Forage Yield and Some Quality Properties of Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) - Fodder Pea (Pisum Arvense L.) Mixtures, as Affected By Sowing Rates in Thrace Region, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sowing ratios on forage yield and quality (amino acid, fibre and mineral contents) in fodder pea-safflower mixtures. Three field experiments were conducted at Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey between 2006 and 2009 in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications. The pea was sown with safflower as follow: fodder pea 25% + safflower 75%, fodder pea 50% + safflower 50%, fodder pea 75% + safflower 25%. Besides, pure safflower and fodder pea were sown. The green fodder yield, dry matter yield, botanical composition, crude fibre, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, total amino acid and amino acid contents were determined. The highest green fodder yield (56.40 t ha(-1)) was obtained from pure fodder pea plots. The dry matter yield ranged from 7.88 t ha(-1) to 15.11 t ha(-1), the maximum dry matter yields being determined in pure fodder pea (15.11 t ha(-1)) and 75% fodder pea+25% safflower mixture (13.74 t ha(-1)). There were no significant differences between P ratios (0.32 to 0.35%). The pure safflower hay had highest CF (27.80%), ADF (36.44%), K (2.22%) and Mg (0.72%) contents, whereas, the highest NDF contents (44.72 to 45.14%) were determined from pure safflower and 75% safflower+ 25% fodder pea mixture. The maximum Ca ratios were found in 75% fodder pea + 25% safflower mixture (1.71%) and pure safflower (1.82%) hays. The highest total contents of AA (128.4 g kg(-1)), CP (153.1 g kg(-1)), lysine (8.9 g kg(-1)) histidine (3.6 g kg(-1)), arginine (6.1 g kg(-1)), aspartic acid (15.4 g kg(-1)), threonine (6.4 g kg(-1)), glutamic acid (15.4 g kg(-1)) proline (17.9 g kg(-1)) glycine (5.6 g kg(-1)), serine (7.0 g kg(-1)), alanine (8.4 g kg(-1)) phenylalanine (6.1 g kg(-1)) leucine (10.7 g kg(-1)) and tyrosine (3.9 g kg(-1)) were determined in the pure fodder pea.