Nitrogen fertilisation effects on multi-species and Lolium perenne yields and composition under silage management

摘要

This study examined the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilisation on the yield and chemical composition of multi-species and Lolium perenne swards under a four-cut silage management regime. Multi-species swards produced greater annual yields than L. perenne and increasing N application rate increased yield. This latter effect did not interact with species for the first or final cuts, but L. perenne had a greater yield response to N fertilisation than the multi-species swards for both mid-season cuts. Herbage nutritive value was not affected by species, however N application increased crude protein concentration. Ensilability indices indicated that L. perenne was likely to preserve satisfactorily as silage with greater ease than multi-species swards, however increasing N application reduced herbage ensilability similarly for both sward types.