Effect of cutting frequency on forage production and quality of Dactylis glomerata L. during winter

Improved cultivars of cool-season grasses could increase forage production and reduce the imbalance between supply and demand in Mediterranean grasslands during the winter. However, the optimum production of the improved cultivars could be achieved by applying an efficient management system. The objective of this study was to compare forage production and quality of an improved population of Dactylis glomerata under three cutting frequencies during the winter (October-March). Forage production was significantly higher in the high cutting frequency (every 30 days) in comparison to medium (every 45 days), low (every 75 days) and the undefoliated plants during the first year of the experiment. On the contrary, the rare cutting frequency exceeded in forage production during the second year of the experiment. At this time forage production of the high and medium cutting frequency was reduced by 38% and 33% respectively. As far as the forage quality is concerned, the NDF content was significantly lower to the high cutting frequency compared to medium, rare and undefoliated plants (control), whereas there were no significant differences in ADF and ADL content. Crude protein content was significantly higher in cutting frequencies compared to undefoliated plants. It can be concluded that clipping of the above ground biomass twice during the winter (low cutting frequency) secures sustainable production of the system.