Impact of the Last Grazing Time on the White Clover/Grass Swards Performance

Winter survival and longevity of grasses depend not only on the weather conditions but also on the state of grasses in the autumn, when their wintering shoots and roots are intensively accumulating reserves of nutrients (Stout, 1987; Sardana and Narwal, 2000). The long-term productivity of the sward depends on the species composition of grasses, frequency of use, nitrogen fertilisation, and timing of the last cut. The effects of these various factors on the sward can be very diverse in various geographic locations (Van Keuren, 1988; Taneja et al., 1994; Sollenberger and Newman, 2007). When utilising pastures in the regions of more humid climate, it is very important to finish grazing at the right time so as to allow the sward to accumulate the necessary amount of nutrients and to prevent excessive trampling or poaching of the sward by livestock. Sward trampling results in the reduction in sward productivity and in the occurrence of forbs, moreover, it requires extra costs for the elimination of sward surface defects, especially when combined management (grazing and cutting) of the sward is applied. Consequently, the differences in the optimum time of the last cut are relatively great for different sward types and depend on many factors. The objective of the present study was to determine the time of the last cut in the sowing year and years of use of two pasture swards of Festulolium and perennial ryegrass each sown with white clover

Perennial Legume Swards for Organic Farming System in Lithuania

The economic and ecological benefits of forage legumes are well known. While perennial legumes can be useful in various aspects (Ledgard 2001), some legumes have short persistence in swards (Frame et al.1998; Vaiciulyte and Bacenas 2008) which is undesirable for organic farms where no mineral nitrogen is applied. Early flowering red clover (Trifolium pratense), which is the most common legume in Lithuania, has high yields only in the first – second years of use. In the third year, it often disappears completely. In Lithuania, fodder galega (Galega orientalis) is the most long lived legume exhibiting the best overwinter sur-vival (Balezentiene and Mikulioniene 2006). For this study we selected a mixture of legumes, less commonly used than red clover: common sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), fod-der galega (Galega orientalis) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The objective of our research was to study the productivity and persistence of more long lived legume species on an organic farm as a pure crop and in mixtures with other legumes and grasses under an extensive (2-3 cuts) management regime

The Status of Pachiterric Histosol Properties as Influenced by Different Land Use

Soil drainage as well as soil cultivation and fertilization has considerable influence on the organic matter mineralization rate and changes in the profile structure. Our research suggested that quantitative and qualitative characteristics of peat soil are changing in response to the renaturalization processes and different management. The study set out to estimate chemical and physical properties of Pachiterric Histosol, qualitative and quantitative changes in carbon resulting from different management and renaturalization processes. Wetland and peatland soils are among the largest organic carbon stocks, and their use contributes to carbon emissions or accumulation processes. The focus of our work is research into the peculiarities of organic carbon accumulation and transformation as influenced by different land use of peat soil. Results on the chemical properties of Pachiterric Histosol showed the influence of management and renaturalization on mobile and by pyrophosphate solution extractable humic and fulvic acids and humification degree. We are also exploring the specificities of organic carbon variation in the context of peat renaturalization and are seeking to answer the question as how to optimize the use of peat soils and how to match up this with the renaturalization processes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to organic carbon accumulation and conservation in the soil

Changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and sulphur content as influenced by liming and nitrogen fertilization of three energy crops

The paper presents research findings, obtained through a long-term research programme “Productivity and sustainability of agricultural and forest soils” implemented by the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry.An experiment with three perennial energy crops – common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.), cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) and virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) has been carried out in Lithuania (55°43′N, 21°28′E) in order to evaluate the effect of liming and nitrogen fertilization on soil total carbon (Ctot), nitrogen (Ntot) and sulphur (Stot) contents. The soil of the experimental site is a naturally acid moraine loam Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol. Soil composition was analysed in two consequent years 2010 and 2011. The application of the highest rate (6 t ha-1) of the lime material increased Ctot, Ntot and Stot concentration in the top 0–30 cm soil layer. The soil under cup plant and virginia mallow accumulated a higher concentration of Ntot and Stot compared to that under common mugwort. N fertilization significantly increased Ctot content, but had no significant impact on soil Ntot and Stot changes.Tilraun með þrjár orkuplöntur; malurt (Artemisia vulgaris L.), bollafífil (Silphium perfoliatum L.) og moskusrós (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) var gerð í Litháen (55°43′N, 21°28′E) til að meta áhrif kölkunar og köfnunarefnisáburðargjafar á heildar kolefni (Ctot), köfnunarefni (Ntot) og brennistein (Stot) í jarðvegi. Jarðvegur tilraunasvæðisins var á fínkorna jökulruðningi sem er súr að eðlisfari (Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol). Jarðvegur var greindur tvö ár í röð, 2010 og 2011. Hæsti skammtur af kalki (6 t ha-1) leiddi til þess að að Ctot , Ntot og Stot jukust í efstu 30 cm jarðvegsins. Ræktun á bollafífil og moskusrós leiddi til hækkunar á Ntot og Stot í efri lögum jarðvegs miðað við þar sem malurt var ræktuð. Köfnunarefnisáburður leiddi til marktækrar aukningar á Ctot í jarðvegi en hafði engin áhrif á Ntot og Stot í jarðveginum.Peer Reviewe

