The effects of first defoliation and previous management intensity on forage quality of a semi-natural species-rich grassland.

ABSTRACT: Semi-natural grasslands occupy large parts of the European landscape but little information exists about seasonal variations in their nutritive value during the growing season. This paper presents results of novel data showing the effect of 13 years of previous contrasting management intensities on herbage nutritional value in relation to different dates of first defoliation (by grazing or haymaking). The treatments were: extensive management and intensive management from previous years (1998-2011). Both treatments were cut in June followed by intensive/extensive grazing for the rest of the grazing season (July-October). To evaluate forage quality in the first defoliation date, biomass sampling was performed in the year 2012 for 23 weeks from May to mid-October, and in 2013 for seven weeks

SUBMITTER: Pavlu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8009352 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature