The 1999-2001 research evaluated the applicability of red clover for mountain meadow undersowing and drew on ‘Raba’ cultivar clover and ecotype of low-highland-region origin. While preparing the meadow for undersowing, 30-40 % of sward was damaged with heavy tractor-drawn harrow and rotary cultivator. The red clover ecotype adapted much better to meadow sward than the cultivar; the ecotype share in the yield was over two-fold higher than the share of ‘Raba’. The presence of clovers in the meadow sward was most favourable in the second and third research years when the objects exposed to 30 kg N·ha-1 yielded at a similar level to that of natural sward fertilised with 100 kg N·ha-1. The plant matter which included clovers showed also a higher dry matter digestibility which increased by 1 % with every 10 % of clover share in the yield.

19-25