PRODUCTIVITY AND STRUCTURAL INDEXES OF THE HERBAGE OF SOWN PERENNIAL GRASSES AND GRASS MIXTURES IN WEST SIBERIA FOREST-STEPPE

Abstract

The paper studies comparative productivity of sown unispecies grasses and grass mixtures under different cover crops. The grasses under barley cover developed more intensively. Haulm stand density and perennial grasses height under barley cover are higher than those under grass mixture cover, which determined richer yielding capacity of perennial grasses. However, the effect of cover crop on productivity of sown perennial grasses is minor and this was concluded, on average, from two experiments laid for 5 years. A considerable influence of cover crop was marked in the first years of grasses life. Under the cover of barley the productivity of perennial grasses was much higher than it was under cereal-legume grass mixture. After the third year of life the difference in yielding capacity of sown perennial grasses under different cover crops gradually smoothes over and becomes minor. Consequently, cover crop does not influence productive longevity of grasses. The grass mixture of lucern and rump is distinguished by the highest productivity and that of cereal grasses and Galega orientalis is by the lowest.