A field experiment was conducted in two seasons (2019–2020 and 2020–2021) at three locations in Slovenia (Rogoza, Fala, and Brežice) to evaluate the yield and silage quality of winter cover crops (WCCs). The experiment included Italian ryegrass (IR) in pure stands, fertilized with nitrogen in spring, and mixtures of crimson clover (CRC), red clover (RC), and IR+CRC+RC without nitrogen fertilization in spring. The highest dry matter yield (DMY) was observed in IR+CRC+RC (4.98 t ha⁻¹). For fresh feed, the CRC+RC treatment had significantly higher (p < 0.05) crude protein (208 g kg⁻¹ DM), nitrate nitrogen (116.7 mg kg⁻¹ DM), and buffering capacity (1290 mmol kg⁻¹ DM) but significantly lower (p < 0.05) dry matter (128 g kg⁻¹) and water-soluble carbohydrates (121 g kg⁻¹ DM). For silage, the CRC+RC treatment had significantly lower (p < 0.05) dry matter (476 g kg⁻¹ silage), metabolic energy (9.65 MJ kg⁻¹ DM), net energy of lactation (5.77 MJ kg⁻¹ DM), and neutral detergent fiber (375 g kg⁻¹ DM) but higher ammonia nitrogen (66.5 g kg⁻¹ of total nitrogen), crude protein (158 g kg⁻¹ DM), and acid detergent fiber (279 g kg⁻¹ DM). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found among treatments for acetic, lactic, and butyric acid, crude fat, pH, and soil mineral nitrogen (N_min). The results of the study show that the same or higher DMY and a comparable quality of highly wilted silage can be produced with mixed Italian ryegrass and clovers compared with those of Italian ryegrass in pure stands. The experiment aimed to determine whether clover-based mixtures can achieve comparable silage quality and dry matter yield without spring N fertilizers compared with those of pure stands of Italian ryegrass fertilized in spring.

Semi-natural grasslands are some of the most species-rich habitats in Europe and provide important ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and soil fertility maintenance. This study investigates how different intensities of grassland management affect the composition of functional groups and soil chemical properties. Five grassland management systems were analyzed: Cut3—three cuts per year; LGI—low grazing intensity; CG—combined cutting and grazing; Cut4—four cuts per year; and HGI—high grazing intensity. The functional groups assessed were grasses, legumes and forbs, while soil samples from three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) were analyzed for their chemical properties (soil organic carbon—SOC; soil total nitrogen—STN; inorganic soil carbon—SIC; soil organic matter—SOM; potassium oxide—K₂O; phosphorus pentoxide—P₂O₅; C/N ratio; and pH) and physical properties (volumetric soil water content—VWC; bulk density—BD; and porosity—POR). The results showed that less intensive systems had a higher proportion of legumes, while species diversity, as measured via the Shannon index, was the highest in the Cut4 system. The CG system tended to have the highest SOC and STN at a 0–10 cm depth, with a similar trend observed for SOC_stock at a 0–30 cm depth. The Cut4, HGI and CG systems also had an increased STN_stock. Both grazing systems had the highest P₂O₅ content. A tendency towards a higher BD was observed in the top 10 cm of soil in the more intensive systems. Choosing a management strategy that is tailored to local climate and site conditions is crucial for maintaining grassland stability, enhancing carbon sequestration and promoting long-term sustainability in the context of climate change.

Pridelava in konzerviranje krme v obdobjih, ko ni pomanjkanja vode za rast rastlin in pridelava proti suši odpornih rastlin sta ključna elementa prilagajanja živinoreje klimatskim spremembam. V Eip- Agri projektu 'Izboljšane tehnologije pridelave in konzerviranja z beljakovinami bogate krme - metuljnice in njihove mešanice za prilagajanje podnebnim spremembam' smo primerjali pridelavo in konzerviranje metuljnic v čisti setvi ter mešanice metuljnic in trav (oboje brez gnojenja z dušikom) s pridelavo z dušikom gnojenih trav v čisti setvi. Rezultati kažejo, da je uporaba metuljnic v čisti setvi in mešanic metuljnic s travami primerna za pridelavo in konzerviranje s proteini bogate krme. Pridelava mešanic z visokim deležem metuljnic je zanesljivejša. Te mešanice dajejo primerljive pridelke z metuljnicami v čisti setvi in silaže visoke kakovosti.

A field experiment was conducted in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 at Rogoza, Fala, and Brežice in Slovenia to examine the biological viability of a mixed intercropping system and the effect of winter catch crops (WCCs) on maize growth parameters. The experiment included Italian ryegrass (IR) in pure stands, fertilized with nitrogen (N) in spring (70 kg N ha⁻¹), mixtures of crimson clover and red clover 50:50 (C), and intercropping between IR and C (IR+C). Neither mixture was fertilized with N in spring. We evaluated different competition indices and biological efficiency. Relative crowding coefficient (RCC) and actual yield loss (AYL) exceeded 1, indicating a benefit of IR+C intercropping. The IR in intercropping was more aggressive, as indicated by positive aggressivity (A) and a competitive ratio (CR) > 1, and it dominated over C in IR+C (that had negative A values and CR < 1). The competitive balance index (Cb) differed from zero, the relative yield total (RYT) was 2.24, the land equivalent coefficient (LEC) exceeded 0.25, the area–time equivalent ratio (ATER) exceeded 1, and land use efficiency (LUE) exceeded 100%. IR+C exhibited the highest total aboveground dry matter yield of maize (29.22 t ha⁻¹), the highest nitrogen content in dry matter grain yield of maize (206.35 kg ha⁻¹), the highest nitrogen and potassium content in maize stover (105.7 and 105.7 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), and the highest nitrogen and potassium content in the total aboveground dry matter of maize (312 and 267.3 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). The C/N ratio in dry matter yield of IR was 45.35, and in IR+C it was 33.43, which means that the mixture had a positive effect on nutrient release in maize. The ryegrass–clover mixture, according to the calculated biological indices, had advantages over pure stands and had a positive effect on maize yield.

Grassland Management for Carbon and Efficient Use of Nitrogen from Slurry. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to global warming of the planet. Grassland management influences soil organic matter levels. We can increase the accumulation of organic matter and organic carbon in grassland soils and thus reduce the concentrations of greenhouse CO2 in the atmosphere. After the introductory chapters, the scientific monograph analyses the effects of fertilisation where special emphasis is placed on the efficient N use from slurry. In continuation, modern methods of grassland renovation and the most important plants for forage production are described. The work is completed by grazing and cutting managements, which can preserve or increase the level of grassland soil organic carbon. Povečane koncentracije toplogrednih plinov v atmosferi vodijo v segrevanje planeta. Z gospodarjenjem na travinju lahko vplivamo na vezavo ogljika v organsko snov travniških tal in s tem zmanjšujemo koncentracije toplogrednega CO2 v ozračju. Po uvodnih poglavjih so v znanstveni monografiji analizirani vplivi gnojenja, kjer je poseben poudarek na učinkoviti rabi N iz gnojevke. Opisani so sodobni načini obnove travinja in za pridelovanje krme najpomembnejše rastline, ki tvorijo rušo. Delo zaključujejo načini rabe ruše, ki omogočajo ohranjanje ali povečevanje organskega ogljika v travniških tleh.