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The influence of cutting date and previous fertilizer treatment on the productivity and botanical composition of species‐rich hay meadows on the Somerset Levels
Author(s) -
KIRKHAM F. W.,
TALLOWIN J. R. B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1995.tb02331.x
Subject(s) - hay , composition (language) , productivity , fertilizer , agronomy , biology , art , economics , macroeconomics , literature
The effects on productivity, botanical and chemical composition of cutting species‐rich hay meadows in Somerset on four different dates between late May and early September in two consecutive years, were measured. Plots that had received 200 kg N ha −1 year −1 with low levels of P and K for the previous 5 years were compared with plots that had previously received no fertilizer. Previous fertilizer treatment increased metabolizable energy (ME) production only with cutting in May. Dry‐matter (DM) yield increased significantly with date of cutting until August, whereas ME value declined correspondingly. There was no difference in either yield or quality of herbage cut between August and September. ME output per hectare increased very significantly between May and July, but showed no further change between cutting dates. Botanical diversity was reduced by cutting in May after 1 year and by cutting in either May or September after 2 years, and was greatest with cutting in August. The dominance of Holcus lanatus on previously fertilized plots increased after cutting in either May or September. The contribution to vegetation cover of species that regenerate primarily by seed, including annuals, was greatly influenced by cutting date in preceding years, whereas species that regenerate vegetatively were not affected.