Mineral contents of forage pea – Triticale intercropping systems harvested at different growth stages

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of mixture ratios and harvest times on mineral contents of forage pea – triticale mixtures hay. Leafed and semi-leafless pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars and triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) were sown in pure and in mixtures (75:25, 50:50, 25:75). Harvests were performed at boot and milk-dough stages of triticale. Experiments were conducted in randomized blocks design with 3 replications for 2 years. The data were subjected to ANOVA. Additionally, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between triticale ratios and quality parameters. 1n the first year at both harvest times of all mixtures; while Ca, Mg and Ca/P ratios decreased with increasing triticale ratios in mixture, K/(Ca+Mg) ratio increased with increasing triticale ratios in mixture ratio. Herbage mineral contents decreased with delaying harvest. It was concluded based on animal nutrition principles that triticale ratios of the mixtures should be limited and harvest should be performed at boot stage of triticale.