FORAGE YIELD AND BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF MIXTURES OF SOME PERENNIAL WARM SEASON GRASSES WITH ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS

Authors : Selahattin CINAR, Rustu HATIPOGLU

Pages : 13-18

Doi:10.17557/tjfc.75994

View : 24 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2014-01-01

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.); and Bermuda grass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Cynodon dactylon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(L.); Pers.); with alfalfa as well as their pure sowings under irrigated conditions of Mediterranean during the years of 2009-2011. In the study, green herbage yield, dry matter yield, botanical composition 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. The mixtures gave higher dry matter yield than pure sowings of the species. The highest green herbage yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(68.44 t ha-1); was obtained from the mixture of alfalfa + Rhodes grass. The highest dry matter yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(15.40 t ha-1); was obtained from the mixture of alfalfa + Bermuda grass + Rhodes grass. The highest alfalfa proportion insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(50.0%); was obtained from the mixture of alfalfa + Bermuda grass. The highest LER insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.63); was obtained from mixture of alfalfa + dallis grass
Keywords : Alfalfa, mixture, warm season perennial grasses, yield