Ability of grasses to compete in galega swards

Abstract

The suitability of various grasses to complement closed and productive mixtures with the long-term legume, fodder galega {Galega orientalis Lam.) was studied in field trials at the Research Station of Lithuanian University of Agriculture in 1999-2001. The trials were carried out on a sandy moraine humic horizon of a Calcary-Epihypogleyic Luvisol. The productivity, feed value and soil cover were found to be better for galega-grass swards than pure galega. It was found that a mixture with 50% Festuca pratensis and Dactylis glomerata had the highest ability to compete in swards with galega. Swards of galega mixed with Poa pratensis and Lolium perenne were the most productive. The largest yields were obtained at the first cuts each year. In all studied mixtures galega began to dominate grasses only in the third year. the most suitable grass components for the most productive galega mixtures were with 25% of Phleum pratense und 25% of L. perenne.