Effects of sowing ratio and harvest periods on hay yields, quality and competitive characteristics of Hungarian vetch - cereal mixtures

Abstract

Since Hungarian vetch has semi-decumbent stem, it is commonly grown in mixture to prevent lodging of plants. Hungarian vetch, barley, wheat and triticale were sown as pure and in vetch-cereal mixtures (70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60) and harvested at two periods (pure cereals and mixtures were harvested at flowering and milk-dough stage of cereals; pure vetch was harvested at flowering and initial pod-set). Barley in all mixtures had negative impacts on development of Hungarian vetch. Considering hay yields, crude protein yields and land equivalent ratios, it was concluded that 70% Hungarian vetch + 30% triticale and 60% Hungarian vetch + 40% triticale mixtures under terrestrial climate sown in fall and harvested at milk-dough stage of triticale were advantageous.