Assessment of the impact of the component composition of grass mixtures on the productivity of sown agrocenoses in the Precarpathian region

This study aimed to determine the effect of the component composition of perennial grass mixtures on the productivity of sown agrocenoses under the soil and climatic conditions of the Precarpathian region. Field experiments were conducted in 2020-2024 on sod-podzolic soils, using a summer sowing method without a cover crop and applying mineral fertilisers at a rate of N₃₀P₆₀K₉₀, following the methodological recommendations of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Yield was assessed using the plot-by-weight method; the content of absolutely dry matter was determined by drying samples at 105°C; and the botanical composition of the stands was analysed based on selective samples of green mass. The results showed that the highest productivity was achieved with multi-component grass mixtures comprising both grass and legume species. An optimal balance of components in the mixtures had a positive effect on dry matter yield, energy efficiency, and stand resilience. The generalised findings indicated that the inclusion of legumes – particularly red clover (Trifolium pratense), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and common bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) – increased yield by 30%-45% compared with monoculture sowings. The dynamics of changes in botanical composition over three cuts were analysed. It was found that multi-component mixtures formed a more stable stand structure and ensured a higher proportion of legume components in the second and third cuts. An energy assessment confirmed the feasibility of using mixed sowings due to their higher energy return ratio. The findings can be applied by agronomists, fodder production specialists, and practitioners of ecosystem-based farming to establish highly productive and stable stands in the Precarpathian region