Soil requirements 

Soil type has a considerable impact on the choice of leguminous plant, particularly as regards pH, calcium content and water stagnation. Fewer soil constraints apply to graminaceous plants, as they are more affected by climate factors. In "difficult" soil/agronomic conditions (shaly soil which is hard to prepare, soil subject to water stagnation, etc.), Festuca arundinacea should preferably be used, or as a second choice, Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot). 

ROTATION

Rotation mix meadows are perennial crops, the duration of which depends on the plant composition. Their inclusion in rotation is beneficial in agronomic terms, increasing organic matter, improving soil structure and structural stability, and above all extending the time between two alfalfa crops for farms that need to use most of their area for forage. In practice, there are no constraints or preferences for crop sequence choice. Growing in sequence will benefit the flow of nutrients originating from the breaking up of the meadow, so a nitrogen hungry crop is preferable. A root crop is not recommended due to the intense activity of soil fauna typical when the soil is not cultivated. 

PREPARATION

Main preparation involves ploughing down to no more than 30 cm, or where possible, double layer preparation (subsoiling to 40 - 50 cm followed by surface ploughing). In light soil, preparation should be limited, with only surface ploughing. Main preparation should be carried out during summer or the autumn prior to meadow establishment; secondary preparation should be carried out in the period immediately prior to sowing first in heavy, then in loose soil, taking particular care to level out the soil to avoid water stagnation. As even small size seeds will be sown, the seedbed must be thin, without too much soil with a high silt content, where the risk of a surface crust forming is greater. Sowing time Late winter or late summer Sowing technique Pack down before sowing to make the sowing depth uniform and afterwards, to help the seed come into contact with the soil, using cultipackers, particularly in soil where surface crusts form more easily. Take care to keep the seed mixed in the hopper, during sowing. Do not exceed a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm. For resowing without any preparation, special sowers need to be used, that can operate on hard soil.

FERTILISATION

To correctly quantify nutrient amounts, a simple in/out record should be compiled, taking account of crop use in relation to average yield. In general, an excess of nitrogen in relation to phosphorous and potassium will create an environment selectively favourable to graminaceous plants, while a lack of nitrogen associated with a greater availability of phosphorous will benefit leguminous plants.

INITIAL FERTILISATION

Organic amenders Manure: the main function of distribution during meadow establishment is to improve soil habitability conditions and the soil's ability to slowly release the elements it contains.

Nitrogen: the amount to distribute during the first year, is calculated, as for subsequent years, based on the simplified record. On sowing, usually in spring, it is not advisable to add large amounts of nitrogen, unless absent in organic matter in the soil. On establishment, do not exceed in any case 50 units of nitrogen per hectare. Phosphorous and potassium to define based on soil mineral content 

FERTILISING IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS

In permanent meadows, this is the only time fertilizers are administered, and can be used to restore flora and yield, to prevent degradation.

Manure

This can be rationally used on pastures, mainly comprising graminaceous plants. However, aspects relating to the development of weeds in soil with manure and health risks relating to the handling and distribution of species manure must be considered. The use of manure also introduces both phosphorous and potassium, for a better ratio with leguminous plants

Nitrogen 

The nitrogen dose to distribute during production years is calculated using the simplified in/out method related to yields obtained. Some aspects also need to be considered. The presence of both graminaceous and leguminous plants makes it hard and complex to calculate the dose of nitrogen to distribute, as an excess leads to a rebalancing of the meadow's botanical composition in favour of graminaceous plants. The presence of leguminous plants, i.e. nitrogen-fixing plants, also prevents the exact determination of the fertiliser dose, based on amounts used, as a more or less significant amount is obtained directly from the atmosphere. In dry conditions, where 2 - 3 cuttings take place, distribution should be in two equal doses, one at the end of winter and the other after first cutting.

Phosphorous and potassium

The amount of these elements is based on soil content: if soil has a low mineral content. Besides fertilisation on establishment, annual or periodic fertilisation should take place, based on use and previous replenishment

HARVESTING

Mowing time is important for the quality and quantity of forage. A delay in using forage will maximise the production of dry matter but drastically decrease quality: fibrous parts increase and the stems gradually lignify and protein content thus decreases. Forage harvesting must be managed to achieve the best balance between yield and forage quality, and in general this value is obtained close to when the plant flowers.

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE GROWTH STAGES OF MEADOWS 

The difference in the earliness of species and varieties of graminaceous plants is often considerable (more than 60 days), but less accentuated in leguminous plants. In practice, the growth stage of graminaceous plants is considered to determine optimal periods for use. Palatability and digestibility are directly related to the growth stage when forage is used. A lack of palatability limits consumption by animals and lowers the yield of forage in meat and milk.

GRAMINACEOUS/LEGUMINOUS PLANT RATIO IN MIXES

ilMix This ratio also derives from choices made based on environmental conditions and the purpose of the meadow, considering that graminaceous plants have some advantages over leguminous plants:

- they are more adaptable to different uses - they make better hay - they are better for silage - they can be used for pasturing, in the early growth stages, without harming cattle and provide forage rich in proteins with a high biological value;

- they allow for forage harvesting to be entirely mechanised, using relatively simple machinery

- some species are suitable for forming turf to protect soil, limiting the development of weeds and can withstand trampling

- they allow for a higher yield, and respond promptly to fertilising particularly with nitrogen

- graminaceous plants include species with a considerable longevity. Leguminous plants: - provide forage which is very rich in proteins, vitamins and mineral salts - increase fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen

- produce, also during hot seasons

- increase the palatability of forage.

In ilMix meadows, graminaceous and leguminous plants are in optimal proportions and all formulas guarantee the best results for specific uses. 

Precise knowledge of the plant's growth during the year, behaviour in winter, spring regrowth, resistance to the summer months and autumn recovery, gives farmers the chance to prepare a programme and suggests the time and methods for applying growing techniques that are essential for maintaining ilMix meadow yield in the long term.