Formation of the phytocenosis and productivity of sainfoin-cereal grass mixtures depending on the species sowing methods and spatial arrangement in conditions of the right bank forrest-steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. Optimization study of the spatial arrangement of the components in binary legume-cereal grass mixtures by selecting a complementary composition of the phytocenosis, the method of sowing perennial grasses to create hayfields with sand sainfoin in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe natural zone of Ukraine. Successful placement of legumes and cereals in two-component mixtures significantly eliminates the negative interaction at different stages of ontogenesis, reduces interspecific competition for environmental resources, balances the structure of the phytocenosis, increases its productivity and prolongs the productive life of the sown hayfields. Methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, comparative calculation methods. Results. The field experiment investigated the influence of the spatial arrangement of sand sainfoin under various methods of sowing with medium wheatgrass, team wheatgrass, ryegrass and high ryegrass on the yield of dry matter, feed units, crude protein, metabolic energy and providing the feed unit with digestible protein. It is established that in comparison with the traditional row mixed method of sowing binary mixtures of sand sainfoin with different types of cereals the highest yield of dry matter, feed units, crude protein, metabolic energy (on average for three years) was obtained by cross and cross-row methods. The highest yield of crude protein and the supply of feed unit with digestible protein was obtained by cross-sowing method. Conclusions. The influence of spatial arrangement of sandy sainfoin and cereal grasses on the formation of phytocenosis and its forage productivity is substantiated. The prospects of cross and cross-row sowing methods of binary sainfoin-cereal grass mixtures are proved. This arrangement of legumes and cereals reduces interspecific competition for environmental resources, balances the structure of the phytocenosis, increases its productivity and the quality of the grass mass and prolongs the productive life of the sown hayfields.