B. CHOURKOVA
Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture, BG-5600 Troyan, Bulgaria
CHOURKOVA, B., 2003. Effect of boron and molybdenum application on the yield and quality of birdsfoot trefoil forage. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 9: 191–196
From 1997 to 2001 a field trial was conducted with the aim of studying the effect of boron and molybdenum on the yield, morphological traits and, botanical and chemical composition of birdsfoot trefoil sward. The combination of N60P80K60 formed the background for application of boron and molybdenum, in combination or alone, at rates of 1.000 and 0.100 kg.ha–1 performed together with the macro element fertilizer application in the first year. In the following years the micro element dressing took place in the beginning of the active growing season and also at the bud-formation stage as foliar dressing with 0.150 kg.ha–1 of Mo and 0.300 kg.ha–1 of B.
Our experiment found that the rate of Mo0.150 ensured the highest birdsfoot trefoil sward density (567 stems and branches per square meter), leafage percentage (59.97%) and dry matter yield that exceeded the control by 23.0%. The same fertilizer rate increased the crude protein content by 19.42% and the calcium content by 1.705%.
High productivity was also ensured by the rate Mo0.100B1.000 the dry matter yield exceeding the control by 14.5%. This combination enhanced the birdsfoot trefoil development and decreased the weed infestation rate.