YIELD AND QUALITY PERFORMANCES OF ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA) CULTIVARS SOWN AT VARIOUS DATES UNDER SUB-MEDITERRANEAN ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

In this study it was aimed to determine the best sowing date and cultivar for the cultivation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey, using a randomized splitblock design with three replicates. The study was conducted from 2015 to 2017 using alfalfa cultivars of Kayseri, Magnum V, Gea, and Nimet and these cultivars sowed at three different sowing dates March 10, April 5, and April 30, 2015. The mean plant height of the cultivars was 66.04 cm, mean number of main stems was 10.77 number/plant, mean fresh herbage yield was 50020.1 kg ha-1, mean hay yield was 13509.2 kg ha-1, mean crude protein yield was 2464.0 kg ha-1, mean crude protein rate was 17.88%, mean acid detergent fiber (ADF) rate was 34.01%, and mean neutral detergent fiber (NDF) rate was 39.49%. The highest mean plant height, fresh herbage yield, hay yield, and crude protein yield were observed at first and second sowing times. The results clearly indicate that the first and second sowing dates were the most suitable periods for alfalfa planting in the region studied. Additionally, Magnum V cultivar was the highest cultivator for fresh herbage and hay yield.