Hay yield and quality of legume mixtures primed with smoke solution in hydroponic environment

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of smoke solution priming of seeds of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), forage pea (Pisum sativum spp. arvense L.) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) on the yield and quality of forage in a hydroponic system. For this purpose, two different smoke solutions were prepared from harvest residues (hazelnut and poppy). Legume seeds were mixed creating a total of 13 treatments, which included four different seed ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75) for each species and triple mixture in equal proportions. These seed mixtures were also subjected to priming with pure water as control and each smoke solution at 1% and 10% concentrations for 18 hours at 22 ºC. The primed seeds were then placed in hydroponic containers and grown for 8 days in a climate chamber. After harvest, dry weight, ADF, NDF, crude protein content, and mineral content (Ca, Mg, K, and P) were analyzed. As a result, it was determined that legume seeds could be successfully grown in a hydroponic environment. Generally speaking, both smoke solutions improved the feed quality in the hydroponic system by promoting ADF, NDF, crude protein ratio, mineral substance content. Additionally, the drawback of the hydroponic system, which is dry weight loss, was alleviated with both smoke solutions. According to the obtained data, the hazelnut solution, the 1% concentration, and the high presence of grass pea in the mixtures stood out in terms of yield and quality improvement.