THE FACTORS AFFECTING YIELD AND QUALITY OF HUNGARIAN VETCH plus CEREAL MIXTURES IN ARID ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the performances of pure sowing of Hungarian vetch (HV) (Vicia pannonica Crantz), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), triticale (T) (XTriticosecale Wittmack) and their mixtures with HV in arid conditions during 20122013 and 2013-2014 vegetation seasons. The experiment was designed based on split plots in a randomized block design with four replicates. Three different cutting times of pure sowing and mixtures were determined as booting, flowering and milk dough stages. Vetches were at 10% flowering when cereals were in booting stage, the vetches were in full flowering while the cereals were in flowering stage, while the lower pod-setting of vetches, the cereals were in milking dough stage. The pure sowing vetch was also harvested during these periods. The highest wet and dry hay yields, considering the mixture and cutting time separately, were obtained at the milk dough stage from the mixture of 25% HV + 75% T. The crude protein ratio increased with the increase in HV ratio of mixtures while the ratios of ADF and NDF decreased. The extend of cutting time from booting to milk dough stage increased the hay yield while quality traits were decreased. The superior yield and quality traits of annual legume + cereal mixtures, when evaluated along with cutting time, suggested that harvesting of 50% HV+50% T mixture can be recommended during flowering period.