Forage production and quality of common vetch mixtures with barley, oat and triticale in four phenological stages

The objective was to determine forage yield and quality of vetch mixtures with barley, oat and triticale in two seeding ratios (65: 35; 35: 65) at four phenological stages. To this end, a randomized block design with factorial array (3x4x4) and four replications was established. The greatest dry matter yield was obtained from the oat-vetch mixture at the grain doughy stage of maturity (16.6 t ha(-1); P < 0.00), while the seed proportion with the highest production was from the oat-vetch (65: 35) ratio with 19.9 t ha(-1) during the dough grain stage. The highest amount of crude protein was obtained from the oat-vetch (178 g kg(-1) MS) and triticale-vetch (161 g kg(-1) MS) mixtures during booting stage. The monoculture vetch and oats-vetch (35: 65) proportion, both had lower amounts of neutral detergent fiber at the mature grain stage (P<0.001). The oat, vetch and triticale monocultures showed the lowest acid detergent fiber during milky grain stage (P<0.001). The greatest percentage of TDN was observed in vetch monoculture and its mixtures with barley (65: 35) during the milky grain stage, respectively (P<0.001). The monoculture vetch provided highest values for NEL and RFV (P<0.001). In conclusion, the forage yield and quality of vetch mixtures with barley, oat and triticale depend on the maturity stage. Also, the oat-vetch mixture showed the greatest dry matter yield and high CP concentration. In addition, forage relative value was higher during the mature grain stage.