The forage utilization of winter pea-cereal mixture in agriculture low-input system

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the forage utilization of winter catch crop in relation to yield and mixture composition. In 2006–2009, the plot experiment with winter pea in mixtures with rye and triticale was conducted under completely randomized design with four replicates. The productivity of mixture was above 10 t.ha−1 whilst the significantly lowest value was observed for pea monoculture. The rye represented the most productive component in mixture but it achieved lower forage quality in comparison with triticale. The ratio of pea varied from 7 to 38 % in dependence on year and companion cereal. The triticale mixture provided higher ratio in comparison with rye and significant differences between rye varieties were also detected. The quality of mixture was depended mainly on ratio of crops in the mixture. The ratio of pea significantly increased crude protein content in mixture according to linear regression where crude protein = 9.56 + 0.11* weight percentage pea ratio (P < 0.000, R2 = 0.89). Quality of pea forage was also influenced by companion crop where pea in mixture with rye achieved significantly lower quality. The amount of weeds was highest in the pea monoculture and lowest in mixture with rye.