EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE FERTILIZATION AND SEEDING DENSITY WHITE CLOVER ON THE GRASS-LEGUME RATIO IN A HUMID PUNA GRASSLAND

Orellana J.A.; Aguirre L.; Flores E.R. · Ecologia Aplicada (2023) · DOI: 10.21704/rea.v22i2.2086

Resumen

The introduction of exotic legumes (Trifolium repens) in humid Puna grasslands improves forage quality and soil nutritional status. The objective was to determine the influence of phosphate fertilization and seeding density (legume) on the grass-legume ratio in a grassland dominated by Festuca dolichophylla and Calamagrostis vicunarum, during two years, based on the percentages of survival, establishment and relative cover of white clover. The experimental area was located in the Huancavelica region of Peru (4 500 masl). A completely randomized design with a 3x2 factorial arrangement was used, with three doses of phosphorus (0, 15 and 30 grams of rock phosphate) and two planting densities (20 and 40 seeds per hole). The best response to fertilization was obtained with the application of 15 g of rock phosphate per hole. The seeding density with which the best results were obtained in terms of percentage cover of clover in the native prairie was 20 seeds per hole. The white clover cover patterns varied with the season, with higher proportions in the rainy season than in the dry season, which did not exceed on average the recommended grass-legume ratio (70:30). The trials were conducted in the absence of grazing, a determining factor in the grasslegume balance. It is recommended to examine interactions between sowing density and fertilization under different grazing schemes on the grass-legume balance and ecosystem integrity. © Departamento Académico de Biología, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima – Perú.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina; Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú