Effects of Non-Fertilised Grassland Management Intensity on Herbage Quality and Quantity

Over 2006-2009, an optimum cutting frequency was investigated at non-fertilised grassland. The research was carried out at the Suchý vrch site (near Banská Bystrica), altitude 460 m. The research sward was utilised by cutting with different intensity: high (4 cuts), medium (3 cuts), low (2 cuts) and by 1 cut under extensive exploitation. Herbage yield, organic and mineral substances and nutritive value were determined. The intensity of sward exploitation influenced the dry matter (DM) production which was higher when utilised by two cuts than by four and three cuts, respectively. The research parameters showed the best DM quality at the highest cutting frequency (the high and the medium intensity). Crude protein (CP) content increased at higher cutting frequency, but dropped at extensive utilisation. The content of fibre was higher at less intensive cutting. The highest content of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) was found under more intensive cutting. Towards the end of growing season, calcium (Ca) content was rising while that of K was decreasing. The sodium (Na) content was low at all the research treatments.