Effects of different seeding rates on forage yield and quality components in pea

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seeding rate on yield and quality components in forage pea cultivars. Four pea cultivars (Ulubatli, Kirazli, Golyazi and Urunlu) and five seeding rates (75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 viable seeds m-2) were used in this study. Field experiments were carried out from 2009 to 2011 during the winter growth period at Uludag University, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Application Center in Bursa province, Turkey. The experimental design was a randomized complete block desing with three replications. Dry matter yield, crude protein ratio and yield, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients and relative feed values were determined. Significant differences were found among the pea cultivars and seeding rates in all measured characteristics in both years. The highest dry matter yield was obtained from the Kirazli cultivar at 125 seed m-2. The digestibility of the Golyazi cultivar was higher than the other cultivars. On the other hand, the digestibility of the forage decreased as the seeding rate increased.