Problems concerning total dry weight and distribution of underground phytomass were studied in a pasture trial at Rapotin near Šumperk, the Czech Republic in the period 1995-1999. The total weight of dry underground pasture phytomass (DUP) was 976 g/m 2 (5-year average) in a soil layer of 0-200 mm (both live and dead roots). The DUP was significantly increased by mineral fertilizers (90 kg N/ha, 30 kg P/ha a 90 kg K/ha). The weight of DUP was not significantly influenced by a grazing system, renewal or resowing of the original grassland. In unfertilized plots, DUP weight amounted to 989 g/m 2 , i.e. 92 g/m 2 (8.6%) less than in fertilized plots in the period 1996-1999. In the same period, under the grassland exploited by rotational grazing 1142 and under continuous grazing 1082 g/m 2 DUP were determined, i.e. by 60 g/m 2 (5.5%) less. The highest DUP weight in the period 1996-1999 was found in autumn 1997 (1222 g/m 2 ) immediately before achieving the maximum forage yield in May 1998. In a layer of 0-20 mm, 54.6% of the total DUP was found. In this surface layer, significant increase in the DUP weight was found in fertilized plots. In 1999, some 88.5 and 90.2% of DUP were concentrated in unfertilized (903 g/m 2 ) and fertilized (952 g/m 2 ) plots, respectively in a layer of 0-100 mm.
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.
In 2004-2009, a small-plot trial was conducted on permanent grassland dominated by Festuca arundinacea Schreb. on the mesohygrophytic site in order to evaluate effects of four levels of nutrition: F 1 = without NPK fertilization, F 2 = P 30 + K 60 , F 3 = N 90 + P 30 + K 60 , F 4 = N 180 + P 30 + K 60 kg/ha), four levels of cutting intensity (I 1 -4, I 2 -3, I 3 -2, early, I 4 -2, late cut) and their interactive influence, i.e. a total of 16 variants on the production of forage dry matter, production of crude protein (CD) and net energy of lactation (NEL) per hectare. The dominant influence of N-nutrition is documented by significant differences in forage dry matter (DM) production between the variants (with the exception of F 1 /F 2 ) ranging from 4.41-4.80 to 8.44-9.83 t/ha. The effect of different exploitation level on the production is subdominant and no significant differences were found either in the production of forage DM (I 1 -6.41 -I 2 -6.59 -I 3 -6.97 -I 4 -7.50 t/ha) or in the production of nutrients. Management models to be recommendeed for the given type of sward with respect to the interactive influence, efficacy of forage production and quality are as follows: (a) three cuts/180 kg N + PK/ha with forage suitable for dairy cows; (b) two cuts/90 kg N + PK/ha with forage suitable for cattle breeds kept for meat.
In addition to the results published in the first communication (Opitz von Boberfeld et al., 2006) this paper presents crude protein, energy (ME) and ergosterol concentrations of autumn saved herbage at different sites in Central Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Within these sites, the influence of the factors pre-utilisation and winter harvest date was tested over three consecutive years. Related to the different climatic conditions of the sites, crude protein concentrations of the growths pre-utilised in July varied from 149 g/kg in November to 134 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in January. The influence of climatic conditions was different on each location and varied depending on the year. Generally, the consistent effect of the factor "site" related to altitude could not be observed. While the energy concentrations decreased with advancing winter and partly reached the values below 6 MJ ME/kg of DM in January, the ergosterol concentrations increased. The results demonstrate that under Central European conditions autumn saved herbage, pre-utilised in July, could provide adequate quantity and quality for suckler cows until December. Afterwards, the utilisation of preserved forages becomes essential.
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