Abstract
In a field experiment over three growing seasons, the potential benefits of planting berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L) with Westerwold Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were examined under irrigated continental Mediterranean conditions.Similar N rates (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha−1 cut−1) were applied to both pure Italian ryegrass stands and mixtures, each given three successive cuts. One previously unfertilized cut was performed in late winter. Species in the mixture were established at 50:50 seed ratio but the mean proportion of berseem clover was 14%. Mean winter survival of berseem was 87% but 88% of the plants had leaves damaged by the frost. Forage production varied with both N rate and cutting sequence in both the pure stand and the mixture but differences between the two types of swards were significant only at low levels of fertilizer N. Total DM production over the four cuts in plots with N applications of 0,90, 180, 270 and 360 kg N ha−1 a−1 were 7.14, 9.51, 11.66, 13.91 and 14.36 t DM ha−1 a−1 in pure stand, respectively. Corresponding values for the mixture were 8.80, 10.94, 12.90, 14.05 and 13.64 t DM ha−1 a−1. The mean response of Italian ryegrass in the range of 0–360 kg N ha−1 a−1 was 20 kg DM per kg N applied. The corresponding value for the mixture was 13 kg DM per kg N applied. At the berseem clover proportions reached in this work, N equivalence showed values of about 80 kg N ha−1 a−1. As rates of N increased from 0 to 120 kg N ha−1 cut−1, nitrogen concentration increased by 78%. In the applied range of N fertilizers, N03-N was not affected.
Résumé
Dans un essai réalisé au cours de trois saisons agricoles, on a étudié le potentiel de 1'association du bersim avec le raygrass italien. Les cultures ont été emenées et irrigué dans des conditions continentales méditerranéennes. On a appliqué, aussi bien pour la culture pure du raygrass que pour l'association, une fertilisation azotée avec les doses suivantes (0, 30, 60, 90 et 120 kg N/ha/coupe) après chacune des trois coupes successives. Une autre coupe avant fertilisation a été faite à la fin de 1'hiver. Les proportions du bersim et du raygrass dans le mélange de graines étaient de 50:50. Cependant, dans la culture en association, les plantes du bersim n'étaient préentés qu'avec un 14 pourcent. 87% des plantes du bersim ont pu survivre en hiver, dont 88% avaient des feuilles endommagées par les gelées. La production d'herbe a été proportionnelle aux doses de fertilisation pour la culture pure et l'association. Néanmoins, différence entre les rendements de chacune de ces dernières était d'autant plus nette que les doses d'azote incorporées dans le sol étaient faibles. La production de la MS pour les quatre coupes dans les parcelles avec les applications de 0, 90, 180, 270 et 360 kg N ha−1 a−1 étaient de 7.14, 9.51, 11.66, 13.51, 14.36 tMS ha−1 a−1. Le rendement moyen du raygrass italien dans un intervalle de 0-360 kg N ha−1 a−1 a été de 20 kg MS par kg de N de fertilisation. Concernant le bersim, les valeurs équivalentes de N étaient de 1'ordre de 80 kg N ha−1 a−1. Au fur et à mesure que les doses de fertilisation azotée augmente de 0 à 120 kg ha−1 coupe, la concentration en azote augmente de 78%. Dans l'intervalle de la fertilisation azotée appliqué NO3 -N n'a pas été affectée.
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García de Arévalo, R.C., Sánchez, M.A. & Algarra, P.J.H. Response to N-fertilizer of Italian ryegrass grown alone and in mixture with berseem clover under continental irrigated mediterranean conditions. Fertilizer Research 39, 105–112 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00750909
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00750909