Use of straw from seed plantation of fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) To fertilize neighboring fields

Abstract

On the basis of 83 determinations of straw yield carried out in the years 1984-2007 on light soils, on 2-17-year plantations of fodder galega it was stated that the potential side-line crop of this plant amounted on average to about 5.7 t . ha -1 and hardly depended on plant age. In this crop about 64 kg N, 6 kg P, 64 kg K, 50 kg Ca and 11 kg Mg was accumulated per hectare. The mean harvest index was approximately 5.5, and ranged from 0.8 to about 18. Stems constituted about 60%, leaves about 26%, and pod-shells about 10% of the aboveground dry weight harvested. With mechanical seed harvesting and straw baling, the side-line crop included only about 3.5 t . ha -1 of stems. In relation to the total accumulation in the side-line crop (stems+leaves+pod-shells), this amounted to 40% N, 58% P, 55% K, 28% Ca and 43% Mg, respectively. Using mechanically collected straw as an organic fertilizer on neighboring fields proved to be appropriate.