LAUSR

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Ecklonia maxima extract on monosaccharide, structural and non-structural carbohydrate as well as lignin contents in two Lolium perenne cultivars against the background of a varied nitrogen fertilisation regime. A field experiment was arranged as a randomised sub-block design (split-split-plot) in Poland. The following factors were examined: biostimulant Kelpak SL applied at 2 dm.ha and a control (no biostimulant addition); nitrogen application rates of: 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha; cultivars of Lolium perenne: Diament and Gagat. The research reported here demonstrated positive effect of Ecklonia maxima extract on Lolium perenne chemical composition. Its results showed that structural carbohydrate and lignin contents in grass biomass may be reduced whereas non-structural carbohydrate content may be increased by means of an application of sea alga extract, which results in an improved quality of feed produced from these grasses. The biostimulant applied in combination with each nitrogen rate significantly increased the concentration of monosaccharides and non-structural carbohydrates, and reduced the concentration of structural carbohydrates and lignin in Lolium perenne biomass. Increasing nitrogen rates significantly increased cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents but they reduced amounts of monosaccharides and non-structural carbohydrates in the test grasses.