QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MIXTURES OF SOME WARM SEASON PERENNIAL GRASSES WITH ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITIONS OF CUKUROVA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to determine forage quality characteristics of duo (alfalfa + one grass) and trio ( alfalfa + two grasses) mixtures of some warm season perennial grass species such as dallis grass ( Paspalum dilatatum Poir.), Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana L.) and Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) with alfalfa as well as their pure sowings under irrigated conditions of Cukurova during the years of 2009-2011. In the study, crude protein contents, crude protein yields, acid detergent fiber contents (ADF), neutral detergent fiber contents (NDF) and relative feed values (RFV) of the mixtures and pure sowings were determined. The experimental design was completely randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences among mixtures and pure sowings in the forage quality characteristics. The highest crude protein yield (2.32 t ha -1 ) was obtained from the mixture of dallis grass + alfalfa. The highest crude protein ratio (20.6 %) and RFV (164.8) was obtained from the pure alfalfa. The highest ADF (40.2 %) and NDF (70.9 %) was obtained from the pure dallis grass. The result of the study indicated that duo mixture of alfalfa with dallis grass may be used to establish artificial pastures under irrigated conditions of Cukurova or of similar ecologies owing to its high forage quality and high crude protein yield. Key words: Warm season perennial grasses, alfalfa, mixture, quality