Legumes and herbs are valuable elements of the meadow sward. In the conditions of extensive meadow-pasture management, for example in protected areas where first cut harvest is delayed, they determine to a large extent fodder quality, for instance total protein content. The aim of the study was the evaluation of total protein and crude fibre contents, as well as dry matter digestibility of chosen legume and herb species from extensive grasslands. Research was conducted in the years 1998-2000 before first cut harvest (June – first ten days of July) in the Olsztyn Lake District. Together, 444 plant samples were studied. The determinant for sample uptake location was the occurrence of phytocenoses with at least 5% area coverage (2 in the Braun-Blanquet scale) with chosen legume species: Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium repens L., Lotus corniculatus L., Lathyrus pratensis L., Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr., and Vicia cracca L., as well as herbs: Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Achillea millefolium L., Plantago lanceolata L., Alchemilla vulgaris L., Heracleum sibiricum L., and Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop. Average total protein content in the legumes oscillated between 176.9 and 196.6 g·kg⁻¹. Total protein content in herbs usually reached 100-120 g·kg⁻¹ for Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg., Achillea millefolium L. and Alchemilla vulgaris L. and 140-160 g·kg⁻¹ for Heracleum sibiricum L. and Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop. Research demonstrated that the legumes contained significantly more total protein and crude fibre than herbs, where no significant differences were found between the particular legume species. However, in the case of herbs, significant diversification of those components occurred, and the highest amount of protein and at the same time the lowest amount of fibre was accumulated by Heracleum sibiricum L. and Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop. Legume digestibility reached 60-65%. Among the herbs, higher digestibility was characteristic for Heracleum sibiricum L. (74.1%) and Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop. (74.4%), whereas the lowest one for Achillea millefolium L. (62.2%).
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