The effect of utilization term on the biomass production, organic matter digestibility and ergosterol content of semi-natural grass stand in the autumn and in winter
The biomass of dry matter (DM) and forage quality of a grass pasture in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Czech Republic), situated at an altitude of 553 m a.s.l., was measured in late autumn and in winter in the period from 2000 to 2003. The semi-natural grass pasture was dominated by Festuca rub...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mendel University Press
2007-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis |
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| Online Access: | https://acta.mendelu.cz/55/4/0069/ |
| Summary: | The biomass of dry matter (DM) and forage quality of a grass pasture in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Czech Republic), situated at an altitude of 553 m a.s.l., was measured in late autumn and in winter in the period from 2000 to 2003. The semi-natural grass pasture was dominated by Festuca rubra, Taraxacum officinale, Elytrigia repens, Dactylis glomerata, Trisetum flavescens, Poa spp., Agrostis tenuis and Phleum pratense. Biomass production and forage quality were measured in November, December and January after one preparatory cut in June or two preparatory cuts in June and July, and in June and August. Biomass of DM decreased from November to January and ranged, depending on the year and the number of preparatory cuts, from 0.37–3.13 t ha – 1 in November to 0.15–1.36 t ha – 1 in January. The biomass of DM decreased the later the preparatory cut. Organic matter digestibility decreased from November to January, ranging from 0.448–0.606 in November to 0.352–0.578 in January. A delayed preparatory cut resulted in an increased digestibility. Ergosterol concentration increased with the progressing autumn and winter, ranging from 40–111 mg kg – 1 DM in November to 110–265 mg kg – 1 DM in January. Lower ergosterol concentrations were observed after a late preparatory cut. The results were statistically analysed by ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. The length of the main use was observed to have a significant effect on biomass of DM, digestibility of organic matter and ergosterol concentration (P < 0.05) in all three years of the investigation. |
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| ISSN: | 1211-8516 2464-8310 |