A high-performance permanent grassland is a central basis for sustainable and economically successful animal production. A balanced ratio of species groups (grasses, legumes and herbs) is essential to achieve stable, high yields with good feed quality . Due to climatic changes and longer periods of drought, grassland stocks are coming under increasing pressure. In order to keep the stocks productive in the future, in addition to using high-quality, drought-tolerant seed mixtures, an expansion of the range of species be considered.
To date, herbs have received little or no consideration in seed mixtures for commercial grassland in Central Europe. to pay more attention to them due to their sometimes strong drought tolerance The common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and the ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) could be more important here. Cultivated varieties of these species differ from the wild forms in that they have a significantly higher yield and have an extensive root system , which enables them to draw on water and nutrient reserves from the deeper layers of the soil even under dry conditions.
To date, there have been only a few studies aimed at the mixture design including these species, and there is also a lack of information about their feed quality and preservation, behavior in the plant population and pruning tolerance over several years. These questions are currently being investigated at four locations in Austria (2x organic and 2x conventional).
