Influnce of Growing Fahl Berseem on Improving Some Properties and the Productivity of Newly Reclaimed Soils

Abstract

Two winter Fahl berseem field experiments were conducted in two newly reclaimed soils, at Ismailia and New valley Agricultural Research stations during (2009/10 and 2010/11) seasons.This was to study the effect of planting methods and seeding rates on improving some chemical , physical and biological soil properties, as well as its productivity. The treatments comprised (1) Three planting methods i.e., broadcast, 20 and 30 cm distance between rows . (2)Applied three seeding rates, i.e., 20, 25 and 30 Kg seed fad -1 the experiments were laid-out a split plot design with three replicates.Results showed improvements for several soil chemical, physical and biological parameters ,i.e., soil pH , O.M, available N, P and K, bulk density, total porosity , available water. Dehydrogenase and nitrogenase activity as a result of the tested treatments refer to control (broadcast method under 20 kg seed fad -1 ) treatment. Drilling on 20 cm apart as planting method was the best supporters in studied soil properties, particularly in the presence of 30 kg seed fad -1 treatment.At 75 th days of sowing , a positive effect of either planting methods or seeding rates was noticed, on growth characteristics of Fahl berseem plants and its composition, i.e plant height, leaves/stem ratio (LSR), forage and dry yield, total nitrogen, protein and ash contents particularly in the presence of 30 kg seed fad -1 under drilling on 20 cm rows methods gave high values compared with control.At harvesting stage, seed yield characteristics of Fahl berseem were enhanced in response to different methods of planting and seed rates, especially with 30 kg seed fad -1 in the presence of Rows A method achieving relatively high increases compared to broadcast method treatment amended with 20 kg seed fad -1 .

Does manipulating harvest regime of single‐cut 'Fahl' berseem clover compensate for reduced seeding rate?

“…The knowledge of the changes in nutritive value of 'Fahl' berseem clover with the harvesting regime, when reduced seeding rates are used, would be of practical significance in planning a harvesting schedule for optimized forage yield and quality. A progressive increase in fresh fodder yield was expected with increasing seeding rate of berseem clover (Salem et al., 2013). In this study when plants were harvested at the bud stage, higher seeding rates resulted in the production of higher amounts of fresh fodder yield, while delaying harvesting to a later stage of maturity (early and full flowering) resulted in a good compensation to the low seeding rate.…”