Forage and environmentforming potential of pasture grasses on the drainage land of the Central Non-Chernozem region
Investigations took place at the All-Russian Research Institute of Meliorated Lands on the drained sod-podzolic sandy gleyificated soil. This report deals with forage and environment-forming potential of gramineous and their mixtures with legumes. The paper includes the data on root formation and nutrient accumulation as affected by habitat and fertilizers. Crop ecosystems adapted well to the conditions of meliorated lands. For 5 years legume-gramineous mixtures yielded 6.4-6.7 t ha<sup>-1</sup> of dry matter under zero fertilization, exceeding gramineous by 1.6-2.2 t ha<sup>-1</sup>. Plowing multi-purpose compost under had insignificant effect on legume-gramineous mixtures. Quality of multi-purpose compost met the requirements of the Standard. Monoculture of gramineous formed under the application of mineral nitrogen; cocksfoot prevailing. Use of multi-purpose compost led to the development of mixed ecosystems. Grassland ecosystems effectively formed humus, maintained and increased soil fertility and performed as efficient preceding crops due to the development of large root system (10.5-13.2 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) containing high concentrations of N, P and K.