Grazing regimes and fertilisation rates: effects on dry matter yields, crude pr...

• Author(s): Fernández-Núñez, E. ; Pires, Jaime ; Fernandes, Adelaide ; Pires, João ; Aguiar, Carlos ; Galvão, Lurdes ; Moreira, Nuno
• Date: 2012
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/10775
• Origin: Biblioteca Digital do IPB
• Subject(s): Grazing management; Fertilisation; Nutritive value
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two grazing regimes: the usual for the area and late spring grazing, and three rates of N fertilisation, on dry-matter (DM) yields and nutritive value in three mountain meadows (Anthemido-Cynosuretum cristati, Gaudinio-Agrostietum cristati and Bromo-Cynosuretum cristati). The results showed that the lowest DM yield was obtained on Bromo-Cynosuretum cristati meadow. Dry matter yields increased significantly with N fertilisation in all meadows, independent of grazing regimes. The highest nutritive values occurred at the beginning of spring, and decreased during the year as a result of maturation. This effect was favoured by N fertilisation and it was independent of grazing regimes. Nutritive values were sufficient to meet the daily requirements of beef cattle during the study.