EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER AND PHOSPHORUS SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA APPLICATIONS ON CLOVER DOMINANT MEADOW: II. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

This study was carried out at Ataturk University farm in Erzurum, Turkey over 4 years (2004-2007) to evaluate the effects of phosphorus fertilization and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum) applications on the chemical composition of forage from a natural meadow area. Study plots were treated with two bacteria levels (B0 and B1) and five levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 11, 22, 33 and 44 kg ha-1) with four replications. The results of the study indicate that increasing levels of P significantly increased to crude protein content. While phosphorus fertilizer decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, there were no notable effects on acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) content. The effects of bacteria application included an increase in crude protein content and total digestible nutrient content in forage was increased, and reduced ADF and NDF. Forage P and Ca contents were increased, but K and Mg contents decreased following phosphorus fertilization. While bacteria application increased K and Mg contents of forage, Ca content decreased. There was no notable change in P content of forage following the application of bacteria. The results indicate that P fertilizer and bacteria applications have positive effects on forage quality of meadows. Application of bacteria (alone or combined with P) or 11-22 kg ha- 1 application of P may increase the forage quality of meadows.