No abstract

The study was conducted in 1998-2000, in the Olsztyn Lakeland, on permanent grassland communities with at least 5% share of the following leguminous and herbaceous species. Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus uliginosus, Vicia cracca, Taraxacum officnale, Achillea millefolium, Plantago lanceolata, Alchemilla vulgaris, Heracleum sibiricum and Cirsium oleraceum. In total, 444 plant samples were analyzed, including 123 collected on organic soils. The objective of this study was to determine the accumulation of potassium, calcium and magnesium by selected species of grassland legumes and herbs, in view of the abundance of the above elements in soil. The analyzed organic soils were characterized by low abundance of potassium and moderate abundance of magnesium, whereas the mineral soils had a very low or low potassium content and a very high or high magnesium content. The habitats varied widely with respect to the calcium abundance. The biomass of the analyzed plant species contained high concentrations of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Plants collected from mineral soils contained more potassium and less magnesium than those growing on organic soils. Taraxacum officinale and Achillea millefolium were rich in potassium, Achillea millefolium, Lotus uliginosus, Heracleum sibiricum, Vicia cracca, Taraxacum officinale and Cirsium oleraceum had a high magnesium content, whereas Cirsium oleraceum, Heracleum sibiricum and Alchemilla vulgaris accumulated the largest amounts of calcium. The ability of dicotyledonous plants to accumulate high concentrations of calcium and magnesium resulted in a low K:(Ca+Mg) ratio.

No abstract

A field experiment was performed in 2011–2013. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different proportions of Medicago media in mixtures with Festulolium braunii on the yield and feed value of green fodder, including the content of crude protein (CP) and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. It was found that alfalfa had a high competitive advantage over Festulolium. In the second and third year of full utilization, alfalfa was the predominant species in the tested mixtures regardless of the proportion of sown seeds. The mixtures with alfalfa were characterized by high and stable dry matter yields and high protein content, whereas Festulolium significantly increased the content of WSC and improved the WSC:CP ratio. The evaluated mixtures had a higher feed value than pure-sown components. The results of the study indicate that Festulolium mixtures with a lower proportion (30% and 50%) of alfalfa are characterized by a higher feed value.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cultivar, nitrogen (N) rate, and biostimulant application on the chemical composition of the aboveground biomass of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). A small-area field experiment was established in the Agricultural Experiment Station in Tomaszkowo (53°42′40.8″ N 20°26′04.7″ E, north-eastern Poland). The experiment had a split-plot design with three replications, and the experimental variables were as follows: (i) perennial ryegrass cultivar: Bajka and Baronka, (ii) N fertilizer rate: 0, 120, 240 kg N ha−1, (iii) application of biostimulants: Blatt Boden-Foliar (BB-F) and Blatt Boden-Foliar + Blatt Boden-Multical (BB-F + BB-M). This study demonstrated that the tetraploid cultivar Baronka had a more desirable chemical composition than the diploid cultivar Bajka. The biomass of cv. Baronka had a higher content of CP, CF, and K, and it was characterized by higher leaf greenness (SPAD) values. Nitrogen fertilization considerably increased the content of CP, P, and K, and leaf greenness (SPAD) values in both cultivars, and the noted increase was higher when N was applied at 240 kg ha−1. The N fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1 led to a significant decrease in the average Ca content of plants, whereas the N fertilizer rate of 240 kg ha−1 had no significant effect on Ca concentration. The tested biostimulants significantly affected the chemical composition of perennial ryegrass biomass, and their influence was greater when they were applied in combination. The foliar application of Blatt Boden-Foliar and Blatt Boden-Multical increased the content of CP, P, and chlorophyll in perennial ryegrass leaves, whereas it decreased the accumulation of CF, K, and Ca in plants. The analyzed biostimulants had a positive effect on the chemical composition of perennial ryegrass biomass. This is an important practical consideration because high-quality green fodder for livestock can be produced while minimizing the use of mineral fertilizers and adverse environmental impacts.