The renovation of damaged sward on outwintering camping site is an important
measure of pasture management as neglecting the sward care might lead to sward infestation with unwanted plants. In spring 2017 we established a field experiment on the outwintering camping site for sheep at the Biotechnical faculty with the intention of selecting the best forage plant for renovating the damaged sward. The trial was conducted on micro sites where animals get feed, they rest or they get water. The sward of the selected sites was differently damaged due to trampling intensity or the sward was covered with forage residues but not much tillers were left for sward to regenerate in spring. Also included were 4 different forage species (Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens) and three seeding dates (February 1st, March 1st and April 3rd). Seeding was performed by hand and half of the recommended seeding rate was used. White clover had the highest estimated emergence rate (between 65 and 75 %) between locations and seeding dates. On average the highest estimated emergence rate was found on feeding site. D. glomerata gained the best cover on the bedding site. Meanwhile L. perenne cover was highest on the feeding site. Plant height after 45 days of growth was the lowest on watering site and also differences in plant height between all four species were the lowest. The best yielding species (4.82 t/ha) was D. glomerata sown at the beginning of April. D. glomerata and L. perenne achieved similar results when testing them in a trial of sward renovation on outwintering camping site.
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