Biochemical composition and quality of herbal mass of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. by phases of plant growth and development.

Abstract

Purpose. To establish the qualitative indicators of the grass mass of the Danae variety of Trifolium repens L. and the Ajax variety of Lotus corniculatus L. in accordance with the growth and development phases of plants in order to produce high-protein feed. Methods. Field, laboratory, system analysis methods were used. Results. According to our data, the leafiness of leguminous plants and the ratio of leaf mass and stems decrease from the branching phase to the flowering phase, what significantly affects individual indicators of the biochemical composition of the green mass of the first and second mowings. According to the development phases of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. plants in the grass mass of both the first and second mowings, a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat and increase in the content of crude fiber was observed, which was due to a decrease in the leaf mass of plants and an increase in the stem mass. The ratio of the mass of leaves and stems according to the phases of plant development of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. also influenced the nutritional value of the grass mass forage. The content of fodder units from the branching phase to flowering decreased from 0.94-0.90 to 0.55-0.61 f.u., exchange energy – from 10.25- 10.27 to 7.31-7.86 MJ respectively. Conclusions. Significant changes in plant foliage covering and the percentage ratio of the mass of leaves and stems, their influence on indicators of the biochemical composition, quality and energy nutritional value of the grass mass of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. have been proved. Changes in the composition of the grass mass were accompanied by a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and increase in crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractive substances, which led to a decrease in the quality of forage for the leafy mass of leguminous grasses. It has been established that the most high-protein and energetically nutritious forage for the grass mass of leguminous grasses (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) can be obtained by mowing the grass stand in the branching-budding phase. Subsequently, there is a significant decrease in the content of crude and digestible protein, metabolic energy and increase in the content of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractives.