Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, cilt.16, sa.5, ss.7139-7154, 2018 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was conducted to determine forage quality characteristics of duo (alfalfa + one grass) and trio (alfalfa + two grasses) mixtures of some warm season perennial grass species such as dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana L.), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) Guineae grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), blue couch grass (Digitaria didactyla Willd) and finger grass (Digitaria milanjiana (Rendle) Stapf) with alfalfa as well as their pure sowings under irrigated conditions in the Mediterranean region of Turkey during 2010-2012 growing seasons. In the study, crude protein contents, crude protein yields, acid detergent fiber contents (ADF), neutral detergent fiber contents (NDF), digestible dry matter contents (DDM) and relative feed values (RFV) of the mixtures and pure sowings were determined. The experimental design was completely randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences among mixtures and pure sowings in the forage quality characteristics. The highest crude protein yield (3948.5) kg ha(-1)) was obtained from the mixture of dallis grass + alfalfa. The highest crude protein ratio (20.5%), DDM ratio (68.3%) and RFV (170.88) was obtained from the pure alfalfa. The highest ADF (40.2%) and NDF (70.9%) was obtained from the pure Guinea grass. From the results of the study, it was concluded that Bermuda grass, Rhodes grass, blue couch grass and dallis grass could be used to establish of duo and trio pasture mixtures with alfalfa, having long grazing season and giving high hay quality. Before the establishment of such pasture mixtures, it is needed to search for proper mixture ratios and proper management techniques of the mixtures.