Effect of geonet on the development of grasses and papilionaceus mixtures on river dike

Grzegorz Żurek

g.zurek@ihar.edu.pl
Instytut Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin, Ogród Botaniczny, Bydgoszcz (Poland)

Romuald Dembek

Zakład Łąkarstwa Akademii Techniczno-Rolniczej w Bydgoszczy (Poland)

Włodzimierz Majtkowski

Instytut Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin, Ogród Botaniczny, Bydgoszcz (Poland)

Roman Łyszczarz

Zakład Łąkarstwa Akademii Techniczno-Rolniczej w Bydgoszczy (Poland)

Jacek Ajdukiewicz

INORA, Przedsiębiorstwo Realizacyjne sp. z.o.o., Gliwice (Poland)

Abstract

Experiment was designed to examine the suitability of geonet for protection of river dike from erosion and to examine the effect of geonet on newly sown grass mixtures. Sowing of the experiment was done at the beginning of December 1999 on Odra river dike near Racibórz. Three types of grass-papilionaceous mixtures were sown on plots (3,5 m x 7 m) with and without geonet (control) with 3 replications. Following types of mixtures were used: multi — species, with dominance of tall grasses (185,4 kg/ha), multi - species, with dominance of small grasses (142,5 kg/ha) and turf-type (163,2 kg/ha) with dominance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Seeds were sown by hand and geonet was fastened with metal pins. No additional fertilisation or herbicide treatment was applied. Cutting was performed no more than twice a year. Statistical analysis of two year results did not show significant difference between control and plots covered with geonet for sward density, percentage of grasses and papilionaceous species in sward. The visible advantage of geonet was the protection against small animals digging holes in dam (moles, field-volves etc.) as well as reduction of deep-rooting weeds infestation. Both advantages are of high significance in case of stability of whole dike construction.

Keywords:

geonet, grass mixtures, river dike