Determination of Intercropping Opportunities of Silage Maize and Legumes Plants in Terms of Forage Quality

Abstract

Various studies should be carried out to increase animal production under the conditions of our country where animal food production and consumption is low. Among these studies, animal feeding is the most important one, especially in order to increase yield and quality. Knowing and investigating the protein energy mineral vitamin ratios in roughage is very important in terms of animal nutrition. This study was carried out by adding legumes (forage soybean, local cowpea, local bean and fodder pea) to the row of maize without reducing the plant density of maize; It was carried out in order to establish the wheat + legume mixed planting systems and to determine the quality of these planting systems and to determine the most suitable planting system for the regional conditions. This research was carried out in the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Application and Research Center in 2019 and 2021. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with 3 replications. In the experiment, the plots were formed as; 1) Pure Maize, 2) Pure Soybean 3) Pure Cowpea 4) Pure Bean 5) Pure Fodder Pea 6) Maize+Soybean, 7) Maize+Cowpea, 8) Maize+Bean, 9) Maize+Fodder Pea. In this study; Crude protein, ADF, NDF ratios and protein equivalent ratios of corn and legumes in pure and blends were determined. As a result of the study, when evaluated in terms of quality and digestibility, it was determined that the best planting system for the Bilecik region was Maize + Soybean. Considering the protein area equivalence ratios, it is predicted that Maize + Soybean and Maize + Cowpea sowing systems can be grown in the Bilecik region. Thus, it is thought that with the production of high quality and efficient feed in the Bilecik region, there will be an increase in the meat and milk yields of animals and positive contributions to animal health can be made.