Abstract
How the amount of fertilization and cutting frequency affect the dry matter and crude protein yield of available herbage on Miscanthus sward have already been reported under the title, "Comparison of Productivity between Semi-natural Miscanthus Sward and Improved Orchard grass- Ladino clover Mixture." The following is the summary of the study results on some effects of fertilization and cutting on the kinds of herbs that constitute the yields of the Miscanthus sward. 1. The total number of species that appeared in each plot decreased gradually in 1-cutting plot, but increased in both 2-cutting and 3-cutting plots. 2. The total dry matter yields in each plot decreased as the cutting frequency increased, but increased as the amount of fertilization increased. The dry matter yields of the following species decreased as the cutting frequency increased: Miscanthus sinensis, Lespedeza bicolor, Lysimachia clethroides, etc., while those of the following increased: Pteridium aquilinum, Arundinella hirta, Carex caryophyllea, Carex humilis, Calamagrostis hakonensis, etc. Number of shoots of Miscanthus sinensis and Lespedeza bicolor decreased by cutting, while those of Pteridium aquilinum increased, particularly significant in 2-cutting plot. 3. Percentage of bareland was smaller in plots with a higher cutting frequency. This was due to an increase in bottom grasses. 4. The dry matter yields of herbs with low palatability mainly of Pteridium aquilinum was the greatest in 2-cutting plot, being followed by 3-cutting and 1-cutting plot in order 3-cutting plot. 5. The one-cutting produced the greatest yields of dry matter, which, however, was low in feeding value. In 2-cutting plot the production of unavailable species increased. It may be concluded that taking both the palatability and the forage value into consideration, the 3-cutting is the most advantageous of all.
