APPLICATION OF FARMYARD MANURE IN GRASSLAND PRODUCTION

Abstract

This experiment aimed at determining the effect of farmyard manure (FYM)
applicationon a natural pasturein Western Serbia, with a 30 t ha-1treatment in
comparison to control (no fertilizer added) during two years (2012-2014).The FYM
was applied in the autumn of 2012 and the trial plots were harvested twice a year.
Dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality - content of crude protein (CP),
nonprotein N (%CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and
net energy for lactation(NEL), were estimated for each production year. Treatment
with manure gave a higher DM yield compared to control plots in both
experimental years (5.91 t ha-1 vs. 3.01 t ha-1 in 2013, and 2.76 vs. 2.03 t ha-1 in
2014). As expected,the yield in the second cuts of both years was much lower than
in the first cuts. The FYM application did not affect chemical composition and net
energy concentration of forages, whereas significant effects of different cuts were
found, but were inconsistent between the first and second experimental year. In
general, it can be concluded that application of FYM did not have a significant
effect on forage quality ina permanent grassland, whereas chemical composition
was significantly affected by different cuts and experimental years. Based on the
results, a grassland may have a good DM yield response if FYM is used as a
fertilizer, while the effect on forage qualitymay be much weaker.