The effect of trophism level and exploitation intensity on the production characteristics of grassland community dominated by Festuca arundinacea Schreb.

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 mat ter, 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 recommende ed 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.