Effect of sowing techniques and harvesting treatments on the performances of some rotation pasture mixtures

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the performances of some promising forage crop mixtures for rotation pastures under Mediterranean ecological conditions. The study was conducted in the experimental area of Field Crops Department of Agriculture Faculty, Aegean University, Turkey in 2004 and 2005. Festuca arundinaceae Schreb., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Medicago sativa L., Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. seeds were mixed and sown in same or alternate rows in different combinations (Fa 75% + Ms 25%, Fa 75% + Tr 25%, Fa 70% + Lc 30%, Cd 65% + Tr 35%, Cd 35% + Tr 30% + Fa 35%). Harvesting treatments were carried out by cutting at the 25% blooming stage of legume component and grazing the sward height when it reached 15 - 20 cm. The results indicated that grazing was more favourable compared to cutting in terms of various sowing technologies and harvest treatments. Fa + Ms mixture sown in alternate rows performed better than other applications with regards to the average fresh biomass and hay yield.

Key words: Pasture mixture, sowing technique, grazing, cutting