Chapters authored
Performance of Forage Crops and Grass Mixtures in Kosovo
Grasslands represent a land-use which is effective and has great economical importance in the European agriculture. Grasslands these are important and effective sources of energy and proteins for ruminants, and combine high yields stability by draught resistance with low tillage operations and pesticide after use leading to good environmental conditions. Furthermore, good management practice in grasslands provides high potential of carbon sequestration in soils, resulting in climate change mitigation. Based on actual data, the meadows and pastures cover 224410.83 ha of total surface of the Kosovo; moreover there, just a particular of these surfaces are distinguished clearly as meadows or pastures. The most important forage crops which are dominant in our country include plants from Poaceae; this botanical family is divided into long, medium, and low herbs. Medium and long herbs are the best suited for mowing and silage or drying for sanitary preparations, while short herbs are very suitable for grassland. The most important of fodder or plants in Kosovo are: (Medicago sativa L.) alfalfa, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), etc. Legumes are of great importance for the creation and development artificial grasslands and very valuable mulching surfaces that produce very high yields that are not only useful for silage, but also for drying.
Part of the book: Grasses and Grassland Aspects