Differences in productivity and botanical composition of alfalfa and clover-grass mixtures

Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi razlike u produktivnosti i botaničkom sastavu između dva kultivara lucerne i dvije djetelinsko travne smjese u 2022. godini. Pokus je postavljen na pokušalištu Maksimir u proljeće 2020. godine po shemi slučajnog bloknog rasporeda u četiri ponavljanja. Posijana su dva kultivara lucerne 'Power 4.2' i 'Sibemol', te dvije djetelinsko-travne smjese „CutMax Original“ (15 % crvena djetelina, 20 % festulolium, 25 % engleski ljulj tetraploidni, 10 % mačji repak, 20 % klupčasta oštrica, 10 % trstikasta vlasulja) i „CutMax Alfa Protein“ (10 % crvena djetelina, 30 % lucerna, 25 % festulolium, 10 % tetraploidni engleski ljulj, 15 % mačji repak, 10 % klupčasta oštrica). Po botaničkom sastavu oba kultivara lucerne i u smjesi „CutMax Alfa Protein“ lucerna je bila dominantna, bez puno primjesa ostalih biljnih vrsta. Smjesa „CutMax Orginal“ bila je najkompleksnija po botaničkom sastavu obzirom na brojnost vrsta. U sva tri otkosa pojedinačno, kao i ukupno u 2022. godini utvrđene su značajne razlike u prinosu suhe tvari (ST) između članova pokusa. Najniži prinos ST utvrđen je kod smjese „CutMax Original“, dok među ostalima nije bilo značajne razlike, godišnji prosjek 12,29 t ST ha-1. Lucerna ili smjese koje je sadržavaju daje značajno veće prinose u sušnijim godinama od crvene djeteline i trava. Razlog je velika otpornost koju lucerna pokazuje u suši, zahvaljujući dubokom korijenju koje crpi vodu iz donjih slojeva tla.The goal of this research was to determine the differences in the productivity and botanic composition between two cultivar alfalfa and two clover-grass mixture in 2022. The experiment was placed on experimental field in Maksimir in spring of 2020. according to the random block principle in 4 replicates. Two alfalfa's were planted: 'Power 4.2' and 'Sibemol', two mixtures of legumes and grass: „CutMax Original“ (15% red clover, 20% festulolium, 25% of tetraploid perennial ryegrass, 10% timothy, 20% orchard grass, 10% tall fescue) and „CutMax Alpha Protein“ (10% red clover, 30% alfalfa, 25% festulolium, 10% tetraploid perennial ryegrass, 15% timothy, 10% orchard grass). By the botanic composition alfalfa had dominated in both of the alfalfa cultivars, and in the mixture „CutMax Alpha Protein“. The mixture „CutMax Original“ is the most complex in the botanic composition considering the actual number od the species. In all three cuts individually, as well as in years production of 2022., significant differences in dry matter (DM) yield were found between the members of the experiment. Lowest dry matter yield is found in the mixture of „CutMax Original“, but in others there was not difference, average 12,29 t DM ha-1. Alfalfa or the mixtures that it contains give meaningful bigger income in the more dry years than red clovers and grasses. The reason for that is the big resistance alfalfa shows in dry years, according to the deep roots which takes the water out of the deeper soil layers