Determination of Silage Yield and Quality of Grasspea+ Cereal Intercrops

Abstract

This study was performed with the aim of determine silage yield and quality traits of grasspea “G” (Lathyrus sativus L.) and cereal binary mixtures. As a cereal oat “O” (Avena sativa L.) and barley “B” (Hordeum vulgare L.) were used. Intercrops were sown 80:20, 60:40 and 40:60% seed rates, and also sole grasspea and cereals were control. Harvest was done at milk dough stage for sole cereals and intercrops while it was at full flowering stage for sole grass pea. In this study; physical observations (colour, structure, odour) with dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, potassium (K), phosphor (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and sodium (Na) contents were determined. Forage yield of mixtures ranged between 703.6 (100G%) – 1939.0 (80M%+20B%) kg/da. The highest lactic acid was determined in sole barley with 4.078%and 40G+60O% and 40G%+60B% mixtures was same statistical group with sole barley (3.198% and 2.937% of respectively). Acetic and butyric acid were ranged between 0.001–0.187% and 0.312–1.101% of respectively. 100G% and 60G%+40B% treatments were more than value other mixtures in term of nutrients. As a result, grass pea + cereal intercropping increased silage yield compared sole cropping and, barley showed higher performance than oat in both sole and mixture cropping. Therefore, for the silage purpose, intercropping grass pea with barley at 60:40 seed ratio can be suitable when yield and quality are evaluated together.