Mutual Effect of Gypsum and Potassium on Nutrient Productivity in the Alfalfa–Grass Sward-A Case Study

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0003-3663-8826
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-3147-5813
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid8cc3d8c6-eb76-45ba-b461-1a1d5e664c52
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid114c2f6e-b400-4596-86e7-1a8012fce92f
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid0b6a3379-8479-40e6-a0e8-212191a144d4
dc.abstract.enIt was assumed that the production of alfalfa in soils naturally poor in available nutrients, such as potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), depends on the use of fertilizers. This hypothesis was validated in an experiment with an alfalfa–grass mixture carried out in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on soil formed from loamy sand that had a low content of available Ca and K. The two-factor experiment consisted of two levels of applied gypsum as a source of Ca (0, 500 kg ha−1) and five levels of PK fertilizers (absolute control, P60K0, P60K30, P60K60 and P60K120). The total yield of the sward was determined by the main seasons of alfalfa–grass sward use. Gypsum application increased the yield by 1.0 t ha−1. The highest yield of 14.9 t ha−1 was obtained on the plot fertilized with P60K120. Based on the nutrient content in the sward, it was shown that the main yield predictor was the content of K in the first cut of sward use. The reliable yield predictors, based on the total accumulation of nutrients in the sward, turned out to be K, Mg and Fe. The nutritional quality of the alfalfa–grass fodder, based on the K/Ca + Mg ratio, depended mainly on the season of the sward use, which was substantially deteriorated by the K fertilizer. Gypsum did not control this process. The productivity of the nutrients taken up by the sward depended on the accumulated K. Its yield-forming effect was significantly limited by manganese deficiency. The use of gypsum positively affected the uptake of micronutrients, consequently increasing their unit productivity, especially of manganese. Optimization of the production of alfalfa–grass mixtures in soils poor in basic nutrients requires micronutrients to be taken into account. Their uptake by plants can be limited by high doses of basic fertilizers.
dc.affiliationWydział Rolnictwa, Ogrodnictwa i Biotechnologii
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Łąkarstwa i Krajobrazu Przyrodniczego
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Chemii Rolnej i Biogeochemii Środowiska
dc.contributor.authorZielewicz, Waldemar
dc.contributor.authorGrzebisz, Witold
dc.contributor.authorBiber, Maria
dc.date.access2025-08-22
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-16T10:16:05Z
dc.date.available2025-09-16T10:16:05Z
dc.date.copyright2023-06-08
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>It was assumed that the production of alfalfa in soils naturally poor in available nutrients, such as potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), depends on the use of fertilizers. This hypothesis was validated in an experiment with an alfalfa–grass mixture carried out in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on soil formed from loamy sand that had a low content of available Ca and K. The two-factor experiment consisted of two levels of applied gypsum as a source of Ca (0, 500 kg ha−1) and five levels of PK fertilizers (absolute control, P60K0, P60K30, P60K60 and P60K120). The total yield of the sward was determined by the main seasons of alfalfa–grass sward use. Gypsum application increased the yield by 1.0 t ha−1. The highest yield of 14.9 t ha−1 was obtained on the plot fertilized with P60K120. Based on the nutrient content in the sward, it was shown that the main yield predictor was the content of K in the first cut of sward use. The reliable yield predictors, based on the total accumulation of nutrients in the sward, turned out to be K, Mg and Fe. The nutritional quality of the alfalfa–grass fodder, based on the K/Ca + Mg ratio, depended mainly on the season of the sward use, which was substantially deteriorated by the K fertilizer. Gypsum did not control this process. The productivity of the nutrients taken up by the sward depended on the accumulated K. Its yield-forming effect was significantly limited by manganese deficiency. The use of gypsum positively affected the uptake of micronutrients, consequently increasing their unit productivity, especially of manganese. Optimization of the production of alfalfa–grass mixtures in soils poor in basic nutrients requires micronutrients to be taken into account. Their uptake by plants can be limited by high doses of basic fertilizers.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if4,0
dc.description.number12
dc.description.points70
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume12
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/plants12122250
dc.identifier.issn2223-7747
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/4813
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/12/2250
dc.languageen
dc.relation.ispartofPlants
dc.relation.pagesart. 2250
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudsend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.entotal yield
dc.subject.ensubsequent cuts
dc.subject.enmacronutrients—cations
dc.subject.enmicronutrient—cations
dc.subject.ennutrient content
dc.subject.ennutrient accumulation
dc.subject.entotal yield prediction
dc.titleMutual Effect of Gypsum and Potassium on Nutrient Productivity in the Alfalfa–Grass Sward-A Case Study
dc.title.volumeSpecial Issue Grassland Ecosystems and Their Management
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue12
oaire.citation.volume12