Full Length Research Paper

Effects of seeding rate on forage yield and quality of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) - triticale (Triticosecale Wittm.) mixtures under east mediterranean rainfed conditions

Kagan Kokten¹*, Faruk Toklu², Ibrahim Atis³ and Rustu Hatipoglu⁴

¹Bingol University, Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department, 12000 Bingol/Turkey.

²Cukurova University, Vocational School of Kozan, Adana/Turkey.

³Mustafa Kemal University, Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department, 31100 Hatay/Turkey.

⁴Cukurova University, Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department, 01330 Adana/Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: kahafe1974@yahoo.com. Tel: +090 426 215 10 16. Fax: +090 426 215 10 20.

Accepted 8 September, 2009

   Abstract

This study was carried to determine the best seed mixture of vetch and triticale for East Mediterranean rainfed conditions of Turkey. The experiments were conducted in two locations, Adana and Kozan, during the years of 2003 - 2005. The field trials were arranged in a randomised block design with three replications. In the research, pure stands of vetch and triticale and their seed mixtures (80% vetch + 20% triticale, 60% vetch + 40% triticale, 40% vetch + 60% triticale, 20% vetch + 80% triticale) were studied. Crude protein concentrations, hay and crude protein yields of pure stands and the mixtures and the percentage of vetch in the dry matter yield were determined. In addition to these, relative yield total (RYT) values were calculated for the mixtures. The study showed that the characters studied were significantly influenced by years, locations and mixtures. According to the averaged values of two years, the seed mixture containing 20% vetch and 80% triticale gave highest dry matter yield with an average vetch content of 23.5% under Adana conditions, while the seed mixture of 40% Vetch + 60% triticale gave the highest dry matter yield with an average vetch content of 10% under Kozan conditions. RYT values for the mentioned mixtures were 1.12 and 1.20, respectively. It was concluded that the above mixtures of vetch and triticale could be recommended for the locations in Adana and Kozan, respectively.

Key words: Common vetch, triticale, mixtures, forage quality.