The effect of fertilization and the harvest frequency on production and floristic characteristics of a meadow stand were assessed in a small plot trial established in 2003 in Vatín, Vysočina Region, the Czech Republic. Four levels of fertilization (none; N0 + P30 + K60 kg∙ha−1; N90 + P30 + K60 kg∙ha−1; N180 + P30 + K60 kg∙ha−1) were combined with four treatments of exploitation intensity (4 cuts per year, first cut on 15th May, every next after 45 days; 3 cuts per year, first cut on 30th May, every next after 60 days; 2 cuts per year, first cut on 15th June, next after 90 days; 2 cuts per year, first cut on 30th June, next after 90 days). Production of dry matter and proportions of guilds (grasses, legumes, and other species) were evaluated. Data from 2009–2011 were used in this paper. Yields of the dry matter increased along with increasing amounts of nutrients supplied and ranged from 3.8 t∙ha−1 (non-fertilized) to 9.1 t∙ha−1 (N180PK). The nutrition level had a significant effect on spread of grasses, which reached maximal proportion of 52.3 % under N180PK fertilization compared to 42.1% on non-fertilized plots. On the contrary, legumes flourished well in treatments without N-supply, attaining proportion of 6.8 % and 5.1 % on PK-fertilized and non-fertilized plot, respectively. With regard to the exploitation intensity grasses profited from extensive management by contrast to the group of other species which reached its maximum in swards harvested four times a year. Proportions of legumes did not show significant dependence on the cutting frequency.

Abstract) were combined with four treatments of exploitation intensity (4 cuts per year, fi rst cut on 15 th May, every next a er 45 days; 3 cuts per year, fi rst cut on 30 th May, every next a er 60 days; 2 cuts per year, fi rst cut on 15 th June, next a er 90 days; 2 cuts per year, fi rst cut on 30 th June, next a er 90 days). Numbers of species, Simpson's diversity index and evaluation of grassland quality according to Novák (2004) were evaluated. Numbers of species and Simpson's diversity index were signifi cantly aff ected by both fertilization level and cutting pattern. Species richness decreased along with increasing fertilization rates from 29.4 (no fertilization) to 27.8 (N180PK). When comparing cutting pattern treatments the highest species richness was found in four-cut swards (29.6 in average of fertilization levels) and it declines towards late double-cut regime (27.2). The Simpson's index generally increased from two-cut swards to four-cut and from fertilized treatments to control. Grassland quality was signifi cantly aff ected by cutting pattern. Values increased from four-cut swards (38.1) to two-cut ones (43.8 and 44.0 in early and late harvest respectively).