Turkish Journal of Field Crops

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THE EFFECTS OF CUTTING INTERVALS AND SEEDING RATES ON FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF ALFALFA

Ibrahim ATIS, Nafiz CELIKTAS , Ersin CAN , Saban YILMAZ

Abstract

Understanding the effects of seeding rate and cutting intervals on dry matter yield and nutritive value may help to optimize of alfalfa production. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimum cutting interval and seeding rate of two cultivars of alfalfa (cv. Alsancak and cv. Nimet). Field experiments were carried out for 3 years in Mediterranean ecological conditions. The treatments were comprised of three cutting programs at 20, 30 and 40 days interval and two seeding rates (15 and 30 kg ha-1 ). The experiment was designed a split–split plot in a randomized complete block with 3 repetitions. The main plots were cutting intervals, sub-plots were seeding rates and sub –subplots were assigned as alfalfa cultivars. The results of the research showed that all properties inspected were significantly affected from the cutting intervals, the effect of the seeding rate and the cultivars were found to be not significant (except fresh forage yield). While the extended cutting intervals increased the forage yield, it reduced the forage quality. In terms of satisfactory forage yield and quality for similar ecological conditions, 30 days cutting interval and 15 kg ha-1 seeding rate have been advisable.

Keyword: Alfalfa, cutting interval, forage yield, quality, seeding rate, ,

Effects of Different Water Stress Levels on Biomass Yield and Agronomic Traits of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Varieties under Semi-Arid Conditio

Erdal GONULAL, Suleyman SOYLU, Mehmet SAHIN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Wielkopolska region at the Gorzyń Research Station, Poland (52.34°N, 15.54°E) in Central Europe. The study was conducted over a 3-year period (2017, 2018, 2019) as a two-factorial design with four replications in the RCBD. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the cultivar (‘Bolero’, ‘Tytan’) and the inoculation (Nitragina–seeds inoculation, Nitroflora I–seeds inoculation, Nitroflora II–soil inoculation, HiStick® Lupin–seeds inoculation) on plant development, seeds chemical composition and yielding of narrow-leaved lupin. The weather conditions and experimental factors significantly influenced on productivity of narrow-leaved lupin ‘Tytan’. Drought during the growing season reduced seeds and protein yields. After inoculation of HiStck the seeds yield was significantly greater by 12.4% (p < 0.01) and the protein yield after application of Nitroflora I or HiStick by 13.9% (p < 0.01) and 19.2% (p < 0.01), respectively. Correlation coefficients showed strong relations between number of pods and seeds per plant in both cultivars regardless of the inoculation variant, however the strongest relations in both cultivar were proved on HiStick treatment.
Keyword: Biological nitrogen fixation, chemical composition, legumes, protein efficiency, yielding