Timothy-grass

Timothy-grass (Phleum pratense L.) is one of the most widespread hay-pastured grasses. Phleum pratense L is a late-ripening plant, although it develops rather quickly in early spring. The full development is reached in the second year of life and it can retain herbage for 6 years or more. It grows back well after mowing and grazing. It can produce two mowings and 3-4 grazing cycles in pasture. The green grass and hay of timothy-grass is consumed well by livestock. One hundred kg of grass contains 21-25 k.o according to the phase of mowing. One hundred kg of hay contains 49-50 k.o and 3-5 kg of protein. The leaves consist of 50-60% of the whole mass. Due to its high crop yield and nutritional value timothy-grass is grown in mixture with red clover. It yields 200-250 centner/he of green mass, 60-75 centner/he of hay and 3 – 3,5 centner/he of seeds.
Timothy-grass is winter-hardy and in the spring it begins to grow as the daily temperature begins to rise by 5-6 °degrees. Seeds can grow in temperature as low as 1-2 ° degrees above zero. This frost resistant plant is grown in northern regions as well. Phleum pratense L is moisture-loving and widespread in Polissya, forest-steppe zones, Carpathians but mostly in food-plain, low-lying and also in waterless meadows with moderate humifying. It withstands spring flooding for 30 days. It is not tolerant to draught and can not withstand a lot of shade. Timothy-grass grows almost in all types of soil but the highest yields are obtained in clay, rather humid soils as well as in drained peatlands. It is recommended to sow it in dry sandy soils. It can withstand high acidity (рН 4,5-5,0),but doesn’t grow as well in acid soil. It reacts well to fertilizers and is not lied flat even with the high rates of nitrogen which increase the yield considerably.
The row method with СЗТ-3, 6 seed drills is used. The seeding rate is 7-9 kg/he. Enfolding depth is 1-2 cm. After earing, the stems get tough soon, and the nutritional value is decreased. Late harvesting causes reduction of the nutrients. The best time of mowing is the period from the end of heading phase till the beginning of flowering.