FORAGE QUALITY ANALYSIS OF PERENNIAL GRASS AND LEGUME SPECIES IN PURE STANDS AND MIXTURES

Y. Naydenova

Abstract: The changes in principal composition and structural plant cell walls fiber components content by classical chemical Weende and Van Soest analyses and in vitro enzyme digestibility of forage perennial legumes birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin, white clover (Lotus corniculatus L., Onobrychis Adans., Trifolium pretense L.) and grasses: crested wheatgrass, orchardgrass (Agropyron cristatum L., Dactylis glomerata L.) in pure stands and mixtures – two-, three- and multi- components in field trial (22 variates) at the Institute of Forage Crops – Pleven in the period 2003-2006. The ratio of legume:grass species in mixtures was equal, as well as participation in grass or legumes quotes. It was established: 1.The mixtures of crested wheatgrass, orchardgrass with legume crops demonstrate fiber components content values for all plant cell wall fiber components fractions, lower than these of grasses and higher than those of legumes – birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin, white clover. 2. The relationships of fiber components in pure stands of grass and legume mono-crops determine higher digestibility of forage dry matter for legume mono-crops (68.57 ± 7.12%), lower grass digestibility (62.15 ± 7.14%) and medium, but sufficient high for harvesting of mixed growing of two-, three and multi- component mixed stands. 3. The mixtures of crested wheatgrass with white clover and orchardgrass with white clover are established as high nutritive. 4. The multi component mixtures of perennial forage legumes and grasses showed medium forage quality between those of contained components.

Keywords: fiber components; grass-legume mixtures; grasses; in vitro digestibility; legumes; plant cell walls

Date published: 2017-03-15