Effects of companion crop species, their sowing ratios and harvest times on hay yield and quality of a pasture mixture under Mediterranean climate conditions

This research was carried out as two separate trials established in two different years to determine the effects of different seed ratios and harvest times of different annual companion crop species on the hay yield and quality of a pasture mixture under Mediterranean climate conditions. The field trials were established in a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement in three replications. According to the first year of both trials, delaying the harvest time of the companion crops and the sowing pasture mixture with the companion crops increased the hay yield. Sowing pasture mixture with companion crop reduced the proportion of weeds and perennial forage plants in the dried biomass yield of the pasture. Although delaying the harvest time of the companion crop did not have a significant effect on the weed and orchard grass ratio, it significantly reduced the ratio of alfalfa, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass species in the biomass yield of the pasture. When the pasture mixture was sown with barley or annual ryegrass as a companion crop, decreased the hay quality of the pasture mixture. According to the second year results of both trials, hay yield and quality did not differ depending on the harvest time of the companion crop sown and harvested the previous year. In addition, the forage yield decreased and the weed rate increased in the application with the companion crop annual ryegrass at 100% sowing rate.