Biotech Studies 2000, Vol 9, Num, 1     (Pages: 032-055)

THE RESEARCHES ON THE EFFECTS OF MIXTURE SOWING RATES OF CICER MILKVETCTH (Astragalus cicer L.)- WHEATGRASS (Agropyrou Gaertn.) FOR FORAGE YIELD AND BOTANICAL COMPOSITION

Sabahaddin ÜNAL 1 ,Ahmet ERAÇ 2

1 Tarla Bitkileri Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü. Ankara
2 Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tarla Bitkileri Bölümü, Ankara
- The objective of t his study is to determine the best fitting combination of cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyrou cristatum (L.) Gaertn) and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv.) as a mixture in use of the planted pastures under dryland conditions of Central Anatolia. The research was established as a completely randomised block design with four replications, and was conducted in the years between 1995 and 1997 at the Haymana İkizce Experimental Station of The Central Research Institute for Field Crops. A total of eleven combinations of cicer milkvetch, crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass made up the mixtures as at the ratios of 20, 40, 60, 80 % and pure stand for each species. The results of this research are presented as follows:

1. There was significant differences among seedling numbers of plan t species in rogart with mixtures. Crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass compared with cicer milkvetch which were parallel observed increasing seedling numbers in relation to increasing sowing rates. Seedling dry weights at the ratios of sowing weren't significantly obtained at the same plant species.

2. Compared with botanical composition rates ( according to plant numbers and dry matter yields ) in the combinations of cicer milkvetch, crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass, those of cicer milkvetch were less found, those of crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass were more obtained.

3. Herbage and hay yields of intermediate wheatgrass were the highest whereas them of cicer milkvetch were the lowest. The mixture consisted of 40 % cicer milkvetch + 60 % crested wheatgrass possessed the highest hay yield. In the mixture of 20 % cicer milkvetch + 80 % intermediate wheatgrass produced the highest hay yield.

4. In mixtures of crested wheatgrass, the mixture made up 40 % cicer milkvetch + 60 % crested wheatgrass possessed the highest dry matter yield, whereas the highest dry matter yield of intermediate wheatgrass was obtained from the mixture of 20 % cicer milkvetch + 80 % intermediate wheatgrass.

5. The highest crude protein yield was realized in mixture of 40 % cicer milkvetch + 60 crested wheatgrass. In the mixtures of intermediate wheatgrass the highest crude protein yield was obtained from the mixture of 80 % cicer milkvetch + 20 % intermediate wheatgrass. The results of this research showed that recommended mixtures of cicer milkvetch, crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass give the artificial pastures with the highest hay yields. Keywords : Cicer milkvetch, crested wheatgrass, mixture, composition