DRY MATTER AND PROTEIN YIELD IN MIXTURES OF PEA WITH OAT GROWN FOR GREEN FORAGE

Abstract

Background. Legume-cereal mixtures grown for green forage are a valuable source of high protein feed for ruminants. This paper presents the results of a study from 2009-2011 aimed at determining the effect of the proportion of components in a mixture and the time of harvest on dry matter yield as well as on the content and yield of total protein of field pea mixtures with oat grown for green forage. Material and methods. Two factors were considered in the experiment: (I) the proportion of components in the mixture: field pea ‒ pure sowing 100%, oat ‒ pure sowing 100%, field pea 75% + oat 25%, field pea 50% + oat 50%, field pea 25% + oat 75% and (II) the time of harvesting: field pea flowering stage, field pea flat green pod stage. During harvesting the mixtures, the yield was determined and mean fresh matter samples were taken from each plot for chemical analyses. In the collected plant material, the content of dry matter and total protein was determined. Results. The dry matter yield, the content and yield of total protein of field pea and oat mixtures were significantly differentiated by the weather conditions, experimental factors and their interaction. The highest yields of dry matter and total protein were obtained from the pea and oat mixture with the proportion of components 50% + 50% harvested at the field pea flat green pod stage. Conclusion. Field pea grown in pure sowing harvested at the flowering stage was characterized by the highest total protein content. The field pea and oat mixtures contained less total protein. Among them, the mixture of field pea with oats with the proportion of components 75% + 25% was characterized by the highest content of total protein.