Soil Organic Matter Changes in Lithuanian Soils: Experiences and Results

Lithuania, Soil organic matter, Eutric Albeluvisol, Soil conservation, Carbon sequestration, Land management, Crop rotationData has been obtained from sandy loam Eutric Albeluvisol-ABe at the Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture on the undulating topography of Western Lithuania. Results from 18 years of investigations show significant increases in soil organic matter (SOM) content under grass-grain crop rotations compared with field and grain-grass crop rotations, which thus provides evidence for carbon sequestration in soil

Evaluation of long-term effect of cultivation practices on the humus content and composition of Lithuania's loamy soils by chemical methods

Ilość próchnicy i jej skład - to najważniejsze wskaźniki żyzności gleby, dlatego też niezbędne jest określenie wpływu różnych zabiegów agrotechnicznych na zmiany ich wartości. Jakość próchnicy oceniano metodą Tiurina w modyfikacji Ponomariewej i Płotnikowej. Wyodrębniono 3 frakcje kwasów huminowych oraz 4 frakcje fulwokwasów. Stwierdzono, że stopień humifikacji materiału organicznego sięga 35% przy wieloletnim (49 lat) wykorzystaniu jako pastwiska gleb brunatnych oglejonych. Natomiast przy tradycyjnej uprawie gleb ciężkich, stopień humifikaciji substancji organicznej wynosił 21%.This article deals with the humus content and quality indicators of mixed soddy gleic and soddy calcareous soils where long-term experiments designed for the comparison of soil tillage systems have been carried out and long-term cultivated pastures have been established. In our experiments we have ascertained the effect of various long-term cultivation practices on total content of humus and the content of three fractions of humic acids and four fractions of fulvic acids, as well as on the degree of organic matter humification. It was established that some cultivation practices improved soil fertility, increased the content of humus and humic acids. In long-term cultivated pastures (used for 49 years) organic matter transformation processes occurred towards humification - a very high content of humus and the highest degree of humification were determined there. Shallow and less intensive soil tillage, and organic fertilizers increased the content of humus and humic acids. The indicators of humic acids optical density were on the increase in deeper soil layers

The Effect of Legume/Grass Pasture on Soil Organic Carbon

Soil organic carbon content is an important integral indicator of soil fertility. The extent at which the soil can sequestrate carbon depends on the nature of agricultural production, land use and soil type (Follet, 2001). More than two thirds of the annual grassland biomass production is allocated to below ground structures and deep humus layers are common in grassland (Körner, 2002). Grasslands differ markedly in species composition, utilisation purpose, fertilisation and this can significantly change their effect on soil organic content (Hassink & Neeteson, 1991). The objective of study was to estimate changes in the soil organic carbon content and C:N ratio after pure grass and mixed swards of legumes and grass at different grazing frequencies

Influence of different fertilization on the dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in acid and limed soils

Soil quality has become an important issue in soil science. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is believed to play an important role in soil processes and in the C, N and P balances, their supplies to plants in all types of soils. It is much more sensitive to soil management than is soil organic matter as a whole, and can be used as a key indicator of soil natural functions. This study aimed to assess the influence of different organic fertilizers on DOC and N, P accumulation. The study was carried out on a moraine loam soil at the Vezaiciai Branch of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2012. Farmyard manure (FYM) (60 t ha -1) and alternative organic fertilizers (wheat straw, rape residues, roots, stubble, perennial grasses) were applied on two soil backgrounds - acid and limed. DOC was analysed using an ion chromatograph SKALAR. Application of organic amendments resulted in a significant increase of soil organic carbon (SOC) content, which demonstrates a positive role of organic fertilizers in SOC conservation. The combination of different organic fertilizers and liming had a significant positive effect on DOC concentration in the soil. The highest DOC content (0.241 g kg-1) was established in the limed soil fertilized with farmyard manure. The most unfavourable status of DOC was determined in the unlimed, unfertilized soil. The limed and FYM-applied soil had the highest nitrogen (1.47 g kg-1) and phosphorus (0.84 g kg-1) content compared to the other treatments. Organic fertilizers gave a significant positive effect on SOC and DOC content increase in the topsoil. This immediate increase is generally attributed to the presence of soluble materials in the amendments. Application of organic fertilizers in acid and limed soil increased the nutrient stocks and ensured soil chemical indicators at the optimal level for plant growth and thus may provide a mechanism as well as prediction opportunities for soil fertility, conservation, sustainability, and protection against degradation

The Effect of Anaerobic Digestate on the Soil Organic Carbon and Humified Carbon Fractions in Different Land-Use Systems in Lithuania

The most important component of agricultural system are soils as the basis for the growth of plants, accumulation of water, plant nutrients and organic matter. The main task of our research was to ascertain changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and mobile humified carbon fractions in digestate-treated soils. We have performed three field experiments using the same design on two soil types in 2019–2020. We studied the fertilization effects of different phases of digestate on Retisol and Fluvisol. Fertilization treatments: control; separated liquid digestate 85 kg ha−1 N; and 170 kg ha−1 170 N; separated solid digestate 85 kg ha−1 N; and 170 kg ha−1 N. We have found a greater positive effect on the increase in SOC because of the use of the maximum recommended fertilization rate of the solid digestate. The content of mobile humic substances (MHS) tended to increase in grassland and crop rotation field in digestate-treated soil. In our experiment, maximum concentration of SOC was found in 0–10 cm soil layer, while in the deeper layers the amount of SOC, MHS and mobile humic acids proportionally decreased. We concluded, that long-term factors as soil type and land use strongly affected the humification level expressed as HD (%) in the soil and the highest HD was determined in the grassland soil in Fluvisol