EVALUATION OF ECONOMIC PROFITABILITY AND CLIMATIC – EDAPHIC CONDITIONS OF NORTHERN BAČKA FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ITALIAN RYEGRASS SEED (Lolium italicum L.)

Abstract

Italian ryegrass is a high quality grass, relatively well
adapted to our agroecological conditions. In order to increase the
production of fodder crop obtained from this plant, it is necessary to
establish grass surfaces and it is necessary to produce quality and
cheap seeds. In order to achieve this goal, we need modern
agrotechnics for seed production, adjusted to our conditions and
adapted to the edaphic and weather characteristics of our production
areas.
The yields of seeds achieved in our production practice are
significantly lower than the potentials, but it is possible to increase it
with better agrotechnology during the development of seed crops and
the seasonal performance of agrotechnical operations. Qualitative
production requires experienced staff as well as cooperation between
science and economy. Italian ryegrass has a number of features that
make it interesting for cost-effective production. There is big market,
with a great demand for seeds every year. Italian ryegrass is
irreplaceable in short-term grass-leguminous mixtures. However,
Vojvodina does not belong to the grassland production area, it is
rather an intensive production area for fruits and vegetables.
The main goal of this work is to examine the suitability of climaticedaphic conditions of Vojvodina (northern Bačka) in the production of
Italian ryegrass seeds, not only in terms of yield and quality of seeds
(agrotechnical aspect), but also by determining the economic
profitability of seed production in the spring sowing in the first year of
exploitation, as well as in the conditions of dry cropping
(agroeconomic aspect).