INTERCROPPING OF HUNGARIAN VETCH (VICIA PANNONICA CRANTZ.) AND BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.) UNDER DIFFERENT PLANT VARIETIES AND MIXTURE RATES

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different varieties and mixture ratios on the forage yield and quality of a Hungarian vetch and barley intercropping system at the Middle Kizilirmak Basin of Turkey (40 degrees 202 N, 33 degrees 582 E, elevation 550 m), during the 2011-2012 and 2012 2013 growing seasons. As per the results averaged over 2 years, the different varieties and mixture ratios had significant effect on the forage yield and quality, and also the interactions for the characters studied were statistically significant. The highest Hungarian vetch rate (37.3%), green herbage (36.3 t ha(-1)) and crude protein (CP) yields (1510 kg ha(-1)) were obtained from the mixture of 80% Hungarian vetch (Tarm Beyazi-98) and 20% barley, the highest hay yield (10.5 t ha(-1)) was obtained from the mixture of 20% Hungarian vetch (Anadolu Pembesi-2002) and 80%barley. In terms of the forage quality parameters, such as crude protein rate (CPR), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and relative feed value, except for the CPR (16%, in 80% Hungarian vetch (Tarm Beyazi-98)+20% barley combination), the most desirable results were assessed (54.6%, 31.3%, and 110%, respectively) from the mixture of 80% Hungarian vetch (Ege Beyazi-79) and 20% barley. The cultivar Tarm Beyazi-98 showed the highest forage yield among the tested cultivars of Hungarian vetch, while cultivar Ege Beyazi-79 had the highest forage quality. Moreover, despite the forage yield having been increased with the increasing barley seed ratio in the mixture, the forage quality significantly decreased concurrently. From the results of the study, it was concluded that the optimal values, both in yield and quality, were obtained from the 80% Hungarian vetch +20% barley intercropping system.