The effect of different replications of humic acid fertilization on yield performances of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

This study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Diyarbakir, Turkey, in 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 growing seasons, in order to determine the effects of different humic acid treatments (control, soil 100%, seeds 100%, leaves 100%, soil 50% + seeds 50%, soil 50% + leaves 50%, seeds 50% + leaves 50% and seeds 33% + soil 33% + leaves 33% fertilizations) on herbage and crude protein concentration of common vetch. According to the results of this study, humic acid treatments increased the yields, and this increase was found to be significant as well as statistical. According to the two-year research, the highest value for green herbage yield (15180 kg ha-1), dry herbage yield (3045 kg ha-1) and plant height (61 cm) was obtained from soil 100% fertilizations, while the highest crude protein concentration (13.43%) was obtained from seeds 33% + soil  33% + leaves 33% fertilizations.Key words: Crude protein, fertilization, fulvic acid, humic acid and vetch

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

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 twoyears, 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

Yield and nutritive value of Anti-Taurus Mountain rangeland shrubs in Turkey

Shrubs provide the bulk of feed for goats in the Mediterranean agropastoral farming systems, yet quantitative data on productivity and nutritive value of highland shrubs species that is needed to develop rangeland management strategies are limited. Edible Fodder (EF) yield and concentrations of CP, ADF, NDF and IVOMD in the EF of shrubs were evaluated at Saksak and Candir in Yayladagi County of Antakya on the Anti-Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Significant variations in EF yield (8-4003 kg DM ha-1), CP (5.9-23.1%), ADF (19.9-38.4%), NDF (30.9-54.2%) and IVOMD (22.7-56.7%) were recorded among the shrubs at Saksak. Similarly, variations in EF yield (202-1523 kg DMha-1), CP (5.9-13.2%), ADF (22.8-37.7%), NDF (38.3-53.6%) and IVOMD (29.3-51.4%) were significant among the shrubs at Candir. Based on digestible organic matter yield, the shrubs could be ranked as: Daphne sericea>Cafycotome infesta>Styrax officinalis>Cistus salviaefolius> Rhamnus alaternus>Laurus nobilis>Juniperus oxycedrus>Quercus cocciferd>Pistacia terebentis in Saksak and Daphne sericea>Styrax officinalis>Cistus salviaefolius>Juniperus oxycedrus>Quercus coccifera> Pistacia terebentis in Candir. D. sericea, S. qfficinalis, C. salviaefolius and C. infesta showed greater potential for development of agroforestry technologies to increase rangeland productivity in the Anti-Taurus Mountains region and similar highland environments in other parts of the world. Further research on cheaper methods of establishment, defoliation options to optimize and sustain edible fodder and wood production, fodder quality in terms of outputs of livestock products may be needed. © Medwell Journals, 2010

