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Mixtures of annual legumes and small-grained cereals for forage production under low rainfall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. N. Droushiotis
D. N. Droushiotis
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Summary

Two small-grained cereals, Mulga oats and a triticale line, and two legumes, local vetch and local peas, were grown in pure stands and in mixtures at various cereal: legume seed ratios (20:80, 40:60, 60:40 and 80:20) for three successive cropping years, 1981/82 to 1983/84, at Laxia and Dromolaxia, Cyprus, in each year.

The cereal pure stands produced, on average, more dry matter, 8·40 t/ha, and more digestible organic matter, 4·12 t/ha, than the legume pure stands, 3·68 and 2·18 t/ha, respectively. On average, total dry matter production decreased linearly as the seed proportion of the legume component in the mixture increased. The proportion of the legume in the harvested material was much lower than expected from the seed ratios. The highest proportion of legume was seen in the mixtures of peas with triticale and ranged from 8·1 to 35·5% at the various sowing rates. Digestibility and crude protein content were highest in the mixtures of triticale and peas.

Type
Review
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 113 , Issue 2 , October 1989 , pp. 249 - 253
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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References

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