Development of the aboveground biomass of Lolium multiflorum Lam. under the influence of soil’s medium amendment

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil’s medium amendment on the formation of biomass of aboveground parts of Lolium multiflorum Lam. Therefore, on April the 5th in 2009 in the polyurethane rings, an experiment with Lolium multiflorum Lam. – Gaza variety was established. Rings with 36 cm diameter and 40 cm height were embed at the depth of 30 cm and filled with soil material. Then, eight seeds of the tested grass species were sown into each ring. After germination, when the seedlings reached the 2–3 leaves stage, a negative selection was made by removing 4 weakest plants from each ring. The experimental factor in the form of the following combinations of fertilizer was: control-no fertilizer, NPK – the annual doses of 0.6 g N ring-1, 0.25 g of P2O5 ring-1 and 0.9 g K2O ring -1, UG – soil’s medium amendment at a dose of 3.7 cm3 ring-1 as a 0.25% solution, UG + NPK – in the combined doses as for the combination NPK and UG. The experiment was carried out in 2009 and 2010. A detailed study included: aboveground biomass yield (g DM ring-1), the number of shoots (no ring-1), leaf length (cm), width of leaf blade base (mm), leaf greenness index (SPAD). The obtained results were evaluated statistically by using the analysis of variance for multivariate experiments. Combining mineral fertilization with the soil’s medium amendment resulted in a significant increase of the dry matter yield of plants, the value of SPAD and the number of shoots, relative to control objects as well as those supplied only with the soil’s medium amendment or mineral fertilization. On the other hand, the length and width of the leaf blade base underwent differentiation only with respect to control.