THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE FORAGE FROM A CULTIVATED MEADOW OF ALFALFA AND ORCHARD GRASS

I.C. Muntianu, V. Vîntu, C. Samuil, Aida Albu, M. Stavarache, C. Ciobanu

Abstract
Alfalfa and perennial grass mixture fertilized with moderate doses of mineral fertilizers can provide a forage with a better chemical composition compared with the alfalfa forage in pure culture. To emphasize the effects of combined influence of the mixture and fertilization on the chemical composition of the forage there were tested three different mixtures between alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), which were applied to four doses of mineral fertilizers. On cycle I, the highest value of crude protein (CP) content in plants was recorded on alfalfa fertilized with N₁₀₀P₅₀ dose (17.78% CP), with 2.31% CP higher compared to the control (unfertilized alfalfa, 14.77% CP). On cycles II and III, the highest values in CP were obtained from alfalfa unfertilized (control), of 15.32% CP and 17.14% CP, respectively. The highest plant content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was recorded on all cycles, on the alfalfa 50% + 50% orchard grass mixture, fertilized with N₁₀₀P₅₀ dose.

Key words: mixture, fertilization, alfalfa, orchard grass, chemical composition