Effects of mixture ratios on forage yield and quality of legume–triticale intercropping systems without fertilizer in oceanic climate zone

Abstract

Research was conducted to determine the most appropriate legume species and mixture ratios to use in pure sowing and intercropping systems of triticale with different legume species in regard to forage yield and quality in an oceanic climate zone (Western Black Sea region). Experiments were conducted in randomized blocks designed for two years. Species: common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) all were pure sown and in legume–triticale intercropping systems. According to data obtained from this research, the lowest values for investigated parameters were obtained from pure triticale treatment, and the values decreased with increasing triticale ratios in mixtures. In the legume species included in intercropping systems, the greatest dry matter yield of pure sowings was obtained from pea with 6.07 t ha-1, and the greatest value of intercropping systems was obtained from pea–triticale mixtures with 8.98–8.11 t ha-1. Considering the forage quality of investigated treatments, Hungarian vetch and common vetch were found to be superior to pea. The lowest NDF and ADF values were obtained from pure Hungarian vetch treatments. The peak RYT values were obtained from including pea and 60:40 and 50:50 Hungarian vetch mixtures. In conclusion, when we consider forage yield, it was observed that pea was prominent among the legume species, and vetches were superior with regard to forage quality. In point of the significance level of both criteria in animal feeding, 60:40 and 50:50 Hungarian vetch mixture ratios could be recommended for similar ecologies.