Energy efficiency of red clover cultivation in short rotation crop rotation

The article investigates the energy efficiency of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cultivation in short-rotation crop rotation under different fertilization and liming systems.The research was conducted at the Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of NAAS.The study examined the effects of organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as lime materials, on dry matter yield, total energy inputs, and gross energy output from clover grass stands.The results showed that combining organic and mineral fertilizers with liming ensures the highest gross energy output (up to 238.6 GJ/ha).Dry matter yield ranged from 4.6 to 12.6 t/ha, depending on the fertilization and liming levels.The highest coefficient of energy efficiency (22.6 for forage and 13.3 for forage and green manure method of use) was recorded for the use of mineral fertilisers at a rate of N65P68K68.Utilizing the second cut of red clover as green manure reduced the gross energy output and energy efficiency coefficients compared to forage usage; however, these indicators remained sufficiently high, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.This study confirms the importance of optimizing fertilization systems to ensure sustainable development, enhance agroecosystem productivity, and conserve energy resources.