The Usefulness of Mixtures with Festulolium braunii for the Regeneration of Grassland under Progressive Climate Change

Teodor Kitczak, Heidi Jänicke, Marek Bury and Ryszard Malinowski
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Teodor Kitczak: Department of Environmental Management, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Słowackiego 17 Street, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland
Heidi Jänicke: Landesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Fischerei MV, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
Marek Bury: Department of Agroengineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Słowackiego 17 Street, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland
Ryszard Malinowski: Department of Environmental Management, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Słowackiego 17 Street, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: The climate warming and changes in weather patterns in Europe are negatively affecting the structure of grassland swards. The disappearance of valuable forage grasses can be observed. Therefore, in order to keep grassland productivity high, high-yielding grasses of good quality that are resistant to changes in the weather are being sought. At the moment there are few publications which present the long-term influence of changing weather conditions on meadow sward structure and its fodder value. This study aimed to assess the suitability of grass mixtures with Festulolium braunii for grassland renewal by full tillage on organic soil, taking into account atmospheric conditions. The experiments were carried out in the years 2009–2018 on a meadow complex located on organic soil in the Randow river valley, near Ramin (Germany). Grassland restoration was carried out by the method of full cultivation in three experiments with different proportions of Festulolium braunii and Lolium perenne (the existing grassland was eliminated and seeds of a new grass mix were sown). The meadow experiments were established using the method of random blocks in four repetitions Detailed studies included: floristic composition of meadow sward, fresh and dry mass yields, and content of: crude protein, soluble sugars, raw fiber, and net energy NEL (net energy lactation) concentration. Festulolium braunii , Poa pratensis , Dactylis glomerata , and Phleum pratense proved to be more resistant to low temperatures in winter and excess water in spring than Lolium perenne . The largest production potential of fresh and dry mass was found in mixtures with a high content of Festulolium braunii Festulolium braunii tolerates varied and unfavorable weather conditions (frosts during snowless winters, spring frosts and waterlogging, and droughts) very well and provides a stable good quality sward yield (favourably affected the carbohydrate and protein content of the sward). Lolium perenne , on the other hand, decreases its share in the sward under unfavorable weather conditions.

Keywords: grass mixtures; yields; chemical composition; floristic composition; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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