<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This study highlights the effect of drought and ambient temperature on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a field experiment, the total dry matter yield, seasonal pattern of dry matter yield distribution, content of crude protein and crude fibre of monocultures of red clover and alfalfa and grass-legume mixtures were investigated during two consecutive dry years (2011-2012). Alfalfa cultivars Kamila and Tereza grown as monocultures or as mixtures with Festulolium braunii (cultivar Achilles) outperformed the red clover cultivars Fresko and Veles and provided a well-balanced total and seasonal dry matter yield during both years. Across all experimental years, crude protein content was significantly higher at alfalfa monocultures and mixture when compared with clover monocultures (P &lt; 0.05). However, considerable lower content of crude fibre at clover monocultures in comparison with alfalfa ones was found. Responses of nutritive parameters of both legume species to weather variables were different. Crude protein content in red clover was independent of rainfall and temperature. In contrast, the crude fibre content correlated with temperature whereby the alfalfa monocultures showed stronger correlations (P &lt; 0.05) than red clover monocultures.</p></abstract>

This study highlights the effect of drought and ambient temperature on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a field experiment, the total dry matter yield, seasonal pattern of dry matter yield distribution, content of crude protein and crude fibre of monocultures of red clover and alfalfa and grass-legume mixtures were investigated during two consecutive dry years (2011-2012). Alfalfa cultivars Kamila and Tereza grown as monocultures or as mixtures with Festulolium braunii (cultivar Achilles) outperformed the red clover cultivars Fresko and Veles and provided a well-balanced total and seasonal dry matter yield during both years. Across all experimental years, crude protein content was significantly higher at alfalfa monocultures and mixture when compared with clover monocultures (P < 0.05). However, considerable lower content of crude fibre at clover monocultures in comparison with alfalfa ones was found. Responses of nutritive parameters of both legume species to weather variables were different. Crude protein content in red clover was independent of rainfall and temperature. In contrast, the crude fibre content correlated with temperature whereby the alfalfa monocultures showed stronger correlations (P < 0.05) than red clover monocultures.

THE YIELD STABILITY AND QUALITY OF LEGUMES DURING TWO CONSECUTIVE, EXTREMELY DRY YEARS

Plant Production Research Center Piešťany – Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute Banská Bystrica, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21 Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic

Matej Bel University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Environmental Management, Tajovského 4, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic

Plant Production Research Center Piešťany - Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute Banská Bystrica, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21 Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic

Agriculture (Pol'nohospodárstvo)

This study highlights the effect of drought and ambient temperature on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a...

THE YIELD STABILITY AND QUALITY OF LEGUMES DURING TWO CONSECUTIVE, EXTREMELY DRY YEARS

Published Online: Jan 25, 2014

Page range: 167 - 177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/agri-2013-0015

Keywords
dry matter yield, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), grass-legume mixture, climate change, nutritive value

This content is open access.

THE YIELD STABILITY AND QUALITY OF LEGUMES DURING TWO CONSECUTIVE, EXTREMELY DRY YEARS

Published Online: Jan 25, 2014

Page range: 167 - 177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/agri-2013-0015

Keywordsdry matter yield, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), grass-legume mixture, climate change, nutritive value

This content is open access.

Keywords
dry matter yield, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), grass-legume mixture, climate change, nutritive value