Timofeevka meadow. Possible sale with VAT, Volyn region.

Meadow phleum (Phleum pratenze L.) is the most common crop in fodder production from cultivated perennial grasses. It is cultivated both by pure sowing and in grass mixtures, in which the greatest preference is given to meadow clover.

Purely sown meadow timothy hay contains 7.2% protein, 3.1% digestible protein. When sowing meadow timothy in a mixture with clover, the percentage of these substances in the hay increases significantly.

Place in crop rotation:

Meadow timothy is mainly cultivated in a mixture with meadow clover or another leguminous crop. In this regard, for the cultivation of such a grass mixture, an area allocated for leguminous crops is used. Clean crops are used for growing timothy plants onseeds. To do this, they choose areas after the cultivation of tuberous or root crops, on which organic fertilizers were abundantly applied.

You can also sow timothy seeds in well-moistened fields under the cover of winter wheat.

Soil preparation:

The preparation of the soil for the cultivation of meadow timothy is very peculiar. This is, first of all, connected with the very high fine-seeded seed material, as well as with the slow growth of plants in the first phases of their development.

All this leads to the need for high-quality soil treatment, especially its upper layer. A carefully leveled surface and loose soil will give us the opportunity to plant seeds no deeper than 0.5–1 cm.

Hulling of harvest residues, plowing of 25–27 cm. In early spring, in addition to harrowing with tooth harrows and several cultivations (contributes to the significant destruction of weeds), we carry out a thorough leveling of the surface of the plot.

Fertilizers:

The maximum consumption of nutrients fromtimofeivkoy soil meadow occurs in the phase of tillering and the phase of emergence into the tube.

In order to avoid heavy contamination of the site with weeds, it is better not to apply organic fertilizers at the time of timothy seed sowing. If there is organic matter, it is desirable to apply it under the predecessor — 30–40 tons/ha.
(//tractor-service.com)
Seeds of meadow timothy in their pure form react very positively to the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen at a rate of 90 kg/ha increased seed yield by 2 cents/ha.

When growing a grass mixture of timothy with clover, we use the system fertilized for clover.

Sowing:

Cultivation of meadow timothy Sowing a grass mixture of timothy with clover under the cover of a winter crop, it is best to sow timothy in autumn together with a cover crop. Clover is sown in the spring, as soon as there is an opportunity to go out into the field.

According to long-term observations, this method of sowing gives a 33–37% increase in yield compared to sowing timothy and clover in the spring.

We sow timothy and clover under the cover of spring crops in early spring, immediately after the sowing of cover crops.

When sowing small-seeded crops, do not forget about rolling the soil both before and after sowing. This operation is important when there is insufficient moisture content in the soil.

Consumption ratemeadow timothy seeds with pure sowing 8–12 kg/ha, with clover – 4–6 kg/ha. The depth of seed filling is 1–2 cm.

Crop care:

After harvesting the cover crop on the meadow timothy seeds, we apply mineral fertilizers and carry out harrowing. In the subsequent years of using the grass stand, these operations are carried out every spring. Plowing must also be done after each slope.

When growing timothy in its pure form for seed purposes, the main task is to fight against weeds. This is especially important in the first two months after sowing.

Harvesting:

It is best to start mowing a grass mixture of meadow timothy and clover for hay when the development of the clover enters the budding phase. When mowing the grass at these times, we get less hay than at later times, but the nutritional value of this hay compensates for everything (the protein content is much higher). A good harvest will not grow, it is necessary to remove the ego in time.