Silage yield and quality of different grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes

In this thesis, it was aimed to determine the silage yield and quality of different grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes (Gap Mavisi, İptaş, Karadağ, 1603, 2006, 2401, 4301, 4403, 5001, 6408, 6410, and S3). The trial was established in Bilecik ecological conditions in 2022 and 2023 years. This study was carried out according to the randomized block design with 3 replications, and the plants were harvested at the full flowering stage. The harvested plants were chopped to size 2 cm and ensiled into vacuum bags and left to ferment at 25±2 °C for 45 days. In the study, silage yield, pH, dry matter ratio, Flieg score, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, succinic acid, crude protein ratio (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), condensed tannin (CT), total flavonoid (TF), total phenolic (TP), radical scavenger activity (DPPH), total alkaloid (TA), and ODAP (N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid) contents were determined. The silage yields of the genotypes ranged from 0.90 to 1.36 t da-1. The highest Flieg score was determined in the 5001 population with 85.88. CP, ADF, and NDF ratios of silages varied between 19.35-23.06%, 29-19-32.28%, and 36.72-43.81%. The highest lactic acid was determined in 5001 population with 2.63%. The nutrient contents of all silages were at a level to meet the needs of the animals. The lowest ODAP content was determined in 5001 and (0.95 mg g-1) and 6408 (0.90 mg g-1) in 5001 populations. The TF, TP, DPPH, CT, and TA contents of the silages were 18.53-23.43 mg QE g-1, 78.86-122.40 mg GA g-1, 21.59-56.80%, 0.85-1.74%, and 1.09-2.01 g 100 g-1, respectively. As a result, there was no difference in silage yield among the genotypes, but some genotype/genotypes came to the fore in terms of quality traits. Accordingly, the 5001 population exhibited superior performance than other genotypes in terms of silage quality. This situation shows that the population in question is promising for the region and is also important in future breeding studies in terms of being evaluated as material.