Performances of Some Perennial Warm Season Grasses Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Mixtures under Mediterranean Conditions

Authors : Selahattin CINAR, Rustu HATIPOGLU, Feyza Dondu GUNDEL, Arif AKTAS, Mustafa AVCI

Pages : 212-218

Doi:10.17557/tjfc.46162

View : 24 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2014-02-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This research was conducted to determine forage yield and botanical composition of duo insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(alfalfa + one grass); and trio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( alfalfa + two grasses); mixtures of some warm season perennial grass species such as dallis grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Paspalum dilatatum Poir.);, Rhodes grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Chloris gayana L.);, Bermuda grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Cynodon dactylon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(L.); Pers.); Guineae grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Panicum maximum Jacq.);, blue couch grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Digitaria didactyla Willd); and finger grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Digitaria milanjiana insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rendle); Stapf); with alfalfa insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Medicago sativa L.); as well as their pure sowings under irrigated conditions of Mediterranean during the years of 2011 and 2012. In the study, green herbage yield, dry matter yield, alfalfa proportion in dry matter yields and land equivalent ratio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(LER); were determined. The experimental design was completely randomized block design with three replications. According to the results, it was determined that the ratios of warm season grasses in the botanical composition of the mixtures declined with the establishment age while rate of alfalfa in the botanical composition of the mixtures increased. Increasing the rate of alfalfa in the botanical composition of the mixtures also increased hay quality of the mixtures. The mixtures gave higher dry matter yield than pure sowings of the species. The highest green herbage yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(98.14 t ha1); was obtained from the mixture of Rhodes grass + alfalfa. The highest dry matter yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(22.46 t ha1); was obtained from the mixture of dallis grass + Guinea grass + alfalfa. The highest value of land equivalent ratio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(LER); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.49); was obtained from the mixture of bermuda grass +Rhodes grass + alfalfa. From the results of the study, it was concluded that Guinea grass and finger grass did not show good adaptaion to the Cukurova conditions due to low temperatures during the winter season. Bermuda grass, Rhodes grass, blue couch grass and dallis grass could be used to establish pasture mixtures with alfalfa, having long grazing season and giving high hay yield and quality. Before the establishment of such pasture mixtures, it was needed to research proper mixture ratios and proper management techniques of the mixtures
Keywords : Warm season perennial grasses, alfalfa, mixture, yield, LER