Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands
The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of silicon application on the botanical composition of grass–legume mixtures as well as the nutritional value of individual species and mixtures. The two-factor field experiment was established in a split-block arrangement. The two grass–legume mixtu...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/145 |
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| author | Barbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz Grażyna Mastalerczuk Maria Janicka Barbara Wróbel |
| author_facet | Barbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz Grażyna Mastalerczuk Maria Janicka Barbara Wróbel |
| author_sort | Barbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of silicon application on the botanical composition of grass–legume mixtures as well as the nutritional value of individual species and mixtures. The two-factor field experiment was established in a split-block arrangement. The two grass–legume mixtures, consisting of <i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, <i>Festulolium braunii</i> and <i>Trifolium pratense</i> or <i>Medicago x varia</i> and grass mixture—<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, <i>Festulolium braunii</i> and <i>Lolium perenne</i>, were sown on arable land. Silicon foliar and mineral NPK fertilization was applied in three variants: NPK (non-Si-fertilized), NPK+Si (Herbagreen), NPK+Si (Optysil). Changes in the botanical composition in the sward of mixtures during the study period were influenced by the competitiveness of individual plants and weather conditions, whereas the effect of foliar fertilization with silicon was only slightly marked. The nutritional value of individual species of grasses and legumes varied over the years and also depended on the application of silicon. The greatest content of crude protein (CP), irrespective of the species and variant of silicon fertilization, was noticed in years with no drought. Our research confirmed the beneficial effect of silicon fertilization, independent of weather conditions, on the CP content and on the reduction of crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) in plants, especially when Herbagreen was applied. The nutritional value of the mixtures under applied silicon fertilization depended on botanical composition. In the conditions of low rainfall, a large share of <i>F. braunii</i> and an approximately 20% contribution of <i>T. pratense</i> resulted in a higher content of CP. These results may be used in the fertilization practices of temporary grassland for enhancing nutritional value, especially crude protein content, and on the reduction of fibre in the sward. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:53:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
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| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0e097869cc9439ab01be16371ca02fb2023-11-23T18:15:22ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-01-0112214510.3390/agriculture12020145Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary GrasslandsBarbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz0Grażyna Mastalerczuk1Maria Janicka2Barbara Wróbel3Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 Str., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 Str., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 Str., 02-776 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Technology and Life Sciences—National Research Institute, Falenty, Hrabska Avenue 3, 05-090 Raszyn, PolandThe study was conducted to evaluate the influence of silicon application on the botanical composition of grass–legume mixtures as well as the nutritional value of individual species and mixtures. The two-factor field experiment was established in a split-block arrangement. The two grass–legume mixtures, consisting of <i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, <i>Festulolium braunii</i> and <i>Trifolium pratense</i> or <i>Medicago x varia</i> and grass mixture—<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, <i>Festulolium braunii</i> and <i>Lolium perenne</i>, were sown on arable land. Silicon foliar and mineral NPK fertilization was applied in three variants: NPK (non-Si-fertilized), NPK+Si (Herbagreen), NPK+Si (Optysil). Changes in the botanical composition in the sward of mixtures during the study period were influenced by the competitiveness of individual plants and weather conditions, whereas the effect of foliar fertilization with silicon was only slightly marked. The nutritional value of individual species of grasses and legumes varied over the years and also depended on the application of silicon. The greatest content of crude protein (CP), irrespective of the species and variant of silicon fertilization, was noticed in years with no drought. Our research confirmed the beneficial effect of silicon fertilization, independent of weather conditions, on the CP content and on the reduction of crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) in plants, especially when Herbagreen was applied. The nutritional value of the mixtures under applied silicon fertilization depended on botanical composition. In the conditions of low rainfall, a large share of <i>F. braunii</i> and an approximately 20% contribution of <i>T. pratense</i> resulted in a higher content of CP. These results may be used in the fertilization practices of temporary grassland for enhancing nutritional value, especially crude protein content, and on the reduction of fibre in the sward.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/145botanical compositiondrought<i>Dactylis glomerata</i><i>Festulolium braunii</i><i>Lolium perenne</i><i>Medicago x varia</i> |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz Grażyna Mastalerczuk Maria Janicka Barbara Wróbel Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands Agriculture botanical composition drought <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> <i>Festulolium braunii</i> <i>Lolium perenne</i> <i>Medicago x varia</i> |
| title | Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands |
| title_full | Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands |
| title_short | Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands |
| title_sort | effect of silicon containing fertilizers on the nutritional value of grass legume mixtures on temporary grasslands |
| topic | botanical composition drought <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> <i>Festulolium braunii</i> <i>Lolium perenne</i> <i>Medicago x varia</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/145 |
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