YIELD, QUALITY AND COMPETITION PROPERTIES OF GRASS PEA AND WHEAT GROWN AS PURE AND BINARY MIXTURE IN DIFFERENT PLANT DENSITIES

Abstract

Mixtures of annual forage legumes with winter cereals for forage are practiced traditionally in the Mediterranean conditions. The objectives of this study were to compare grass pea and wheat pure stands as well as their mixtures in different plant densities under two seeding ratios for forage yield and quality and to estimate the effect of competition between the two species used in the intercropping systems. The experimental design was split plot in a randomized complete block with three replications. The main plot treatments were plant densities (350, 500 and 650 plant m-2 ) and sub-plots treatments were four sowing norm (pure grass pea (GP), 60% GP+ 40% W, 70% GP+ 30% W and pure wheat (W)). The results of the present study showed that plant densities do not have a significant effect on forage yield and quality, while the effect of mixture and pure stands on forage yield and quality were significant. According to the two-year average results, 60% GP + 40% W mixture gave the best results in terms of yield and quality. Calculated LER values showed that wheat+grass pea mixtures were more advantageous than pure stand of both species. As result of this research, 350 plant m-2 plant density and 60% GP + 40% W mixture can be recommended.