The Dessau Grassland Experiment—Impact of Fertilization on Forage Quality and Species Assembly in a Species-Rich Alluvial Meadow

Sandra Dullau, Knut Rydgren, Anita Kirmer, Urs Georg Jäger, Maren Helen Meyer and Sabine Tischew
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Sandra Dullau: Department of Agriculture, Oecotrophology and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Knut Rydgren: Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
Anita Kirmer: Department of Agriculture, Oecotrophology and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Urs Georg Jäger: Department of Nature Conservation, State Office for Environmental Protection Saxony-Anhalt, 06116 Halle (Saale), Germany
Maren Helen Meyer: Department of Agriculture, Oecotrophology and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Sabine Tischew: Department of Agriculture, Oecotrophology and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Since alluvial meadows of river valleys of the Cnidion dubii are protected by the EU Habitats Directive, reconciling farmers’ demands for forage quality with the objective of maintaining them in good conservation status is an important issue in grassland research. In a long-term experiment from 2010 to 2018, we investigated the impact of fertilizing on forage quality and species assembly on a species-rich and twice-mown alluvial grassland in the Dessau Elbe floodplain (Germany). The experiment was composed of an unfertilized control, PK, N60, N60PK and N120PK applications. A significant improvement in forage quality was achieved by nitrogen fertilization only for crude protein, with higher feeding requirements for sheep met only in individual years. The legume cycle was inhibited by the application of nitrogen and high grass cover was maintained, but not increased, at the highest nitrogen application after an exceptional summer flood. The target forbs persisted in numbers over the study period in all treatments. For cover, the low-competitive target forbs responded neutrally to nitrogen fertilization, whereas detrimental effects were demonstrated for the competitive ones. Thus, we recommend not applying more than 60 kg year −1 of nitrogen and only in combination with phosphorus and potassium.

Keywords: alluvial grassland; fertilizer levels; feeding value; legume cycle; target forbs (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
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