Effects of some plant growth regulators on yield and quality of forage pea (Pisum arvense)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of some externally applied plant regulators on the yield and quality characteristics of fodder pea, an important forage crop. Material and Methods: The research was conducted in the 2022-2023 production season in the experimental field of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Agriculture, using 2 forage pea cultivars and 4 different plant growth regulators with 3 replicates according to the factorial arrangement in random blocks. Forage pea (Taşkent and Kirazlı) varieties used as material in the study were sown in November with a trial harvester. Intermediate hoeing was done in December and February, and gibberellic acid (GA₃), salicylic acid (SA), indole butyric acid (IBA) and cytokinin applications were made during the early flowering period in March. Harvesting was done at full flowering. Findings: According to the results obtained, plant height was 95,47-171,61 cm, stem diameter was 2,79-4,05 mm, green grass yield was 1361,1- 3122,2 kg/da, dry grass yield was 309,02-822,73 kg/da, crude protein ratio was 18,97-24,89%, crude protein yield 77,25-165,26 kg/da, ADF ratio 27,74-31,96%, NDF ratio 43,05-46,93% and NYD ratio 126,94-145,72%. Conclusion: When the results of the experiment are examined, from the efficiency characteristics; Cytokinin application to the Kirazlı variety when the plant height was desired to be long, IBA application to the Kirazlı variety when the stem diameter was desired to be large, Cytokinin application to the Taşkent variety when the green grass yield was desired to be high, and GA₃ application to the Taşkent variety when the hay yield was desired to be high. From quality features; For high crude protein content, IBA application in Kirazlı variety. For high crude protein yield, GA₃ application in Taşkent variety. IBA application in Kirazlı variety. For low ADF rate, IBA application in Kirazlı variety. For low NDF rate, IBA application in Kirazlı variety. Successful results were obtained from IBA application in Kirazlı variety in order to have high NYD. Keywords: Forage pea, crude protein ratio, ADF, BBD, GA₃.