The effect of berseem clover + teff mixing ratios on herbage production and quality in Sivas ecological conditions

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of different mixing ratios of Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), an annual legume forage crop, and tef (Eragrostis tef), an annual wheat forage crop, on herbage yield and quality. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Sivas Science and Technology University Agricultural R&D Centre in the 2023 growing season according to the coincidence blocks experimental design with three replications. In the study, the proportion of clover in green herbage (%), the proportion of clover in dry herbage (%), clover plant height (cm), tef plant height (cm), green herbage yield (kg/ha), dry herbage yield (kg/ha), crude protein ratio (%), crude protein yield (kg/ha), acid detergent fiber (ADF) ratio (%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio (%), acid detergent protein (ADP) ratio (%), digestible dry matter (DMM) ratio (%), dry matter intake (DMI) ratio (%), relative feed value (RFV), macro element (Ca, Mg, P and K) ratios (%), total digestible nutrient (TDN) ratio (%), metabolic energy (ME) ratio (Mcal/kg), digestible energy (SE) ratio (Mcal/kg) were analyzed. According to the results of the research, the average green herbage to clover ratio was 48.89%, dry herbage to clover ratio was 61.64%, clover plant height was 67.50 cm, tef plant height was 51.38 cm, green herbage yield was 1944 kg/ha and dry herbage yield was 543.97 kg/ha for pure and mixtures at different rates. In addition, averages of crude protein rate, crude protein yield, ADF ratio, NDF ratio, ADP ratio, digestible dry matter (DDM) rate, dry matter intake (DMI) rate and relative feed value of pure and mixtures were 16.62%, 90.59 kg/da, 26.61%, 45.43%, 0.53%, 68.17%, 2.69% and 141.92, respectively. The average total digestible nutrient (TDN) rate was 62.38%, and the average metabolic energy (ME) and digestible energy (SE) values were 9.59 Mcal/kg and 3.19 Mcal/kg, respectively. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents of pure and mixtures were determined as 1.09%, 0.234%, 0.33% and 2.316%, respectively. When the results obtained were evaluated as a whole, it was determined that 50% Berseem clover + 50% Tef mixture was the most suitable mixture for high herbage yield, while 40% Berseem clover + 60% Tef and 20% Berseem clover + 80% Tef mixtures were the most suitable mixtures in terms of quality in Sivas climatic conditions.