Productivity of Winter and Spring Native Improved Vegetation under Different Grazing Stocking Rates on Basaltic Soil

Improved grassland with Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens and annual phosphorus fertilization, was evaluated during winter and spring for five consecutive years under grazing at three different stocking rates on medium basaltic soil. Specific contribution of Lotus and Trifolium reached 67% of grassland community in the first year. Stipa setigera and Poa lanigera increased their contribution from 0.8 to 17% in the fourth year of grazing experiment. Highest average value of crude protein was 19% during the second year and was related to legumes contribution. Forage availability was always up to 1.5 ton MS/ha at the three stocking treatments. Average daily gain was 770, 720 and 675 g/steer/day for 1.4, 1.9 and 2.3 steers/ha during the evaluated period