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

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. © 2009 Academic Journals

NUTRITIVE VALUE OF MEDITERRANEAN SHRUBS

Nutritive values of the leaves of Mediterranean shrubs Quercus coccifera, Calicotome villosa, Rhamnus oleoides ssp. graecus, Pistacia terebinthus, Paliurus spina-christi and Phillyrea latifolia, and Leuceana leucocephala, an introduced species were studied. These shrubs were hand harvested from three plots established in the experimental field at before flowering, flowering and bear fruit stages. The nutritive values were evaluated in terms of the chemical composition, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), relative feed value (RFV), dry matter intake (DMI) as well as digestible dry matter (DDM).Maturity had a significant effect on the chemical composition, DM, OM and estimated parameters (DDM, DMI and RFV) of the leaves of the shrub species. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and condensed tannin (CT) contents increased with increasing maturity whereas the crude protein decreased. DM and estimated parameters also decreased with increasing maturity. CP, ADF, NDF, Ash and CT contents ranged from 6.4 to 33.3%, from 6.9 to 39.1%, from 10.1 to 50.5%, from 2.9 to 6.8% and from 0.7 to 15.8%, respectively. The OM and DM ranged from 93.2 to 97.1% and from 28.5 to 70.8%, respectively. The digestibility DM, DM intake and RFV ranged from 58.4 to 83.5%, from 2.4 to 11.9% and from 107.7 to 769.3, respectively ADF, NDF and condensed tannin contents of the leaves of the shrub species harvested at bear fruit stage were significantly higher than those harvested at before flowering and flowering stages, while CP contents and estimated parameters of the leaves of the shrub species harvested at flowering stage were significantly higher than those harvested at before flowering and bear fruit stages. The biplot analysis indicated negative correlation of CP content with OM and DM, whereas it is positively correlated with CT and ash contents. On the other hand, ADF was positively correlated with NDF, whereas it is negatively correlated with estimated parameters. The shrub species harvested at the proper stage of maturity offers considerable potential as high quality forage for ruminants during critical period in the semi arid and arid regions.Nutritve values of the leaves of Mediteranean shrubs Quercus cocifera, Calicotome vilosa, Rhamnus oleoides sp.graecus, Pistacia terebinthus, Paliurus pina-christi and Philyrea latifolia, and Leuceana leucocephala, an introducedspecies were studied. These shrubs were hand harvested from thre plots established in the xperimental field at beforeflowering, flowering and bear fruit stages. The nutritve values were valuated in terms of the chemical compositon, drymater (DM), organic mater (OM), relative fed value (RFV), dry mater intake (DMI) as wel as digestible dry mater(DDM).Maturity had asignifcant efect on the chemical compositon, DM, OM and estimated parameters (DDM, DMIand RFV) of the leaves of the shrub species. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and condensedtanin (CT) contents increased with increasing maturity whereas the crude protein decreased. DM and estimatedparameters also decreased with increasing maturity. CP, ADF, NDF, Ash and CT contents ranged from 6.4 to 3.3%,from 6.9 to 39.1%, from 10.1 to 50.5%, from 2.9 to 6.8% and from 0.7 to 15.8%, respectively. The OM and DM rangedfrom 93.2 to 97.1% and from 28.5 to 70.8%, respectively. The digestibilty DM, DM intake and RFV ranged from 58.4to 83.5%, from 2.4 to 1.9% and from 107.7 to 769.3, respectively ADF, NDF and condensed tanin contents of theleaves of the shrub species harvested at bear fruit stage were signifcantly higher than those harvested at before floweringand flowering stages, while CP contents and estimated parameters of the leaves of the shrub species harvested atflowering stage were signifcantly higher than those harvested at before flowering and bear fruit stages. The biplotanalysi indicated negative corelation of CP content with OM and DM, whereas it is positvely corelated with CT andash contents. On the other hand, ADF was positvely corelated with NDF, whereas it is negatively corelated withestimated parameters. The shrub species harvested at he proper stage of maturity ofers considerable potential as highquality forage for uminants during critcal period in the semi arid and arid regions.</p

Plant density and mixture ratio effects on the competition between common vetch and wheat

Mixtures of annual forage legumes with winter small grains for forage are practiced traditionally in the Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of variable seed mixture rates and different plant densities on the forage yield. The study also investigated the competition effects among mixture partners in the mixture of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivium L.). Field trials were conducted at two locations (L1, Hatay and L2, Adana) during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 growing seasons. Three plant densities (200, 400, 600 plants m-2) and five seed mixture ratios (100 % V, 75% V + 25% W, 50% V + 50% W, 25% V + 75% W, 100 % W) of common vetch (V) and wheat (W) were used. The results of the study showed that increased plant density in the mixture resulted in increased dry matter yield per unit area. In addition, increased seed ratio of wheat in the mixture caused increased dry matter yield per unit area. Also, elevated dry matter yield resulted in increased crude protein yield. Land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressivity (A) and competitive ratio (CR) indexes showed that common vetch was the dominant species in all common vetch-wheat mixtures