measures of surface improvement the highest content of crude protein, the best energy content, and the nutritional value of grass fodder had perennial mowing (simulation of pasture meadow). Conclusions. For surface improvement of meadows of the mountain-forest belt of the Carpathians Mountains with natural herbage, the working factors influencing the productivity and improving the quality of grass fodder are the annual introduction of N60P30K60 or 15 t/ha of manure, or N60P30K60 + interplanting of mixtures of grasses of fescue and timothy for haymaking use, or P30K60 + interplanting of white clover for perennial mowing use. The application of mineral fertilizers in combination with the interplanting of perennial grasses ensures the best positive effect.