Evaluation of annual legumes and barley as sole crops and intercrop in spring frost conditions for animal feeding I. Yield and quality

Abstract

This study evaluated sole grass pea (Lathyrussativush.), sole common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), sole barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), common vetch + barley intercrop, common vetch (I) and barley (I) in terms of yields and quality properties in 2006-2007 at Kelkit Aydin Dogan Vocational Training School Research Station of Gumushane University, Turkey. Intercrop plants were separated as common vetch (called as common vetch I) and barley (called as barley I). Plants were seeded in April of both years in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The study plots were 3.0 m long by 1.68 m wide, with 24 cm row spacing. Each plot was fertilized with 20 ton ha-1 organic farmyard manure. The year effects were significant in dry matter yield, crude protein, crude protein yield, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber. The legumes especially were injured by frost in 2007. Significant differences were found in terms of Dry Matter Yield (DMY), Crude Protein (CP), Crude Protein Yield (CPY), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Dry Digestible Matter (DDM) and Relative Feed Value (RFV) amongst all the plants. Sole common vetch and sole barley had good properties in DMY, CP and CPY. Sole grass pea, common vetch (I), sole common vetch and intercrops showed good quality properties in ADF and NDF. Sole grass pea especially, sole common vetch and common vetch (I) had good quality properties in DMI, DDM and RFV. Farmers should prefer sole common vetch and sole grass pea cultivation in yield and quality and regulate their seeding times according to days with frost in similiar conditions. © Medwell Journals, 2009.